August 20, 2023, Graphing of Hot Rods at Grasshoppers

Yesterday, Chris and I went to Greensboro to catch the Bowling Green Hot Rods at Grasshoppers.  I wanted to try to graph Termarr Johnson since he had been brought up to Greensboro.  We were supposed to meet up with a friend at the game, but our friend's plans changed at the last minute. 

We were able to get Johnson on 4 cards. I had a bunch of Greensboro stuff to get done for my friend, Gerard, and got everyone except for Tres Gonzalez.  He ignored both times he walked by.  Still, it was a very successful day.

It looks like my marker is on the way out, so I'll have to try to replace it over the next couple of days.  I prefer the Michaels Artosts Loft markers, but Michaels has been sold out evert time I've gone by there this summer.  There is a big difference between the marker I used and the Sharpie Chris had yesterday.  My hope was that the difference was due to excess powder on Gerard's cards, but when I looked back at my High Point stuff from the day before, I could see that the marker was starting to die off.

I switched up for post game and my Brock Jones turned out fine.  I've always got a backup marker, so I should be ok, but that'll leave me without the backup, of course.

I was really glad to finally get these two Jeff Hakanson cards signed.  I missed him the two times I saw Charleston this season, then he was called up to Bowling Green.  They're now done, so I have them in the album now.

The two Chandler Simpson cards are some that I found at the National; then he was moved to Bowling Green. I was glad to go ahead and get them signed, as well.  Willy Vasquez was tough.  He grabbed the black Sharpie that belonged to the guy next to me, signed my card with it (no big deal), but then looked right at Chris and skipped him.  Chris would walk up to him outside post game on the sidewalk and ask again. Vasquez told him "No, leave" so Chris walked away. Then Vasquez left.  Had I known that he had said that right away, I'd have told Chris to just give him the card and walk away. I don't normally like to do stuff like that when someone refuses to sign, but when someone is rude to my kid, I don't need to keep your unsigned card hoping you'll sign at a later time. This was coupled with us asking JJ Goss if he would sign.  He said "I'll put my stuff down and come back."  He never did.  So, all of Goss's stuff will either be put back in the mail to Gerard or will be dumped into a box.  I won't bother him again.

Other than the disappointment from both of those guys, we had a great time.  The weekend was filled with great weather, two really good games and a lot of graphing.  I also spent time with my family while we were out that way.  With school starting back soon, this may have been the last weekend I will have available graph with Chris.  I feel like we made it a good one.

In all, we got the following autographs: Jase Bowen x 3, Bubba Chandler x 6, Maikol Escotto x 5, Thomas Harrington x 2, Termarr Johnson x 4, Sammy Siani x 6, Jeff Hakanson x 2, Brock Jones x 1, Chandler Simpson x 2 and Willy Vasquez x 1 (32 total autographs).

August 19, 2023, Graphing of Revolution at Rockers

Yesterday, Chris and I met up with my friend, Tyler, and the three of us graphed York Revolution at High Point Rockers.  I had wanted to get back to High Point since my two cards of Daikan Yoh (aka Dai-Kang Yang) came in.  The above 2013 Topps Tribute WBC card turned out amazingly.  It should have; I spent a good bit on the card.

I had also picked up this awesome Japanese card of Yoh.  This also looks awesome.

I had a bunch of cards pulled for High Point, so I graphed them by the dugout pregame.  I got most of the guys I needed, so we graphed by our seats at the York dugout post game.  I only needed a few York guys, so I finished off who I could outsode post game, then went over to the High Point side and finished off everyone I could over there.  I finally was able to get Cam Bedrosian when he was one of the last guys out of the clubhouse.  I was really happy to get the above 2014 Topps Update red foil card signed.

I picked uo a team set for High Point before the end of the game, and was able to get a few guys on that.  I also got a 2011 Bowman Chrome Taylor Guerreiri and some 2018/2019 Shed Long cards out of the boxes.

I didn't sweat too hard over trying to get the team set guys done. I just got who I saw.  I probably will try to finish some of those guys off if they come back next season.  The set was cheap enough; I'm just happy with what I got. 

