I went the cheap and what turned out to be smart route for this game. With the high price of tickets for this Hall of Fame Game finale, I figured I would go there but just try to get autographs at the Clark Sports Center (which the teams use as a clubhouse) and outside the game. Pregame was a bit uneventful, due to the Cubs showing up late. This made everyone rush in the end, so even though the Padres got there early, they ran onto the trolleys for the parade without signing. I did luck out and catch Randy Wolf going to a field outside of the stadium to do some work with a coach, as well as Carlos Zambrano coming over when the Cubs bus got there.
After the mile or so walk to the stadium, it started to pour. I only got Padres manager Bud Black before being forced to try to run the mile back as the storm brought heavy rain, hail, and lots of lightning. Props to the couple who let us stay on their porch while we were about to get mauled by hail.
After getting back to the Clark Center, a few players came back before the rain returned. One was probably my second favorite player, Josh Banks, who even recognized me. When the rain let off a bit as the players were leaving.. Derrek Lee, Kerry Wood, and Ted Lilly signed a few, but there was no chance when you had the guys budging with six baseballs to get signed by each. It was impressively pathetic seeing kids and girls being pushed out of the way by obvious dealers. Good reason why many players don't care to sign anymore.
Books:
Cubs-
Geovany Soto (2006)
Padres-
Yefri Carvajal (2008) - Currently with San Diego's Single-A team in Fort Wayne
Cards:
Cubs-
Carlos Zambrano - 1
Geovany Soto - 2
Alan Trammell (Coach/ex-major leaguer) - 1
Padres-
Randy Wolf - 1
Bud Black (Manager) - 1
Josh Banks - 3
Justin Hampson - 2
Tony Clark - 2 (Including my 200th of the year)
Scott Hairston - 1
Cards signed in 2008 - 205
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