Fan Fest Weekend

[ahuff]

I know the Twins had their fan fest this past weekend, and I was thinking that the Pirates did as well. Perhaps someone could correct me if I'm wrong on the Pirates. Did anyone attend, and if so, what did you walk away with? Any deals?

[Spiezio23]

The Mariners had their FanFest this past weekend and I was in attendance for both days, it helps to be able to get in for free too, though it was only $10 each day.

Here's my haul for the weekend;

Day 1

Start off getting 2 more Nameplates for my Collection from the Mariners Silent Auction Booth. These were the only 2 they had aside from a Bryan Price autographed one for $50. They didn't have anything worthwhile game used aside from some bats, like Wilson Valdez, Randy Winn, ie former Mariners. No game used jerseys or anything like that.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/Spiezio23/Mariners/BordersNP.jpg

Next, was the autograph sessions. You could get a voucher on your way into the ballpark but had to exit and get back in line to get a voucher for another autograph session.

Felix Hernandez, Rafael Chaves, Kenji Johjima, Greg Dobbs and Jarrod Washburn sign my team jersey. The jersey is a used blank from Spring Training, no name/number on back tagged 1998. There are now 39 signatures of current/former Mariners players/coaches.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/Spiezio23/Mariners/FanFest2006006.jpg

My girlfriend gets the same 5 autographs on her cherry wood Mariners bat, no pictures of that tho.

Julio Cruz is laughing it up at the Mariners Q&A Session and commenting that his baseball cards are only worth 4 cents and even less after he signs them. He also tells great stories of playing with Gaylord Perry and his "grease" balls. He laughs when I show him these and comments on his stylish hair and signs them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/Spiezio23/Mariners/JCruzAutos.jpg


Day 2

Another day of getting up early to stand in line, but I get the auto vouchers I wanted.

Richie Sexson was amazed at this piece and it toook him a second to realize what it was. First thing he says is "Whoa.. this is mine.. my nameplate" and holds it up for Greg Dobbs to see. He asks how I got it and still looks in amazement and signs it. I then hand this tiny piece of card to Greg Dobbs and explain how it fits into the card and he thought it was weird but signs it. Also happen to get him to sign a 8x10 photo of him at bat, upon getting home and looking closer, we have a photo match of a bat I bought last year.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/Spiezio23/Mariners/SexsonNP.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/Spiezio23/Mariners/DobbsA.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/Spiezio23/Mariners/DobbsB.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/Spiezio23/Mariners/DobbsPMc.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/Spiezio23/Mariners/DobbsPMb.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/Spiezio23/Mariners/DobbsBat.jpg

Last but certainly not least to finish off the day of signing sessions we get 2 Felix Hernandez signed baseballs.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/Spiezio23/Mariners/FanFest2006002.jpg

[pietraynor]

I recognize that Sexson nameplate!! Looks GREAT signed, glad you enjoy it! Jay...Also, for those interested in Pittsburgh's "Piratefest", I drove 2.5 hours each way all 3 days. Over 16,000 total for the weekend, nearly 7,000 on Saturday alone! Long lines for the autographs, but well worth the wait as players signed anything & everything (Casey, Duke, J. Wilson, Bay, etc) some of the better names. As for Game Used, aside from selling "Turn Back the Clock" jerseys each season, this is the only place the club let's them go. Not a lot of "star" jerseys in thre group, the best was an '05 Bay BP (on ebay at this time) & '05 J. Wilson Road (a bit pricey I thought at $400) so I passed. Those were the only Wilson & Bay I saw all weekend. Picked up several including Mackowiack, Snell, Gerut, McLouth, Furmaniak, Enrique Wilson, etc. Others of note were a couple of '97 Road Jerseys w/ the Jackie Robinson Patch & the '05 Traning Camp Instructor's Jerseys of Bill Maz, Bill Virdon, Kent Tekulve, Mike LaValliere & Dave Parker (same style as '05 Pirates BP's w/NOB). They also sold misc. stadium giveaway items, but jerseys were the only Game Used items.

[Spiezio23]

Jay,

Another BIG Thanks again! Sexson is one of my favorite players and getting it(the nameplate) was enough but after him being here in Seattle and at FanFest, put it over the top. Plus I think the Nameplates are cool and unique.

I've got some other pictures from FanFest but on a camera, once I get them back I might post an update.


-Jeremy