Graphin’ With Kevin

Ok. So this entry is not about the Boss, Bruce Springsteen, but rather Jay Bruce. Bruce is an up and coming stud outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds.

I was surprised today when I checked the mail and found my good friend Steve went to the Reds caravan and was able to get a baseball signed by Bruce for me. Steve and I have taken real good care of each other and our collections over the years but I think I really owe him now (as I probably did before receiving this ball)!

I am really excited to have a Jay Bruce ball in my collection!

Today was the final day of Twinsfest. I was planning on bringing the two kids but this morning Caden decided he wanted to stay home to play the Wii while Amy did homework. That left Cami and I to go and we had a lot of fun together.

It started with meeting up with my buddy Mike and his son Riley. We chatted for a little bit and then headed to a dealer who had a bunch of 1960’s baseball cards for $1 each. I bought 174 cards I needed. A lot were in real nice shape (vending condition)! Then it was off to the kids bouncy game area. Cami went through the TC Bear bouncy toy thing three times. After that she said she wanted to get an ice cream cone painted on her cheek at the face painting area. Then she said she was hungry so we got a couple hot dogs and pops. After eating I asked her if she wanted to get her pink pennant I got her at the Pro Shop signed by some of the players. She said she did and we headed to get Jesse Crain, Craig Monroe, Kevin Slowey and Glen Perkins’ autographs. She got each of them on her pennant and Kevin even asked her if he could have some of her ice cream cone on her cheek! It was really neat to see Cami get her pennant signed and she said thank you to each one. The Twins photographer got a photo of Cami and I getting Kevin Slowey’s autograph. I do not look too hot but Cami does! Check it out here. I got some autographs as well of the guys. She had so much fun that she wanted to go on the other line to get Juan Berenguer, Jason Pridie, Darnell McDonald and Tommy Watkins on her pennant. Tommy Watkins asked her for some of her ice cream too just like Slowey. After that it was pretty much time go head home as we were both tired. On the way out, we saw Carl Pohlad (the Twins’ owner) being carted somewhere on the field. I told her who he was and she waved at him. The driver stopped the cart and Carl put his hand out to shake her hand. It was a cool moment as they shook hands.

Overall today I got (Cami got all on her pennant plus Jason Pridie & Darnell McDonald):
Jesse Crain- 2006 Topps
Craig Monroe- OMLB
Kevin Slowey- 2007 Topps ’52 Rookies x 2 (one personalized to Camden)
Glen Perkins- 2007 Topps ’52 Rookies & 2007 Allen & Ginter
Juan Berenguer- 1982 rookie card
Tommy Watkins- 2007 Topps ’52 Rookies x 2

It was a fun day but what made it better was spending time with my three year old daughter at the ballpark!

Today was the second day of Twinsfest. I have been to every day of Twinsfest weekend going back to when I graduated from college in 1993. Today was different.

My beloved grandmother passed away Wednesday, January, 23, 2008 after 90 years of bringing happiness to everyone she met. Her funeral was today and she was sent off with the most beautiful funeral service I have ever been to. I miss her already but have a lot of great memories to remind me of her.

Once I got home from the funeral, I was greeted with a bunch of signed mail! Most of it was via trade with only the Stewart ball being bought.
I got the following:
Jeff Bagwell OMLB
Ian Stewart OMLB
Magglio Ordonez OAL
Hunter Pence OMLB
Scott Rolen ONL
Craig Biggio signed 3000th hit full season ticket.
Thanks Jeremy, Nick and Brian!

Day one of Twinsfest 2008 found me getting to the Metrodome three hours before the doors opened. It was really a dumb move on my part but I really wanted to make sure I got Mauer & Morneau on my 16×20 photo so that I can put it away without carrying it around to any more events. I was probably number 120 or so in one of the two lines outside gate H. I did all right in the cold until the last half hour when the sun went down and the concrete sidewalk we were waiting on sucked all the heat out of me. Once I got in, I immediately headed to the Mauer & Morneau line. That happened to be where about 90% of the people waiting outside was also headed. They only allowed 300 people in the line. I believe I was about 188 (at least according to the counter at the entrance). I was able to start to unthaw while I waited the hour and a half before the M & M Boys started signing. The line moved the slowest of any line I have ever been in. It rivaled Harmon Killebrew’s speed (in his defense, he has the nicest signature in baseball). I was able to get my photo signed by each player to finish it up (Santana & Hunter signed it at the autograph party in the summer of 07). I got it with about 20 minutes left of signing so I am sure that some of the last of the 300 people in line did not get autographs.

After I left the M & M line, I went to see how the line was for Kent Hrbek. There was nobody in line! I paid $30 for two autographs and got a couple cards signed for sets I am working on.

I then headed to the field to do my annual shopping adventure. I bought a couple paper items (remember the Great Airplane Toss of the late 80’s?) and some 9 pocket sheets and headed home.