Graphing a Four-Game Series Between The Wood Ducks and Mudcats

Four-game series are tough for graphing.  It has been tough just having the energy to get done what I need to get done, then get home and prepare for the next game.  I took on several 50/50s for this series between the Mudcats and Wood Ducks, then added on a few cards later on when I realized one of the roving instructors was a former major leaguer, and when I saw that the Wood Ducks finalls had the Carolina League Top Prospects sets in.

I went into the series with the hope that I could get everything that I had signed, but a few players were limiting autos, so it was difficult in getting everything done.  I did get some nice cards from Trent Clark, like the Team USA ones above.

Clark apparently has begun to limit what he signs, so I had to be strategic in what I wanted to get, and when I tried to get it.  He was friendly enough, and stopped to talk with Chris and I every game.

I knew going into the series that Monte Harrison would be a tough sign, and he was.  He would only sign one card per person, so by the third game, I was only putting one card in my book that I absolutely wanted.

Luckily, I pretty much covered all of the 50/50 commitments that I made.  I ended up with some nice ones, though, so I am happy.

I was especially glad to be able to get this 2013 Perfect Game card signed, since I pulled it out of a pack.

Corey Ray was really nice, as always.  I had some great cards of him, so I was happy when I completed everything of him by the third day.  I even took a card for a friend while I was there and got it signed as well.

Ray was the only current Mudcat in the prospects set.  They are nice cards, so I was happy to be able to go ahead and get his out of the way and into my album.

I had a lot of Medeiros cards, and a lot for the 50/50s.  I got all but two of the cards signed.

These draft board cards turned out really nice.  I ended up with a couple extra, so Chris was glad to get one.  He thought they were pretty cool, too.

I had gotten Medeiros back earlier in the season, but I couldn't remember what I had gotten, so I just went with what was in my stack.  I think I did pretty well.

Isan DIaz was on the DL with a wrist injury, but still traveled with the team.  He was one of the few players who (along with Ray) signed everything on our pages.

I had a lot of different stuff of Diaz, and I also was able to chat with him a bit while he was signing each game.

I found the black parallel Bowman of Marcos Diplan at the card shop right before the series started.  I thought I had more of his cards, but that was it, with the exception of the Mudcats team set I had picked up on July 4th.

Both Lucas Erceg and Cody Ponce were really nice.  They stopped and talked to us each game, whether we had anything for them to sign or not.

Trey Supak was really quiet, but friendly.  He signed everything we had on our pages, and the cards turned out really nice.  I was also glad that the Heritage Minors got signed, since I pulled it from a pack the Sunday before the series started.

 Speaking of my Mudcats team set, I knocked out a ton of the cards during this series.

Chris also got the same ones from his set signed.  We even were able to get most of the trainers and coaches, which can be tough.

The cards are super glossy, but they all turned out really well.

I think I got my money's worth out of the set.

Speaking of sets, I got my first Wood Ducks cards!  These are the only three in existence right now, since Brett Martin, Josh Morgan and Jonathan Hernandez are the only ones listed in the 2017 Carolina League Top Prospects set.  I think I was at the game where Hernandez is pitching.  I wish the Wood Ducks would have came out with sets this year, but for some dumb reason, they aren't.

I missed out on HoJo quite a bit during this series, but finally got him the last two games.  I have most of his cards signed now, so it is all really just taking care of 50/50s for him.

Finally, I learned that Dwaye Murphy is a roving instructor for the Rangers, and he was with the team this week.  Chris and I were able to get him on three cards, including a 1987 Topps.  I really like the colors on that one, and it adds to my Topps Project.

I have one more series that I am for sure taking in, Lynchburg next weekend.  I have no idea how I am going to be able to stand the offseason, but I likely will be spending it reloading and relaxing in anticipation of the 2018 minor league season.

July 8, 2017 Graphing of the Astros at Wood Ducks

It has been a marathon weekend of graphing for me.  I wasn't going to go yesterday, but I ended up in Kinston, anyway, since my good friend, Gerard, wanted one of the Bill Ellis bobble heads that they were giving away.  I also finished up all of the Buies Creek Astros that I had, as well as several more Wood Ducks.

I finally got Peter Fairbanks on a couple cards.  He has been just as tough as Lipka, and also wasn't all that friendly.  I saw him shaking his head as he walked over, then he was really short with me while I was chatting with him.  I'm ok with it, but I just hope that he isn't that way with Chris when he gets back, because Chris really likes him.  Maybe he was just having a had day, so I'll chalk it up to that.

I finished off all of the Ti'quan Forbes cards that I had.  He's really nice, and seems to be enjoying his promotion to Kinston.

I finally finished all of the Matt Lipka cards that I had, which was nice.  He actually stopped pre-game two days in a row, so maybe not that his bat is heating up, he will be more willing to sign for fans.

