I sent in several items for Tom Orr's private signing with Dick Allen.  I wish I could have sent more, but funds are a bit tight right now, due to this signing, another signing for which I'll be posting the results in the next few days, and a few bat purchases.

I already have a slabbed Dick Allen rookie, but half of his signature is in the black area of the card, so I decided to upgrade.  This time I clearly labeled where I wanted him to sign it, and he signed it perfectly.  I also sent in my two favorite Dick Allen Sox cards, '72 and '73 Topps.

In addition to the cards, I sent in two 16x20s and a Sports Illustrated.  Luckily I was able to find a nice condition no-label Sports Illustrated.  Chuck Supple hooked me up!

On the 16x20, I had asked for a "Wampum Walloper" inscription.  Apparently Dick wouldn't put that, as I got "1972 AL MVP" (which I had listed as a fallback option) instead.  Still looks great!

Last week I picked up a couple of World Series 16x20s for a pretty good price from Schwartz Sports.  I already have WS 16x20s from both of these guys, but not with inscriptions.  Very happy to add these to the collection!

I just received my bounty from the recent Chris Sale signing.  SCN member pabs82 took my items.  He also took my items for the recent Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko signings.  I highly recommend him.

I only sent 16x20s for this signing.  I should have gotten a 2012 All-Star ball done, but didn't think of it in time.

The Snoop/Sale 16x20 is now one of my personal favorites.

I received my items from the recent Adam Dunn public signing in the Chicago area.  I sent 3 cards and a 16x20 photo.  Unfortunately, one of the cards (and a multi-signed one at that) ended up with a thumbprint in the signature.  You can see it in the picture below.  I am currently exploring my options to get it re-signed or receive a refund.

I haven't had a chance to break out my DSLR to take better images.  Here are some crappy cell phone pics of the Konerko 16x20s that I got done at his recent signing.  I already have the World Series 16x20 signed with the same inscription.  However, that was a photo that I had printed, whereas this one is a Photofile with World Series hologram, etc.

I attended the Marlins season ticket holder autograph event today.  It is a great event, very similar to the White Sox Picnic in the Park.  The one big difference is that there are only 3 lines, rather than a line for each player.  Each line is for about 20 players.  Today, they had the big names split up as follows:

Ozzie Guillen, Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes

Hanley Ramirez, Mike Stanton, Carlos Zambrano, Heath Bell

Mark Buehrle...  umm... Gaby Sanchez?

For some reason Buehrle was the only big guy in his line.  This was no good for me, as I planned on hitting Buehrle's line at least twice, if not three times.  It would have been nice to knock out another big name each time through.

I had bought an extra ticket, and gave it to a guy I had been hanging out with a bit this spring.  In exchange for the ticket, he would get Buehrle on a mini helmet for me.  I'm not sure if he just didn't know how to handle a mini helmet, or just didn't make any effort to take care of my item, but the damn autograph ended up smeared.  It looks like the helmet was probably shoved in his bag, and something rubbed up against the autograph.  So the item I most wanted signed ended up being trash.  This really ruined the whole day for me.

It was a bad day for mini helmets.  I had a mini helmet in a bag attached to my 16x20 portfolio that I'd planned on getting Ozzie Guillen to sign.  When I pulled it out just before getting to Ozzie, it was completely scratched all over.  There was no way I could get it signed.

Other than the mini helmet fiascos, it wasn't a bad day.  I made it through Buehrle's line twice, and through Guillen's line 1.25 times.  The .25 worked out, as I was one of the last guys to get Guillen my second time through.  I didn't make it to Josh Johnson or Jose Reyes the second time though.

I didn't prepare well for the event either.  It didn't dawn on me that if I was going through Buehrle's line twice, I would be able to get the other people in his line twice as well.  So I had nothing for anybody else in his line the second time through, other than Gaby Sanchez who signed only 1/2 the first time through.

Ozzie Guillen really got a kick out of the 12x18 photo, and the guys next to Buehrle were into the 16x20 with Derrick Rose.

