5/25/09: Scranton-WB Yankees vs Syracuse Chiefs

This is always the most hectic and usually most disappointing team to come in for the year. With Scranton (AAA Affiliate of the New York Yankees) you draw the fairweather and bandwagon Yankee fans, who often take up a lot of space and aren't even wanting autographs. This is also the team that will bring in whiny mothers who assume that everyone getting an autograph above the age of 8 is going to sell it. That, along with the guarantee for fencing/barriers being up for when they exit (though the morons in Syracuse are seemingly leaving it up for nearly all teams) makes it even tougher to get autographs.

That being said, it was a surprisingly good night for autographs. The biggest issue was after the game. It seems Shelley Duncan and a few others parked on the Chiefs side. So they were exiting on that side. Luckily I got wind of it, and was able to get Duncan (suddenly a tougher autograph, having signed about 5 pregame..as he did last year also). While I was over there, I was able to get the two newest Syracuse players, too. Good stroke of fortune to go over while they were there, especially one whom I brought the cards along just in case he ever showed up.

Books:

Scranton-WB Yankees
J.B. Cox (2006, 2008)
Austin Jackson (2006, 2008, 2009)
George Kontos (2008, 2009)
Anthony Claggett (2009)
Mark Melancon (2009)

Cards:

Syracuse Chiefs
Logan Kensing - 2
Jorge Sosa - 1

Scranton-WB Yankees
Casey Fossum - 1
Kevin Russo - 1
Anthony Claggett - 1
Eric Duncan - 1
George Kontos - 2
Josh Towers - 2
Shelley Duncan - 1

Cards Today - 12, Overall This Season - 213

5/15/09: Norfolk Tides vs Syracuse Chiefs

Was pretty pointless to even go to this game, as I had basically nothing to get signed. I tried to get Wieters before the game, but he stopped two people before me. Luckily my one person left in the book decided to sign right when we came in...and he was the starter. That was some good luck there. I then went to the Syracuse side and got a whole one that I needed. After the game, I was able to get the other two players I needed.

Books:

Norfolk Tides
Jason Berken (2009)

Cards:

Syracuse Chiefs
Mike Vento - 1

Norfolk Tides
Matt Wieters - 2
Radhames Liz - 3 (Including 200th of Year)

Cards Today - 6, This Year - 201

5/13/09: Norfolk Tides vs Syracuse Chiefs

Another day, another crowd thanks to Wieters being around. Was able to pretty much grab what I needed, with a few small exceptions. This was good since I was going to miss the 3rd game of the series. The positive was killing off some Rich Hills and my Nolan Reimold books, since both were gone by the series finale. The players weren't as great as the day before, but luckily I took good advantage on that first day. I was also able to get Josh Bard for the first time from Syracuse, asked him if he could sign a specific card and yep..he signed the one next to it. Thanks Josh...

Books:

Norfolk Tides
Chris Tillman (2008, 2009)
Nolan Reimold (2006, 2008, 2009)
Justin Christian (2006)

Cards:

Syracuse Chiefs
Josh Bard - 1

Norfolk Tides
Rich Hill - 3
Justin Christian - 1
Matt Wieters - 1

Cards Signed Today - 6, Overall This Year - 195

Ball:

Matt Wieters - Official International League Ball - Sweet Spot

5/12/09: Norfolk Tides vs Syracuse Chiefs

First of a four game series between Syracuse and Norfolk (Baltimore Orioles AAA affiliate). Big crowd on hand as the #2 top minor league prospect, Matt Wieters, is on Norfolk...at least for now. Also, Rich Hill is rehabbing with Norfolk, making it a good game to snatch up some autographs. It started off great pregame with both Wieters signing (not unusual) but also Rich Hill coming out and signing. Overall great first day, killing of much of what I needed easily.

Books:

Norfolk Tides:
David Hernandez (2008, 2009)
Kam Mickolio (2008, 2009)
Matt Wieters (2008, 2009)
Justin Turner (2008, 2009)
Jeff Fiorentino (2006, 2008)
Matt Albers (2006)
Rich Hill (2006)


Cards:

Norfolk Tides
Gary Allenson (Manager) - 2
Mike Griffin (Coach) - 1
Rich Hill - 3
Jolbert Cabrera - 1
Jeff Fiorentino - 2
Nolan Reimold - 1
Scott Moore - 3
Joey Gathright - 2
Ross Wolf - 1
Matt Albers - 1
David Pauley - 1

Signed Today - 18; Overall 2009 Season - 189

5/11/09: Indianapolis Indians vs Syracuse Chiefs

Final game we will see Indianapolis and it was a morning game. A god awful day of brats running around. Luckily, I was looking through cards for Norfolk's updates..I found THREE new cards for Indianapolis that I somehow missed. I was also give a few McCutchen cards that I didn't have. Gorzelanny was in a fine mood after the game, which is interesting as I heard he was just as bad yesterday. I also took a trip to the Syracuse side but was only able to get one player.

Books:

Indianapolis:
Tom Gorzelanny (2006)

Cards:

Indianapolis:
Ray Searage (Pitching Coach) - 1
Chris Barnwell - 1
Chris Bootcheck - 1
Miguel Perez - 1
Luis Cruz - 1
Andrew McCutchen - 2
Tom Gorzelanny - 6

Syracuse:
Mike MacDougal - 1
Saul Rivera - 3

Cards Today: 17, Overall Cards: 171

5/9/09: Indianapolis Indians vs Syracuse Chiefs

Game two of this series, I figured I would try to finish what I could, since I would be unable to go to the game tomorrow and you never know how Syracuse weather will be. In fact, it was awful for the whole game. Wind was massive, with bits of sprinkles around. It made for an interesting attempt after the game, with players wanting to avoid signing, while we all were inside and undercover. Tom Gorzelanny was miserable compared to the first day. The positive was that I was able to finish basically everything I had, including a few Jack Wilson cards I found.

Books:

Indianapolis:
Juan Mateo (2006)
Neil Walker (2009)

Cards:

Indianapolis:
Jason Davis - 1
Jack Wilson - 4
Adam Melhuse - 1
Jeff Salazar - 2
Tom Gorzelanny - 2
Juan Mateo - 3

Cards Today: 13, Overall Cards: 154

5/8/09: Indianapolis Indians vs Syracuse Chiefs

The Indianapolis Indians (AAA Affiliate for Pittsburgh Pirates) came in for the first of their four game series. This is the only time they come to Syracuse, so the hope was to kill off as much as I could on day one, since you never know how the weather will be. A huge surprise was found out, right when I walked down pregame. Jack Wilson was doing a rehab assignment for the next couple days. I had nothing for him, but luckily one of the other graphers gave me a blank sweet spot card. Besides that, things went great before and after the game.

Books:

Indianapolis:
Miguel Perez (2006)
Jeff Salazar (2006)
Daniel McCutchen (2008, 2009)
Shelby Ford (2008, 2009)
Romulo Sanchez (2009)
Andrew McCutchen (2009)

Cards:

Indianapolis:
Jack Wilson (Blank Sweet Spot Card) - 1
Jeff Branson (Hitting Coach) - 3
Neil Walker - 3
Jeff Salazar - 3
Chris Bootcheck - 1
Romulo Sanchez - 1
Jason Davis - 1
Andrew McCutchen - 1
Denny Bautista - 2
Tom Gorzelanny - 4

Cards Today: 20, Overall: 141