Chicago White Sox Soxfest

[helf35]

Re: Chicago White Sox Soxfest

I arrived at the line 2:15pm on Friday and I estimate there were around 150 people ahead of me (although most people didn't go to GU booth right away). They let in a wave of about 80-100 people around 3:15pm and I went in shortly after 3:40pm. I went straight to the GU booth and checked the jerseys rack first. By then, there were no A Garcia left, only a L Garcia. I saw a couple of Konerko at $1,500, Sale at $1,000, and Reed for $400. One person had over a dozen jerseys, but I couldn't tell whose they were. I only got one Rienzo black alternate, which was only issued. If anyone got another Rienzo, I would love to know.

The rest of the items were not very interesting to me and prices seemed to be in general higher than the holiday sale in December. There were few catchers gears, helmets, and only 1983 pants. The hats were mostly from players I didn't recognize, although there were a couple of Ventura hats at $50.

In general, I didn't think it was worth attending the event to find GU items. It was better for people looking for autographs, as several key current and past players signed, some like Konerko all 3 days, unlike some other team fan fests where the key players don't show up or don't sign. Notable absence was Sale.

I had never gone to an autograph show or fan fest before, but it felt like you were rushing so you could wait in line. The one complaint I had about the autograph sessions was related to Bo Jackson's session. There was a sign posted at the entrance of the room his session was held, I understand the day before his session but I didn't see it until Sunday, that he was only signing a photo to be provided at the session, no memorabilia or even your own photo. Apparently he has a contract that prevents him to sign other items, which I can understand, but the White Sox should have known this ahead of time and should have mentioned it when they announced his attendance. I heard some people had come from far just to attend his signing and were very upset when they found this out.

A final note about the autograph sessions. Some are very crowded and the bracelets are given out very quickly, while others are the opposite. Depending on your collection focus, you can get many autographs without waiting too long. This was the case with former players (Stone, Farmer, Peterson), current (Nate Jones) and prospects (Semien, E Johson, M Johnson).

I didn't attend any seminar, but I thought it is great that those who are interested to hear from the GM, manager, current and past players, can do so and even ask them questions.

Again, if anyone picked up a Rienzo jersey or saw one besides the black alternate, I would love to know.

They raise prices for soxfest but they usually have better items there. At the clubhouse sale they didn't have many bats or any of the 83' jerseys but prices were cheaper. Morel jersey at the clubhouse sale was $25 soxfest was $100. The same guy gets to the soxfest sale 1st every year and buys a buttload.

[35th&Shields]

Re: Chicago White Sox Soxfest

helf35, Still Nice, but I feel you. Its like Whats up dude! Can I get the same luv too. Sheesh!

[salukidave]

Re: Chicago White Sox Soxfest

The guy who grabs a bunch of jerseys right away is from Ballpark Heroes. I guess everyone can do the same thing, but, in my opinion, the Sox shouldn't allow him to do this right away. 1) He's buying to resell. 2) I'm sure he's getting some kind of deal on them so he's costing White Sox Charities money.

I feel for you regarding the signature Thome put on your bat. The Greatest Human Being On The Planet is often an ass when it comes to signing stuff. He makes all these little judgements about people and then signs accordingly. He didn't give me a #25 either, but it really didn't matter to me because I had him sign just a magazine. But he was sizing up people throughout his session Sunday. Sometimes he would get ticked off for whatever reason. One woman who didn't receive a #25 from him (I believe it was on a generic bat) returned to the table and asked him to add it. He complied, but was clearly not happy to do it.

If you ask me, Thome is a phoney.

[35th&Shields]

Re: Chicago White Sox Soxfest

He does look like Mr. Incredible though. Lol..

Honestly, I wish the Sox would change that format at there sales. I would like to see a silent/live auction. All 3 days. Gives everybody a fair shot and lets the collectors dictate pricing. Its not like all the stuff they put out there on the racks gets sold. They know and we know what the hot items are and worth auctioning??

[helf35]

Re: Chicago White Sox Soxfest

Here's another one I had a 2011 futures game ball from viciedo. He was about to sign it in black and I gave him my blue pen. He looked at me funny then flipped it around and signed it on the backside where you can't see the logo.

[Dewey2007]

Re: Chicago White Sox Soxfest

I had the pleasure of meeting Sox pitcher Erik Johnson today. He was on campus taking care of some business. Nice young man. Hopefully he makes the starting rotation. I'll be rooting for him!

[esigs]

Re: Chicago White Sox Soxfest

The guy who grabs a bunch of jerseys right away is from Ballpark Heroes. I guess everyone can do the same thing, but, in my opinion, the Sox shouldn't allow him to do this right away. 1) He's buying to resell. 2) I'm sure he's getting some kind of deal on them so he's costing White Sox Charities money.

