November 12, 2024, Wilson Hot Stove Event

Last night was the 49th annual Wilson Hot Stove Event in the City of Wilson.  I went last year for the first time, so I was really looking forward to going again this year.  The attendees list came out very close to the event, so it was hard to get stuff here in time.  I also had some cards left over from last year, like the above 1968 Topps John Donaldson.  He missed last year, so i was glad to finally meet him in person.

I was glad to meet a guy who I had gotten TTM twice.  I got Donaldson to sign at the get-together at the North Carolina Baseball Museum prior to the start of the event.  He seemed genuinely happy I was there, and took my graphing book from me to see who else I had cards of.  I thought that was pretty cool.

This year's big guest scheduled to be there to receive the Gaylord Perry Pitching Award was former ECU pitcher and Blue Jays 2024 first round pick, Trey Yesavage.  I didnt have any of his cards, so i got him to sign this 1994 Score Blue Jays card.

Yesavage was really nice, and posed for a picture with me.  ECU coach Cliff Godwin was nice enough to get Yesavage's attention so we could get his autograph.

Jesse and Chris came with me to the event, and we met our friends Billy and John at the Museum.  Jesse gave me this 5 x 7 photo of Mike Caldwell to get signed.  It came out nicely. 

I did find a few cards in my boxes and one of my three packages from Sportlots came in before the event, so I did have a few cards.

Phil Mankowski thanked us several times for coming out and supporting the event.  I was glad he posed for a picture with me.  I jad also gotten him TTM once before, back in 2021.

Finally, event regular John Roper signed a few more cards for me.  I had ordered some nice cards of his, but they didn't get here in time.

In all, I got the following autographs: Mike Caldwell x 4, John Donaldson x 1, Alan Fowlkes x 4, Phil Mankowski x 3, John Roper x 3, Dick Such x 1 and Trey Yesavage x 2 (18)

March 27, 2024, Graphing of UNCW at ECU

Last night, my friend Jesse and I went to see UNCW at ECU.  I actually hadn't graphed at ECU before, so this was a new experience for me.  I wanted to get Parker Byrd on the Bowman U card that i picked up.  The card turned out great.

Byrd was injured in a boating accident last summer and lost his leg.  He now plays on a prosthetic leg, and got into a game earlier this season. He was a really nice guy when he signed for us.

Trey Yesavage was the first autograph I got at a game this season.  His card is an Onyx card, and turned out great.

I had seen that Bryant Packard was one of the graduate assistant coaches, so i was able to get my one card that i had of him signed.

Finally, I searched the roster and found that four of the guys had Perfect Game cards.  I got everyone that I had cards of, except for Bristol Carter.  Pregame, he said he'd get me after the game, then after the game, he wasn't feeling well and had already left the facility.  All good, I'll probably try to go back and finish him up.  I almost had a clean sweep for the first time in forever.

The Pirates won the game 7-4, after coming from behind after being down 4-0 in the second inning.  We didn't get to see Byrd play, but we did get to watch him practice.

In all, we got the following autographs: Isaac Armstrong x 10, Walker Barron x 10, Parker Byrd x 3, Jason Janesko x 10, Bryant Packard x 1 and Trey Yesavage x 1 (35).