Autographs For Sale At The National

My trip to the 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland was a little different this year, as I was on a mission to knock out as many cards as I could for my 1987 Topps set.  I had autograph vouchers for a few of the signers who were on-hand that were in the set, and also brought some cards for the VIP signers.  I was also on the lookout for anyone who had any of the signed cards  for sale.  I ended up finding the proverbial "needle in a haystack" when I happened upon a table that had the above gem beneath a piece of plexi-glass.

My good friend, Nate, and I were almost through the last row of tables when I saw the above 1987 Topps Astros team card.  Almost forgotten in time, Yogi Berra was a coach on that team.  Since he passed away recently, I pretty much reserved myself to getting Hal Lanier on the card and calling it a day.  I hadn't seen any signed by Berra, and assumed they would be at astronomical prices if I had seen one.

This seller had gotten the card at the Berra Museum for a cheap price, as typically, anyone who wants a Berra auto will want it on Yankee items.  He sold me the card for $20.  I couldn't get my wallet out fast enough.  This might have been one of my all-time favorite card show finds.

I had also found a few vendors who had albums and boxes of IP and TTM autos, organized by set.  One such vendor had a ton of 1987s that I needed at on average $2-$3 a piece, with a few being higher.  I knocked off a bunch of guys that I had gotten TTM, but failed to send a 1987 in the bunch.  Guys like Oddibe McDowell (actually, he sent my 1987 back unsigned), Kent Oberkfell, Dale Sveum, Greg Gagne, etc.  I also added tougher sigs like Davey Lopes, Bubby Bell and Mike Laga.

I also saw a couple deceased players in the album, and picked those up.  I was afraid I would have to search a long time for Jim Fregosi, but was able to knock it off of the list easily.

One of the cards that was high up on my list to look for was this Mike Flanagan.  I had searched for one on Ebay for a while, but had no luck in finding one.  The auto isn't the best, but it definitely is Flanny's, and I can say I own one.  It is still a shame that he took his own life; I really wish I had met him when he was living.

While going through the albums, I saw this 1985 Benny Ayala and had to pick it up.  That may be one of the most unique autos I have ever seen, and had to grab one of them.  I also found the above Matt Lipka in a dollar IP auto box that the guy had.

While Virgil Trucks and I corresponded back and forth before he passed, I had never sent him any cards to sign.  I always felt bad that I was keeping track of how many Topps autographs I had, but had no Trucks in any of those years.  I bought each version that the seller had, including the above 1954 Bowman.

In my opinion, the vendor wanted way too much for his Trucks autos, especially this 1956 Topps.  However, I wanted to think that I provided a good home for these signed cards, as I feel I had a decent enough connection to Trucks.

He really was a good man, and I'm sure he probably would have been a little miffed at the guy writing to him a bunch of times for autos, just to sell them.  So, they will be added to my albums and preserved as a true fan should.

I have come to realize that in building any signed set, you can't really turn your nose up anymoe to the "pro" graphers who sell what they get.  I mean, I would have had no shot at some of these guys, so I guess I have to buy the ones that would be tough otherwise.  It can be a bit of a moral dilemma, but in the end, they have the supply, and I have the demand.

July 7, 2018, Richmond Flying Squirrels Game

Since the Wood Ducks were out of town last weekend, I decided to take Chris to see my friend, Ryan, in Richmond and graph the Flying Squirrels.  I found out that it was a specialty jersey day, and I hadn't been able to get one of those since the July 4, 2011 game in Kinston.  So, I was hoping  could come away with a jersey.  I did, and it ended up being the jersey of former Wood Duck, Matt Lipka.

Lipka was very happy to see that Chris and I were the ones who won his jersey.  He remembered us from last season.  He gave Chris and I hugs, shook our hands and asked Chris if he remembered him.  We stood on the field talking with him for a good 10-15 minutes post-game.  It was really awesome catching back up with him.

I was also able to get this Wood Ducks team card signed pre-game.  I don't have many unsigned team cards left, so I feel like I have done pretty well this season.

I was also able to add a 1996 Topps to the album.  I had bought a box of 1996 Topps, just so I could have some bulk to send out for TTMs.  Unfortunately, not too many have come back since I bought the box, but I'm hoping some will.

I also got these cards done.  The 2010 Pro Debut Jerry Sands has been floating around my card boxes for the last 8 years.  Since he is from NC, I have been wanting to add his auto, and I was finally able to get him taken care of.

We had a really good time at the game.  The Diamond was packed for the post-4th of July festivities.

