I went back to Astros camp today.  My main objective was getting my Carlos Lee 16x20 done.  It ended up being a very good day!

Carlos Lee - 3/3, 1/1 (16x20 w/ El Caballo inscription, White Sox mini helmet, 2 cards)
Lance Berkman - 1/1
Jeff Bagwell - 1/1, 1/1 (help)
Alberto Arias - 2/2
Brad Arnsberg - 4/4
Jason Bourgeois - 4/4
Michael Bourne - 2/4
Britt Burns - 2/8
Roy Corcoran - 3/3
Brian Esposito - 1/1
Pedro Feliz - 1/1
Jeff Keppinger - 1/1
Gary Majewski - 4/4
Bobby Meacham - 1/1
Brian Moehler - 3/3
Bud Norris - 1/1
Humberto Quintero - 1/2, 1/1
Jamie Quirk - 2/2
Polin Trinidad - 4/4



I went the extra mile to get Lee a few times today.  I arrived at the players parking lot at 6:45am.  I made a 16x20 inch sign that simply said "Please Carlos".  It's a good thing I got there early, because Lee pulled up at 7am sharp.  I was the only person there.  He began to give me his customary wave, and it was obvious he was not going to stop.  I held up the sign, and Carlos slammed on his brakes.  He rolled down his window, and I handed him the 16x20.  I started blabbing about how I'm a huge White Sox fan, and told him the sole reason that I was at Astros camp was to get his autograph.  He was nice enough to add an "El Caballo" inscription upon request.  I then asked if he would mind signing a couple of cards, and he did.  Great guy!

Unfortunately, Geoff Blum was not as accomodating.  I made an 8x10 inch sign that said "Please Geoff".  When he pulled up, he told me he would sign in the parking lot after the workout.  When he came out after the workout, he completely ignored me and drove off.  Not cool.  =(

I got an inside tip that Jeff Bagwell would be arriving today, and it turned out to be true.  He arrived in the players lot after the workout had ended.  After about an hour or so inside, he came out.  He was nice enough to pull over and sign one per for the 8 or so of us that were still there.  I asked if he would mind signing a baseball too, and he said "Just one today".  In any case, a great success.

The surprise of the day was Lance Berkman.  He did not sign inside, and I was sure he wouldn't be one to pull over.  Lo and behold, that is exactly what he did!  There were quite a few people there at that point too. 

I will post pictures later!

2010 Spring Training Totals - 91 cards, 1 8x10, 1 mini helmet, 1 16x20

Carlos Lee signed 3 items for me at 7am this morning, including a 16x20 with "El Caballo" inscription! I'm a very happy guy! Details and pictures will be posted when I get to my hotel in Fort Myers tonight.

A San Diego area collector helped me out at a Toys for Tots event last month.  Jake Peavy honored his previous San Diego commitments, even though he is no longer on the Padres.  Sounds like a guy I want on the Sox!

I sent two 16x20 photos of Peavy in a Sox uniform, one for each of us.  Here is what I got back:

I am about to head to the Post Office to mail out ALL Photofile preorders.  I had planned on getting everything out on Saturday, but it was not meant to be.  For those of you that had ordered photos on the "maybe" list, I was able to order everything but Jim Thome, Bobby Jenks, and Chris Getz.  There was very little interest in Thome and Jenks.  There was a good deal of interest in Getz, but not enough to justify an order of 25 photos, which is the minimum order for Getz.

Thanks to everybody that took part in this.  I look forward to our next order!

By the way, I do still have some 16x20s of this Mark Buehrle perfect game shot:

Good news.  I placed the photo order this morning, and Steve at Photofile was able to expedite it for same day shipping!

Also, I will have some extra 16x20's of this Mark Buehrle perfect game shot:

I've had some inquires regarding ordering 16x20s of the Buehrle w/ scoreboard and Wise shots.  If I can get enough interest, I will order them.  The cost will be:

First, let me apologize for the lengthy period of time between posts.  Basically, for the last month I have had ZERO free time.  A combination of being crazy busy travelling for my job, visiting my ailing father in California, and a vacation in Chicago has taken up every bit of my time.

But I'm back, and should be posting regularly again from this point forward.  To make up for my absence, this will be the longest post ever.  I have a lot to show you!

First off, I received a bunch of autographs from two Chicago collectors that have been helping me out this season.  I've been sending them items (mostly photos), and they've been getting them signed for me.  In exchange, I send extra photos to get signed for themselves.  I met up with them for the first time last week at the Fan's Edge Sports Spectacular in Rosemont, IL.  Here is what I received:

Harold Baines - 16x20
Gordon Beckham - 16x20, Card x2
D.J. Carrasco - 8x10
Jose Contreras - 16x20
John Danks - 16x20 x3
Josh Fields - 8x10
Gavin Floyd - 16x20 x2
Chris Getz - 8x10
Ozzie Guillen - 16x20
A.J. Pierzynski - 16x20
Aaron Poreda - Card x2
Clayton Richard - 8x10 x2
Aaron Rowand - 16x20
Jim Thome - 8x10, 16x20 x2 (one with Jonathan Toews)
Matt Thornton - 8x10
Dewayne Wise - 8x10

Here are some of the highlights:

I ordered a Luis Aparicio 1968 home jersey from the Mitchell and Ness website last weekend.  I plan on getting it signed at the Fan's Edge show in Chicago in July.  It arrived yesterday:

I apologize for the lack of updates over the last 2 weeks.  I have been having serious issues with my hosting company.  Things are still pretty bad, so I may be leaving godaddy soon. 

Anyway, here is what I have gotten back in the last 2 weeks.  Scans of ALL items can be found in the mailbag:

Gerry Arrigo 2/2
Alan Bannister 3/3
Bobby Bonilla 1/1 (16x20, really nice signature... thanks Bobby!)
Phil Cavaretta 2/2
Tim Cullen 1/1
Sammy Esposito 3/3
Ted Gray 1/1
Johnny Groth 2/2 (with fee)
Ed Herrmann 3/3
Bruce Howard 3/3
Bob James 3/3
Howie Judson 2/2
Steve Kemp 3/3
Bobby Knoop 3/3
Turk Lown 1/1 (with fee)
Ken McBride 3/3
Don Mueller 3/1
Phil Niekro 1/1 (with fee)
Juan Pizarro 2/2
Ron Santo 1/1 (with fee)
Roy Sievers 2/2 (1 card, 1 8x10)
Lou Skizas 1/1
Kevin Tapani 2/2
Dick Tidrow 2/2
Virgil Trucks 3/1

Taj, my friendly neighborhood UPS delivery man, just made a delivery.  Here is what he brought me!