June 2009

Really Quick...

Yes, I am slacking horribly in keeping this updated. I know, I am sorry. I don't know when I will be all updated but I'm working on the updates as we speak so please come back soon and check them out. Please forgive me, I'm 19, and I have other things I do than just sit in front of my computer for 3 hours updating.

Thanks everyone and check in soon when you have a moment.

Sunday, June 7, 2009: Tampa Bay Rays Hotel

This day happened by complete accident. My parents woke me up at the butt crack of dawn to go to Long Island to have breakfast with my Grandma and my Aunt and cousins. It was a nice day, and I figured since we were so close to the city my parents could drop me off somewhere so I could go for Tampa again.

It paid off very nicely.

It was one of those days that was all about quality rather than quantity. I got 13 total, but a solid 13, everyone who I got was very well worth getting.

I don't have time to sit here and give great examples of how I got everyone and everything so here is a brief version of what happened.

First, I got Andy Sonnanstine to sign a card coming off the bus.

After that, Dan Wheeler had come in and out of the hotel with his family. He hung out outside the hotel with them for a while as we stood there patiently waiting. He gave us the international "wait one moment" sign, so we knew he would. After saying goodbye he came over and thanked us for not bothering him while he was with his family.

Dionner Navarro was the next guy out and he signed one like he always does.

Don Zimmer, who usually never signs got talked into it, and since I didnt have any cards of him, I had him sign a 2007 team picture card.

Carlos Pena came out and headed off to dinner. He signed a few and I was lucky to get him.

Scott Kazmir came out with David Price and went one way, while Jeff Niemann came out with Andy Sonnanstine and went another way.

I went up to Scott and asked him if he'd sign.

"Sure, I'll sign, but I dont think it's me you want." He said, pointing to David Price.

"Well, to be honest, I he signed for me Friday night." I told him.

"Oh, I gotcha. That's a good reason. Variety."

David Price said later, so I raced around and got Jeff Niemann to sign the other two cards he didnt the day before.

David Price came back and signed one each. Kept his word, I like that.

Andy Sonnanstine came back with Jeff Niemann and signed two more.

Finally I got Carl Crawford. Two days before carl had picked up my sharpie 3 times and handed it back to me unsigned. He was cool, walked strait over and signed one.

Carlos Pena signed another to round off the night.

Thats a solid 13 if you ask me. Here's the Recap:

Tampa Bay Rays:

Grant Balfour: Missed
Randy Choate: Missed
Lance Cormier: Missed
Matt Garza: Refused
JP Howell: 0/0
Jason Isringhausen: Missed
Joe Nelson: 0/0
Jeff Niemann: 2/2
David Price: 1/3
James Shields: Refused
Andy Sonnanstine: 3/9
Dan Wheeler: 1/6
Michel Hernandez: 0/0
Dionner Navarro: 1/9
Willy Aybar: Missed
Reid Brignac: Missed
Evan Longoria: Refused
Carlos Pena: 2/9
Carl Crawford: 1/9
Gabe Gross: Missed
Matt Joyce: Missed
Gabe Kapler: Refused
BJ Upton: Missed
Ben Zobrist: Missed
Joe Dillon: Missed
Joe Maddon: Missed
Steve Henderson: Missed
Tom Foley: 0/0
Dave Martinez: 0/0
Don Zimmer: 1/1 (Team Picture Card)
Scott Kazmir: 1/9

Here are the highlights:



I was supposed to go today for the Rays but last second I scratched that. I may go Sunday morning. Who knows. I will definitely go one day for STL next week.

Enjoy

Friday, May 5th, 2009: Tampa Bay Rays Hotel

Rain stinks. It kills sharpies, and when a player goes out you don't want all your stuff getting ruined by trying to get them to sign. Friday was one of those days that seemed like the rain could wash everything away, including the game that night, which it ultimately did.

