Worcester Vs. Newark 8/13/12

I decided to take the 20 minute ride north tonight to try to graph a few former major leaguers, D' Angelo Jimenez, and Daryle Ward.

The game was delayed 3an hour because the umpires didn't show up(wow). But when the two guys came out, it was easy as can be.

Jimenez came out first, and he LOVED the '98 top prospect card I had for him:

Ward was even more nice. He came out with the manager, who liked seeing cards of him:

It was a very easy night of graphing, I'll be up to Pawtucket at some point in the next few days ti try for the Yankees again.

Total Autographs for 2012:848

Pawtucket Vs. Syracuse 8/8/12(PawSox On Field Auto Night)

This has always been an event on the top of my list each year because even the jerkiest players on the PawSox are obligated to sign. I always have help from my dad, usually to knock out a few team setters of the tough guys.

I did fairly well at the event, I got Billy Buckner for the first time. He is a piece of work:

His pal Josh Fields is just as bad, he never signs, and when he does he personalizes:

I knocked out my Rivera setters:

Chris Carpenter was one of the few who would switch pens:

I also knocked out my usual 3 Alex Wilson cards:

Daniel Bard was nice as usual:

My dad and I each got a Lin:

Prior didn't switch the pen for me, but did for my dad. He may know me by now:

Nate Spears(he has gotten tougher):

Tony Pena Jr. who is also a very tough graph:

I got 3 total from Jose Iglesias, who I hadn't gotten in 5 months this year:

Andy LaRoche:

Mauro Gomez, who is a very nice guy:

Reynaldo Rodriguez:

Newcomer Danny Valencia wasn't very warm, but signed my photo:

After the game I was mainly trying to get Red Sox rehabber, Andrew Bailey. Andrew was very nice, I wish the best for him: The photo looks better in person, the scan makes it hard to see the blue on dark.

I also did a team sheet for Syracuse while I was waiting. I got John Lannan, Mark Teahen, Josh Johnson, Carlos Maldonado, Corey Brown, and Mike MacDougal:

Total Autographs for 2012:836

CT Tigers Vs. Staten Island Yankees 8/7/12

I decided to head down to Norwich last night after work to get some of the good Staten Island players, and I did not go home disappointed.

When the game ended, I saw Matt Snyder in the dugout, so I got him to sign my photos. He was a nice kid.:

I was waiting for Peter O'Brien after the game, and he was one of the last ones out. He took the time to sign everything I had. I was the only one there so we talked about his time in the Cape League, and how he had to leave after only a few weeks for team USA.

I did a team sheet as well, and got almost everyone who traveled. I had photos for Matt Duran, but didn't realize it was him until after he got on the bus.

#36 Conor Mullee

#53 Charles Haslup

#20 Matt Duran

#59 Taylor Dugas

#26 Evan DeLuca

#24 Wes Wilson

#34 Andrew Benak

#18 Gabriel Encinas

#21 Dietrich Ens

#41

#56 Tim Flight

#45 Matt Snyder

#13 Stefan Lopez

#11 Ravel Santana

#14 Charles Basford

#60 Evan Rutckyj

#38 Alex Smith 

Some guys wrote numbers that aren't listed, I'm sure a few more will pop up in a few days.

Total Autographs at this game:44

Total Autographs for 2012: 800

Pawtucket Vs. Lehigh Valley 8/5/12(Ryno 2012 Round 2)

I was expecting another great day today after my awesome night, and I did not go home disappointed. Ryno came in around 10 o clock on the bus, and came right over and signed for the 7-8 people who were there. I was very unlucky with him last year, but I have done well both times this year.

I got him on a beautiful 8x10, and I had help getting my SI from my dad.

The caption on that magazine makes me smile every time.

Ryno was the only one who signed off the bus, but I was able to get some guys hanging inside:

Tyler Cloyd:

Tyson Brummett:

I hung for Ryno because he is usually pretty good about signing, and I nabbed him on another 8x10 and my set card:

I was very happy that he added the HOF inscription for me.

I also got Scott Elarton, but my scanner is messed up, and it is too shiny to take a photo of.

Pawtucket wise, I did okay on the day, Mark Prior came over without us even asking which was cool. he is such a nice guy:

I got Chris Hernandez for the first time:

Andy LaRoche:

 

Chris Carpenter again:

And to round it off, I got a team sheet done of other guys:

From top to bottom:

Jason Repko,  Tony Thomas, Jon Hee, Alex Hassan, J.C. Linares, Dan Butler,Reynaldo Rodriguez, and Zach Stewart

I opted for a photo with Mauro Gomez.

Total Autographs for 2012:756

Jim Calhoun Classic(Alumni Game) 8/4/12

Wow. I didn't think I could top my day at the Traveler's but I did tonight. Many of Uconn's greatest ever were at Mohegan Sun, and I had never done this event, so I went with the flow the whole night.

I first saw Rip Hamilton walking around while I was waiting to get in, I was able to stop him. He really rushed it so it didn't come out well, but I was happy to get him:

I got a bunch of guys near the tunnel, the best one I got there was Rudy Gay:

I did team sheets for other guys.

Jerome Dyson:

From top to bottom:

Rudy Johnson, A.J. Price, Donyell Marshall, Kevin Ollie, Gavin Edwards, Scott Burrell, Hasheem Thabeet, Souleymane Mane

Another Rudy Gay:

Jeff Adrien, Tony Robertson, Jerome Dyson,Ricky Moore:

I got an auto outside the arena afterwards, but didn't know who it was, please help me out if you can:

And now for the big one. Mr. Ray Allen. Ray is known to be one of the toughest athletes to graph, but after the game, many of the players stayed on the court to sign. The court was roped off, and the crowd was 10 people deep at points. Somehow I was able to get in the right spot after moving 4-5 times, and when Ray grabbed my photo, I was psyched:

I got close to him a second time, when he was leaving, and just missed him but took a pic. The picture is from next to the tunnel, I got him on the floor in an enormous crowd.:

It was just a fantastic night, especially since I got my favorite basketball player ever.

Total Autographs for 2012:731