Nationals stop in Richmond!

[Vintagedeputy]

As part of the winter caravan, the Nats visited Richmond tonight.

Crowd wasnt too bad, plus we got there early for dinner so we had a great seat. What a treat to see Zimmerman , Acta, Hanrahan, et all walk by your table! My son just about went nuts seeing all his favorite Nats up close and personal. The players got a real kick out of his enthusiasm.

Anyway, they made an annoucement that all players would sign one item per person EXCEPT Zimmerman. Zim wasnt signing anything but he would take a pic with you. Since lining people up for pics takes infinitely more time than signing an auto would, I can only assume that there was some contractual issue with signing. I of course had brought my son's 16x20 Zim photo, a game used bat, a baseball card, and a host of other Zim items only to not be able to get them signed. All the players each signed a ball for my kids (with the exception of Zim). I also got Joel Hanrahan to sign 2 ticket stubs for me. One from his first ML game and one from his first ML win.

My Ryan, Ryan Zimmerman, and Hailey (who NEVER takes off her pink Nats hat)

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/4855/1002737uo9.jpg


Ryan discussing the opening day line up with manager Manny Acta
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7940/1002735yt9.jpg


I'm off camera, but I was asking Joel Hanrahan how his golf game is and he said he was "locked in!". As he signed my ticket stubs, we talked about how I outbid his uncle on ebay for the stub.
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1174/1002734xc1.jpg

Charlie Slowes (announcer), John Lannan, Willie Harris, Joel Hanranhan, et al...
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/4154/1002736ml4.jpg

[Vintagedeputy]

I wanted to add also that although Zim wasnt signing, he was about as nice a person as I've ever met. Just as friendly and cordial as could be and he seemed genuinely happy to see the fans who came out to greet him. The other players were very nice as well. It was a real nice treat.

[allstarsplus]

I see 2 happy Reynolds children in that picture with Mr. Zim!!!! AWESOME!!!!

[Vintagedeputy]

Oh they were overjoyed!!!!

I only wish that I had an opportunity to get some cards or 8x10's of the other players. The day before, I took the kids to 8 different stores looking for those pre-packaged Nats team sets that I see just about everywhere. No store had them. The 2 local baseball cards stores seemed more interested in selling plaques with cheesy photos and blankets and steering wheel covers than baseball cards for kids to get signed.

I had focused just about everything I brought on getting Zim to sign, although the kids did get about 8 signatures on the baseballs that I brought. There were definitely some dealers in the crowd with stacks of pics to be signed as well.

[jppopma]

That's a nice story and a great way they did the caravan. We went to the Tiger's caravan and there were no signing or even pictures. Just the players doing a brief Q&A from a couple of cub scouts. It was nice to see them there, but they were not in uniform and just up on a stage.

Hopefully they can take some noted from the Nats on how to do things.

[skyking26]

Awesome pictures of the kids Vintage - what a great family. I have a son and daughter as well.

I received an email from the Tigers today. It was worded in a way that gave the impression the Tigers thing was outside at Comerica... It was single digits to just over 10 degrees in Detroit today. They are usually backwards in many ways how they do things, and no way I'd stand out there.