Was on field for Rays vs. Yankees 9/24/13

[jake33]

Through my favorite team< was able to go on field for BP for Rays vs. Yankees on 9/24/13.

Got a ton of Auto's and brought a few game used items to get signed. Lugging a lot of that around was really a pain but worth it to me.

Met Goose Gossage right away in the Yankees Lobby. And by the way, the Yankees put on a first class operation. The workers were all really really kind.

AS for the MAriano Bobblehead fiasco, that is another story.

Anyways, on field I was restricted to meet with Yankee players. I almost got a Rivera auto, but he signed for the select Yankee fans on the field.

I racked up 29 autographs. Each auto was either on a game used item or game sued jersey/bat card.

1) I brought 4 unsigned Rays vs Yankees authenticated Game 162 from 2011 baseballs.

1) Sam Fuld (Sweetspot)
2) Brandon Gomes (sweetspot)
3) Evan Longoria (side panel)
4) Alex Rodriguez (side panel)

Also, got Fernando Rodney on his 2006 WBC locker nameplate, huge signature!

My favorite item is the first pitch game used baseball from Jake Odorizzi from the 2012 Futures All Star game. He also inscribed "game used" on the baseball

Ben Zobrist career hit #401 (triple baseball) on sweetspot
Ben Zobrist and Rays's first hit of the 2013 season - auto'd under the Openign Day LOGO

Bought a 2011 Red Sox vs Rays baseball for $10 at the National and it happened to be Rays pitcher Jake McGee's career win #3, Jake being a super great guy signed the ball and did the inscription career win #3.

Plus autographs on mostly all game used cards of
Luke Scott
James Loney
Alex Torres
Delmon Young
Jamie Nelson 84 topps tiffany autographed
Jose Molina
Wil Myers
Jeff Belleveau
Jake Odorizzi
David Dejesus
Yunel Escobar


Was truly an awesome first trip to Yankjee stadium as I even arrived on the field going through the player's tunnel. I saw all the special Rivera bases lined up in the hallway. Got a ton of photos, will post some once I get them off my camera.

[jake33]

As for the fiasco with the Mariano rivera Bobblehead, wow that was insane.... The Yankees botched the damage control on that.

So the gates for regular admission was supposed to be at 5:00 PM and instead opened at 5:45, because the Yankees had to print these generic looking vouchers for the bobbleheads. The 3rd inning the bobbleheads arrived. So a line of 18,000 people started right away. The line went from the basement up to the 4th level, then down 3 sections on the 4th level.

Then their was Yankee security, cops, even Yankee office staff trying to stop people cutting in line. 2 or 3 people got escorted out of the park due to fights. I have never seen anything like it. Fans were yelling at each security staff member like a punching bag.

From waiting in line starting in the 3rd - 8th inning the Yankees provided a ticket voucher, but really sucked on the experience. Got the two bobbleheads though.

[jake33]

Some of the cards and game 162 game used baseballs.

[jake33]

.

[murfsteve25]

That's pretty sweet! How in the world were you able to score this access??

[marino13]

As for the fiasco with the Mariano rivera Bobblehead, wow that was insane.... The Yankees botched the damage control on that.

So the gates for regular admission was supposed to be at 5:00 PM and instead opened at 5:45, because the Yankees had to print these generic looking vouchers for the bobbleheads. The 3rd inning the bobbleheads arrived. So a line of 18,000 people started right away. The line went from the basement up to the 4th level, then down 3 sections on the 4th level.

Then their was Yankee security, cops, even Yankee office staff trying to stop people cutting in line. 2 or 3 people got escorted out of the park due to fights. I have never seen anything like it. Fans were yelling at each security staff member like a punching bag.

From waiting in line starting in the 3rd - 8th inning the Yankees provided a ticket voucher, but really sucked on the experience. Got the two bobbleheads though.


I have first hand experience on this so I am going to try to clarify on some subject.

1. I knew the truck was late at 2pm - the truck was supposed to be there the day before the game. And when the driver did not check-in in the early AM with the 3PM arrival, I knew that would be be a problem. By 5PM, when they supposed to be there already, the truck was quote to be stuck on the bridge coming over to the stadium. Yikes!

2. The truck arrived but the plan afterward was a complete mess up. It would have been better if the fans can just send back the voucher and redeem the bobblehead --- but that would incurred additional cost and labor, so they decide to hand these out at the gate near the delivery dock. That was the WORST idea ever!

3. Instead of organizing a proper line to redeem the bobblehead, they create a mess by having the line crossing each other.


4. and the worst part, instead of watching the game, about half of the fans were fighting, skipping and cursing and other BSing - trying to get the bobblehead.



That was just one mess up move that create a dominoes effect

[marino13]

.

Great picture -- but damn it, A-Rod just killed the MLB authenticated baseball by signing it upside-down.

This is why, I will never ever try to obtain free signature.

[marino13]

That's pretty sweet! How in the world were you able to score this access??


Steinersports (unless there were others that I didnt know about)

[Enyouartist]

Great picture -- but damn it, A-Rod just killed the MLB authenticated baseball by signing it upside-down.

This is why, I will never ever try to obtain free signature.

Arod has been notorious throughtout his career for purposefully signing the panel of baseballs for in-person "free" signatures. On older baseballs, he used to sign underneath the "cushioned cork center RO-A" .

[jake33]

Yeah, I knew A-Rod would sign it like that, wanted to get David Price on the sweet spot, but was meeting another player when David walked past me.

Will try to get Price on the sweet spot next year.

Got it through the Rays, I was not allowed to meet Yankees players, but A-Rod walked by and stopped for the auto and a quick photo, will post photo's later.

Rivera was 20 feet from me and signed for Yankee fans, but didn't turn my way. Would have loved to have gotten it.

---

Same with Longoria, I was ticket he didn't sweetspot it, no one was even around and he still turned it on the side. No way I want to drop $100 for a Longoria auto on the sweet spot.

[Rob L]

Hey Jake,

Awesome stuff, but I gotta say, the game used ball signed by you mom is priceless!! Very cool:)

[jake33]

Thanks Rob,

Yeah, my father was not much of a role in ym life and my mother really took on where he lacked and in the process became a Rays fan with me.

First foul Ball I ever got at an MLB game.

After getting 20 some auto's that day, I figured having my mom sign it would be fitting. I liked when she asked me though "what does sign the sweetspot mean?" (Thatnks for fouling it our way James Loney!)

Truth be told, my mother looks and acts very very similar to Doris Roberts in "Everybody Loves Raymond", so she is a bit of a character in her own right.

[Dustin51]

Ive got a couple of ball covers that leave only the sweet spot exposed have you tried any of those. Ive had several balls signed at Triple A games with no issues. ROMLB get expensive when players sign a side pannel. Ive had good luck so far and theyve been well worth the money. I also like the fact that it keeps alot od the sweat and oils from your hands off the ball.

[Rob L]

Thanks Rob,

Yeah, my father was not much of a role in ym life and my mother really took on where he lacked and in the process became a Rays fan with me.

First foul Ball I ever got at an MLB game.

After getting 20 some auto's that day, I figured having my mom sign it would be fitting. I liked when she asked me though "what does sign the sweetspot mean?" (Thatnks for fouling it our way James Loney!)

Truth be told, my mother looks and acts very very similar to Doris Roberts in "Everybody Loves Raymond", so she is a bit of a character in her own right.

Awesome bud! Your mom's a gem!

[jake33]

Copy of the field pass...