Showing posts with label 2009 Topps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2009 Topps. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

South Alabama's First Pitch Banquet - Mobile, Alabama

Posted by William Lee Coleman III | Wednesday, February 8, 2012 | Category: , , , , , , | 3 comments

This event now replaces the annual University of South Alabama Jaguars baseball alumni game. The event was held at the USS Alabama Battleship pavilion in Mobile, Alabama. With it being the first year of the banquet, I did not know what to expect. I signed up early for this event once it was announced that David Freese would be attending. I ordered a World Series baseball six weeks ago to the day.

 
Event Rating: 4  (Could have been much worse)

Overall,  the three hour event was well organized and the dinner was not bland, which I've come to expect  with catered events like this. Upon entering the banquet area we were informed by a huge sign stating that Mr. Freese would only be signing the photo the college was providing. 



After reading the sign, I welcomed the challenge and decided that I would have to think outside the box if I wanted Mr.Freese to sign my baseballs. While exploring the exhibits inside the pavilion, I had a discussion with a USA worker about the event and learned that one player was limited by his memorabilia contract and another one flat out declined attending because he did not feel comfortable signing autographs. I told him they should have announced the autograph policy weeks in advance and then the sign wouldn't have been necessary, or at the very least not been a surprise. I know the school was trying to accommodate the players' wishes but the way they went about it should have been handled differently.

David Freese: 3-3

Before tonight, I had never asked David for an autograph even though I had seen him on several other baseball occasions.  He looked like he wanted to sign my World Series baseball and 2009 Topps card at the beginning of the event, but handlers were enforcing the "no outside items" policy at the tables. I had to settle for the photo that was already signed. I eventually got David one on one after a TV interview and although he hesitated to sign, he signed my World Series baseball. As the event continued, I noticed the handlers were not addressing staff members, the current baseball team players, and former alumni players about getting David on outside items while he was preparing to be introduced. My second item would come later after a former player was getting outside items signed and I just placed my ball in David's hand. David had to address the issue of not signing outside items multiple times and he did very politely. With the way Mr.Freese handled himself tonight, I am thinking about starting a player collection of him.
 


Jon Lieber: 3-3


I've seen him plenty times at the alumni games and pitching clinics around the Mobile area. I am pretty sure I now have all his base cards signed. I had to remove a sharpie mark on one of the cards due to Lieber dropping the pen while signing. I didn't have time to ask him if he still had his monster truck that I saw him in down in Clearwater three years ago. 




Pj Walters:  I just had him sign the 2009 Topps cards. Mr.Walters wasn't that talkative and did not look comfortable at all.


Allen Battle: 1-1

 I had Allen sign the free photo and told him I couldn't find any cards of him in time for the event even though he has a ton of base issue cards. Allen shared an interesting story about his first HR ball. He said Mark McGwire retrieved the ball, on his behalf, from a fan.

Marlon Anderson: 4-4

For some reason, I have always have a hard time getting Mr.Anderson to stay in one place in the past. At the alumni games, he would sign a card and then dart off. He couldn't get away tonight.


Lance Johnson: 4-4

He informed me that he normally doesn't sign the 1988 Donruss card and that he only signs it at card shows in St. Louis. I said " That is okay." and he then stated " I will however sign it for you tonight". One of the more interesting players during the question and answer session.


No shows:  Luis Gonzalez, Dave Stapleton, Steve Sparks, Juan Pierre, and Adam Lind. 

 My whole reason for attending the event was to get Mr.Freese on a World Series baseball and anything else was a bonus. Was it wrong of me to ignore the autograph policy?  Perhaps I would have followed the policy had the organizers provided the information- perhaps not.  Your comments are welcome.





Sunday, January 29, 2012

2012 Atlanta Braves Caravan- Montgomery, AL

Posted by William Lee Coleman III | Sunday, January 29, 2012 | Category: , , | 2 comments

Decided to head up to Montgomery, Alabama for the Braves Caravan once they added Don Sutton. Other players scheduled to appear were Tim Hudson, David Ross, Eric Hinske, Tyler Pastornicky and Scott Fletcher.