Finally, I got two more specialty Howard Johnsons signed.  The left card is a 1988 Donruss Baseball's Best, and the right is a 1987 Topps Tiffany.  I still have Johnsons to get signed, but I am done with everything I have bought special.

I now can take a week off from graphing and can kind of reset.  It has been a busy week, but enjoyable.  I am also ready for Chris to get back.

July 7 Graphing of Wood Ducks Vs. Astros

The Wood Ducks returned home tonight from a successful 3-game road trip where they won a series against the Winston-Salem Dash.  They carried that momentum into tonight's game and beat the Buies Creek Astros 7-1.  I had a great time tonight, as it was a return home for me, as well.  My last graphing experience didn't go as well as I had hoped, so a return to the friendly confines of Grainger Stadium was welcome.

I took this photo tonight and it was featured during the weather on WITN's 11:00 PM newscast.  I was really excited about that.

I have only been placing two cards of Howard Johnson in my autograph book, now, since he has pretty much been doing two-per at each game.  I have a couple nice cards, still, that I would like to get signed, so I hope I can get them during the next few games.  That way, I can finish the 50/50 from Gerard, and wrap up the season without too many cards left over.

The 2009 Topps Tribute turned out amazingly.  It is numbered  115/219.  The 1990 Donruss Best of The National League is also really cool.  I always loved the 1990 design, so adding a "parallel" (even though it isn't a parallel) to that was really cool.

I came home with one each of newcomer Yeyson (pronounced Jason) Yrizarri, Brett Martin, Jeremy Moore and Matt Lipka.  Lipka actually signed two, but one is for Gerard.  I was really happy that Lipka signed for me pre-game.  I hope I can get the last two cards of him taken care of.  His bat is coming to life, so maybe that has helped his demeanor.  Not that he was mean or anything, maybe he just doesn't like to sign.  That's fair enough.  I had a lengthy conversation with Brett Martin, which is always enjoyable.  I also spoke with Jeremy Moore twice.  He specifically asked about Chris, which was really cool.  Chris is on a trip, so when he gets back, we will have to make a point to go to Kinston so he can say hello to all of these guys.

Speaking of newcomers to the team, Ti-quan Forbes was recently promoted to the Wood Ducks.  I had a bunch of cards of him, so I went ahead and got the best of the bunch taken care of.  With him and Yrizarri, I knocked two more cards off of my Hickory set.  That was really nice.  I could have gotten a third, but I have yet to be able to get Peter Fairbanks.  I am kind of waiting for Chris to come back, since he told Fairbanks that he is his new favorite player.  I can always wait til after the game outside to get those cards taken care of.

Another newcomer to the Carolina League is Astros prospect, Forrest Whitley.  He signed two of the four cards that I had.  I will try Buies Creek at least one more time, so I think I can get the rest taken care of.

I went to the card shop while on my lunch today, and along with the Whitleys, I also picked up two Jake Rogers.  He was really nice, and signed both cards.

I also picked up these two Anthony Hermelyn cards that turned out really nice.

Finally, I had gotten a couple Brett Adcock cards from the shop, and also from an order on COMC.  I have a couple left over, but these were the best of the bunch.  That blue parallel really looks nice.

I felt so much better following this game, as opposed to the Salem Red Sox game.  I think it was a return to the field I am familiar with (graphing, at least) that helped.  Also, it was Food Truck Friday, and the food was amazing.  Maybe that was it.

July 3 Graphing The Wood Ducks and Pelicans

It is July 4, today, but when I take a look at the upcoming Minor League schedule, I can see that the season is drawing to a close.  The Wood Ducks finish their season in less than two months, and with my trip the the National coming up, I will be limited in when I can see them.  I will not see the Pelicans, Dash, or the Nationals at Grainger Stadium any more this season.  I have one three-game series against Frederick where I will have to work hard to get any Orioles prospects I want.  I have one more shot at Wilmington, and one shot at Lynchburg.  I can always supplement my time with a trip or two to the Mudcats, like I am today.  I missed a chance to get the Salem Red Sox, so I am catching them today in Zebulon with my good friend, Dugan.

With the games winding down, I have finished up most of the lots of cards that I bought early this season.  I have finished up Josh Morgan, Bobby Rose, all but one Brett Martin and most of the Hickory Team Set (guys who made it to the Wood Ducks at least).  I have answered all of my 50/50 commitments, with the exception of a few Howard Johnson for Gerard.

I did pick up some COMC cards of Johnson and some Lynchburg guys recently.  I think it was 6 Johnsons, and I got two of the signed last night.  The above 1995 Score Platinum turned out amazing; I'm glad I went with that one first.  Johnson has been doing two-per lately, so I will have to space things out and hope I wrap everything up by the end of the season.

