“Is this heaven? ” No, it’s Iowa!”

Where do I start? What a weekend!

On Friday, January 11 at 10:15 am Russ, Shane, Caden and I headed to Des Moines, IA for the Iowa Cubs Fanfest. This is the fifth year Russ and I have been to the Fanfest and the second for Shane and Caden. We got to the Hy-Vee Hall about an hour before it opened. We relaxed, got organized and ready to go in. As soon as we got in, Russ headed to Tony Gwynn’s line. I went to one of the free lines and got Zach Hammes & Joel Hanrahan on some cards with Caden. We then met Russ and Shane in the Gwynn line.

I always though Tony Gwynn was a nice person but my view of him changed Friday. He is a REALLY, REALLY, REALLY nice person! in fact, he moved up to a real close second (behind Cal Ripken Jr) of my all time favorite non-Twins players. As we got to the first part of the line, Caden was looking tired after a long drive there and Tony asked him if he was tired of standing in line yet. Caden shook his head yes and he said “You are almost here”. Once we got there, I had him sign a photo to Caden. As he wrote “Caden, Best Wishes” on it, a photographer for the Des Moines Register took our picture. After I got all the items signed (he signed a couple for each person with “HOF 07” which was REALLY neat), the photographer asked me my name and where I was from and Caden’s name. I asked him who he was and he told me. I asked if the photo was going to be in the newspaper and he said “Probably not but it will be online for sure”. Saturday morning I happened to check the newspaper and on page three of the sports section was an article on Gwynn and the Fanfest along with a single colored photo… the one he took of us! Click here to see the article and picture.

I then went to get Fergie Jenkins on a Perez Steele postcard. That was pretty uneventful as he did not even look up at me. He looked a bit upset.

Then it was off to get Orlando Cepeda. He seemed nice but appeared to be on another planet. I asked him to sign a photo to Caden and he did which is a nice photo for Caden.

Shane took care of my Mike Mahoney and Randy Wells cards for me.

Caden played some of the batting and throwing games they had and enjoyed it.

Saturday morning we got up and headed back to the Fanfest. As we were walking in, I heard my name. It was Matt Bentz from Iowa. He is a fellow skedder who I had traded with before but never met. We talked for a few minutes which was bittersweet…. nice to meet him but we did not spend enough time chatting. Hopefully next time we get to Fanfest or he comes to MN we will be able to spend more time together. I enjoyed meeting a fellow collector even though he is a White Sox fan!

We got in line for Mike Schmidt as soon as we got there. Not only did Schmidt start signing a bit late, he seemed to be really grumpy. I got all my Sports Illustrated magazines signed by him and a Greats of the Game card for the set I am working on as well as some baseballs and a really neat Mitchell & Ness jersey for a friend.

The then added to my collection was Robin Roberts. He seemed really nice and happy to be there. He signed a photo “To Caden” and some baseballs for me.

One of the vendors there brought in Tommie Frazier to sign autographs. Tommie was the quarterback from the National Champion Nebraska Cornhuskers in 1994 & 1995. I got a Sports Illustrated and a photo signed. The photo is for a relative of mine who lives in Omaha. I got it personalized to him. He should be surprised when he receives it. He has no idea!

Finally, the Famous San Diego Chicken was there. He was selling photos and giving autographs. I brought a baseball card to get signed and bought three photos to have him personalize them. I got one for Caden, Camden and Amber. Amber is the daughter of a college/fraternity buddy of Shane and I and this is the second year he came down to meet us for dinner of the Friday night of Fanfest. He brought his three year old daughter, Amber. I hope this turns into an ongoing tradition much like Fanfest!

Over all I had a great weekend getting autographs!
Here is a rundown on what I ended up with:

Tony Gwynn
8×10 photo (for Caden)
4 HOF Postcards (1 for Steve)
3000 Hit ticket (for Steve)
5 balls (1 for Steve, Ryan A)
Studio baseball card (for Nick

Mike Schmidt
11×14 photo
8×10 photo (for Caden)
2000 Greats of the Game Card
2 HOF Postcards
5 Sports Illustrated Magazines
5 balls (1 for Jeremy)
Mitchell & Ness Jersey (for Steve)

Orlando Cepeda
8×10 photo (for Caden)
2 HOF Postcards
4 balls (1 for Ryan A, 1 for Jeremy S)

Robin Roberts
3 balls (1 for Jeremy S)
8×10 photo (for Caden)

Fergie Jenkins
Perez Steele Postcard

Tommie Frazier
Sports Illustrated
8×10 photo (for Jim)

San Diego Chicken
3 photos (Caden, Camden & Amber)
Baseball Card

Mike Mahoney
3 baseball cards (1 for Vince)

Randy Wells
2 baseball cards

Joel Hanrahan
6 baseball cards (1 for Vince, 1 for Caden)

Zach Hammes
6 baseball cards (1 for Vince, 1 for Caden)

I am already looking forward to Fanfest 2009!