I'm really happy with the two Aaron Rowand cards that got done today.  They are both rookie refractors.

Prior to the event, I also hit the Marlins parking lot.  Here are both sets of totals:

Autograph event
Heath Bell - 1/1 help
Emilio Bonifacio 2/2
John Buck - 2/2, 1/1 (help)
Mark Buehrle - 1/1 16x20, 1/1 10x20, 1/1 mini helmet (help, smeared)
Randy Choate - 3/3
Joey Cora - 1/1, 1/1 help, 1/1 help
Matt Dominguez - 2/2
Greg Dobbs - 4/4
Gary Glover - 4/4, 1/1 (help)
Ozzie Guillen - 1/1 12x18, 1/1, 1/1 5x7 card (help)
Brett Hayes - 4/4
Omar Infante - 2/2, 1/1 (help)
Josh Johnson - 1/1 8x10
Wade LeBlanc - 2/2
Logan Morrison - 2/2, 1/1 (help)
Ricky Nolasco - 4/4, 1/1 (help, smeared)
Eduardo Perez - 2/2
Jose Reyes - 1/1
Aaron Rowand - 1/1, 1/1 help
Gaby Sanchez - 1/2, 1/1, 1/1 (help)
Randy St. Claire - 2/2
Carlos Zambrano - 1/1 (help)

Parking Lot
Jose Ceda - 4/4
Chris Coghlan - 1/2
Scott Cousins - 3/4
Matt Dominguez - 2/2 debut tickets
Michael Dunn - 4/4
Nick Green - 1/2 (smeared it by dropping pen right on autograph)
Gary Glover - 4/4
Brad Hand - 4/4
Kyle Jensen - 1/2, 1/1 (help)
Austin Kearns - 1/2
Tom Koehler - 2/4
Wade LeBlanc - 4/4
J.D. Martin - 1/1
Logan Morrison - 4/4
Edward Mujica - 2/4
Eduardo Perez - 4/4
Rob Rasmussen - 1/1
Evan Reed - 2/2
Sandy Rosario - 2/2 8x10s
Wayne Rosenthal - 2/2
Alex Sanabia - 2/2
Anibal Sanchez - 1/2 (only signed 2 total)
Kyle Skipworth - 4/4
Graham Taylor - 4/4
Gary Thurman - 3/3
Elih Villanueva - 2/4
Sean West - 2/2

Today's total - 116 cards, 1 mini helmet, 3 8x10s, 1 16x20, 1 10x20, 1 12x18, 3 tickets

Eight day total - 584 cards (384 autos), 2 16x20s, 2 10x20s, 5 tickets, 6 8x10s, 2 baseballs, 2 mini helmets

Today was the day that chisoxcollector reported to spring training.  I spent the day at Nats camp, though I had to leave a bit earlier than I would have liked for a doctors appointment.

I got to the parking lot at approximately 6:45am.  There was one other guy there, and we remained the only two there for close to an hour.  During that time, the only big name to arrive was Jayson Werth.  To my surprise, he actually signed!  He signed a ball (SS) for the other guy, and two cards for me.  The only notable person to arrive during that time was Davey Johnson.  He didn't sign, saying "I might get in trouble".  I wanted to say "But you're the manager!".

Gio Gonzalez, Chien-Ming Wang, Tyler Clippard, and Mark DeRosa were some other notable players that signed in the parking lot in the morning. 

During the workout, the position players went out to the field just outside of the stadium, and the pitchers went to the practice fields.  I went with the pitchers, as Edwin Jackson was my main objective.  He was one of the first pitchers to come out.  He was very cool, and signed 4 cards for me.  I also had a 16x20 and 10x20 that I wanted him to sign, but I didn't want to carry it with me while I was walking, as I was afraid of them getting bent.

I also got Brad Lidge, Jordan Zimmermann, and a few others as they walked to the practice fields. I think good old Stephen Strasburg was the only person that refused to sign.

