6/16/09: Buffalo Bisons vs Syracuse Chiefs

Awful decision making on this day. Before the game I was only able to get Mike Lamb and Adam Bostick. After the game, I went to the Syracuse side in hopes of getting a few extra Scott Olsens I found. Well, I missed out on Wily Mo Pena signed down the line, doing near everything that everyone had. Instead, I got snubbed by Olsen. Bummer postgame.

Books:

Buffalo Bisons
Adam Bostick (2008)

Cards:

Buffalo Bisons
Mike Lamb - 2

Syracuse Chiefs
Rich Gale (Pitching Coach) - 2
Ryan Langerhans - 2
Seth Bynum - 1
Horacio Ramirez - 1

Cards Today - 8, Overall - 320

6/15/09: Buffalo Bisons vs Syracuse Chiefs

Another doubleheader. As I walked in, I noticed that no one was waiting on the Buffalo side. I then looked over and noticed most of Syracuse pitchers were still on the field, so everyone was on that side. Only got 2 guys, but at least it was a good start. Buffalo now has Lance Broadway (all-prick team). He, of course, acted the same jerk way as usual. The thing that makes me happy is that the guys who are the real pieces of work have been putting up awful numbers and probably will never make it to the majors full time. Buffalo has a lot of kinda washed up vets, but at least majority at least signed one.

Books:

Syracuse Chiefs
Cory Doyne (2006)

Buffalo Bisons
Pat Misch (2006, 2008)
Tobi Stoner (2009)

Cards:

Syracuse Chiefs
Cory Doyne - 1
Wilfredo Ledezma - 1

Buffalo Bisons
Mike Lamb - 4
Ricky Bones (Pitching Coach) - 7 (Including 300th signed of year)
Jonathon Niese - 1
Ken Oberkfell (Manager) - 1
Kyle Snyder - 1
Pat Misch - 1
Emil Brown - 1
Wily Mo Pena - 1

Cards Today - 19, Overall - 312

6/13/09: Pawtucket Red Sox vs Syracuse Chiefs

Didn't go to the game. Purchased 2 Javier Lopez cards while I was out, then went to get autographs after the game. Those were the only two cards I got signed. Period. Awful. And even better, the final game of the series is played in Cooperstown, so that was my last one.

Cards:

Pawtucket Red Sox
Javier Lopez - 2

Today - 2, Overall - 293

6/12/09: Pawtucket Red Sox vs Syracuse Chiefs

With round 2 of the Smoltz obsession occurring, as well as me showing up a couple minutes later than I wanted, I decided to skip Pawtucket pregame and go to the Chiefs side. It turned out to be a great decision. We noticed a guy throwing with the manager without a uniform on. I was lucky because Foli came over to sign (something he doesn't do often pregame). I ended up asking him and he told me it was Scott Olsen and that he was going to make two rehab starts with the team. I just so happened to have his cards on me, since I had all the possible rehabbers in my box, just in case. I was disappointed as he walked by me when I yelled his name and did not stop. Well, after the game started the guy I was standing next to told me that Olsen was sitting in the stands behind the bullpen. So I went over and sat in a different section to scope it out. Olsen got up less than 5 minutes later so I asked him if he'd sign. He signed everything I had, including a double I had which I got for the girlfriend. I have to say, it was quite nice to be the only one to have anything of him and I am guessing that's why I got all 10 items signed. Didn't get too much with Pawtucket after the game, but Jonathan Van Every actually signed, so that was a shock in itself.

Books:

Syracuse Chiefs
Zech Zinicola (2008)
Scott Olsen (2006)

Pawtucket Red Sox
Enrique Gonzalez (2006)

Cards:

Syracuse Chiefs
Scott Olsen - 8
Justin Maxwell - 1
Tim Foli (Manager) - 1
Darnell Coles (Batting Coach) - 1
Kory Casto - 1

Pawtucket Red Sox
Carlos Maldonado - 1
Jonathan Van Every - 1
Javier Lopez - 1
Freddy Guzman - 1

Cards Today - 16, Overall - 291

6/11/09: Pawtucket Red Sox vs Syracuse Chiefs

A rather interesting day occurred for this scheduled doubleheader from a previous rainout. Game time was 5pm, but a bunch of us showed up as early as 11am due to the fact that John Smoltz was making a rehab start for Pawtucket in the first game. Well needless to say, Smoltz got snuck in. I was able to get a couple guys arriving at the stadium, but definitely not worth my early arrival! Well things got even more interesting as they put the tarp on the field before Smoltz even started warming up after stretching. He starts to come on due to the tarp and the expectation of rain. I was able to yell at Smoltz as he came in, and he came over to start signing! The problem is, he walked towards me, then turned a few people to the side of me. After watching him sign about 30 balls and such, he looked ready to stop. I was able to plead and out stretch about 3 people and finally he signed for me. Overall, that was an awful experience. I doubt I could do this hobby in a major league city, that's for sure. The doubleheader was cancelled about an hour later, so Smoltz (and the lovely crowd of random people) would be around for the next day.