I got to the hotel late at around 10:45, and it would be a little while before we saw someone come out. The first players we saw were Lance Cormier and Ben Zobrist. Zobrist went to get lunch and Lance was going to go get flowers for his wife. For lance I had a board of 9 2004 SP Prospects for him to sign. Here is a signed version you can see:

 

Lance has a nice autograph. Some of the cards had gotten a little wet and he actually made sure each card was dry before signing it. Usually he signs one or two, but since it was raining he was in no rush to leave so he signed 6 for me. I gave one to another collector, and Lance requested to keep two of them, which was no problem at all. I told him that I had three more cards in my bag and he said "Let me get them when I get back! I gotta get her flowers before she gets here!"

Before Ben Zobrist could come back, Joe Nelson walked out and signed the only card I had. Ben finally made his way back and nicely came around to where there was an overhang. My pen somehow got dripped on and the signatures started getting faint and whatnot. Nothing got completely ruined but they dont look great some of them. He did all 9 cards, and I restocked the last 3 that I had for later.

Gabe Gross came out and signed one for me and told everyone else that he'd sign later. The card got hit by a lone rain drop and messed up the signature a little but nothing terrible.

The next guy I got was Steve Henderson, a former player and now coach under Joe Maddon.

After that was Grant Balfour and Willy Aybar. Both signed only one card and both got messed up by rain, not terribly but still enough. Ughhhhhhhh.

After seeing Matt Joyce a few times and after him mumbling to us a few times, he finally decided to sign, and luckily niether card got messed up by rain.

Ben Zobrist came back out and signed the other 3 cards for me, making the total 12 for the day.

Dionner Navarro came out next and and smartly stayed under an overhang so he nor our stuff would get wet, but of course he decides to use someone else's thick sharpie for the card, which is annoying to me, but whatever, better than not getting an autograph.

Andy Sonnanstine made his way over to starbucks, and when he came back, I asked him to sign, he told me he was going to put his stuff on the bus and then come back. He kept his word, and came off and right over to me where I was under the overhang and signed 3 cards, like he always does.

The last autograph for pre-game that I got was Carlos Pena who signed my Allen and Ginter absolutely perfectly. He has a good signature and then a good signature which he puts lines through. This time he didnt put the lines through them and it looks awesome.

I was on my way back to Queens to get my car and just finishing eating my McDonalds when I found out the game had been postponed. So it was immediately back to the city. Had I not have made one more light I would have missed the bus returning. I got to the hotel and the bus was pulling up.

I got David Price to sign a card off the bus, and Reid Brignac as well. I was the only one who got Reid, as other people went for other players.

Matt Joyce came back out of the hotel and signed the last 2 that I had giving me 4 for the day.

JP Howell came out next. JP is insanely cool and got on line for a taxi, and signed whatever you put in front of him. I of course only have a 2006 Topps photoshoped Tampa Bay card.

Reid Brignac came out again, and signed another for me and one for everyone else as well.

Joe Maddon and the rest of the coaching staff came out and waited on line for a taxi. Joe signed 2 cards, since one got messed up by the rain. Since he was waiting on line for a while I decided to get a picture with the 2008 AL Manager of the Year:



Soon after that a group of players came out. It was Matt Garza, Jason Isringhausen, Jeff Niemann, and Andy Sonnanstine. Matt Garza wouldnt sign at first, but once Jason Isringhausen started signing he did as well. He signed a nice 2006 Upper Deck card. Jeff Niemann signed 5 cards including a 2007 Bowman draft picks and prospects jersey card.

Grant Balfour came back earlier and was heading out again with his wife, and walked out and signed another card for me.

Next guy out was Dionner Navarro who signed a card for me and inscribed it 2008 AS for me.

There was a huge gap before we saw anyone else. The group of four players returned and I got Isringhausen this time to sign a 2006 SP Authentic. Then the coaches returned and I got Maddon to sign one more.

Dont even get me started on BJ Upton. All I have to say is that he is the nastiest person in the game. Joe Maddon, if you see this, get him under control, because clearly his ego is so large that it is eating himself, and thats probably why he has been so bad the past two seasons. If you dont believe me about his ego, the man believes he is better than Chipper Jones. Enough said.

