Today Amy had something going on in the morning so Caden and Cami and I headed to the Mall of America because Joey Browner was signing there. I do not collect anything other than baseball but my friend Mark in San Diego needed Browner on a couple football cards so I told him if he sent them to me, I would get them signed. He did and I did. Appearing with Browner was Bob Lurtsema. Bob took his giant NFC champion ring off and let Cami try it on. She thought that was pretty cool. He then signed a picture “Cami, You’re a doll”. That was pretty cool and she thanked him without any prompting.
Blackburn & Bass
Today the Twins Pro Shops had their monthly signings and I decided to head to Apple Valley to get Nick Blackburn because he was the only current Twins I needed/wanted on a ball. I got there about 15 minutes before it started and was around 100th in line. I was able to get through the line in a half hour. I got him on a baseball and an Allen & Ginter card.
I then decided I had time to get the to Pro Shop in Minnetonka where Brian Bass was signing. I drove up there and got him on an Allen & Ginter card and an Upper Deck card. I walked right up to him as nobody was in line.
Denard Span was signing at the Roseville location but I already had him on a ball from Twinsfest so I skipped him.
Brendan Harris II
Today Brendan Harris was signing at the Twins Pro Shop in Roseville. I would not have gone except Greg from Washington needed a Topps 52 card of him signed. I got there and could not believe the line for him! There must have been 150 people. Cami wanted to get her mini bat signed so she came with me. We waited until the line got shorter and headed in. She went first and got her bat signed “To Cami, Best Wishes” and he asked he how old she was. She held up three fingers and said thank you. I got the card signed for Greg and we headed home.
Sun and Autographs at the Metrodome
Today was the annual Twins Autograph Party. While it was really hot and sunny, it was not nearly as bad as last years’ event. As has been the norm the past few years, the event was held on the Metrodome Plaza and around the ballpark. This year Shane and I decided to start with Joe Mauer and got there around 7:15 am. Amy was able to get down around 9:30 after getting a tire patched. We were all doing fine until the sun crept over the Metrodome and started beating down on us for the last 45 minutes or so before the event started.
We were able to get Joe Mauer and Rick Stelmaszek’s autograph and then I headed to another station while Amy and Shane headed to another one. Amy was successful in getting Adam Everett and Glen Perkins and met up with me in line for Kevin Slowey, Matt Guerrier and Alexi Casilla. After that, Amy went to the line with Jason Kubel, Craig Monroe and Jerry White while Shane and I went to Scott Baker and Brian Buscher. After that it was time to turn our attention to the former players. We got in line for Bert Blyleven, Roy Smalley and Juan Berenguer. After that Amy headed home and Shane and I headed to Terry Steinbach and Rick Aguilera’s line. That was all we had time and energy for. Shane and I then headed to Huberts for something to eat before he headed home and I went to the ballgame.
The only regret I had was that I could not get my Delmon Young batting gloves signed… yet.
All in all it was a fun event with the final haul being:
Joe Mauer – Sports Illustrated and poster photo of he and Morneau high fiving after a home run
Rick Stelmaszek – baseball card
Adam Everett – OMLB
Glen Perkins – baseball card
Kevin Slowey – 2 @ major league debut tickets
Matt Guerrier – major league debut ticket
Alexi Casilla – 3 baseball cards
Jason Kubel – baseball card
Craig Monroe – baseball card
Jerry White – baseball card
Scott Baker – 2 baseball cards
Brian Buscher – OMLB
Bert Blyleven – 2 baseball cards
Roy Smalley – 2 baseball cards
Juan Berenguer – baseball card
Terry Steinbach – 1988 All Star Game program with MVP! on it
Rick Aguilera – OMLB
The Aguilera ball and some of the baseballs cards are for some friends of mine who have helped me out in the past.