Between Chris, Tyler and I, all of the Frank Viola cards I had pulled over the course of the last two seasons have been signed.  I'll have to do a deep dive through some of my boxes if I want to find more cards of him.

These two might be my favorite Viola cards that I added to the album.

There weren't a whole lot of York guys with cards, but I was still able to get a few things done. I did miss Richard Urena, so that was disappointing. 

Tyler gave me a 2020 Bowman Drew Mendoza, since I couldn't find any in my Bowman box.  I also had the above Nellie Rodriguez sitting on my desk for quite a long time.  It is now resting in the album, finally out of the way.

In all, I got the following autographs: Cam Bedrosian x 4, Ryan Dull x 2, Albert Gonzalez x 1, Taylor Guerreri x 2, Shed Long Jr × 7, Frank Viola x 21, Dai Kang Yang x 2, Joe Johnson x 1, Trent Giambrone x 2, Drew Mendoza x 1 and Nellie Rodriguez x 2 (45 total autographs). 

TTM Success - Joe Paterson

This 2011 Topps Gold parallel of Joe Paterson was an oddball card that showed up in my boxes. I saw that Paterson signed TTM, so, I sent it along. It came back signed in silver Sharpie. 

Paterson (b. 1986) played in the majors from 2011 to 2014 for the Diamondbacks. He had a record of 0-3 with 30 strike outs and a 6.25 ERA.  I mailed to Paterson on March 9 and got the card back on March 20, for an 11-day TAT. 

Another TTM Success From Tom Shopay

Tom Shopaybwas another guy in the 1991 Crown Orioles set who I had gotten in the past.  So, when I found the above 1972 Toppa, I paired it with the Crown card and tried him again.

The cards turned out great. Shopaholic has a cool signature, and I got two more cards into my album. 

I mailed to Shopay on March 7 and got the cards back on March 20, for a 13-day TAT. 

Another TTM Success From Wes Stock

Some of my cards from Conrad were paired with cards from the 1991 Crown Orioles set so I could re-send to some guys and the outgoing package not just include the Crown card.  You know, because I'm not really pursuing that set.  Even though I do enjoy getting them signed.

I found the 1964 Topps Wes Stock to pair with the above 1991 Crown, and both cards turned out nicely.  I had gotten Stock a while back, but was happy to add a couple more of his cards to the album. 

I mailed to Stock on February 27 and got the cards back on March 20, for a 21-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Kodi Medeiros

This TTM success from Kodi Medeiros helped me get some cards out of my box that I've had for a long time and weren't able to finish off when he was playing for the Mudcats.  The above 2013 Leaf Perfect Game is one that sat in the same place for a very long time.

I also got my 2014 Panini Prizm, 2014 Bowman and 2014 Bowman Chrome signed.

Medeiros (b. 1996) was a first round (12th overall) pick by the Brewers in the 2014 June Amateur Draft out of Waiakea High School in Hawaii.  He played from 2014 to 2022 (missing 2020 when the minors were shut down due to COVJD) in the Brewers, White Sox and Angels systems.  He had a record of 27-44 with 567 strike outs and a 4.93 ERA.  He ended up reaching AAA and now seems to be out of baseball.

I mailed to Medeiros on January 10 and got the cards back on March 18, for a 67-day TAT.

TTM Success - Kyle Asleton

Finally back onto some TTMs, here's one I got back from Kyle Aselton on a coupke cards from 2007 Bowman and Bowman Chrome.

I have a ton of 2007 Bowmans, so I could probably populate a bunch of TTMs if I took the time and sent some out.  I'll get there, eventually.  I like this set.  It was one of the first Bowman sets I really opened when it came out.  I also got a lot from the card shop when it closed.

Aselton (b. 1983) was an 11th round pick by the Twins in the 2004 June Amateur Draft out of Oregon State.  He played from 2004 to 2009 in the Twins, Reds and White Sox organizations, reaching AA.  He had a.record of 24-21 with 421 strike outs and a 3.89 ERA.

I mailed to Aselton on March 7 and got the cards back on March 18, for an 11-day TAT.