That was my guess after seeing several jerseys they put on eBay yesterday. I don't know how the Sox would be able to control who buys the items, unless they put a limit to everyone?

[esigs]

Re: Chicago White Sox Soxfest

He does look like Mr. Incredible though. Lol..

Honestly, I wish the Sox would change that format at there sales. I would like to see a silent/live auction. All 3 days. Gives everybody a fair shot and lets the collectors dictate pricing. Its not like all the stuff they put out there on the racks gets sold. They know and we know what the hot items are and worth auctioning??

I would prefer that, specially if they had the GU sale in a separate area where you could go in without buying a Soxfest ticket. Even better for me would be if they did what the Tigers does and sell most of their items on an online auction. Or at least like the Braves or Royals, although I understand that the Royals will be moving to an online platform this year.

[35th&Shields]

Re: Chicago White Sox Soxfest

Would be Nice! Stole the idea from the Blackhawks convention. They have a live auction shortly after the doors open then a display table with tons of used equipment and jerseys placed for bid that goes live around 6pm.

[Cubman15]

Re: Chicago White Sox Soxfest

The guy who grabs a bunch of jerseys right away is from Ballpark Heroes. I guess everyone can do the same thing, but, in my opinion, the Sox shouldn't allow him to do this right away. 1) He's buying to resell. 2) I'm sure he's getting some kind of deal on them so he's costing White Sox Charities money.

I feel for you regarding the signature Thome put on your bat. The Greatest Human Being On The Planet is often an ass when it comes to signing stuff. He makes all these little judgements about people and then signs accordingly. He didn't give me a #25 either, but it really didn't matter to me because I had him sign just a magazine. But he was sizing up people throughout his session Sunday. Sometimes he would get ticked off for whatever reason. One woman who didn't receive a #25 from him (I believe it was on a generic bat) returned to the table and asked him to add it. He complied, but was clearly not happy to do it.

If you ask me, Thome is a phoney.

I was dropping some things off at a hotel in the western burbs a few years ago for a charity event, when I saw some guys bringing in a ton of White Sox memorabilia into a separate room. I looked into the room and Thome was signing all of the memorabilia. I wasn't collecting at that time, but a friend of mine is a huge Sox fan. I walked into the room and asked one of the guys if I could get something signed for my friend. He said it was up to Jim. I explained that I was a major Cubs fan, but that my friend was a huge Sox fan. Jim was more than happy to sign a couple of items for him. It's a shame that your experience wasn't as positive. Sorry to hear that.

[Cubman15]

Re: Chicago White Sox Soxfest

Would be Nice! Stole the idea from the Blackhawks convention. They have a live auction shortly after the doors open then a display table with tons of used equipment and jerseys placed for bid that goes live around 6pm.

I was at the Cubs Convention a couple of weekends ago and they have a section for game used items, many of which are pretty reasonably priced with a good selection, plus they had live auctions on Friday and Saturday. The live auctions were very fun and they had a lot of quality uniforms there like Castro, Lake, Rizzo, Samardzija, etc. it's a shame that there wasn't the same selection at Sox Fest.

[stlbats]

Re: Chicago White Sox Soxfest

Thome svigned a perfect signiture with the #25 inscribed for the girl behind me but gave me this.

This is why I don't get my gamers signed anymore. Seemed like a bad signature or a pen malfunction almost every time for me.

[helf35]

Re: Chicago White Sox Soxfest

Personally I have gotten thomes sig about a dozen times and always got a clean sig and 8 of them came with the #. This was my first bad signiture from him so I can't be to ticked. I think it just rubs me the wrong way when they pick and choose. It was only a BP bat so I will wait and pay for his sig to get on my black gamer.

[Hoosier39]

Re: Chicago White Sox Soxfest

That was my guess after seeing several jerseys they put on eBay yesterday. I don't know how the Sox would be able to control who buys the items, unless they put a limit to everyone?

It sucks when 1 or 2 people buy tons of items, but I guess that's just how it works unfortunately. If you have the money to do so, then I guess there isn't too much you can do about it, even tho you know they are just buying to make profit.

If it was someone that spent $2,500 worth of goodies for their personal collection, then thats a different story.

[Cubman15]

Re: Chicago White Sox Soxfest

It sucks when 1 or 2 people buy tons of items, but I guess that's just how it works unfortunately. If you have the money to do so, then I guess there isn't too much you can do about it, even tho you know they are just buying to make profit.

If it was someone that spent $2,500 worth of goodies for their personal collection, then thats a different story.

I wonder if they could limit the number of jerseys that someone checks out with at any one time. While that wouldn't completely solve the problem, it might by fans and collectors a little bit of extra time.