4/27/08: S/WB Yankees vs Syracuse Chiefs

Doubleheader today, pretty successful. Apparently made Scott Patterson's day when he realized he was the Yankees #28 prospect.

Books:

Sean Henn (2006)
Scott Patterson (2008)
Edwar Ramirez (2008)
Darrell Rasner (2006)
Steven White (2006)
Chris Stewart (2006)
Juan Miranda (2008)
Brett Gardner (2008)

Cards:

Nick Green - 1
Alvaro Espinoza (Coach) - 2
Edwar Ramirez - 1
Chris Stewart - 1
Sean Henn - 1
Kei Igawa - 2

4/26/08: S/WB Yankees vs Syracuse Chiefs

Rainout today...only person willing to sign was Jeff Marquez (Both Books)

4/22/08: Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs vs Syracuse Chiefs

Went to the Syracuse side today, didn't get much at all and didn't bother staying after the game, since the players seemed very moody. I've always been surprised how much nicer the opposing teams seem to be over our home team. It's pretty frustrating..and I'm not just talking autographs and stuff. But anyways:

Book:

Buck Coats (2006)

Cards:

Russ Adams - 1
Adam Lind - 1

Total cards at baseball games this year: 54

4/21/08: Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs vs Syracuse Chiefs

Having taken care of most of my Iron Pig cards, this wasn't a big day. I was still able to get a few things done. Last night after the game, I bought a cheap box of cards was random packs in it. Well, I pulled a Steve Green card, who is on Lehigh Valley, so that was sweet. So I felt I had to get that signed. Also got Syracuse pitcher David Purcey to sign both prospect books after the game.

Cards:

Steve Green - 1
JA Happ - 1

Book:

David Purcey (Both)

4/20/08: Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs vs Syracuse Chiefs

Game 2 of a 4 game series in Syracuse. Lehigh Valley is Philadelphia's Triple-A affiliate. Had a really good time getting both cards and my prospect books. Very friendly group.

Books:

Travis Blackley (2006)
JD Durbin (2006)
Jason Jaramillo (Both) - This was great because I heard he was tough and wasn't able to get him in the games I saw him last year.
JA Happ (2008)

The negative was TJ Bohn was recalled by Philadelphia during the game, so I was not able to get my cards or book signed by him (he is in the 2006 book).

As for cards:

Chris Woodward - 1
Brandon Watson - 4
Ron Chiavacci - 1
JA Happ - 1
JD Durbin - 1
Steve Kline - 1 (Probably the nicest and most personable player I have run into, especially for an Ex-Major Leaguer.)

4/18/08: Manitoba Moose vs Syracuse Crunch

Playoff game, so I wasn't sure if I would be expecting the visiting Moose to be happy to sign, especially after losing game 1 in overtime. But they were decently nice, only person I didn't catch was Mike Keane (have a sweet card of him in a Rangers jersey, which is kind of disappointing not to get signed). Other than that got a few cards signed:

Scott Arniel (Head Coach, NHL Vet) - 2
Luc Bourdon - 1

4/13/08: Hamilton Bulldogs vs Syracuse Crunch

Regular season finale for Syracuse against Montreal's AHL affiliate. The team was surprisingly nice after losing 7-1 to Syracuse. Was able to get all that I needed accept their assistant coach, who was already on the bus by the time I got out there.

Got these cards:

Mathieu Biron - 3
Duncan Milroy - 1
Kyle Chipchura - 1

No more autograph opportunities until next Friday.

4/12/08: Binghamton Senators vs Syracuse Crunch

Now that Columbus sent down players that had been recalled, I have a few extra Syracuse Crunch cards I wanted to get signed. Mostly from the team set that was given out a month ago (though I still had some left over Brule cards that will look good in my collection).

Was able to get these cards:

Gilbert Brule - 3
Joakim Lindstrom - 1
Derek MacKenzie - 1
Derick Brassard - 1

4/10/08: Indianapolis Indians vs Syracuse Chiefs

I didn't even bother looking for anyone from Indy today. I just stayed after to try to knock off most of my Chiefs. Those went well. I was able to get Josh Banks to sign my 2008 prospect book and get some cards.

