May 26, 2025, Graphing of the Redbirds at Bulls

Durham has become one of my favorite places to graph.  I typically do well there, and this time I graphed for the first time with my good friend Gerard.  I also had messaged my buddy Aidan on Onstagram that I was doing arrival in Durham, looked up, and Aidan was there.  He and I had the same plans.  He was able to meet Gerard and Mike as well, and it seems they hit it off.  Aidan is a great guy.

A highlight of the trip was getting this 2024 Bowman Chrome gold refractor of Tre Morgan signed.

I freed some cards from the Box Of Shame with some guys on Memphis.  My Nick Anderson cards were left over from last year's trips to Norfolk.  I also got some Rob Kaminsky cards that I had been holding into for a while. The yellow 2015 Bowman was a great hit.  I also got a green parallel from 2024 Topps Heritage High Number of Alex Fernandez signed.

Drew Rom was really great.  He got us on the board on arrival, and signed for me a second time pregame on two cards that I missed.  Thomas Saggese was happy to see Chris and I.  He hadn't seen Chris in a few years.  Saggese usually personalizes, but didn't for us. Apparently, that was a surprise to some other graphers.

Joe Boyle made a new friend in Gerard's brother, Mike.  Boyle really isn't too friendly to graphers, and it showed when Mike revealed his page of Boyle cards "ugh, you have too many. I'm only going to sign one..." "OK, that's fine, can you sign the yellow one?" "No." Gerard told me later in the week that Boyle did sign for him again, and was friendlier.

The main reason Chris came along was so that he could see Mason Englert in person again.  We missed him when we were in Columbus seeing Toledo last season.  He is now in the Rays system, and it was awesome seeing him again. 

Ha-Seong Kim was in Durham on a rehab assignment.  I didnt have any cards pulled for him, but two boys that were there gave me one of their extra cards after I gave them a few guys they didn't have.  It worked out doubly for me in that I got Kim and got rid of some cards that would have gone back in the boxes.

I cleared a few Andrew Stevenson cards out of the boxes, which helped clear a little room.  I also got a couple Durham team set cards taken care of.  I also got a couple Cole Wilcox cards that have been in my Durham box since last season signed.

Carson Williams was the last guy that we got.  I had made the decision to head out after getting a few autos post game, and the rain had returned.  I got Chris, turned around to say goodbye to Gerard and Mike, and saw them getting ready to get Williams.  Chris and I grabbed our books and knocked out two cards. 

One of the nicest guys we saw on this trip was another rehab assignment guy, Kevin Kelly.  I love this 2023 Topps Heritage.

We had a great time graphing with Aidan, Gerard and Mike.

In all, I got the following autographs: Nick Anderson x 2, Luken Baker x 2, Ian Bedell x 2, Howie Clark x 2, Jimmy Crooks x 2, Jose Fermin x 1, Ryan Fernandez x 2, Rob Kaminsky x 4, Michael McGreevy x 3, Cesar Prieto x 13, Drew Rom x 4, Thomas Saggese x 2, Mike Siani x 4, Andy Yerzy x 1, Zack Weiss x 1, Joe Boyle x 2, Mason Englert x 5, Brock Jones x 4, Dominic Keegan x 2, Kevin Kelly x 3, Ha-Seong Kim x 1, Tyler Ladendorf x 1, Tre Morgan x 2, Tanner Murray x 2, Pat Phelan x 1, Andrew Stevenson x 6, Jacob Wagiespack x 1, Cole Wilcox x 2, Carson Williams x 2 and Aidan Warnock x 1 (81 total autographs).

TTM Success - Terry Clark

Some late 80s cards came back signed TTM when I got this TTM success in from Terry Clark.  I don't have many 1989 Fleer in the autograph album, so adding this one was nice.

I do have a bunch of 1989 Topps in the album, but another one didn't hurt. This is a sharp looking 89, and I'm glad it is signed.

