My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

[jobathenut]

Re: My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

xpress-Man i really have enjoyed reading you dream trip blog here.I do have to say i am so happy you were able to get giambi to sign that jersey.I am not too crazy about the autograph on the pants though.So were you able to get those batting gloves.I know i would love to get a pair of his yankees ones to go with my bat.Have you been able to get those nolan ryan jerseys signed yet.I am assumming you have not as i am sure you would have mentioned meeting "the legend".And i love that autograph on the hamilton jersey.I love a nice and big autograph on a item.Which is funny as one of my favorites giambi has one of the smallest and ugliest autographs there is.Love the pictures,this has been a great read for sure.

[jobathenut]

Re: My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

I have heard that from friends of mine in the autograph buisness.I have some that travel the country during the season and they have told me who is the best and worst at signing at away stadiums (as everyone is great at thier own) and he is always on all thier lists they send to me.Just what i have been told as i have not tried to get anything signed by him myself.So i am sorry if i stated that as fact as i didnt intend to sound like that.Glad you are back writing the blog.It's the only reason i have logged on here the last couple days is to read your adventures.

Butch -

Not much media at all... Ron even signed! I don't know who told you (or where you got the idea) that Ham-Bone (Hamilton) isn't fan friendly... he has to be one of the nicest guys in MLB. More on that shortly when I return...

- Chris

[xpress34]

Re: My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

Addendum to Day 3...

I can't believe that I forgot these!!!

After the game, I went to a couple of shops and picked up the following:

Sandy Koufax single signed ball:


Vintage Reach (Joe Cronin) Ball Box (no lid):


Vintage 1984 Giants Fantasy Camp signed ball : Mays (light on sweet spot), Maglie, Bobby Bonds, Marichall, Irvin, etc...





Pujols (Mounted Memories) GU Dirt:


And the Buchelle ball:


Chad Tracy ball:


- Chris

[xpress34]

Re: My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

Day 4 (Mon Mar 22nd)...

I am now up to today - and I will put up pics and all shortly... right now though I have to head to Sky Harbor as my Wife and Kid touch down in just under an hour... I'll finish getting caught up when we get back.

Til then!

- Chris

[xpress34]

Re: My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

Day 3 of ST (Sun Mar 21st):

Got up and went over the try and catch the Rangers before they left for their away game... by the time the practice fields opened (10am) the players were leaving to catch the bus... I did get Justin Smoak on the 'Stitches' jersey as well as Chris Ray and Frankie Francisco... I also got Chad Tracy on a ball that I will also have Jim Tracy sign later...

I did have a nice highlight though before I went in to watch the Rox and Royals at Surprise... at the MiLB fields I ran into All-Time Ranger great Steve Buechelle and he signed my jersey and a ball...

At the game I added some guys to my All-Time Rox Jersey... EY Jr, Ian Stewart, Carlos Gonzalez, etc... not a bad day over all... no pics of today's items...

- Chris

[xpress34]

Re: My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

INTERMISSION...

A Few Quick Pics of the car on the Trip here...



SHIPROCK NM:









And I forgot from DAY 1 of ST... me with Elvis Andrus:



Now back to the Blog...

[xpress34]

Re: My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

2nd Day of ST...

Got up early and headed over to Hi Corbett to catch the Rox and Angels. I started out at the practice fields and got Mike McKenry (Catching prospect) on my Cather's Mitt... then went to Field 5 and watched the pitchers work out along with a few position players. Got Paul LoDuca on the mitt as well as Mike Scosia when the Angels arrived. Also got EY Jr on my all-time team bat.

Went into the stadium and it was photo-day... saw Giambi going out on the field and showed him the jersey - he said they were pretty cool. When he came off the field, he made a beeline right to e and signed both the Jersey and the pants as well as telling me he would get my some batting gloves to go with them (I did ask...).

I hung around and chatted with Barmes again for a bit, got Woody Paige (sports writer) on the jersey... also saw Rene Spillbourgh (Ryan's dad) and chatted with him.

After the game, saw Jim Tracy and chatted with him for a few minutes as well, and then headed back to Phoenix (Surprise / Sun City) to my oldest brother's house.

Giambi Jersey:



Giambi Pants:



Giambi on the field:




Jim Tracy after the game:


I almost forgot... one of my brothers in Tucson gave me some bats he picked up at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet:

LVS Pro Stock C271:


LVS Pro Stock C243:


And a GU LVS Chad Krueter WHITE SOX Bat - O69:


And a GOOD FRIEND gifted me with some amazing items:

Troy Tulowitzi St Pat's Day signed (MiLB) ball (in GREEN):


Matt Holliday AUTO GU PRACTICE Ball:


An EY Jr GU and AU Minor League Bat (LVS I13):



A couple of other bats (including an AU GU Tulo Minor League Bat) and THIS... an UNUSED complete set of 2009 Post Season Rockies Tickets:


More to come!!!

- Chris

[xpress34]

Re: My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

UPDATE to DAY 1:

2008 All Star Jersey - Josh Hamilton (LOOK at he SIZE of that SIG!)


2006 Rockies GU Batting Helmet - Clint Barmes


Sept 8, 2009 Rockies Ticket (my seat) - Eric Young, Jr (His 1st MLB HR which I recovered!)



And got a good start on this one:

Texas Rangers 'Stitches' Jersey - Various Rangers

[xpress34]

Re: My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

Xpress34-That sounds like a great day one to me.Was thier much media attention around the texas rangers cause of that story about thier manager.It's too bad you were not able to get giambi.I would think that hamilton would be a tough autograph to get as he does not seem very fan friendly.But then all players are fan friendly at home.Its on the road is the test to see if they are fan friendly like nick swisher.I can not wait to see how the autographs turned out on the jersey.I was hoping you would have caught a ball hit by giambi and i would have asked how much you want for it-just kidding.Well i hope you did not get too sun burnt as its a long week for you.Stay safe!

