August 6-11, 2024, Pelicans at Wood Ducks

While I've been posting the National signings, I let some IP graphing pile up.  The Myrtle Beach series at the Wood Ducks wasn't much of a series at all.  Tropical Storm Debby came through and washed out all but maybe a game and a half.

I still got a decent amount of cards signed.  I was disappointed that I didn't get Christian Hernandez on more stuff.  I had a ton.

Nazier Mule was pretty cool.  He was from near the same area of New Jersey that my family lived in a long time ago. 

I was able to get the Wood Ducks team set down to two guys after I finally got Jesus Moreno.  I had a couple other old ream set cards I got done by Tyler Schlaffer and Buddy Bailey.

In all, I got the following autographs: Alberto Mota x 1, Ryan Straney x 2, Drew Bowser x 4, Alexis Hernandez x 5, Cristian Hernandez x 2, Nazier Mule x 15, Tyler Schlaffer x 1, Carter Trice x 3, Julian Brock x 2, DEWD x 2, Jesus Moreno x 3, Brian Pozos x 1, Justin Sanchez x 4, Thomas St Clair x 2, Michael Thiele x 2 and Buddy Bailey x 2 (51 total autographs). 

August 1-6, 2023, Graphing of the Pelicans at Wood Ducks

The posts from the National have been coming at a decent enough pace, but I am still behind.  I wanted to squeeze in a couple graphing posts before I finish off the National signers this week.  There are a few cards that I got signed during this series against Myrtle Beach that I picked up at the National, so the theme is still there.  The above 2023 Bowman Chrome blue ray wave is a card I found at the top of a parallels stack at the show.  I had to pick it up, since it was one of my guys. 

I got Mesa on the Tuesday game and found out by Thursday that he had been released.  The Rangers released Andres and also Yenci Pena.  I was really sad to see Andres go. It made sense because the previous regime traded for him and he wasn't hitting. With the new draft picks coming in, they had to make room.

This Anthony Gutierrez is another card I found at the show.  The card is beautiful.  I was really excited when I found it.  I purchased it in a bulk deal along with several other inserts and parallels.

My good friend, Gerard, hooked me up with some more Dylan MacLean cards.  These turned out nicely.

Christian Hernandez was a tough one-per, but I had a lot of help, and got a bunch of his cards signed.  I was able to keep my 50/50 folks happy, which is always good.

The top two Drew Gray Panini Prizm Draft cards were pickups from the National.  I pulled the bottom left Prizm out of a blaster I bought a while back. 

The left two Jackson Ferris cards also came from the show.  He was born in Winston-Salem, so we talked about that for a little bit during a game.

The Bruce Billings 2010 Topps Pro Debut had me pulling my hair out early in the week.  I had put the cards aside prior to the start of the season when I saw that Billings was added to Myrtle Beach's staff.  I just didn't put them aside where they needed to be.  I took my friend Billy's advice and stopped looking for them, and found them in time to get them signed.

I got a ton of Corey Ray cards signed during this series.  I was excited when he was announced as a coach for Myrtle Beach, as I had a ton of my own cards and also cards from the former card shop that I needed to get out of the boxes.

There was a nice variety of Ray cards that got done during the week, ranging from 2016 to 2021.

Ray was super nice and seemed ge uinely happy to sign for us all week. It's a shame that I have to tell people that I did have several people helping me, and I wasn't putting 30+ cards in front of him aat a time.

Finally, my friend, Ben, gave me some Cubs signature cards.  I used them on (clockwise from top left) Brett Bateman, Andy Garriola, Brian Kalmer and Malcom Quintero.

In all, I got the following autographs: Gleider Figuereo x 2, Anthony Gutierrez x 4, Andres Mesa x 7, Ian Moller x 1, Buddy Bailey x 1, Drew Gray x 19, Christian Hernandez x 30, Pedro Ramirez x 8, Jefferson Rojas x 9, Corey Ray x 46, Luis Ramirez x 2, Jackson Ferris x 9, Nick Hull x 1, Ismael Mena x 17, Dylan MacLean x 7, Parker Chavers x 1, Tommy Specht x 1, Bruce Billings x 2, Danyer Cueva x 8, Brian Kalmer x 1, Brett Bateman x 1, Andy Garriola x 1 and Malcom Quintero x 1 (180 total autographs).

August 2022 Graphing of Pelicans at Wood Ducks

The next-to-last home series for the Wood Ducks has come and gone.  This time around, they went 4-2 against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.  The Pelicans had several guys with cards on their team.  A few of them were really tough, but I had a little bit of help this week, which knocked out some of what I needed done.

Kevin Alcantara didn't sign Tuesday, but was good for one per the rest of the days.  I really liked the Heritage Minors box topper that I got done a the top of the post.  I also got a 2021 Bowman Chrome mojo and a 2022 Bowman Chrome done.

I had Ezequiel Pagan in my box since 2018, and I finally was able to get my cards signed.  Ethan Hearn wasn't too cool on this trip.  I had heard he was pretty nice, but he was pretty cold to a lot of the folks here.  Maybe it is because it is the end of the season.  Still, I got a few of his cards out of the boxes, which was nice.

