Cami and I headed to the Twins game today hoping for a Twins sweep. The last Twins game we went to was with my sister-in-law when she was in town. It was her first visit to Target Field and as I was explaining everything about the ballpark, I mentioned that the organist was located in one of the bar areas in the upper deck. She asked if I had her autograph in my collection and I didn’t and she told me I had to make it my mission to get her autograph. So, before the game today, I brought a Target Field baseball card from Topps Series 2 this year and we spoke to Sue Nelson and she signed it. I got a photo of her and Cami by the organ too. Sue signed her name with both the treble and base clefts. It is pretty neat. She also confirmed that the organ is the same organ that played at the Metrodome AND the Met. Cami and I had a great time and the Twins beat the Royals for the sweep!
2019 Twins Hall of Fame Breakfast
Today was the annual Twins Hall of Fame breakfast where we celebrated the induction of Joe Nathan and Jerry Bell into the Twins team Hall of Fame. I went to this even last year and enjoyed it so much I decided to go again. Last year the kids could not make it so I brought Caden’s buddy Noah. We had a great time and Noah wanted to go again this year and said he would get me the autographs if I got the ticket so I did. The four of us had a great time. Torii and TK were really funny. Joe Nathan was extremely happy to be included in the HOF. After the breakfast and speeches were completed, there was an autograph event. They were pretty strict at the one autograph per person and since I had four people, I did ok. I brought items for all the people in the Twins HOF not knowing who would be there for the autographs. I was caught off guard last year but not this year! I also helped out a buddy from Washington with some autographs of the guys I did not need. Tom Kelly saw my 1987 Twins Report showing all the front office guys and himself and made a comment of a motley crew and they all looked like they should be in a police lineup. Brad Radke shook my hand and when I mentioned I sat next to him at last year’s breakfast he said he remembered me. I doubt it but it was still cool. When I asked Michael Cuddyer to sign my ticket from his debut game, I asked him if I recall correctly that Bob Casey announced him as ‘Michael Cudd-yer’ rather than ‘Cud-dyer’ and he laughed and said “Probably!” Joe Nathan signed my 300th Save ticket and I asked him “Wasn’t that last pitch a little outside?” He laughed and said “Nope! It was a strike all the way!” It was pretty neat. Here is what I got with the help of Caden, Cami, and Noah…
Tom Kelly- Metrodome #10 Seatback, Oversize card for 1,000th Win, Twins Report magazine from 1987, 1987 Topps (for Greg)
Brad Radke- 1997 Topps, 2003 Topps (for Greg), 2004 Topps (for Greg), 2000 Victory (for Greg)
Michael Cuddyer- 2 ML Debut ticket with “MLB Debut” inscription, 2003 Topps already signed by Michael Restovich, 2012 A&G (for Greg)
Torii Hunter- Cami finished her photo already signed by Buxton and Rosario, 2016 Topps variation, 2019 A&G, 2003 UD Vintage (for Greg)
Johan Santana- 2008 Topps Heritage, 2009 Topps Strikeout Leaders, 2006 Topps Strikeout Leaders, 2006 Topps
Joe Nathan- 2 300th Save tickets/ 1 with “300th Save”, 2015 A&G (for Greg), 1999 Revolution (for Greg)
John Gordon- Legendary Voices card with “Touch ’em all!”
It was a fun few hours and I cannot wait for next year’s event!
Smitty
I really do not send a lot of photos out in the mail but I recently came across a couple photos I had laying around and sent them out. Today I received the first one. It is a wire photo of Mike Smithson from 1986. Mike is a real friend to collectors. He has to have one of, if not THE, highest return rating for people mailing autograph requests to him. He is awesome. Thanks Mike!
Holy Twins!
Today I received a couple items in the mail. The first was one of the most exciting packages I have ever received. Matt C (campy on SCN) knows a guy who is close to some of the Twins players and had listed some cards for sale. I bought a couple and mentioned I could use other Sano cards signed. He replied back with a couple players his contact is close with so I sent him the cards. I received them today. WOW! What a haul and all are beautifully signed! The cards are:
Miguel Sano
2017 Topps 590 (already signed by Escobar and Buxton)
2017 Topps 126
2017 Topps US268
2017 Topps US288
2018 Topps 262
2018 Topps 288
2018 A&G 279
2017 Topps Heritage 436
2018 Topps Heritage 30
2017 Topps Now PS-132
2017 Topps Now HRD-5
2018 Topps Now OD-143
2018 Topps Now PW-82
Nelson Cruz
2019 Topps Heritage 134
Jose Berrios
2018 Topps US38
2019 Topps 302
2019 Topps 302 Variation
2019 Topps Heritage 479
2018 Gypsy Queen 88
2019 Gypsy Queen 238
2019 Gypsy Queen 238 Variation
2018 Topps Now AS-53
2019 Topps Now Future 51
2019 Topps Now Future 107
What a nice mail day!!!!!!
The other envelope was a pair of signed business cards from the Indians President Chris Antonetti.