Today was going to be the day that was either going to make the weekend a total and complete success or make it so-so. I was fortunate to have two of my buddies coming to the weekend with me and they offered to help me out if they did not need anyone at a station. The two guys did much more than that for me. They were awesome! A HUGE thanks to Shane and Russ for all they did with and for me today.
The three of us met at the Metrodome around 9:45am. We decided to go and before waiting in the Cuddyer/Baker line that was going to start at 11am, we headed down to the field level. I got my 1965 Pitching Leaders card signed by Mudcat Grant who was still at Fergie Jenkins’ booth. After than I went through the future stars line and got Joe Benson, Anthony Slama and Chris Parmelee each on a baseball. Parmelee signed with 2006 First Round Pick too. I got back up to the Cuddyer/Baker line and waited. When it was time to go in, I got Cuddy on my 02 future stars card that was already signed by Michael Restovich and an extra Scott Baker card signed. Russ and Shane each got me another Cuddyer card signed and Russ got me another Baker card. It was then back to the same line and wait a couple hours for the Gardenhire/Pavano line. While waiting, I headed down and got Tim Laudner on two cards. He finished the card already signed by Hrbek and Faedo so that one is done! I picked up a Jeff Manship card and got him to sign that at the same table. I then went back up to wait for Gardy and Pavano. Russ when down to get a JJ Hardy ball signed and while there, got me a Liriano card and a Perkins card signed as they were at the same table as Hardy and he did not have anything for them. I was able to get Gardenhire on my “Metrodome Lasts” baseball and Shane and Russ each got me a team card signed by him. I got Pavano on a baseball (as did Russ and Shane) and while I was waiting, a gentleman asked me something about how it worked. It ended up that he did not have anything for Pavano so I offered him half the cost of the table for him to get me a card. He was pleased to do that and as we were talking, he showed me a plaque he had with Gardy on it. He asked me what kind of pen I thought he should use. I gave him a brand new silver paint pen because it was really the only pen to get it signed with after looking at it. He proudly showed me the photo after Gardy signed it with the pen and it looked awesome. He was really happy with how it turned out and I was glad to lend him a hand. We decided to then get 2009 first round pick Kyle Gibson in the futures line. It was really long so Russ waited in line for us while Shane and I headed through the Leius/Swarzak/Ullger line. Once we got there, it turned out that Swarzak was not there but Corey Koskie took his place. That was cool because I needed Koskie on some cards for my Twins project. Shane and I each took two cards of Leius and Koskie and each signed all of them. We then headed back to Russ and went through that line. I got Ben Revere with 2007 first round draft pick, Kyle Gibson with 2009 first round draft pick and Russ and Shane each got me a Steve Tolleson card signed. Russ headed back into the futures line and I scooted to the Stigman/Castino/Goltz line. I got Dave Goltz on my last card I needed of him. He signed his 1977 Victory Leaders card. He commented that he had not seen that one in a while. I then got Dick Stigman to sign the 1963 Strikeout Leaders card that I already had signed by Camilo Pascual. Finally I got John Castino on his rookie card. He offered to put 79 AL ROY on it and did. That was a nice touch. I then headed back and met Russ and Shane in the futures line. Shane headed to get Pat Neshek for himself on a photo and got John Rauch for me on the “Game 163 Celebration” photo. He commented to Shane on what a cool photo that was. In the futures line, I got Aaron Hicks to sign a ball with 2008 First Round Draft Pick. We all then headed to Hubert’s for food, drink and conversation. It was a long day and I certainly could not have had the success I had if it wasn’t for the two great friends who “muled” (as Shane calls it) for me. Thanks again guys!
Twinsfest 2010- Day 1
After Twinsfest 2009, I decided to change my approach to this event. Instead of playing catch up after not obtaining a “big” autograph, I decided to go after a lot of other autographs in hopes of knocking off as many of the Topps Twins cards I needed.
I left work Friday afternoon at 1pm to get there and wait for the 4pm opening. I knew I was not going to attempt the Mauer line or even wait in the long Morneau line that would have already been forming over an hour and a half before he was going to start signing. I really wanted to try to get my 1982 Topps Twins Rookies card signed by Hrbek and Laudner this weekend to go along with it being already signed by Lenny Faedo. I got in the Hrbek/Oliva line right as I walked in. I ended up getting the Twins Rookies card signed by Hrbek who asked how I got Faedo and then a 1965 card signed by Oliva. I was so early in that line that I decided to head down to field level and got in line for Guerrier/Crain/Baker. I only needed a Baker card and photo signed and when I got to him, he was nice enough to sign both. I got Guerrier and Crain on cards that I will offer in trade. I then headed to the other side of the field level stations and got in the Anderson/Duensing/Ullger line. I needed Andy on two photos and he signed them. I got Duensing on a baseball and a card and skipped Ullger. That pretty much finished the first groups of signers. For the next period, I decided to get in the Newman/Manship/White line. I was able to get Jeff Manship on a ticket from his ML Debut game and he signed it with that. It looks cool. I got Newmie on two cards I needed for my Topps Twins project. I skipped Jerry White. I took the opportunity to look for a 1962 Topps card of Mudcat Grant. I knew he was going to be there and a friend from SCN needed him for his 1962 set. After looking and asking at about 4 dealers, I found one. I then headed to Fergie Jenkin’s booth where Mudcat was signing. He signed the card and was as nice as could be. What a great guy. I then headed to the Harris/Koskie/Liriano line. Liriano was a no show but I still was able to get a card signed by Koskie and another by Harris. For the final time slot, I went through the Neshek/Perkins/Kubel/Young line. I got a card signed by Pat and asked him if he was enjoying Twinsfest knowing he does. He smiled and affirmed by thoughts. He is one of the best signers and friend of autograph collectors. I got Kubel to sign his 2009 Topps Heritage card and he looked at it like he had not seen it before. Then I got Perkins on a card and finally got to Delmon Young. Delmon is one of the hardest non-M & M Boy to get on the team. He was in a great mood as I showed him two cards and asked him which was his favorite and was going to have him sign that one. He said they both were and signed both for me. That was an awesome end to Twinsfest 2010 Day One!
Gene Larkin, Cami & I
Gene Larkin was appearing this morning at a local sportscard shop. It was limited to two autographs per person. Cami and I were going to the Twins game and decided to swing over there on our way to the Dome. I had the 1991 Sports Illustrated team celebration and three cards I needed for my Twins signed card project. It was our turn and he looked at Cami and said “Hello! What is your name?” Cami was real shy and did not say anything. I told him “Camden” and he replied “That is a pretty name.” He told her he was not going to sign her card until she said something. When she didn’t he said that she called his bluff and he signed it. As I was putting everything away, Cami said “put these with your things dad” and Gene said “Ah ha! She can speak!” We all had a nice laugh. It was pretty cool.
We headed to the game and Cami got her backpack and it was another fun day at the ballpark for Cami and I.
Go Go
Today the Twins had a number of signing events going on. Since I have had a ticket from the game Carlos Gomez hit for the cycle, I decided to attempt to get that signed. I headed to Linwood Pizza in Blaine for the 11am signing. I got there around 9:20 and was around 70th in line. By the time he showed up to sign, the line was about five times that long. I am sure there were a lot of people who did not get his autograph.
It was finally my turn and I got up there and handed him my ticket from his cycle game. Luckily I had CYCLE written on a piece of paper because I asked him to write it on it. He said he did not know how to spell it and I showed him the paper and he wrote it on there. I was very pleased with how the ticket turned out.