I sent my friend Mark C (clubnuts on SCN) a season ticket from Tony Gwynn’s 3,000th hit game in Montreal. I got some autographs for him at Twinsfest and sent him the ticket in case he attended one of Tony’s free signing events in the San Diego area. Today I received it back. It looks phenomenal. I had one of the box office ones signed but it looked ugly and when the opportunity came up for me to purchase a pair of rare season ticket versions (seriously, how many season ticket holders were there in Montreal in 1999?), i bought them. Mark got it signed with a silver Deco marker and it looks awesome. He told me Tony was not looking very good at the event heath-wise. I sure hope Tony is ok. Thanks for being Santa for me Mark!
My Favorite Umpire
After Game 3 of the 2013 World Series ended with an obstruction call, I knew I needed a ball about it. I wrote a heartfelt letter about how I used Jim Joyce’s actions a few years ago on how he admitted a mistake and handled it with class to teach Caden the right way to react to a mistake and sent it to him with a request to write his memory of the call on the ball. Today I received the ball and my donation back to give to his current favorite charity (my son’s piggy bank) and a real nice note. The note actually means more to me than the baseball. On the baseball he signed it and wrote the following quote:
“May the hand of a friend always be near.”
He was my favorite umpire before this and his actions solidified his standing in my eyes. Thanks Mr Joyce!
Justin Time!
Today’s mail brought a really exciting package. One of my most favorite Twins players of all time was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline this past season. I have collected Justin Morneau home run tickets and have a real nice run going. When he was traded I was bummed out. I had 19 Morneau cards I needed signed for my Twins card sets and thought with him being traded, there was no way I would get them signed. Recently it was announced that he would continue his Winter Warm Up Coat Drive collecting coats for needy people in Minnesota even though he was no longer a Twin. This was a real classy move by Justin. I contacted Shaun H (33forMVP on Pat Neshek’s site and the owner of Fan HQ) who was helping with the Coat Drive and asked if I sent a sizable donation for coats if Justin would sign the remaining cards I needed for my collection. Mad props to Shaun and Justin for making this happen. Today I received the cards and they are all signed beautifully.
The cards I received today were:
2006 Topps UH204 – RBI League Leaders
2006 Topps UH313 – Team Leaders w/Santana
2008 Topps 110
2008 Topps 287 – w/Mauer & Santana
2009 Topps 90
2009 Topps 176 – RBI Leaders
2009 Topps UH265 – All Star
2010 Topps 360
2011 Topps 293
2012 Topps 230
2013 Topps 575
2011 Allen & Ginter 305
2013 Allen & Ginter 324
2010 Topps Heritage 420
2012 Topps Heritage 269
2013 Topps Heritage 274
2011 Gypsy Queen 72
2012 Gypsy Queen 119
2013 Gypsy Queen 201
You hear about win-win deals all the time in life but this truly was a win-win. I got my cards signed and many less fortunate people got new coats (just in time) for the cold winter.
If you are at the Ridgedale Mall shopping this Christmas season, be sure to stop by Fan HQ!
I cannot thank Shaun and Justin enough! Thanks guys!
The Yaz Man
Today I received something I have wanted for a while. I have an unsigned Carl Yastrzemski 3000th hit ticket stub but wanted it signed. A couple days ago Phil C (baseballgenius80 on Pat Neshek’s website) listed some items for sale and one was a signed ticket stub with a #3000 inscription on it. We worked out a deal and today I received it. It is a cool addition to the old collection! Thanks Phil!