2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

[godwulf]

Re: 2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

Godwulf, the Hometown Tour takes place during the two days before Fanfest. You can get things signed during that to lighten your load.

That's a thought. I'll have to check out their itinerary and see whether I can arrange to meet some of the guys out there on it.

I must truly be some kind of masochist. I didn't have anything for Ojeda to sign - I have five of his bats, but they're all already signed - so I bought another one of his bats just to have something for him to autograph.

[godwulf]

Re: 2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

Oh, and I forgot to say - Thanks!

[godwulf]

Re: 2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

Howard/yankeepirate....

You're not set up to receive PMs, so I couldn't answer your inquiry about the Melvin bat that way.

No, I'm not interested in selling it at this time, but congratulations and good luck on your exhibit. Were you the same fella who asked about the Sarah Silverman softball jersey a while back, btw?

Jeff

[OaklandAsFan]

Re: 2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

Not sure I actually inquired about it but I would be interested in it if your looking to part with it. (Silverman jersey)

[godwulf]

Re: 2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

Not sure I actually inquired about it but I would be interested in it if your looking to part with it. (Silverman jersey)

That was actually in response to a PM'ed inquiry from yankeepirate.

I'm not selling it to either one of you, however.

If I ever do, though, I'll contact you both and maybe get you involved in a bidding war.

[larry bourget]

Re: 2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

anyone interested in a game used home 2001 set 1 #22 Gregg Swindell "auto'd" with World Series patch. $250. Pics available.

larry.bourget@sympatico.ca

[theflock13]

Re: 2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

On their website it says there will be a D-backs Wives Silent Auction. Maybe they'll have some GU items in there.

[whatupyos]

Re: 2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

I am on the lookout for any Eric Byrnes game used items. I will pay extremely well for a DBacks home or road game used jersey. Its pretty much the last piece I need.

Aaron

SunDevil2126628@hotmail.com

[godwulf]

Re: 2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

Like the guy watching his mother-in-law sail off the cliff in his brand new Cadillac, I am experiencing mixed emotions.

I just talked to somebody with the Diamondbacks, and here's how they're setting up the autograph venue at Fan Fest this Saturday. There'll be four sessions, with three signing tables per session, with two to four players/coaches/alumni sitting at each table...and you will only be able to buy a voucher for one table per session.

So, assuming that each signer only does one session, you know going in that you're going to miss getting 2/3 of the guys. I am majorly bummed about this. It means that I have absolutely no idea what bats, etc, to take...and if I go to all the hassle of hauling everything (at least 16 bats) down there in my little cart, I know ahead of time that I'm going to be hauling 2/3 of them back unsigned.

I was really looking forward to getting Bob Melvin to sign his old Yankees bat for me, and also getting Justin Upton to sign his '08 Marucci 'J-Up' bat, for example...but, my luck, they'll be signing at different tables during the same session. There is also, unfortunately, no way to find out which players will be signing at the same table, or during the same session, ahead of time - not until I get down to the ballpark to get in line to buy the vouchers on Saturday morning.

The mixed emotions part is that this whole setup is causing me to think about just hauling down my favorite four bats in a bag - the ones I absolutely have to get signed, if at all possible - and just getting the other guys to sign baseballs, or photos if I already have them on a ball. I would be far more mobile, less stressed, maybe even make it to the Yard Sale in time to grab something cool.

As I think I mentioned in the OP, I really envy, in a way, the person who just goes around getting as many players as possible to sign a ball for them, and they're happy with that. Maybe I've gotten obsessive, and even a little greedy. I could probably make something positive out of this situation if I applied some thought to it.

[OaklandAsFan]

Re: 2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

Hey Godwulf ya know they sign quite often during spring training. Last season I got every single player I brought cards for that made the trip up in one game last spring.

I feel you pain though I am really obsessive about getting my stuff signed so if you need any help with anything contact me before the game and I will work on getting it signed for you if you cannot make it to the game. I doubt I will be doing the fanfest Saturday though since I have to replace the clutch in my wife's Stang this weekend.

[theflock13]

Re: 2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

Anyone get anything? I got outbid on a Webb GU jersey. Wish I had more cash!

[godwulf]

Re: 2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

I was actually too busy standing in various autograph lines - pretty much continuously between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. - to even be involved in any auctions. I saw a few game-worn jerseys at the yard sale - no real bargains, mostly coaches, with one Robbie Hammock that I think they wanted $175 for. Very few bats, by the time I got to the yard sale - about the best was one of Eric Byrnes' red Diablos for $75, which I didn't get because I already have two. I did buy an Alex Romero Rawlings for $40, because I didn't have one of his bats.

They were selling these huge, nicely framed photos, probably about 48" x 36", that had been hung around the ballpark for many years, and I got two, for $25 each - an awesome photo of Todd Stottlemyre pitching, and one of Greg Swindell signalling a pop-up. They are so incredibly heavy, I almost killed myself getting them from the park to my car - walking four blocks with these things balanced on my head; my back will not be right for at least a week.

I got five bats signed - a Mark Reynolds Old Hickory, a Justin Upton Marucci, a Bob Melvin Yankees bat, a Chip Hale bat from Minnesota, and one of Tom Candiotti's Yankees bats (the last of which I received in time for Fan Fest thanks to John K). Candy was really jazzed to see one of his old bats - he immediately showed it to Reggie Sanders and said, "Look at all those ball marks!" He also told me that Raul Mondesi used to take and use his bats all the time.

I also got Justin Upton to sign his Single-A Visalia Oaks batting helmet, which he declared "awesome".

Best moment of the day. I was walking across the field and spotted Roland Hemond - and if you don't know who that is, as Yogi said, "You could look it up" - chatting with some guys, passing around some of his championship rings, and I stopped and asked him to sign a ball for me. Then I shook his hand, and said "Thank you very much, and thank you for everything you've done for the game." He clapped me on the shoulder, and said, "Thank you, you're very kind." If the man had never done anything but come up with the idea for the Arizona Fall League, he'd be a hero of mine.

I'll post some photos of the Upton helmet and the big photos that almost killed me, later.

[Rboitano]

Re: 2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

Any Randy Johnson bats?

[godwulf]

Re: 2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

...and one of Tom Candiotti's Yankees bats

I meant Los Angeles, of course. Sometimes I get my evil empires confused.

[godwulf]

Re: 2009 Diamondbacks Fan Fest

Any Randy Johnson bats?

I don't know about the auction - flock13? Certainly nothing from RJ in the yard sale. Randy's bats tend to vanish into one person's collection or another before the general public gets a crack at them. I was very lucky to get one of his rose-colored LS's from last year from a team source.