2009 Twins Autograph Party

Today was the 2009 Twins Autograph Party.  It is an annual tradition that I have been to since around 1994.  While the crowds are bigger now, the players are a lot better.  I remember the early years when you could get through every line and make a team signed baseball there were so few people there.  This year, much like last year, was a zoo.
I met my buddy Shane around 7:30 am.  He was there around 6:30 or so.  We met in the Justin Morneau line.  We waited in the sun (I got a real nice burn around my neck and ears) until the event started.  I finally finished my M&M Boys photo.  It is the two of them high fiving after a Morneau home run.  Joe Vavra (the hitting coach) was at the station with Justin.  He is pictured on my 16×20 celebration and he signed by his head on the photo.
Then we headed to the next station where Delmon Young, Nick Blackburn and Jose Morales were at.  I got a card signed by Blackburn and Morales and (finally) a Delmon Young batting glove.  Shane helped me out and got a 16×20 signed by Young and another signed by Blackburn.  The Blackburn photo was a meeting at the mound with the pitching coach.  When he saw the photo he said “That could not have been good!”  That was funny.
Then it was off to the Jason Kubel, Brian Buscher and Steve Liddle.  I got Buscher on the celebration 16×20.  When I got to Kubel, I told him that I donated my other ticket from the game when he hit for the cycle to the Hall of Fame and asked if he would write cycle on the ticket.  He did.  It turned out to be one of the coolest things I got signed today.
That pretty much did it for the active players.  I ended up getting in the Dan Gladden, Frank Quilici and Juan Berenguer line while Shane wanted to get a Corey Koskie ball signed.  I got Dan and Frank on cards and Juan signed a baseball for me that the guy in front of me wanted signed (I helped him out because I did not have anything for Juan).  Shane was able to get a Blyleven card signed for me while he was in the Koskie line.
I then headed to the station with Julio Becquer, Dick Stigman and Tony Oliva.  I got each on a baseball card with Oliva on his rookie card.
All in all it was a fun time and I did ok.  I had a lot of fun hanging out with my buddy Shane and appreciate all the help he gave me.  We ended up staying for the game.  I did have to leave early to pick the kids up (who spent the weekend with my mom and dad and then my brother’s family) but while we were there, we spoke all in baseball clichés.  That was hilarious!