Once I got to the practice fields, I decided to get in line to try to get Strasburg.  I was in line for about 1.5 hours when the pitchers finished their workout.  When Strasburg left the field, he walked right past the line of people waiting for him.  He got about 25 feet away, and then turned around and started signing for those that followed him.

I was one of the first people that got to Strasburg.  During the entire time he signed, I was standing right in front of him.  He repeatedly went out of his way to reach around me and take other people's items.  At one point, he took an item from a guy that didn't have a pen.  I volunteered my pen, and Strasburg took it.  After signing the guy's item, he handed my pen back, still refusing to sign for me.  After signing about 15-20 autographs, he announced he was done.  I asked him why he blatantly avoided signing for me, and his response was "Well, I can't sign for everybody".  That obviously didn't answer my question.  I really wanted to tell him what I think of him as a person (I think he one of the two biggest assholes I've ever attempted to graph), but I didn't want to be "that guy" that "ruined it for everybody". 

After getting stiffed by Strasburg, I noticed Edwin Jackson had just started making his way out of the practice facility and towards the stadium.  I ran to my car and grabbed the two large photos.  He signed them both for me, giving a particularly beautiful signature on the 16x20.  Stephen Strasburg could learn a thing or two from Edwin Jackson.

After that I head back to the parking lot, hoping to get Bryce Harper.  Unfortunately, I had to leave at 1:30, and he hadn't left by then.  I'm sure I'll find out that he left at 1:32 and signed for everybody.

All in all it wasn't a bad day, as I got all 3 of the former Sox that were my targets (Jackson, Gonzalez, Teahen).

Roger Bonifacio (this dude has Popeye arms!) - 2/2
Sean Burnett - 4/4
Tyler Clippard (flat out told a young blond that she had a nice ass) - 2/4
Mark DeRosa - 2/2, 1/1
Gio Gonzalez - 2/4
Tom Gorzelanny - 1/2, 1/1
Edwin Jackson - 4/4 cards, 1/1 16x20, 1/1 10x20
Randy Knorr - 4/4
John Lannan - 1/2
Adam LaRoche - 1/2
Jim Lett - 1/1
Brad Lidge (extremely nice)- 1/2, 1/1
Steve Lombardozzi - 2/2
Chris Marrero - 4/4
Steve McCatty - 2/2
Ryan Perry - 1/4, 1/1
Wilson Ramos - 2/2, 1/1, 1/1
Craig Stammen - 4/4
Drew Storen (very cool guy) - 2/2
Tony Tarasco (much nicer than usual) - 2/2
Mark Teahen - 4/4
Chad Tracy - 4/4
Chien-Ming Wang - 4/4
Jayson Werth - 2/2
Spin Williams - 1/1
Jordan Zimmermann (gave a ridiculously exaggerated sigh when I asked him to sign) - 1/2

Today's total - 66 cards, 1 16x20, 1 10x20

I just received my latest batch of items from my framer.  I got my Daniel Radcliffe stuff from NYC framed, as well as a few Sox items.

Well, I knew the bubble had to burst at some point.  Today was not nearly as good as the three previous days.  All of the big guys have cut down tremendously on the amount of autographs they sign.  Well, except for Jake Peavy of course!

Most of the pitchers finished on a small field next to the clubhouse, so there was no access to them when they were done working out.  This meant that I didn't even get John Danks!

When I asked Brian Bruney to sign, he replied "Really?  More?"  I assured him that I was just a big fan and not a dealer and he responded that he really didn't care either way, and he signed the four cards I put out.

When I asked Mike Gellinger to sign, he was VERY surprised that I knew who he was.  He actually said "Give me some" and fist bumped me!

Dunn, Konerko, Pierzynski, and Quentin all finished at the same time.  They all signed a few, but not nearly enough to get everybody.  Konerko must think I'm a dealer as well.  I had the first spot at the corner of the fence.  He walked right by me and started signing with the guy next to me.  I would have been the next person to get Dunn when he quit signing.

For the first time, I decided to wait by the White Sox parking lot.  I had heard from several people that nobody would sign.  They were very nearly right.  I was the ONLY person at their parking lot, yet just about everybody ignored me.  The only people that stopped were Mark Salas, Juan Nieves, and Alexei Ramirez.

