7/24/13 Part 1: New Britain (Twins) Vs. Portland (Red Sox) (Hall of Famer Paul Molitor, Miguel Sano, Garin Cecchini)

After a long near 2 weeks of not 'graphing, I ended my hiatus by going to 2 games today. The first was New Britain Vs. Portland, the 3rd time I have 'graphed this match up this season.

There have been a lot of changes since I last hit New Britain such as the call up of the Twins #1 Prospect, Miguel Sano. For Portland, there were new faces such as Garin Cecchini (whom I last met before this blog was created), and Noe Ramirez.

I got to the stadium at about 8:00 a.m. for the 12:00 game and I was the first 'grapher there. For pre-game outside, I would later be joined by a friend of mine, who I was able to 50/50 stuff for throughout the day, which was nice because I didn't have cards for a few guys.

New Britain Pre-Game outside:

Miguel Sano was one of the first players I got. I considered talking to him in Spanish because he doesn't know much English it seems, but there were no issues, and he signed my photo with no problem.

When my buddy showed up he let me know that Paul Molitor had been in for the series, so I was hoping that he would show up again today. He did, which was really cool. I've met him a number of times now, but it is always cool to meet one of the best baseball players ever.

I  asked him if he would mind putting his Hall of Fame Inscription and he said, "Yeah actually I would mind a little bit." That seemed a bit unnecessary, but I won't complain.

I was pretty much shut out by Portland outside. I say pretty much because there were a few cabs that came in that I didn't run over for because I was on the New Britain side. Matt Barnes completely ignored the two of us off of the bus, as did Anthony Ranaudo, however he was the starting pitcher so that was no surprise.

After that, I went inside and was able to get a number of players.

New Britain:

D.J. Baxendale:

Trevor May did 5/9:

By changing my hat and shirt I was able to get Paul Molitor again! I was kind of surprised he didn't call me out, but 2 of him made for a great day!

The same thing worked to get Miguel Sano again as well:

Portland:

I was able to get the Red Sox #3 Prospect, Garin Cecchini coming in from the batting cage. He did 2/2:

Noe Ramirez:

Eric Niesen did 3/something like 8. 2 are pictured because the other went to someone else:

Keith Couch did 3. I kept 1:

Travis Shaw:

During pre-game stretching, I saw Garin Cecchini signing again, and luckily I was able to get him on 2 cards for a 50/50 for the same guy I mentioned earlier. Here is the one I kept:

After stretching was over, I went over to the club house to try again for Matt Barnes who would be charting, and yet again he denied me. Right after the game finished, I went over to him coming up from the stands, and I can confidently say that the only reason he signed was that he had family/friends in attendance. Nonetheless, I got 1/2 cards done.

Trevor May was also charting, so I got him on the new Rock Cats program:

I then went outside to do Portland leaving the clubhouse. 

I was able to get a bunch more items signed, most notably, finally getting an Anthony Ranaudo photo done. He was being super cool after the game which is SHOCKING for him. I even got to take a picture with him!

Garin Cecchini, yet again on 2 more photos:

Somehow, I got Matt Barnes again. he signed a lot coming outside:

Kolbrin Vitek on 3 cards. 2  are mine:

Noe Ramirez on 3 more:

Terry Doyle on my Pawtucket set card:

Portland team sheet from throughout the day:

-Michael Almanzar

-Jeremy Kehrt

-Tony Thomas

-Mike McCarthy

-Bobby Lanigan

-Travis Shaw

-Christian Vasquez

-Matt Maloney

-Ronald Bermudez

-Derrik Gibson

New Britain team sheet from throughout the day:

-Kyle Davies

-Jordan Parrazz

-Evan Bigley

-Pat Dean

-B.J. Hermsen

-Blake Martin

-Virgil Vasquez

-Nate Hanson

Total Autographs at this game:52

Total Autographs for 2013: 654

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