That was it for the night. Pena returned wouldnt sign, Longoria wouldnt do it. It was frustrating since there werent too many people (4) and Longoria still wouldnt sign. Oh well. Glad I got him last year. Glad Tampa comes in again this weekend.

I met up with some friends in the city and we walked around for a little bit and then headed over to where my car was and headed home. I dropped them off and we hung out there for about half an hour before I headed home at 3:30.

It was a good day, Here's the recap:

Tampa Bay Rays:

Grant Balfour: 2/4
Randy Choate: Missed
Lance Cormier: 6/8
Matt Garza: 1/9
JP Howell: 1/1
Jason Isringhausen: 1/9
Joe Nelson: 1/1
Jeff Niemann: 5/7
David Price: 1/4
James Shields: Refused
Andy Sonnanstine: 3/9
Dan Wheeler: Refused
Michel Hernandez: Missed
Dionner Navarro: 2/9
Willy Aybar: 1/9
Reid Brignac: 2/8
Evan Longoria: Refused
Carlos Pena: 1/9
Carl Crawford: Missed
Gabe Gross: 1/9
Matt Joyce: 4/4
Gabe Kapler: Refused
BJ Upton: Refused
Ben Zobrist: 12/12
Joe Dillon: Missed
Joe Maddon: 3/8
Steve Henderson: 1/1
Tom Foley: 0/0
Dave Martinez: 0/0

Rays Total: 48 Autographs

Take a look at the highlights:



Sorry that it is a bit blurry.

Anyway, I have three more updates that will be up soon. Enjoy this one. Washington was good yesterday, and I'm looking foward to doing this team again Friday and maybe Sunday.

Season Stats:
Fridays Total: 48 Autographs
Season Total: 533 Autographs
Season Average: 38.1 Autographs/Hotel

Just a Quick Update...

Hey everyone...sorry I havent posted an update recently, I've been insanely busy and just haven't had the time to update a full update. I have three updates coming:

 

Friday, June 5, 2009: Tampa Bay Rays Hotel

Sunday, June 7, 2009: Tampa Bay Rays Hotel

Friday, June 12, 2009: Long Island Ducks/Newark Bears

 

I *should* have an update up Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, but no guarantees on that. So just be patient and I'll get those up soon for everyone.

 

My next hotel will be Friday, June 19, 2009 for Tampa Again. After that I have no idea whats going on.

 

Thanks for being patient and make sure you come back soon

Tuesday, June 2, 2009: Texas Rangers Hotel

The day started off pretty bad. Not from an autograph standpoint, but from a parking standpoint, and that there was none at 6 different train stations. After freaking out in my car for way too long, I decided to just drive to Queens and park at my friend's house. It was annoying as heck, but whatever it needed to be done or I was not going to be able to get into the city.

We ended up making it to the hotel at 11:15 which is a lot later than I like to get there, and as a result I missed Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Mike Maddux, and Marlon Byrd. That was disappointing but sometimes that happens and there is nothing you can do.

The first player we did see was Jason Jennings. The 2002 NL ROY just stood outside the hotel waiting for friends and signed whatever you put in front of him. When all was said and done I had gotten 10 cards signed, including a 2007 Allen and Ginter when he was on Houston.

The next player out was Hank Blalock. Hank use to be very tough to get a few years back, but has since lightened up a bit. He signed 1 each no problem, and I got him to sign my 2008 Allen and Ginter. Which is a shortprint in the set. Take a look:



After that the next player out was Francisco who got into a car and signed while sitting down. I had 6 cards of him, they were all the same, but they are the very nice 2004 SP Prospects cards. You can see the signed one below. Its very red.

While I was putting his card away someone said that David Murphy was signing. So I got my stuff out for him. But then I noticed Ian Kinsler. So I ditched Murphy and headed over to get Kinsler. Ian was cool and waited for me to get my cards out, and signed 3 for me. Then total chaos set in. There were 7 players standing there. Next I went up to Chris Davis. Chris signed all 5 cards I brought for him, and then it was over to Elvis Andrus, who signed one for me. After that Matt Harrison, who was with the team dispite being on the DL signed 2 for me, and then Taylor Teagarden signed the lone card I had and Brandon Boggs signed one of the 6 I had. They all then got into cabs and headed off. But just as quickly as it started there was a moment to catch my breath and notice that I quickly grabbed 13 autographs in about 5 minutes.

