Pawtucket Vs. Rochester (Twins) 7/14/13 (Dwight Evans II)

Sunday morning in Pawtucket is gradually becoming my favorite time to 'graph. This season when I have done Sunday morning however, even if I get there very early, most of the team is in. Yesterday was the exception however, as I beat every single player there.

I believe my first autograph of the day was Will Middlebrooks (give or take a few). I had him sign a jersey. I was a little disappointed that the pen was darker than I anticipated, but it still looks okay. I know next time to go much lighter, because I was going for a more silver look.

I was able to add another big group of people to my team set:

Gary DiSarcina was a bit nicer than last time:

I was able to meet Jonathan Diaz again, who played for the Red Sox last week:

J.C. Linares:

Ryan Rowland-Smith:

Another 2013 Red Sox, Jose De La Torre:

2012 Red Sox, Chris Carpenter:

I also got a bunch of guys on non team set cards.

Mitch Maier was nice as always. I actually traded one of my signed cards for someone else's because I had a bunch of one year, and the other guy had none. It's cool when stuff like that works out.

Ryan Dent, who showed up in a cab:

After the game, I was able to get Rubby De La Rosa and Mark Hamilton. Hamilton actually came out as I was getting in the car. I was shocked to get Rubby because he said he would be back, but he isn't the greatest signer so I did not expect him to keep his word. Luckily he did:

I also added a few more guys to my team ball.

Will Latimer

Brock Huntzinger

Drew Sutton

Alex Hassan

Charlie Haeger:

Dan Butler:

I was also greatly pleased to have been able to meet Red Sox Legend, Dwight Evans again. There were a lot more people than last time, but he signed for every single one. I even got a picture with him!

I didn't have anything for Rochester, so I got a number of the good guys on photo paper, and after the game I did a team ball.

Drew Butera:

Vance Worley:

Local guy, Chris Colabello. His story is really incredible. Much similar to Daniel Nava, he looked like a career Independent ball player, gets picked up by a big league team and is given a chance to work his way through the system, plays in the World Baseball Classic, and makes his big league debut in 2013. I'm really happy for him, and it was nice to meet him again( I met him in New Britain last year).

Liam Hendriks:

Team Ball:

Drew Butera

Luis Perdomo

Jeff Clement

Jermaine Mitchell

Eric Fryer

Eric Farris

Michael Tonkin

Aaron Thompson

Chris Herman

P.J. Walters

James Beresford

Logan Darnell

Total Autographs for 2013: 602

Former Presidential Candidate & Consumer Activist Ralph Nader 7/13/13

So many politicians nowadays do nothing once they get in office, or argue between parties so greatly that hardly anything really gets done. Ralph Nader however, throughout his career has helped the American people so much with things such  as car safety, and other consumer issues, so I was thrilled when I heard he was having a book signing in Connecticut.

The time for the signing was at the perfect time for me to go before work. If it were scheduled even a half hour later I wouldn't have been able to go, so I was very lucky.

Earlier this week I bought a copy of the TIME magazine from 1969 which he was on the cover of. At a lot of book signings they don't allow outside items, but I knew since this was in Connecticut it would be pretty low key, which I ended up being correct about.

The event itself was very nice. Ralph talked a lot about a vast array of issues, took tons of questions from the audience which was probably 60 or so strong. He seemed so passionate in his talk, and it was clear why he has been around for so long.

I was the second person to get to the table when the signing started, and he was very nice. He had no problem with signing the magazine, although he didn't switch pens. It ended up coming out nicely nonetheless.

TIME Magazine from December 12, 1969:

Total Autographs for 2013: 564

Pawtucket Pre Game 7/12/13

I recently bought a Will Middlebrooks jersey, and was hoping to get it signed today, but I woke up a little late so I knew it would be close.

I ended up going anyway because I had a few hours before work, and the other 'graphers there told me that I missed him by like ten minutes. Just my luck. I will probably see him Sunday anyway, so it wasn't a huge deal, but it was a little disappointing.

I also forgot over half of my cards for Pawtucket at my house because I was rushing.

The best autograph I was able to get, which was actually really good was Xander Bogaerts, who if you don't know is the Red Sox #1 overall prospect.

