Another Amazing Deal With Michael

I completed a couple deals with my friend, Michael recently and they all came in one package yesterday.  One of the biggest pieces in the deal was this Miguel Cabrera 4-color patch card numbered 24/25 (Uniform Number Ebay 1/1 wooo hooo).  This card is amazing, and I plan on keeping it for myself.  I like Cabrera, and I really wanted a "sick" patch of his.

The other piece of the deal was supposed to be a Craig Biggio auto that I wanted to trade to a friend of mine, but Michael decided that he wanted to do a Biggio PC, so he sent me this Machado relic/auto instead.  I think I like this card a lot more than that Biggio.  Look at how young Manny is!

As some throw ins, Michael included this Chance Sisco Bowman Chrome auto and the below Black refractor.

I was surprised, I thought this black refractor would be numbered, but it isn't. I think it is just the black wave refractor.  I think they started the black static and carbon fiber refractors in 2014.

Michael also included this Michael Kopech refractor auto from 2014 Bowman Sterling.  This is a really nice card, and I already have an idea who will be getting it.

Another throw in was this Gregg Olson IP auto.  I actually started a binder for IP autos that friends have sent me.  This will look good in there.

Finally, the other big deal I made with Michael was getting this autographed game used Nolan Reimold bat from him.  I have pretty much anything else Nolan, but I didn't have a bat.  It looks awesome, and I need to get another bat tube, so I can display it next to my Brian Roberts and Brooks Robinson signed bats.

Thanks so much for another couple of successful deals, Michael!  I really appreciate it.  Now, let me save some money for the National!!  Haha!

Fan Fest Trade with Blog Reader Michael

I got a message a few weeks leading up to Fan Fest from a young man named Michael who is as big an Orioles fan as I am.  For someone as young as he is, he sure has a sweet collection of Orioles autos, all sweet spotted on OMLB baseballs.  We were able to agree to a trade (which is actually really tough, because, being such a big fan, it is hard for me to part with anything truly of value) which would send me a signed Darren O'Day baseball in exchange for two autograph vouchers.  I figured that would work out just fine, so he sent me the below baseball.  He also sent me a picture of the above Miguel Gonzalez signed mini bat, so I bought that off of him for $20.  Again, not a bad deal.

Michael and I met up at Fan Fest and exchanged our goods.  I really like both items and it was nice to be able to meet another die hard O's fan.  I especially wanted an O'Day signed ball, since he was lights out in the bullpen and (whats tougher than lights out?  Insert that term here) in the playoffs against the Yankees.  I'm hoping for another great season from O'Day this year.

Michael's a good guy who reads the blogs, but has yet to start one of his own.  Maybe he will, so we can all see some of the awesome stuff he has in his collection.  Thanks for the trade Michael, let's do it again soon!

Goodbye, Brandon Snyder

I was sad the other day to hear that the Orioles sent former first round draft pick Brandon Snyder to the Rangers for cash considerations.

Snyder had played at every stop in the Orioles developmental system and played pretty well until he got to AAA Norfolk.  He got called up to the majors for cups of coffee in 2010 and 2011.

This photo was taken during my visit to Harbor Park in Norfolk in June 2010.

 I first met Brandon Snyder in April 2008 when the Frederick Keys visited the former Ernie Shore Field in Winston-Salem, NC.  I took my son, mom, brother, sister and 2 of my nieces to the game.  As my brother Andy and I were getting baseballs signed by Snyder, he mentioned that Matt Wieters was sitting on the other end of the dugout.  I replied "MATT WIETERS????" and he replied, "Yes, THE Matt Wieters.  Would you like for him to sign your ball, too?"  Of course we did, so Brandon called Wieters over and got our baseballs signed.  As they were signing, my son Christopher (who was 2 at the time) was crying, so Brandon reached into his bat bag and pulled out a game used baseball.  He said "Here, maybe this will make the little guy feel better, no wait, hold on..." He signed the ball and then handed it to Wieters to sign, then said, "Here you go."  Chris still has that ball on his shelf in his room.

Here is Brandon Snyder signing a softball and baseball for my nieces Grace and Alexis.  This was their first baseball game.

This is a signed ball I got from Snyder in Norfolk, also during my June 2010 trip.

I met Brandon Snyder again in June 2010 when I visited Norfolk for a Tides game.  Brandon was signing autographs when I asked him if he would sign my bat.  He said "Of course" and signed it in black sharpie.  As he was signing it, I thanked him for being so nice to us when we met him in Winston-Salem and it meant a lot that he took the time to try to console my crying baby, when a lot of people would be annoyed.  He looked up from signing the bat, shook my hand and thanked me.

As a baseball fan, when you get the opportunity to meet some of the players and especially if they are friendly, you really hope they succeed.  I really hate to see Brandon move on to another organization, but since he is going to the reigning 2-time AL Champions, I think this is a good thing for him.  I really hope that the change in scenery does him good and he tears it up at Spring Training. 

Brandon, if you ever see this blog, good luck to you and I wish only the best for you; a very friendly and classy ballplayer.  Thank you again for taking the time out to sign autographs for fans of all ages.

July 20, 2010 Bowie Baysox Game Part 1

I'm going to post better pictures of this stuff when I have time on Memorabilia Museum, but I couldn't resist blogging from the road...

I'm filing this entry from the Red Roof Inn in Lanham, MD after getting back from the first of two Bowie Baysox games in which I had hoped to meet and have Brian Roberts sign a bat for me.

The game was a high scoring affair on the Baysox' part, with a 7-run bottom of the fourth inning highlighted by back to back to back homeruns by Joel Guzman, Joe Mahoney and Brandon Waring. I was especially happy that Waring jacked one (and boy did he) because this was the third time I have spoken to him at a game. He is an alumni of Wofford College, the same college that my brother starred on the gridiron as a Tight End. Waring told me before that he remembered my brother, so I think its cool that we have something we can chat about before games.

Also, Brian Roberts was playing a rehab assignment before he is to be activated this weekend. He has been on the 60-day DL with a herniated disc in his back.

After the game, I was able to score a Roberts signature on the bat I brought in, plus, my cousin got a ball signed. I also gave a ball to the guy sitting behind us because he seemed really cool, and he got it signed, then gave it to me saying that he just wanted the thrill of having it signed... Pretty cool.

My cousin took a bunch of pictures and I will file another entry once he loads them on my laptop for me. These pictures were taken with my call phone, haha.

The baysox ended up winning 10-3 and Roberts went 3-5 with 2 singles and a double.