A few minutes later we saw Warner Madrigal who signed the lone card I had. He has since been sent down.

Eddie Guardado had left for lunch before and returned and started signing. When he was done signing I had 8 cards signed, suprisingly none of which from his Minnesota days, where he made his name as a closer and earned the nickname "Everyday Eddie" Weird, but it doesnt really matter to me.

The last guy we got pregame was Kris Benson who got on the bus. I had 3 really nice cards signed, and he has a gorgeous signature, but he signs very fast and uses the side of the marker so they didnt come out great. He did one of the gold label and 2 of the SP cards. 


I had 37 autographs at this point and I was going to stay for postgame. I hung out in NYC with my friend Vincent and we walked around a little before meeting up with my friend Russ, who is living in the city this summer. We watched a bit of the game, but mainly the hockey game. Finally the game ended and we headed back over to the hotel.

There were two buses, and off the first one I got Hank Blalock to sign that sideways card, which was a 2007 SP Rookie Edition card. First time I have gotten one of those signed, and it looks great.

Then Andruw Jones came back in a car. I asked him to sign a Braves and a Dodgers card. Now, I know your thinking, a Dodgers card? Really? He sucked that year. Well he did, but when it's an Allen and Ginter, that takes priority. He agreed to do that and yet signed 2 Dodgers cards anyway. Great. At least he did a Ginter and a Co-Signers.

The last guy we would get that night would be Omar Vizquel. Omar came back in a taxi, and when we went to get him he went out the other side of the taxi and started playing with us. He ducked down behind the cab and started pretending to be chased. He stopped and was laughing and signed two for me, a Mariners card from 1990, and an Indians card from 2000.

That was it, I drove home, and watched MLB Bloopers on MLBTV.

Here's the recap:

Texas Rangers:
Kris Benson: 3/9
Scott Feldman: Refused
Frank Francisco: 1/6
Eddie Guardado: 8/8
Derek Holland: 0/0
Jason Jennings: 10/14
Warner Madrigal: 1/1
Brandon McCarthy: Refused
Kevin Millwood: Missed
Guillermo Moscoso: Missed
Darren O'Day: Missed
Vincente Padilla: Missed
CJ Wilson: Missed
Jarrod Saltalamcchia: Missed
Taylor Teagarden: 1/1
Elvis Andrus: 1/2
Chris Davis: 5/5
Ian Kinsler: 3/9
Omar Vizquel: 2/8
Michael Young: Missed
Brandon Boggs: 1/6
Marlon Byrd: Missed
Nelson Cruz: Missed
Josh Hamilton: Missed
Andruw Jones: 2/9
David Murphy: Missed
Hank Blalock: 2/9
Matt Harrison: 2/2
Ron Washington: Missed
Mike Maddux: Refused
Gary Pettis: Missed
Jose Guzman: Missed
Nolan Ryan: Missed

Take a look at the highlights:






I was at the Rays hotel Friday, June 5 and did very well. I may go back tomorrow for postgame, and most likely on Monday for the last hotel for a few weeks and do Tampa until 3:30/4 and then go for Philadelphia after that since they will be in town. As always there will be updates for everything.

Saturday, May 30, 2009: Florida Marlins Hotel

The Marlins are always one of my favorite teams to go for. I always seem to do well, and the have guys who are pretty much all cool (with the exception of Hanley) who sign. Today though, would not be one of those days. Total wise was good, quality could have been a lot better. Lets get right down to it, so buckle in (if you actually do, I'm concerned about where you are reading this), and lets get moving.

The morning was terrible. I'm not even going to go into this in detail. I got Freddi Gonzalez twice and Matt Lindstrom twice. That was it, that was my morning. Whoopie. And of course I DONT have this Matt Lindstrom card to make it just a little better:



Four autographs all morning. 4. Four, Quatro, Quatre. Post-game needed to be much better and luckily it was.