This 1990 Jumbo California Sunflower Seeds card was a nice rarity that I found cheap on COMC.  I thought it would look great in the album, so I picked it up.  I met a kid from Statesville at the game last night who couldn't believe that Johnson was the Wood Ducks manager.  He said that he tried to tell his dad that it was the same guy, and his dad wasn't buying it.  I bet his dad will be excited to see the two cards I donated to the kid, and then helped get them signed.  I also gave him 4 Bobby Rose and a Brett Martin, but we weren't able to get Martin to sign.

Finally, I got one last Eloy Jimenez on this 2014 Bowman Chrome refractor.  I tried to get one more card form Eloy at the end of the game, but he refused.  I think they were late and wanted to get a team meeting in before they left town.  The game was a 4.5 hour marathon that ended in the 11th with the Pelicans winning 11-7.

Weekend of Graphing the Pelicans and Wood Ducks

I went to three of the four games between the Down East Wood Ducks and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans this weekend, beginning on Thursday.  I had some 5/50s to take care of for Weston, Billy, Max, Dugan, Andrew and Gerard.  I also ended up with a bunch of extras, so my good friend, Brayden, will probably be seeing a care package soon, as well.

The biggest name on the Pelicans' roster is Eloy Jimenez.  He signed one per, but I was able to get him both pre and post game at all of the games.  I did really well, I think.  I also had Chris helping me on Thursday, so that worked out as well.

I've already pulled out all of the cards going out for the 50/50s.  Max was a big help in getting me stuff from the Pelicans that I could get signed.  They are a Cubs team, so he will be happy with the autos that he will be getting back.

I met a father and son on Thursday who were graphing together, and they gave me a few Ryan Kelloggs, so I ended up with extras after helping Max with the 50/50.

I skipped the Saturday game to go to the card show in Raleigh, which helped me replinish some of my Wood Ducks stock, and I also picked up a few Carolina League guys for future use.  I also grabbed a couple more Jimenez and Justin Steele cards while I was there.

I continued to "rack" Josh Morgan and Jeremy Moore.  I didn't get a chance to get Morgan's opinion on autographing multiple cards, but seeing him sign 32 cards between two people made me feel a lot better about my pages of four.

There have been some recent call ups to the Wood Ducks, so I was able to get a few more cards signed from my Crawdads set that I bought.  That reminds me, I need to look through Chris's set and make sure he has covered some of these guys as well.

I spoke briefly with Emerson Martinez, mainly about a player (Zack Bird) who's card he didn't recognize.  It appears that there are players who are listed on the roster who aren't with the team, and this comes as a surprise to folks who actually are on the team.  It was kind of a funny, but helpful moment.

 I was able to add two new Topps cards to my ledger with the 1985 and 1990 All Star shown above.

I was able to get some nice HoJo cards signed.  He is only doing two-per as of late, but that is fine with me.  Bobby Rose has been away from the team, so I am still sitting on some cards of his to get signed.  I hope I can get moving on them soon.

In all, here is how I did:  I got Howard Johnson x 12, Josh Morgan x 24, Chuck Moorman x 1, Tyler Sanchez x 1, Jeffrey Springs x 1, Jeremy Moore x 10, Jairo Beras x 4, Brett Martin x 1, Emerson Martinez x 1, Jonathan Hernandex x 1, Justin Steele x 8, Ryan Kellogg x 7, Tyler Alamo x 2 and Eloy Jimenez x 6.  I also got Matt Lipka x 4, but those are pending Gerard's approval of what goes and what stays.  So, I ended up with 79 signed baseball cards.

I gave away a bunch of my extra Josh Morgan cards to some kids who were standing there wanting autographs, so they could at least come away with something.  I traded for a 2017 Pro Debut with Colin and his dad, then they gave me a handful of blank ones that I could get Morgan to sign myself.  I was glad to get those, because Pro Debut has been tough to find.

I am now taking a few nights off from graphing, and searching boxes.  This past week has been exhausting with all of the 50/50s I have been working on.

Graphing The Wood Ducks Vs. The Blue Rocks

I went to the Down East Wood Ducks vs. the Wilmington Blue Rocks game last night with my son, Chris and got some graphing done.  I was on a mission to get a 1989 Fleer signed by Jamie Quirk and to finish up on some 50/50s for Dugan and Gerard.  I finished Gerard's, but still have a few guys remaining for Dugan.

I added another 1987 Topps to my autograph binder, with this signature of Quirk.  I also had mentioned to him that my brother-in-law's name is also Jamie Quirk.  He responded with an "Oh, come on".  I don't think he believed me.  It's true, though.

I got some nice cards signed by Quirk.  I don't think all of them are going to go toward my Topps Autograph Project, though.  I want Chris to look and see which ones he wants to keep.

I spent a good bit of time Tuesday night sorting cards and pulling out Quirks.  I did pretty well, I think.