Cards:

Shawn Camp - 1
Curtis Thigpen - 1
Davis Romero - 1
Josh Banks - 1
Adam Lind - 1
Mike Gosling - 2
Bill Murphy - 1

Total Cards at Baseball games this year: 42

4/9/08: Indianapolis Indians vs Syracuse Chiefs

This was an interesting game. Now, in Syracuse..teams will send pitchers into the stands to do speed and pitch counts. They sit right behind home plate and are usually accessible. Well, 5 minutes before the game begins, Indianapolis pitchers Bryan Bullington and John Van Benschoten were sitting there doing nothing. So I go up to Bullington and ask him to sign my Prospect book, so I won't have to bother him after the game. Van Bendouchebag decides to chime in with a side comment (bare in mind I did not ask him for anything, nor even talk to him). Well, I am a very respectful guy, I apologize to Bullington (even though he IS signing the book) telling him I am sorry if I bothered him. Well, having this been the second time I have seen Van Benschoten act like a total jerk, I kind of state as I walk away that I can see why he is such a bust.

Now, if someone doesn't want to sign, fine. I have no problem with that. But there is no need to start some crap when I am not even talking to you. Someone who has played as bad as him (0-7 for Pittsburgh last year with a very high ERA) should be happy that anyone wants him to sign. But I digress.

Anyways for my low key day:

Bryan Bullington (2006 Book)

Cards:

Josh Wilson - 1
Ray Searage - 1 (pitching coach for Indy)

4/8/08: Syracuse Chiefs vs Indianapolis Indians

I wanted to make a quick note to anyone that might read this. Autographs have been a hobby of mine since I was a very young kid. When I get multiple cards signed, they are different cards, as I keep and collect each autograph I get. I am not one of those guys who tries to get many autographs so that I can sell them. Everything I have ever gotten personally signed in my lifetime is still in my possession.

Anyways, a great night tonight for autographs, with two exceptions.

Indianapolis pitcher, John Van Benschoten and MLB vet, Craig Wilson were those exceptions. Both of these guys were arrogant and probably as bad as when I met Craig Hansen. The difference is, Hansen DID sign. Biggest problem is that I need Van Benschoten in my book, so this is a really bad thing for me. I could care less about Wilson.

On to the good guys:

For the book I was able to get:

Bryan Bullington (2008)
Marino Salas (2006)
Romulo Sanchez (2008)

For cards I got:

Steve Pearce - 2 (including a 2008 Topps gold card, which looks sharp)
Kevin Thompson - 1
Matt Kata - 1
Raul Chavez - 1
Ty Taubenheim - 1
Josh Wilson - 3
Carlos Maldonado - 3

This pretty much leaves me with very little to do the last two games of the series, besides a small amount of autos, and trying to figure out a way to get Van Benschoten

4/7/08: Syracuse Chiefs vs Indianapolis Indians

Start of a new series means lots of new things to try to get signed.

I got a bunch from the prospect books:

Jonah Bayliss (2006)
Luis Munoz (2008)
Adam Boeve (2006)
Neil Walker (Both)
Andew McCutchen (Both)
Kevin Thompson (2006)
Steve Pearce (2008)

The worst part was, when Munoz was signing a player asked to look at the book. Unknown to me, the player is also in the book, but I failed to get him to sign! That was Romulo Sanchez, but hopefully I can grab him at some point in the series.


For cards I got:

Jonah Bayliss - 1
Hensley Meulens (batting coach) - 1

4/6/08: Syracuse Chiefs vs Louisville Bats

Last time I will catch the Bats this year, so my biggest goal was the prospect books, which were taken care of before the game. Signing those were:

Tyler Pelland (2006)
Adam Rosales (Both)
Chris Dickerson (Both)

Dickerson was funny because I could see him say that he hates signing these. He even said it under his breath when he reached me. So I asked him if he hates these books, which he said no not this one (the 2006 one). Then I told him I had the 2008, to which he kind of reacted like, "yeah that's the one". Turns out he wasn't happy that he dropped to his teams 27th prospect...haha

I also was about to get a couple of Chiefs to sign the books:

Davis Romero (2006)
Curtis Thigpen (2008)
Robinzon Diaz (2008)

Diaz was fun, as he started looking through the book. Guess he wanted to see where a couple of his teammates ranked!