Butch -

Not much media at all... Ron even signed! I don't know who told you (or where you got the idea) that Ham-Bone (Hamilton) isn't fan friendly... he has to be one of the nicest guys in MLB. More on that shortly when I return...

- Chris

[xpress34]

Re: My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

Hey all -

Sorry no posts the last few days... I haven't had internet access... I will update Sat (Day 2), Sun (Day 3) and Today (Day 4) here in a few minutes... just got the hotel room (and that was a fiasco!), getting unpacked and ready to see the wife and kis when they fly in late tonight...

Back shortly!!! (With lots of pics too!!!)

- Chris

[jobathenut]

Re: My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

Xpress34-That sounds like a great day one to me.Was thier much media attention around the texas rangers cause of that story about thier manager.It's too bad you were not able to get giambi.I would think that hamilton would be a tough autograph to get as he does not seem very fan friendly.But then all players are fan friendly at home.Its on the road is the test to see if they are fan friendly like nick swisher.I can not wait to see how the autographs turned out on the jersey.I was hoping you would have caught a ball hit by giambi and i would have asked how much you want for it-just kidding.Well i hope you did not get too sun burnt as its a long week for you.Stay safe!

[xpress34]

Re: My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

1st 2010 ST game on Friday (Mar 19th) at Surprise Stadium - Indians (ss) vs Rangers.

Got up at 7:30 this morning and got ready to attack this year's ST session...

Went and got some breakfast (Chocolate Milk and Zingers) and some bottled water and headed to Surprise.

I found out (early thankfully) that the Rangers 'A Team' (the Starters) no longer do BP or workouts on the Practice Fields on Fri and Sat... they do theirs in the Stadium and they open the gates early (10:30) for the fans.

I went and bought a cheap lawn seat ($7) and went in. During BP I got 3 foul balls (all from Vlad) and one HR ball (from Nelson Cruz)...

Got the Hamilton 2008 ASG Jersey signed... Josh had been signing by the dugout for about 15 minutes and as he headed to the clubhouse, I unfurled the jersey... Josh looks over and says, 'Dear God!' (jokingly) and trots over and signs the jersey for me. On the 'Stitches' jersey I got Ron Washington, Clint Hurdle, Gary Pettis, David Murphy, Michael Young and Elvis Andrus. Ironically, I got blown off by both Vlad and Cruz... Also got blown off by Chris Davis.

Had a nice chat with Hurdle (he came over and Bear Hugged me!)... he remembered me from Coors Field...

After, I decided to get a head start on I-10 traffic and head out early to Tucson... got to Hi Corbett just as the game was ending and scored Clint Barmes on the Batting Helmet, Eric Young, Jr. on the Ticket and Dexter Fowler on the All Time Rox jersey. Fowler and Young both promised me a pair of Batting Gloves. Did not see Giambi, but did get blown off by Tulo... Helton snuck out, got caught to sign two, and then he left...

Also ran into no less than 5 people I know from Denver and Coors Field at Hi Corbett!!!

All in all, not a bad 1st day - 4 balls and 10 autos which includes knocking out the following PRIMARY targets:


2008 All Star Jersey - Josh Hamilton


2006 Rockies GU Batting Helmet - Clint Barmes


Sept 8, 2009 Rockies Ticket (my seat) - Eric Young, Jr (His 1st MLB HR which I recovered!) - NO PIC

And got a good start on this one:

Texas Rangers 'Stitches' Jersey - Various Rangers


I also talked to Joe (Rays54) and will be seeing him at Hi Corbett tomorrow.

I will get pics of the stuff I have gotten auto'd and post as soon as possible...

All the best -

Chris

P.S. - I have not heard (eMail or otherwise) from any other AZ board members except Rays54... I'd love to meet some of you guys... GodWulf???

[xpress34]

Re: My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

Chris- this should make for some interesting reading, particularly for those of us that could not make it down to ST this year. I can't wait to hear your report from the Indians game today. Enjoy your week!

Greg -

I hope you enjoy ST vicariously through my 'blog'...

Unfortunately, I did not stay for the Indians game today... see the following post for today's 'blog'...

- Chris

[dcgreg25]

Re: My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

Chris- this should make for some interesting reading, particularly for those of us that could not make it down to ST this year. I can't wait to hear your report from the Indians game today. Enjoy your week!

[xpress34]

Re: My 2010 Spring Training 'Blog'...

Just wanted to let you know xpress.That you have at least one person following your stories of the trip on here.As i am so jealous you are doing this.And i wish you luck in getting those things signed.I am especially interested in your jason giambi jersey.As i am a huge fan of his and i hope he signs that for you.Those texas items might be tough with what is going on with that team.Well good luck,and please be safe in your travels there-

Butch -

Thanks for the kind words - it's had 83 views so far - I think everyone is waiting for the 'meat and potatoes' and new pictures! I will be posting at least once daily... I did this last year as well... and the year before that on SCF (Sports Card Forum)...

As far as Texas, they have (in my opinion from the Stadiums I have visited) the most fan friendly practice area... and Hamilton has always been great - as well as Nolan. As far as the Rox, Barmes on the helmet is a slam dunk for me - Clint knows me pretty well as I hand turned a Maple Bat for him a few years back when I worked for Rawlings. I have heard nothing but good things about the G-Man... Helton ad Tulo can be hit and miss, but I have heard they have been great this spring!

- Chris