Event Rating: 5


For the most part, the Braves have gotten the caravans organized which wasn't always the case in my previous experiences.  In the past,  Braves personnel would give out a limitless amount of multicolored index cards to help them calculate how many people the players could sign for within a two hour period. If you had no card, you were not getting an autograph.  Dishonest people quickly caught on to how they were doing things and would bring their own index cards while cutting in front of others that were waiting.  Now they give out three hundred numbered cards that can be scanned if needed with a stamp. At around #300,  a Braves team member will tell you honestly the chances of meeting the players is slim but you are more than welcome to try. The universal tip when graphing the caravans is to arrive early. It still amuses me that people think they can drive up to the event 15 minutes before it starts.   Being the avid autograph collector that I am, I knew to be there early.  I arrived at around 9:55am and got number #48. 

Don Sutton:  Signed my baseball with "HOF" inscription. Any day you get a "HOFer" for free is a good day. Its nice to see Mr. Sutton take an interest in some of the items he is signing. He was even filling requests on items for people that asked for his win total and strikeout total on items.


Tim Hudson: Signed my two 2009 Topps cards. I never know what to expect from Mr Hudson. I have had Mr. Hudson stop in his car at the gates of Disney and sign every item put in front of him. Other times at organized events he looks like he would rather be anywhere else. Today he was very talkative.  He even got a kick out of Scott Fletcher's 1992 Topps card that was near his, and kept asking me to see it.


David Ross: Signed my 2009 Topps card. Not very talkative.



Eric Hinske: Signed two of my 2009 Topps cards and was talking about how much he enjoyed his time with the Yankees.



Tyler Pastornicky: The Braves think he can stick it out at SS and I had all my cards of him signed this year by way of 50-50's, so why not have him sign a baseball ? I will probably regret this 2 months from now when I am watching Jack Wilson on TBS.







Scott Fletcher: I originally had four cards but gave the lady in front of me one of them because she was flipping through a Braves program from last year. I told her he isn't going to be in it and she could have one of my cards.


Overall, the trip was worth it to me. I can cross off 3 more cards of my 2009 Topps set, a 1990 Leaf card,  and added another "HOFer" baseball to the collection.  It was a great way to kick off my "autograph season"!

Monday, January 9, 2012

2012 Plans....

Posted by William Lee Coleman III | Monday, January 9, 2012 | Category: , , , , , , , | 1 comments

 2011 was an exciting year for me. I spent a week in Arizona for Spring Training. Spent a weekend autographing the Cubs, Dodgers, and Reds in Las Vegas for two Spring Training Exhibition games. Returned to Arizona in early October for the Arizona Fall League. Due to the birth of my first child, there will be no Spring Training for me or any road-trips in 2012. I plan on hitting TTM hard this year in between changing diapers. I been working on the 2009 Topps and 1990 Leaf set. I do have a short "to do" list this season that should be easy to accomplish:


  • Visit Trustmark Park and do a review of the stadium. Slowly seeing all the teams and ballparks of the Southern League.
  • Attend the 17th annual Rickwood Classic, a regular-season game played at legendary Rickwood Field. This year the game is May 30th.  Expect plenty of pictures.
  • Revisit Riverwalk Stadium. The photos from my first review of Riverwalk Stadium did not do the stadium justice. 
  • Revisit Hank Aaron Stadium. I was just learning how to shoot baseball stadiums and think I can get some better pictures inside Hank Aaron Stadium with my new camera. Also, the Hank Aaron Museum was being built and was not completed until after I moved to Salt Lake City.
  • Affiliated baseball returns to Pensacola with the Blue Wahoo's. Opening Night will be April 5, 2012 and I will be there.
  • Visit Zephyr Field and do a review of the stadium. I never been inside due to a rain out.

 A visit to all these stadiums should be easy to do and enjoyable. Finally, I will start sharing some of my autograph experiences outside of games from this point forward.




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