We Are The (Co)Champions

Well now.  I never thought I would have been able to say this, but the Down East Wood Ducks are Co-Champions of the Carolina League.  In their first season of existence.  Following an improbable run in August and September that they parlayed into a playoff spot, the impending hurricane strike shortened the Carolina League playoffs and forced them to name co-champions for the first time since 1999.

I waited since the end of the 2011 minor league season for a team to come back to Kinston, and Chris and I have been with this team from the start.  We went to the first ever team practice, and the meet the team event in March.

This was my first ever season graphing minor league games, and in doing so, I got 964 baseball cards signed throughout the season.  During that time, I enjoyed chatting with all of the Wood Ducks (and some on opposing teams) players.

I remember thinking that the Wood Ducks would be pretty good this season, since I felt like the Rangers had a pretty good farm system.  Meeting the team in March helped us get to know some of them face to face, and we really worked hard in making them feel welcome here in Eastern NC.

We tried to watch their first ever game, an exhibition against Mount Olive College, but it was rained out.  We had to settle for the home opener a week later.

I believe I went to 31 Wood Ducks games this season (27 at home and 4 on the road).  That turned out to be a bunch!

Chris formed friendships with a few of the players, such as Emerson Martinez, who got the win tonight in the game that clinched their share of the league title.

Brett Martin started the game and pitched 2 and 2/3 innings.

I believe we all had a great time this season.  I hate to see it come to a close, but to close it out with a share of the league championship is just amazing.

Even my wife enjoyed going to the games.  Sure, she thought a few of the players looked better than I do, but I'm not worried, she still comes home to me!

I think Chris got more out of this season than anyone, though.  He has forged life-long memories this season.  He was able to go out on the field twice this season.  All of the players recognize him, and are happy to see him when he says hello.

I'm so happy that they won a share of the title.  This has been such a cool season; I can't wait until April, so another season will start.

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.

Doing 50/50s With Gerard

Ever since I have been able to graph the Down East Wood Ducks, I have had folks wanting to do some 50/50s here and there.  A 50/50 is an agreement between graphers to send x number of cards to the grapher for teams that they will be seeing.  Grapher gets the cards signed.  They can keep half of the cards for themselves, and the person providing the cards gets the other half in return.  I have been doing 50/50s with Max for a while, but now, with the Wood Ducks in town, I have accepted and sent out a ton more.

My good friend, Gerard, has sent me a bunch of cards for the Wood Ducks, but has also accepted cards of the Pawtucket Red Sox.  He sent me a huge package the other day with some of the results from his latest trip to a PawSox game.  The above Topps Chrome Blake Swihart might be the best card of the bunch.  This one looks so awesome in person.

Pardon my cards slipping on my scanner.  Gerard hooked me up with some nice autos on some more recent Topps cards.  The Brian Bogusevic cards were really nice.  I was able to get an extra Cubs one, and will pass that on to Max.

The 1987 Kipper adds yet another card from that set to the binder.  I had more Ty Buttrey in the past, but those ended up going out to a few Red Sox fans in the past.

I really like 2015 Pro Debut, so I was happy that Gerard was willing to send that Henry Owens back to me.  I thought I had more Kyle Kendrick, but I was only able to find four cards.  Thankfully, one of the ones I got back was the Bowman Chrome.  I have a ton of cards from that set, but haven't been able to get any signed, until now.

Finally, I got some cards signed for Gerard at the Wood Ducks games a few weeks ago.  Matt Lipka has been the hardest player that I have tried to get at Grainger Stadium.  He had blown me off so many times, I'm starting to think he owes me dinner and a movie.  Seriously, though, he is tough to get, so I had to wait around after a game to get him.  I have 5 cards left of the 50/50, so I may wait around after another game soon, then not accept any more Lipka cards for anyone else.

On the flip side of that, though, is Jeremy Moore.  Moore is super nice, and my son, Chris really likes him.  Moore (b. 1987) played in the majors in 2011 for the Angels.  He was drafted out of high school in Louisiana in 2005.  He appeared in 8 games for the Angels in 2011.  He collected one hit and retired with a .125 batting average.  Jeremy is a class guy and I always love chatting with him at games.

Jairo Beras has since been demoted to Single A Hickory as he makes the transition to pitcher.  He hasn't hit much since signing a nice contract out of Cuba, so the Rangers are trying his arm out.  I hope he is successful.

I have another batch of 50/50 cards that I am working on with Gerard.  I hope they come out as nicely as these.