Here are my totals:

Kyle Bellamy - 1/1
Daryl Boston - 4/4
Brian Bruney - 4/4
Nick Capra - 4/4
Kyle Cofield - 4/4
Don Cooper - 1/1 (8x10)
Jordan Danks - 2/2 (8x10s), 4/4
Gavin Floyd - 1/2
Mike Gellinger - 1/1 (8x10)
Curt Hasler - 4/4
Greg Infante - 4/4
Josh Kinney - 4/4
Shane Lindsay - 4/4
Jeff Manto - 4/4
Juan Nieves - 4/4
John Orton - 4/4
Jake Peavy - 2/2
Juan Pierre - 2/4
Charles Poe - 4/4
Carlos Quentin - 1/1
Alexei Ramirez - 1/1
Mark Salas - 3/3
Brandon Short - 4/4
Miguel Socolovich - 1/1
Dayan Viciedo - 1/1 (16x20), 2/4
Greg Walker - 2/2

I went to the Dodgers side after the Sox were done with practice.  Unfortunately, the Dodgers were done as well, and there were only a few players/coaches left.  Luckily, I got there just before Mattingly finished signing.  Once again, I was the next to last autograph that he signed.

Hector Gimenez - 3/3
Dee Gordon - 2/2
Trey Hillman - 1/1
Tommy Lasorda - 1/1 (magazine)
Don Mattingly - 1/1
Aaron Miles - 3/3
Tim Wallach - 1/1

Another phenomenal day!  Though not as good as I originally thought.  While I was back in my hotel room sorting my stuff, I found that one of the best autographs I got today was smeared beyond recognition.  =(

I'm going to have to dispense with the details today... I need some sleep!  I'll post some more detailed info and stories tomorrow.

White Sox
Harold Baines - 1/1
Gordon Beckham - 1/2
Buddy Bell - 1/2
Aaron Boone - 1/1 (ball)
Brian Bruney - 4/4
Ramon Castro - 4/4
Kyle Cofield - 4/4
Jeff Cox - 4/4
John Danks - 2/2, 2/2 (16x20s)
Jordan Danks - 4/4, 1/1 (16x20)
Adam Dunn - 1/2
Eduardo Escobar - 4/4
Tyler Flowers - 2/2
Stefan Gartrell - 4/4
Lucas Harrell - 2/2
Curt Hasler - 4/4
Philip Humber - 2/4
Brandon Hynick - 4/4
Greg Infante - 4/4
Edwin Jackson - 2/2, 2/2 (10x20s)
Nate Jones - 3/3
Paul Konerko - 1/2 (smeared!)
Brent Lillibridge - 3/3
Donny Lucy - 4/4
Jeff Manto - 4/4
Jeff Marquez - 4/4
Jose Martinez - 8/8
Dallas McPherson - 4/4
Lastings Milledge - 3/4
Brent Morel - 1/3
Jake Peavy - 1/1 (mini helmet)
Josh Phegley - 4/4
Juan Pierre - 1/4, 3/3, 1/1 (ball)
A.J. Pierzynski - 1/1
Jared Price - 1/1
Carlos Quentin - 1/2
Alexei Ramirez - 1/2
Jerry Reinsdorf - 1/1 (ball)
Chris Sale - 4/4
Sergio Santos - 4/4
Brandon Short - 4/4
Mark Teahen - 3/3
Omar Vizquel - 1/2
Devon White - 1/2
Kenny Williams - 1/1 (ball)

Dodgers
J.D. Closser - 2/2
John Ely - 4/4
Damaso Espino - 2/2
Dana Eveland - 2/2
Jay Gibbons - 1/1
Javy Guerra - 2/2
Ken Howell - 2/2
Gabe Kapler - 1/1
Hiroki Kuroda - 2/2
Jon Link - 4/4
Mike MacDougal - 4/4
Bill Mueller - 2/2, 1/1 (ball)