Graphin’ With Kevin

Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons must have been thinking about my buddy Shane and I and what we did last night when they came up with the song title.

We were invited to attend a reception which featured most of the 1987 World Champion Twins players after the game and had a blast.

Getting to talk to Greg Gagne about how he was recently watching a show on records that will probably never be broken and his game when he got two inside the park home runs in the same game was neat. So was talking to Mike Smithson (what a really nice guy). Another neat highlight was when Dan Gladden got the entire team together around the championship trophy to take a picture and then seeing Gagne dance with it to the band. It was cool to talk to Jeff Reardon about the cover of the Sports Illustrated magazine when they were piled on and he said “You would think the guy making the last out would be shown more on it” and laughing (he is in the bottom right corner). It was funny when Shane asked Frank Viola to sign a ball with “Sweet Music” and he said “That is all you want on it? Not my name?” and then really laughed at him as he was joking.

The players were really having fun meeting the fans and posing for photos and signing autographs. I am betting it was way more fun for the fans though!

Here are some highlights of the evening for my autograph collection:
Sal Butera on my 1987 team ball (down to needing just Gary Gaetti and Dan Schatzeder) and a 1987 Topps card
Juan Berenguer on 2 @ 1987 Topps and a 1987 Topps Traded
Mark Davidson on a 1988 Topps card and “The Champs” Sports Illustrated
Greg Gagne on a ticket stub from the Oct 4, 1986 game with “2 Inside the Park HR’s”
Dan Gladden on a 1987 Topps Traded card and the Sports Illustrated
Tim Laudner on a 1986 7-11 card as well as 2 1987 Topps team cards (one also signed by Frank Viola)
Steve Lombardozzi on a 1987 Topps Traded card and the Sports Illustrated
Jeff Reardon on a 1987 Topps Traded card and the Sports Illustrated
Mike Smithson on a 1986 7-11 card. He stopped to look at it and said he did not have that one. I told him I had an extra and will send it to him. He seemed genuinely appreciative.
Les Straker on a 1987 Topps Traded and a 1988 Topps
Frank Viola on a 1987 Topps with “88 ALCY”, 1986 7-11, 1987 Topps team card (signed by Tim Laudner too) and a baseball with “88 ALCY”

It was an absolutely amazing night that created memories that I will never forget. My only regret was that Gary Gaetti was not there and I did not bring a camera.

I just got back from going to the Twins Pro Shop in Apple Valley. As part of the Twins’ 20th Reunion celebration, different Twins players were signing at different places today. I decided to get Don Baylor on my 1987 team ball. He was one of the last four guys I need on the ball.

I went through the line three times and got him on a 1987 baseball card and an individual baseball where he included “1987 World Series Champs” to the right of his name.

I hope to get more this weekend!

Today was a great day! It was Joe Mauer Dugout Doll giveaway at the Dome and Camden wanted to go with me so we headed to the ballpark with enough time to make sure she got one. She did. We got our hot dogs and watched the people get the field ready for the game. While doing that, I noticed CC Sabathia throwing his side session in the visitor’s bullpen. There were not many people there but it looked like it was filling up at the railing. I asked Cami if she wanted to get closer to the action there and she said yes so we headed down and got a spot right at the railing. Just then, Sabathia finished his tossing and talked to Carl Willis (Indians pitching coach). After that, he started signing down the railing. I handed him a ball and asked if he would please sign on the sweet spot and he did. Perfect blue ink sweet spot signature. Just like I like it! I thanked him and asked Cami to thank him and she did and he smiled at her and said ‘you’re welcome’ and kept moving on. It was a great day AND the Twins won 1-0!

Today I headed to the Apple Valley Twins Pro Shop to get Jason Tyner on a ball and some cards.  I got there an hour and 15 minutes into his hour and a half signing and there was one person in line in front of me.  He was pretty nice.  He signed a baseball and three 2007 Topps Heritage cards.  They had a person there placing MLB holograms on the items for a donation to the Twins Community Fund.  I put $5 in the box and got a hologram on the baseball and two of the cards.  The baseball is for Shane V and one card is for Vince H and one card is for my Twins team set and the last one is hopefully going to get traded for another card I need via SCN.