Clark (b. 1960) played in the majors from 1988 to 1990 and 1995 to 1997 for the Angels, Astros, Braves, Orioles, Royals, Indians and Rangers.  He had a record of 10-23 with 109 strike outs and a 5.54 ERA.

I mailed to Clark on December 2 and got the cards back on February 18 for a 78-day TAT.

TTM Success - Steve Rain

This 1997 Bowman of Steve Rain came back signed TTM recently.  I pulled some random cards from my box to send out, and this was one that came back fairly quickly.

Rain (b. 1975) played in the majors from 1999 to 2000 for the Cubs.  He had a record of 3-5 with 66 strike outs and a 5.46 ERA.

I mailed to Rain on February 4 and got the card back on February 15 for an 11-day TAT. 

Consignment Autos From Loc

My friend Loc took a few cards from me to get signed at Frisco.  He helped me get my 2024 Down East Wood Ducks team setndown to one card when he got this one signed by Ryan Lobus.  I still need Luis Valdez, who has been hurt since early last season.  Hopefully he will be back on a team soon.

Loc also got these two Trey Supak team set cards done.  I had two each of these scattered across several boxes.  He got three of the four signed, so that last one will have to get done another time.

He also got a 2022 Heritage Minors Aaron Zavala signed for me, which was great.  I reappy appreciated Loc helping me out and getting these cards out of the boxes.

TTM Success - George Lombard Jr.

Here are some nice cards that I got signed TTM from Yankees prospect, George Lombard, Jr.  I got this awesome 2024 Bowman insert signed, even though you can't tell at first glance.  That's ok. 

I also added a 2024 Pro Debut to the album. The signature can be seen very easily on this one. 

Lombard (b. 2005) was a first round pick (26th overall) by the Yankees in the 2023 July Amateur Draft out of Gulliver Prep in Florida.  He has played in the Yankees system since 2023, reaching AA.  He has 151 hits, 6 home runs and a .248 batting average.

I to Lombard on January 18 and got the cards back on February 14 for a 27-day TAT. 

May 2025 Graphing of the Mud Monsters at Bird Dawgs

Last week, the other Frontier League expansion team (the Mississippi Mud Monsters) was in Kinston for a 6-game series.  I missed Tuesday's game for family reasons, and Wednesday's game was a day game, so I got to 4 of the 6 games. I only needed two to get all of the cards I picked up signed.

I used gosportscards.com to find most of the cards; I had three of them on my own.  I was really glad to get my 2010 Topps Pro Debut Jamie McOwen cards out of my box.  I also got my Luis Devers 2022 Myrtle Beach team set card done.

My 2023 Augusta team set card of Tyree Thompson also got done.  I was also pleasantly surprised at the quality of Rodney Theophile's autograph. He took his time and put a great signature on my stuff.

A highlight to Saturday's game was that my brother, Philip, brought his family to the game.  My nephew, Lonnie, was picked to be the 'Play Ball' kid.  He got to go on the field and yell play ball to start the game. 

Lonnie had a blast at the game.  Something tells me he will be back to another one soon.

In all, I got the following autographs: Last night's graphing recap of the Mud Monsters at Bird Dawgs: Chris Barraza x 2, Luis Devers x 3, Victor Diaz x 4, Ti'Quan Forbes x 1, Jamie McOwen x 2, Karell Paz x 3, Jay Pecci x 3, Sergio Sanchez x 11, Rodney Theophile x 8 and Tyree Thompson x 2, Kyle Booker x 11 and Davis Bradshaw x 1 (51 total autographs).

Another TTM Success From Kurt Stillwell

This 1991 Donruss Diamond King that came back signed TTM from Kurt Stillwell is such a great card.  Diamond Kings were a favorite of the Junk Wax Era.  I had found this card in a box and decided to send to Stillwell again after originally getting him TTM in 2019.

I found a few more cards to send along with the Diamond King.  The 1988 Donruss ALs Best was a cool find in one of the boxes from the former LCS.  I also got a 1989 Topps and 1994 Leaf signed.

I mailed to Stillwell on January 25 and got the cards back on February 14 for a 20-day TAT.