I knocked out some Clayton Mortensen for myself, and my friend, Max.  Parker Chavers was fine, but James Triantos seemed miserable when asked to sign.  I was glad to get my pack pulled 2021 Panini Elite Extra Edition signed by Triantos.  It's easy to buy the cards off of Ebay, but it is a good feeling to get a card you pulled signed in person.

My friend, Jessie, got me the 1986 Durham Bulls Buddy Bailey card.  Bailey commented on it and how he got a call from the guy who wrote Bull Durham to ask him some questions.  I also was glad to get my 2019 Midwest League All Star card signed.  I wish the would have All Star games in the minors again.  Maybe next year.

I liked getting this 2009 Topps Heritage signed by Clayton Mortensen.  These are great cards, and look great when signed.  Mortensen was really nice; he signed for us after one of the games.  I almost missed him that game, as we had seen him walking back to the clubhouses as we were leaving the seating area.

My friend, Gerard, sent me this blue parallel from 2021 Topps Pro Debut of Dylan MacLean.  I have asked a lot of Dylan this season, and he has been really cool.  He's a good kid, and fun to talk to.

Gerard also sent me a Myrtle Beach team set, and I knocked out a bunch of the guys from the set.  I missed several who have been moved up, but I was pleased with getting the ones I had.

I like the design of Myrtle Beach's set; it isn't the greatest that I have seen, but it is a decent one, for sure.

I appreciate Gerard sending me one of the sets.  I usually get a couple team sets of some of the nearby opposing teams, but I didn't do that this season.

The Wood Ducks team sets also were released prior to this week.  A bunch of the guys have been moved up to Hickory, or down to Arizona.  I got everyone I could get this week, except for the trainer and also the pitching coach, Demetre Kokoris.  I'll see Demetre the next series and get his cards signed.

I like this design.  It is different from what they have done in the past.  While I do enjoy the backgrounds of the older team sets, this one has a 1958 Topps feel to it and is very bold.  It looks really cool in my Wood Ducks team set album.

The price point of the set was great, also.  That was mainly because it was released so late in the season.  For 8 bucks, however, I was willing to pay it and just deal with the possibility of going to Hickory to knock some of the guys out.

In all, I got the following autographs: Maximo Acosta x 4, Jose Corniell x 4, Anthony Hoopi-Tuionetoa x 4, Justin Jacobs x 4, Tucker Mitchell x 4, Ian Moller x 7, Jose Rodriguez x 5, Buddy Bailey x 5, Parker Chavers x 6, Jacob Wetzel x 3, Jovanny Rosaio x 3, Liam Spence x 3, Mitch Bratt x 4, Cam Cauley x 6, Gavin Collyer x 4, Yosy Galan x 4, Ryan Garcia x 4, Elazar Konsker x 4, Nick Lockhart x 4, Dylan MacLeanx 5, Daniel Mateo x 4, Damian Mendoza x 4, Steve Mintz x 4, Abi Ortiz x 4, Junior Paniagua x 4, Rachel Purcell x 4, Winston Santos x 4, Marcus Smith x 4, Emiliano Teodo x 4, Kevin Alcantara x 16, Andrew Gold x 3, Clayton Mortensen x 10, Johzan Oquendo x 3, Steve Pollakov x 3, Malcom Quintero x 3, Tyler Santana x 3, Felix Stevens x 3, James Triantos x 8, Chase Watkins x 3, Mark Weisman x 3, Jackson Leath x 5, Yenci Pena x 5, Guilder Rodriguez x 4, Drew Sannes x 4, Ethan Hearn x 9, Ezequiel Pagan x 12, Nick Roberts x 3, Frankie Scalzo, Jr. x 3 and Luis Angel Rodriguez x 3. (229 total autographs)

April 2019 Graphing Recap of Pelicans at Wood Ducks

I have been super busy with this current homestand of the Wood Ducks.  I've already used a bunch of my season tickets, which is helping me justify what I spent on them.  The Woodies just wrapped up the current homestand and are hitting the road, which will give me some time to reset and relax for a bit.

I didn't have too many cards of the Pelicans, but what I did have, I got signed.  I have nothing leftover for them, which is nice.  I was able to get a few cards removed from my box and also was able to take care of a few 50/50s.

Aramis Ademan is still the toughest signature for the Pelicans, and also probably the best looking.  The above 2018 Bowman Peaks of Potential really turned out nicely.

I also got Ademan on these 4 cards.  He was pretty nice, but doesn't say a whole lot.  He takes his time to sign a nice signature, which probably plays into why he only signed one-per.

We missed Grant Fennell the first game.  He came by, but said he was running late, and couldn't sign.  We weren't able to get his attention after he came off of the field that game, as well.  The second game, however, he walked right over, smiled and said hello.  I think he remembered us from the day before.  We chatted for a while, starting with how old the 2013 Perfect Game card was, and then onto the differences between being in Eugene, Oregon and Myrtle Beach, SC.  Being from San Diego, originally, Grant and I joked about how he should be getting some frequent flyer miles, but the team takes care of all of that.  He seemed like a really good kid.