I hung out in Queens and we made our way back to the hotel when the game was over. The bus came and like always no one seemed interested in signing off of it.

But then players and coaches start coming out and the first guys out were Freddi Gonzalez and Andy Fox. Freddi had signed 2 cards for me this morning but there was a taxi waiting and he told me that he would get the rest later, which he did.

The next guy who we saw was John Baker. Security was horrible and being over the top about everything. The threatened to call the cops maybe 5 times or so but of course never did, because they know they have no case and the cops honestly, unless you go into the hotel, dont really care. Barack Obama was in town, they have much better things to worry about. Anyway, Baker was nice enough to roll down the window of the taxi he was in, and signed all 6 of my cards for me. Very nice guy, and his wife/girlfriend thought it was the coolest thing ever.

The next guys out were Burke Badenhop and Hayden Penn. Badenhop wouldnt sign at first, but when Penn started to, he joined in as well. Hayden Penn has a horrible signature. Literally "h-loop" but with that he signed 4 cards at least, while Burke who has a decent graph did both of the cards I had.

The next guy ot was Brian Sanches. Somehow I had 8 cards of him, which he was happy to sign all of them. I think he was rather excited someone knew who he was. It was weird though, because after each card he did this weird hesitation and looked like he was going to hand them back each time but never did.

Security had gone in at this point and we were lucky enough that Jeremy Hermida came out. Jeremy had been refusing the first trip and the previous day according to other collectors, but he got stuck on the taxi line, and had no problem signing. I got a 2007 Fleer Rookie Sensations card and a 2008 Allen and Ginter that a friend kindly gave to me since he had 2 and had already gotten him on other things. They look really nice and you can see them below.

That was it at the hotel. I was starving, so I headed down a few blocks to Duane Reade to get a snack when I noticed a fellow collector frantically trying to get my attention. He told me that Hanley was over at some restaurant and was signing, and that he was getting ready to go. I raced over quickly and got Hanley to sign a card for me. Unfortuately it didnt turn out so well, so I asked for another one.

"Hanley, any chance you could sign one more? The first one turned out like crap."

"Ohh, let me see." He said, in horrible broken English.

He looked at it made a fart sound, and signed another one, even making sure it turned out better.

Emilio Bonafacio was also there and I had him sign the one card I had of him, which I had aquirred in a trade with a fellow collector that morning.

That was it, then security freaked out on us when we tried to get Dan Uggla. I yelled at them. I'm not getting into specifics on this cause it makes me so **********, but, lets just say, one guard is in a lot of trouble, and they now know not to mess with me anymore.

I went home, and even though I only got 9 different players, Hanley was well worth it.

Here's the recap:

Florida Marlins:
Burke Badenhop: 2/2
Kiko Calero: Refused
Josh Johnson: Missed
Matt Lindstrom: 2/9
Cristhian Martinez: Missed
Dan Meyer: Missed
Andrew Miller: Refused
Leo Nunez: Missed
Hayden Penn: 4/9
Brian Sanches: 8/8
Chris Volstad: Missed
Sean West: Missed
John Baker: 6/6
Brett Hayes: Missed
Ronny Paulino: Missed
Emilio Bonafacio: 1/1
Jorge Cantu: Refused
Chris Coghlan: Missed
Ross Gload: Refused
Wes Helms: Refused
Hanley Ramirez: 2/9
Dan Uggla: Refused
Brett Carroll: Missed
Jeremy Hermida: 2/9
Cody Ross: Missed
Fredi Gonzalez: 8/8
Jim Presley: Missed
Andy Fox: 0/0
Carlos Tosca: Missed
Tommy Hutton: Missed
Jeff Conine: Missed
Andre Dawson: Missed
Jack McKeon: Missed
Jeffrey Loria: Missed

Here's a look at the highlights:



There should be an update tomorrow about the Rangers hotel from yesterday, June 2nd tomorrow. I will be going for Tampa on Friday, maybe Monday.

Season Stats:
Saturday's Total: 35 Autographs
Season Total: 443 Autographs
Season Average: 36.9 Autographs/Hotel
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