Cards:

Syracuse Chiefs
Corey Patterson -1
Pete Orr - 2 (Including Topps Heritage team card)

Pawtucket Red Sox
Chris Carter - 1
John Smoltz - 1
Jeff Bailey - 1

Cards Today - 6, Overall - 275

6/1/09: Gwinnett Braves vs Syracuse Chiefs

This was the last time we see Gwinnett for the season. Pretty good ending, with the only card left unsigned was an Alvin Colina, who signed for the first time that I saw this series, but with limited numbers. Interesting stuff happened following this but before I got to put this entry in. Jordan Schafer was sent down to Gwinnett, which sucked since I have a lot of him. However, Tommy Hanson was recalled, Charlie Morton was traded, and Chiefs coach Steve McCatty was signed as the pitching coach of the Washington Nationals. What a difference a few days make!

Cards:

Gwinnett Braves
Tommy Hanson - 1
Tony Armas - 2
Alvin Colina - 2
Brian Barton - 2
Jamie Dismuke (Hitting Coach) - 1

Syracuse Chiefs
Corey Patterson - 1
Jorge Sosa - 1
John Poppert (Bullpen Coach) - 1

Cards Today: 11, Overall: 269

5/31/09: Gwinnett Braves vs Syracuse Chiefs

After missing the second game, I was back for the third game of this series. I was very happy to finish off my books for the series, as well as finally getting current Gwinnett radio announcer and former WCW announcer, Tony Schiavone, to sign an index card for me.

Books:

Gwinnett Braves
James Parr (2006, 2009)
Todd Redmond (2006, 2008, 2009)
Van Pope (2006, 2008)

Cards:

Gwinnett Braves
Brandon Jones - 3
Boone Logan - 1
Clint Sammons - 1
James Parr - 1

Cards Today: 6, Overall: 258


3x5 Index Card:

Tony Schiavone - Gwinnett Announcer (Former WCW Announcer)

5/29/09: Gwinnett Braves vs Syracuse Chiefs

The Gwinnett Braves (Triple A affiliate for the Atlanta Braves) came in for their only four game series of the season. Tommy Hanson, their big prospect, was charting for the game. He was doing one per after the game, but ended up signing both of my prospect books. That was a good one to kill off, for sure. He is one of those, "Didn't I get you yesterday" type of guys. Between the first busload leaving for Gwinnett and the bus returning for the second load, I was able to kill off my Corey Patterson for the day by running to the Syracuse side.

Books:

Gwinnett Braves
Tommy Hanson (2008, 2009)
Brooks Conrad (2006)
J.C. Holt (2006)
Brandon Jones (2006, 2008)
Brian Barton (2008)

Cards:

Gwinnett Braves
Antonio Perez - 3
Tony Armas - 1
Brooks Conrad - 1
Charlie Morton - 2
Juan Perez - 4

Syracuse Chiefs
Ryan Langerhans - 1
Corey Patterson - 1

Cards Today: 13, Overall: 252

5/28/09: Scranton-WB Yankees vs Syracuse Chiefs

After missing the 3rd day of this 4 day series, I was able to make the finale to try to kill off some remaining items. I still have all of my coach cards left as to put it frankly, Scott Aldred is a bit of a douche. Glad I don't have any Dave Miley cards..he is more stuck on himself than even Aldred. Seems like once you become a coach for the Yankees Triple A team, you become stuck on yourself (see: Espinosa, Alvaro). Even better for me, was that the Syracuse Chiefs' team set came out. This made it easier to skip my remaining Juan Miranda and coach cards after the game, to go after the Chiefs. With only one other person over there, it was relatively easy to get who I needed. I did find it funny to find my Josh Towers card in my new team set and having him sign while he was charting for the opposing team. Goes to show how many moves this team has made this year.

Books:

Scranton-WB Yankees
Juan Miranda (2009)

Cards:

Scranton-WB Yankees
Josh Towers - 1
Jonathan Albaladejo - 1

Syracuse Chiefs
Collin Balester - 2
Tyler Clippard - 2
Brad Eldred - 1
Marco Estrada - 1
Preston Larrison - 1
Wilfredo Ledezma - 1
J.D. Martin - 1
Garrett Mock - 1
Pete Orr - 1
Jorge Padilla - 1
Corey Patterson - 2
Jorge Sosa - 1
Steve McCatty (Pitching Coach) - 1

Cards Today: 18, Overall: 239

5/26/09: Scranton-WB Yankees vs Syracuse Chiefs

Game ended up raining out. A few of us went down after the game, as it was only sprinkling. We ended up inside the building, outside the locker room exit door, since there was shelter from the bit of rain. We ended up getting the majority of what we needed before being kicked out behind the barriers. Pathetic that we are pretty much the only organization to pull the barrier BS. At least the rain kept the crowds of fairweathers far away. Overall, not too bad compared to what it could have been.

Cards:

Scranton-WB Yankees
John Rodriguez - 1
Austin Jackson - 2
Jonathan Albaladejo - 2
Shelley Duncan - 1
Justin Leone - 1

Syracuse Chiefs
Corey Patterson - 1

Cards Today: 8, Overall: 221