I finished off what little I had left of Alex Lange on the second day.  We missed the third game, since that one was Education Day, and an 11AM game.  There was some action that day, as Lange was tossed in the bottom of the second for having  foreign substance on his arm.  The manager was then tossed, and finally the third base coach was ejected later in the third inning.  I hate that we missed an exciting game.

I wasn't even aware that I had any Luis Lugo cards, until I received a batch of 50/50s from Gerard.  I spent a few minutes before we left for the second game looking through the 2015 Bowmans that I had, and found this one card.  It was nice to get it out of my box, since the opportunity to get 2015 Bowmans signed is getting smaller and smaller.

Leody is getting even tougher to graph, these days.  He has started pulling a Spike Owen and is going under the bleachers and onto the field.  I have strong feelings about that; I am thankful for all of the stuff he has signed for us, but skipping over interacting with all of the fans just isn't cool.  He can just come out onto the field like normal and tell us no, and still sign for kids.  I honestly believe he is doing this because he is upset that he is still here, instead of having been called up to AA Frisco.  It is only a matter of time before he is moved, so we shall see if his mood improves.

Bubba Thompson, still at one per, has been pretty cool.  He at least talks with us each time.  I still have maybe 7 cards left in my snap case, but I'm not sweating over getting any signed.  I have just left them out of the book, and have talked to him each time he comes by.  Currently, he is struggling with the bat, so instead of asking him to sign stuff, we just offer him encouragement, tell him to "go get em", and he has been seemingly cool.

We also got some more of our Spokane stuff done.  It is always tough getting pitchers done, especially this early in the season.  I'm still learning faces, and uniform numbers.

I've almost finished my Wood Ducks cards.  Aside from Bubba and Leody being one per, I have been able to get the pitchers that I have needed.

The Wood Ducks seem to be a pretty good team, so far.  The pay a lot differently under Corey Ragsdale, than they did under Spike.  I think I like this team more than the one that was here last year, but it is still early, so I am reserving judgment.  Still, I love the Wood Ducks altogether, and am so glad that I made the decision to buy the season tickets.

Aug 24-26 Graphing of Pelicans at Wood Ducks

Two weeks ago, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans came to town one last time, and I was able to get a ton of cards signed.  I took a consignment from a girl on Instagram and got s ton of her cards signed, and I also got myself a Wood Ducks team set, and a Carolina League Top Prospects set.  Both of those gave me plenty to do during that series.

I'll admit, I slowly went through the team set and looked to see if Chris and I appeared on any of the cards.  I didn't see us in them, but that sure would have been cool.

There were a handful of players in the set who had moved up to Frisco, like CD Pelham and Jonathan Hernandez.

I was really happy that the Wood Ducks issued the set, but it would have been nice if it had come out earlier.

I also worked on my Hickory and Spokane team sets.  I don't harbor any illusions that I'll complete them, they just give me cards of guys who wouldn't normally be available.  It's always nice to have some variety in my graphing book.

I plan to pick up a 2017 and 2018 Spokane set, just so I have some of the guys who will be future Wood Ducks.  Picking those up isn't a top priority now, but I plan to soon.

I finished off all of the Alex Lange cards of my own, and all of the 50/50s that I took of him.  I had been worried early in the season that I wouldn't get them all signed, but in the end, I was successful.

There are already a ton of guys in the Carolina League Prospects set that have moved on to Double A, so I'll just take what I can get with these.

Finally, I added a few cards that I picked up at the National.  I was lucky to get Tyler Alamo; I got him on everything Friday night, then he was promoted after the game to Double A Tennessee Smokies.

Graphing Pelicans at Wood Ducks

The latest series between the Wood Ducks and Pelicans consisted of a bunch of "Finallys".  Finally, I got Yanio Perez on the above 2017 Topps Heritage Minors.  He had been with Frisco, but had been injured.  He is back with the Wood Ducks, and I was finally able to get the first official Wood Ducks card signed.

I finally was able to get these team set cards signed.  I think I got Blake Bass early last season, but I found the above Hickory card in Chris's pile, so I got it done.  Tyler Ferguson is back with the team, so I got his Woodies team set card done.  Also, Joe Palumbo is back after being out most of last season.

I finally got Alex Lange on some cards after being shut out early in the season.  He was really nice, so I think getting shut out earlier was just because I didn't recognize him.

I finally got a couple Tyson Miller cards done that came in a 50/50 from my friend, Vince.

I had Cory Abbott pulled and put aside for when he would make it to Myrtle Beach, and was able to get everything of him done.

The Yanio Perez above was from the South Atlantic League All Star team set.  I was glad to finally get that one taken care of as well.

The 2016 Heritage with Guilder Rodriguez came from a 50/50 with Gerard that I was able to do.

This 2015 Topps Opening Day also came from the same 50/50.

I got everyone I set out to get during this series.  I should be able to finish Myrtle Beach when they come back in mid-August.