Another good prospect I got was Bryce Brentz who is having an amazing season:

For everyone else I got, I put them on a team ball:

Jeremy Hazelbaker

Chris Martin

Alberto Rosario

Mitch Maier

Chris Carpenter

Chris Hernandez

Mark Hamilton

Jonathan Diaz (Who became my 110th Red Sox I have met)

Ryan Rowland-Smith

Total Autographs for 2013: 562

Eastern League All Star Game 7/10/13

There is just something about the state of Connecticut and All Star Games. The last time the game was held in Connecticut, it actually got fogged out, and this time on the way over, driving through Hartford was pretty hell-ish to be honest because of some of the hardest rain I had ever seen.

When I got to the stadium, it had stopped raining for the time being, but it would go on to rain at different points throughout my 'graphing time inside which really limited what I could get.

The weather was not the only factor against me however. There was a signing at the Home Run Derby the night before, so I knew players would be burned out with signing, and also the crowd trying to get AA autographs was just insane.  I had also burned part of my arm this week at work pretty badly, so getting elbowed and weaving through the crowd wasn't on the top of my mind.


With all of that said, I did okay.

All of these were obtained before the game inside.

When Harrisburg was in town earlier this year, Brian Goodwin was stone cold. He was my main target that day, and he wouldn't even look at people. Luckily, last night, he signed coming in from the batting cage, and was the first autograph I obtained ( if you want to call it an autograph).

I also got the Giants #4 prospect, Joe Panik, whom I met earlier this season. I have nothing but respect for this guy. He literally signed for a solid 20 minutes when he came in from the batting cage.

I got 5 items total (2 were for someone else):

Mets #14 Prospect, Cesar Puello, who was on the list for the Miami clinic with A-Rod and friends. I was shocked that these didn't smudge, as it was raining pretty hard when I got them:

Another Giants prospect, Andrew Susac:

Allan Dykstra, and Caleb Joseph

Javier Herrera:

Steven Souza Jr.

After the game was nearly impossible to get autographs because there were about 50-60 people all crowding the door. Jameson Taillon, who was the prize autograph of the event ran out, and I never got him. I just left because with the crowd it was pointless.

Total Autographs for 2013: 550

Connecticut Tigers 7/5/13

Yesterday before work I made a VERY quick trip to Norwich to get a few more Jonathan Crawford pictures signed before he gets called up. He drove in about ten minutes after me.He was nice as usual, and I did a team sheet for anyone else who I saw.

Team sheet from top to bottom:

Ryan Beck

Javier Azcona

Julio Felix

Jonathan Crawford

Hunter Scantling

Raphael Rhymes

This was my shortest trip/entry in a very long time, but I had some time before work, and figured a first round pick was worth the short drive.

Total Autographs for 2013: 537

Pawtucket Vs. Scranton-Wilkes Barre 7/3/13 (My Crazy Night)

The sequence of events that lead to the end of last night was really just incredible. Game time was at 6:15, rather than the usual 7:05, so my dad and I were running slightly late. We have a flex general  admission season ticket pack, but because of the fireworks show and school being out, EVERY SINGLE ticket was sold out other than "standing room only", which doesn't allow you to get in until 6:30. Kinda pissed off, we remembered that there was a scalper(yes even in Pawtucket), a little way back, but when we got to him, he had just sold everything he had. We then pretty much thought our night there was over, and my dad had even asked if any of the other local teams were home. Then we both remembered that there was another scalper towards where we parked. He ended up giving us tickets that not only got us into the game, but the barbecue area as well.

Because we now had barbecue tickets, my dad asked me if we should just stay in the bleachers in center field, since they were close, and after we got our food the other seats would be filled anyway. I agreed because I always like sitting in the outfield there now anyway.

If you haven't heard, Will Middlebrooks who happens to be my favorite player, had 8 RBI, 2 Home Runs, and went 4-5. His second home run came with the bases loaded, and here is what happened.

He belted the ball to center field, it hit the top of the wall, and bounced right to me!

His night was featured on both NESN and SportsCenter, and you could see me in those clips

In this video, you can see me better in the replay about halfway through:

Will is a great signer, and I knew I would see him outside because it was getaway day, so I knew that ball would become an awesome addition to my collection.

Like I said, it was getaway day, so every player had to get on the bus. Xander Bogaerts, and Jackie Bradley didn't sign, along with a few others.

I was able to get some more cards signed though.

Brock Holt:

Mark Hamilton, who is having a very solid season for Pawtucket:

Former Red Sox, Drew Sutton:

Chris Hernandez:

Dan Butler:

Michael Pineda was rehabbing for the Yankees, but he did not sign. I only got Brent Lillibridge for them:

Total Autographs for 2013: 528