I was also able to get some Chiefs to sign cards:

Sergio Santos - 1
Adam Lind - 1
Pedro Lopez - 1
Shawn Camp - 1
Russ Adams - 1
and Ted Power did another one for me from Louisville

4/5/08 Syracuse Chiefs vs Louisville

Was able to catch the doubleheader today and knocked off a few from each team. In my books I got:

Chip Cannon (2006)
Pedro Lopez (2006) from the Chiefs

Matt Maloney (Both)
Tyler Pelland (2008) from Louisville

I also got the following for cards:

Louisville:
Homer Bailey - 2
Jerry Hairston Jr - 1

Syracuse:
Russ Adams - 1
Pedro Lopez - 1
Hector Luna - 1
Jordan De Jong - 1

4/4/08 Syracuse Crunch vs Rochester Americans

Ironically there were two Syracuse Chiefs players signing. Was able to get:

Curtis Thigpen - 3 cards
Chip Cannon - 1 card and 1 photo

After the game they had a special signing, in which I got two Crunch players to sign:

Brett Motherwell - 1 photo
Nick Holden - 1 photo

4/3/08: Syracuse Chiefs vs Louisville Bats

It was opening day for the Triple A Chiefs and a rather successful autograph day. I focused on the Louisville Bats (farm team of the Cincinnati Reds) and was able to get 6 additional signatures in my 2006 Prospect Book, while starting off my 2008 Book with 3. They were:

Homer Bailey (Both Books)
Jay Bruce (Both Books)
Paul Janish (Both Books)
Andy Phillips (2006)
Drew Anderson (2006)
Bill Bray (2006)

That puts my totals at 63 for the 2006 and 3 for the 2008.

I also was able to get the following cards signed:

Bill Bray - 2
Jay Bruce - 1
Marcus McBeth - 2
Ted Power (Pitching Coach and Former Major Leaguer) - 2

Overall a good day.

4/2/08 Syracuse Crunch vs Binghamton Senators

Only card I needed signed was one from Danny Bois, whom I was able to get as he exited the War Memorial.

Overview

Just starting this off to track my progress on autographs. To background, I have a hobby of collecting autographs, usually obtaining them in person after sporting events. My special project are Baseball America prospect books. I am currently working on the 2006 and 2008 books, each of which has 900 prospects write ups in each.

My overall total from last season is 57 players from the 2006 book. I will be keeping a running total, as well as my experiences with some of the players and cards I get signed.

These players are as follows (ranking and team both listed):

Arizona (2)
#10 - Sergio Santos
#25 - Alberto Gonzales

Atlanta (1)
#17 - Martin Prado

Baltimore (0)

Boston (8)
#1 - Andy Marte
#4 - Craig Hansen
#6 - Jacoby Ellsbury
#9 - Jed Lowrie
#10 - Clay Buchholz
#12 - David Murphy
#14 - Brandon Moss
#16 - David Pauley

Chicago Cubs (0)

Chicago White Sox (4)
#3 - Brian Anderson
#6 - Jerry Owens
#11 - Sean Tracey
#12 - Casey Rogowski

Cincinnati (2)
#25 - Javon Moran
#27 - Mike Burns

Cleveland (2)
#22 - Jason Cooper
#26 - Ryan Mulhern

Colorado (0)

Detroit (3)
#7 - Jordan Tata
#15 - Eulogio De La Cruz
#18 - Ryan Raburn

Florida (0)

Houston (0)

Kansas City (1)
#12 - Brian Bass

Los Angeles Angels (0)

Los Angeles Dodgers (0)

Milwaukee (0)

Minnesota (3)
#6 - Denard Span
#13 - Kevin Slowey
#23 - Alexi Casilla

New York Mets (4)
#1 - Lastings Milledge
#4 - Fernando Martinez
#10 - Brett Harper
#17 - Mike Carp

New York Yankees (6)
#2 - Eric Duncan
#13 - Brett Gardner
#16 - Matt DeSalvo
#22 - Bronson Sardinha
#24 - T.J. Beam
#30 - Jeff Karstens

Oakland (0)

Philadelphia (3)
#13 - Chris Roberson
#15 - Eude Brito
#19 - J.A. Happ

Pittsburgh (1)
#21 - Brent Lillibridge

St. Louis (0)

San Diego (2)
#2 - George Kottaras
#22 - Jon Knott

San Francisco (0)

Seattle (1)
#6 - Asdrubal Cabrera

Tampa Bay (0)

Texas (0)

Toronto (11)
#4 - Adam Lind
#5 - Josh Banks
#9 - Curtis Thigpen
#14 - Chi-Hung Cheng
#18 - Ismael Ramirez
#20 - Robinzon Diaz
#21 - John Hattig
#22 - John-Ford Griffin
#24 - Jesse Litsch
#26 - Ryan Roberts
#30 - Wesley Stone

Washington (3)
#5 - Kory Casto
#13 - Travis Hughes
#17 - Brandon Watson