Thursday, July 11, 2013

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).


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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):


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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:


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Another Giants prospect, Andrew Susac:

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Allan Dykstra, and Caleb Joseph

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Javier Herrera:

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Steven Souza Jr.

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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

Saturday, July 6, 2013

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.


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Team sheet from top to bottom:
Ryan Beck
Javier Azcona
Julio Felix
Jonathan Crawford
Hunter Scantling
Raphael Rhymes


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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

Thursday, July 4, 2013

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.


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


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Former Red Sox, Drew Sutton:


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Chris Hernandez:


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Dan Butler:



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


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Total Autographs for 2013: 528

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Connecticut Sun Vs. Tulsa Shock 7/2/13

I had wanted to go to Boston yesterday, but the forecast was calling for around a 60% chance of rain. Naturally, it didn't rain at all, but I had already decided to 'graph something indoors because Connecticut and Rhode Island didn't have great forecasts either.

Connecticut has a WNBA team at Mohegan Sun, which is fairly close to me, but I had never 'graphed it. I decided that since last year's NCAA star, Skylar Diggins was on the visiting team, I would try and meet her, as well as Candice Wiggins who herself is pretty good.

I was pretty surprised with how many people were 'graphing the hotel. Let's face it, the WNBA is VERY unpopular, but there were probably ten people there. 

Skylar was one of the first players down, along with Candice Wiggins, and once Skylar saw people, she turned around and took the underground tunnel to the arena. I was pretty mad, because she was pretty much the sole reason I went down there.

I was able to get one player at the hotel,

Riquna Williams from Miami:


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Inside before the game, I was able to get 2 very good Connecticut players.

Iziane Castro Marques from Brazil:



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The big get from tonight was probably Uconn legend, and 2012 WNBA MVP, Tina Charles. I got her before the game at the tunnel, and at the same spot after the game. She signed with some guy's crap black Sharpie on one:


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I was also able to meet Candice Wiggins from Stanford after the game. I was surprised she stopped, because she was running through the tunnel, stopped in place just for me, and that was right after a bad loss. I wish I could have added Skylar to the photo, but ohh well.


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Total Autographs for 2013: 514

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Top 25 Autographs From the First Half of 2013

I usually wait until the end of the year to do a countdown, but 2013 has had some real quality to it, to I will do a mid-year countdown, as well as a post-2013 one!

The Breakdown:
Frequency of Cities on the list:

Storrs, CT: 5
Cromwell,CT: 5
New York, NY: 4
New Britain, CT: 2
Montville, CT: 2
Willimantic, CT: 2
Pawtucket, RI: 2
Providence, RI: 2
Baltimore, MD: 1



25. Tim Daggett, 1984 Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast: Cromwell CT

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24. Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves Outfielder: Pawtucket, RI
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23. Steven Adams, OKC Thunder: Providence, RI

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22. Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76'ers: Providence, RI

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21. Boog Powell, Baltimore Orioles Legend: Baltimore, MD

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20. Bucky Dent, Yankees Hero: Montville, CT

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19. John Thompson III Legendary Georgetown Basketball Head Coach: Storrs, CT

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18. Doug Flutie, Former NFL Player: Cromwell, CT

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17.Caroline Kennedy, First Daughter: New York, NY

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16. Bob Woodward, Journalistic Icon, and Watergate Reporter: Willimantic, CT

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15. Bubba Watson, 2012 Masters Winner: Cromwell, CT

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14.Geno Auriemma, UCONN Womens Basketball Head Coach/Basketball HOF'er: Cromwell, CT

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13. Jim Calhoun, Former UCONN Mens Basketball Head Coach/Basketball HOF'er: Storrs, CT

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12. Kendrick Lamar, Rap Phenom: Storrs,CT

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11. Branford Marsalis 3x Grammy Winner: Storrs,CT

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10. Tommie Smith, 1968 Olympic Track Gold Medalist/Philanthropist/ Civil Rights Advocate: Storrs, CT

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9. Tim Wakefield, Red Sox Legend/2x World Series Champion: Cromwell,CT

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8. Jim Rice, Red Sox Legend/National Baseball Hall of Fame: Montville, CT

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7. Dwight Evans, Red Sox Legend: Pawtucket, RI

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6. Jim Gaffigan, Comedic Icon/Author: Tribeca New York,NY

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5. Paul Molitor, Twins Legend/National Baseball Hall of Fame: New Britain,CT

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4. Rudy Giuliani, Former NYC Mayor: New Britain, CT

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3. Jeff Bridges, Academy Award Winning Actor: New York, NY

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2. Sonia Sotomayor, Unites States Supreme Court Justice: New York, NY

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1. Johnny Rzeznik + Robby Takac, The Goo Goo Dolls: Willimantic, CT

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