“Oh, What a Night”

Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons must have been thinking about my buddy Shane and I and what we did last night when they came up with the song title.

We were invited to attend a reception which featured most of the 1987 World Champion Twins players after the game and had a blast.

Getting to talk to Greg Gagne about how he was recently watching a show on records that will probably never be broken and his game when he got two inside the park home runs in the same game was neat. So was talking to Mike Smithson (what a really nice guy). Another neat highlight was when Dan Gladden got the entire team together around the championship trophy to take a picture and then seeing Gagne dance with it to the band. It was cool to talk to Jeff Reardon about the cover of the Sports Illustrated magazine when they were piled on and he said “You would think the guy making the last out would be shown more on it” and laughing (he is in the bottom right corner). It was funny when Shane asked Frank Viola to sign a ball with “Sweet Music” and he said “That is all you want on it? Not my name?” and then really laughed at him as he was joking.

The players were really having fun meeting the fans and posing for photos and signing autographs. I am betting it was way more fun for the fans though!

Here are some highlights of the evening for my autograph collection:
Sal Butera on my 1987 team ball (down to needing just Gary Gaetti and Dan Schatzeder) and a 1987 Topps card
Juan Berenguer on 2 @ 1987 Topps and a 1987 Topps Traded
Mark Davidson on a 1988 Topps card and “The Champs” Sports Illustrated
Greg Gagne on a ticket stub from the Oct 4, 1986 game with “2 Inside the Park HR’s”
Dan Gladden on a 1987 Topps Traded card and the Sports Illustrated
Tim Laudner on a 1986 7-11 card as well as 2 1987 Topps team cards (one also signed by Frank Viola)
Steve Lombardozzi on a 1987 Topps Traded card and the Sports Illustrated
Jeff Reardon on a 1987 Topps Traded card and the Sports Illustrated
Mike Smithson on a 1986 7-11 card. He stopped to look at it and said he did not have that one. I told him I had an extra and will send it to him. He seemed genuinely appreciative.
Les Straker on a 1987 Topps Traded and a 1988 Topps
Frank Viola on a 1987 Topps with “88 ALCY”, 1986 7-11, 1987 Topps team card (signed by Tim Laudner too) and a baseball with “88 ALCY”

It was an absolutely amazing night that created memories that I will never forget. My only regret was that Gary Gaetti was not there and I did not bring a camera.