August 12-13, 2023, Graphing of the Baysox at Flying Squirrels

This past weekend, I made the trip back up to Richmond to try to get Jackson Holliday again.  Spoiler alert, I didn't get him.  I'll stick with my one Jackson Holliday auto while he signs multiples for everyone else.

The trip was still a good one, as Chris and I spent time our friend, Ryan, and his family.  Ryan graphed with us on Saturday, where we got the bulk of our autos.

I finished off Jud Fabian and Dylan Beavers, so that was a plus.  We didn't get John Rhodes at all, even though he looked right at us on Sunday.

I got this 2022 Panini Prizm Draft card of Silas Ardoin signed while I was there.  He put me on the board early by singing it.  This was a nice pickup from the National. 

I was extremely happy to get John Means as he was leaving the parking lot.  He was stuck waiting for traffic to die down and was nice enough to roll his window down and sign for the last few of us who stayed after missing Jackson on Saturday. The 2022 Topps Stadium Club Chrome (top of post) was another National pickup.

Chris and I went on our own on Sunday and came away with only 4 autographs.  It was very hot, so instead of braving the heat and trying to be denied after the game, we left early.  I found out later from another grapher that he was able to get Jackson on multiples outside near the bus.  It just wasn't meant to be for me.

In all, we got the following autographs: Today's graphing recap of Baysox at Flying Squirrels: Dylan Beavers x 2, Jud Fabian x 4, Billy Cook x 1, Silas Ardoin x 1, Collin Burns x 4, Connor Gillispie x 2, John Means x 5, Max Wagner x 2 and Donta Williams x 1 (22).

Even though we didn't get Holliday, it was a nice trip.  It is always nice spending time with Ryan, and doing some graphing with him.

TTM Success - Paul Heinrichs

A look at Wikipedia's list of oldest living former MLB players brought Paul Hinrichs to my attention.  I had this 2020 Topps Opening Day Team Traditions and Celebrations card that I wanted to get signed, so I figured I'd send it to him, since he didn't have any cards of his own.

He signed the back of the card in ballpoint pen.  I guess he signed the back because he may have thought the pen wouldn't show up on the front.  Still, I am happy the card got signed.

Hinrichs (b. 1925) played in the majors in 1951.  He appeared in 4 games for the Red Sox.  He holds no win-loss record, had one strike out and a 21.60 ERA.

I mailed to Hinrichs on May 10 and got the card back on May 18, for an 8-day TAT.

TTM Success - Tommy La Stella

It's always nice to get some cards signed by players who are currently active, especially since access to graphing at games has been suspended over the past year.  I feel like more and more players have signed TTM the past year since fans haven't been allowed in ballparks, but I could be wrong.  Tommy La Stella is a fairly regular signer, and I was able to get a few nice cards signed and into my album.

The above 2020 Topps Big League was a good card for me to choose.  The landscape layout and clean border make the card look sharp when signed.

I also got La Stella to sign a 2015 Topps, 2020 Topps and 2020 Topps Opening Day.

La Stella (b. 1989) has played in the majors since 2014 for the Braves, Cubs, Angels and A's.  He has 360 hits, 31 home runs and a .274 batting average.  He was an All Star in 2019.  He won the World Series in 2016 while with the Cubs.

I mailed to La Stella on July 2 via Angels Stadium and got the cards back signed on December 18, for a 169-day TAT.