I also went through my rookie box and found some current Blue Rocks players.  I did a really good job this time, I got autos of everyone that I had pulled.

All of the Blue Rocks players are super nice.  They all spoke to me for a bit, and the other graphers, too.  They also won the game with three solo homers in the top of the ninth inning, leaving the score at 3-2.

I finally completed Gerard's 50/50 with a 2013 Bowman Chrome mini Jairo Beras.  I was able to keep the above Heritage.  I had also found the above 2016 Bowman Chrome at the Matthews card shop last week while I was in Charlotte for training.  I was glad to be able to get it signed.

Chris and I got two-per from Howard Johnson.  I really appreciate that he has signed for me each time I have gone out.  I had a ton of his cards in my collection, and it is nice to transition them over to the autograph album.  More on this in a few...

I had missed this during a few trips through my rookie box, but this is a 2012 Topps Jeremy Moore.  I didn't realize he had a card in this set, until Gerard sent me a photo of some cards that he was mailing out for our next 50/50.  I really like the retro-style Angels jersey in this card.  I also liked that I got another opportunity to talk to Jeremy, since he is always really cool to talk to at the games.

Which leads me to these next autos.  Chris finished off the lot of Brett Martin 2014 Bowman that I had picked up a while back, and the two of us got 12 2014 Bowman signed by Josh Morgan (8 pre-game, since he was the first player on the field, and 4 post-game since he was the last player off the field).  Every time I have gotten a chance to get a Morgan autograph, I have done so.  This has led me to a little flack from a couple close friends of mine.  We all discussed it and worked it out, but it exposed some raw feelings from them regarding the different ways folks graph.  It led to a healthy discussion, but I thought it might be good to bring up here, since we are on the subject.

I want to make it very clear that I, in no way, shape or form harass the players when I get an auto (or multiple autos).  I am always respectful and always thank them for their time (be it in person, or TTM).  That's how everyone should be.  I got the heat from my friends because I left last night's game with 12 autos of Josh Morgan, and had purchased a 52-card lot of 2014 Bowmans off of Ebay of him for $10.00.  The reason I bought this lot was because it was the cheapest lot on there, and I figured that I would be able to have some easy gifts for friends in care packages, or hand the unsigned ones off to fellow graphers at games.  It was never my intention to harass Morgan and have him sign all of the cards.  He told me early this season that he would sign anything I have, and has done so at each game that I have attended.  I mostly have been getting cool parallels signed that I think would look nice in my album, but I have also put a dent in the 52-card pickup.   Each time Josh has signed for me, we talk about his season, the club, how the game went, etc.  I also invited him to attend Dad's race while they were in Winston-Salem a couple weeks ago.  He is and has always been very friendly, and has never let off that he is annoyed by my asking for him to sign cards.

So, that begs the question, is there truly a line when doing graphing?  In my mind, there is, and it goes back to the above when I say that you should always be respectful of the player.  If they are in a hurry, I only present one or two cards.  I try to set up my autograph book with 4 cards on a page.  I never flip a page on a player to get more than the four.  I will ask before and after a game, and have had some in the past refuse at either of those times.  I know folks who set up their autograph books with 20 cards on a page.  While I wouldn't do that, who am I to call them out on that?

Others see graphing as a competition and elbow others out of the way.  I don't do that, either.  I will let kids in front of me each and every time.  I will also help other graphers by identifying players who I know, in case they don't recognize them.  I point folks to the best place to get an auto.  There's no sense in being a jerk to fellow graphers.

I understand my friends' point in that it, on paper, appears that I am taking advantage of these players by asking for multiple cards, and there not seeming to be a point of having "52 of the same signed Josh Morgan cards".  Trust me when I tell you that none of them are for sale, and a good many have already been sent to friends.

I was a little upset initially when my friends spoke out to me about "my graphing tendencies", but I do believe this is a discussion that lends itself to some good back and forth banter.  We all do things differently, and friends don't always have to agree on what the other person is doing.  From a societal standpoint, it is far too easy these days to "block and unfollow" someone if they have a differing opinion than you.  I am grateful to my friends who, instead, told me how they felt, and were willing to discuss it and work through it.

So, my question is, how do YOU graph, and is there a right or wrong way to do it?  I, for one, am going to try to be conscious of what I am doing, but I don't foresee any changes to my habits.  I also feel as if it is opinion based, and folks go about it differently.  I'm cool with that.

By the way, I didn't have any cards for Martin this time around, Chris had gotten them before he and I started talking about Dad's race.  All while he was talking, he was looking at my autograph book for something to sign.  He is such a nice guy, and I hope he can come back from injury soon.  I also intend to talk to Josh Morgan about how he feels about signing for folks.  That might make for an interesting follow-up post.  We'll see what I can get the next time I am able to go.