August 22, 2004
Nashua Pride @ Long Island Ducks, Citibank Park, Central Islip, NY
Two weeks and two rainouts later I finally had another outing. The
Nashua Pride was a loaded with former major leaguers. I got most of
them accept for a few. Dante Bichette did 3/5 in a hurry before the
game as he was running down from inside the stadium to the field. Jeff
Sparks and Luis Andujar came out together, Sparks told me he'd get me
on the way back. He did come back and was really cool. Andujar never
came back. Glenn Murray did 4/4 and was a great guy. Kevin Haverbush
wasn't wearing a uniform but I recognized him and was able to get
him. After the game was able to get Nate Tuet who was on the
nicest signers....asked if I had rubbed down the chrome cards. Then
Brandon Kolb signed but didn't seem to excited. Henry Rodriguez came
and signed but didn't seem to want to. He said "I've never seen that
card before" and signed one. I probably should have offered him the
card. Butch Hobson came and signed 6/8 but was in a pissy mood because
they were ripped that game. All and all it was a pretty good outing. I
also got a few Ducks prior to the game. Kevin Baez, Joe Cotton, Eric
Colon, Jordan Zimmerman, Don McCormack,
August 8,
2004
Capital
City Bombers @ Lakewood BlueClaws, First Energy Park, Lakewood, NJ
This was by far the worst outing of the season. I went and bought 2
sets and a prospect set to get signed. Before the game no BlueClaws
were willing to sign. They came out late and just blew everyone off. A
few players signed but they weren't in the set. Bob Filer signed and
was really cool about it. I went over after and got Blaine Beatty who
was a coach for Capital City. He was extremely nice about things and he
signed both cards through a mob of people. We had to leave early
because we had to beat the traffic back to Long Island but we ended up
hitting it. This was by far the worst stadium I have ever been to. It
was a nice Stadium but a terrible atmopsherre. I suggest not going if
you get the chance.It's very crowded and the people aren't friendly at
all. Click the link to see some pics.
A view of the field
August 1, 2004
Newark Bears @ Long Island
Ducks, Citibank Park, Islip, NY
We stood out by the locker room during the game. While we were there
Brent Billingsley came out and talked to us for 20mins. What a nice
guy...i didn't really have anything for him to sign. He shot the shit
with us and it was cool. After that we waited for the team. Madlock
came out and did 1 card for me for Paul Buxton. I was looking for
Reggie Harris and Rickey. Rickey got away again. He had someone bring
his car around for him. I think someone from the Ducks tipped him off.
I missed Reggie Harris again which was disappointing. But I will
probably have another shot at him. Honestly everyone for Newark was
pretty good about signing.
July 31, 2004
Newark Bears @ Long Island Ducks, Citibank Park, Islip, NY
I figured this was going to be a tough outing with Rickey Henderson
being there. I thought I prepared myself well for this. Rickey only
signs Atlantic League merchandise, so I had the merchandise manager for
the Ducks get me three Atlantic League balls. She came through. I went
down to the field and no Rickey but there was a scene of people there
waiting for him. There was a couple obnoxious hounds there that had no
clue what they were doing and were pissing players off. Bill Madlock
and Pete Filson were already on the field. I asked Madlock to sign four
times and he avoided us everytime. Then Pat Danaker came over and
signed a card, so did Travis Wade. I got the two easiest players out of
the way. Then former Met Chris Jones came out and I asked him to sign
and he said after he would. Michael Coleman did the same thing. While I
was wating for them Jason Dewey walked by twice and didn't sign. He was
pretty into getting ready for the game. Then Rickey came out and people
looked over at him...he actually went back in the clubhouse and while
the fans were looking at him Michael Coleman came over and signed 2/4
for me. He actually said "I'm going to sign 2 and take 2." I didn't
mind since I can get his cards whenever and wherever. He wasn't as bad
as many people made him out to be. Then Rickey came out stretched and
put his hands up as to signal he wasn't going to sign. Danny Clyburn
came out and told me he'd sign after the game. Rickey went into the
dogout with Clyburn. Then I turned around and Chris Jones was standing
there. He signed both my cards and was great about it. Definetely one
of the nicest guys.
After the game was over we went outside the park waiting for Rickey.
The obnxious hounds had maybe there way out there and were being dicks.
I gave one guy a ball and told him that if he gets it signed by Rickey
he'll owe me for it....if not give me the ball back. Little did I know
when Rickey came out he was going to harass him. Rickey came out signed
one autograph and stormed off saying "Rickey don't sign the first
night." I figured I get another shot at him. After Rickey left so did
other hounds. I met a nice hound John there who helped me out a lot.
John, my cousin and I were the only ones left. Jason Dewey came down
and signed 7/7 and i gave him a card for a girl he was trying to hook
up with. Danny Clyburn did 8/8 which was weird because people said he
was a tough signer. Maybe being in this league has changed him. Madlock
did 2/8 for me. Pete Filson came down and did 5/5. I actually pissed
Reggie Harris, not sure how that happened.
After they left we walked over to the Ducks side and I got Kimera
Bartee on 5/5 and Cole Liniak on 6/6. Patrick Lennon did 4/6 but was in
a hurry. Made me mad because i needed the two other cards for sets
(hopefully he doesn't get signed). This was one of Bill Pulsipher's
lass games but he was in his car and didn't get him to sign.
July 29, 2004
Atlantic City Surf @ Long Island Ducks, Citibank Park, Islip, NY
This was a medicore outing as I didn't have much for the Surf to sign.
I was going to try and get the Ducks after the game but I got there
right after the gate opened and missed Ozzie Timmons on his way out. I
watched as he threw around a football with some friends. Meanwhile Jeff
Ware walked by and did 2/2 for me and told me that Orlando Miller had
been sent home because he had to have surgery on his back. As I waited
I saw Gary Johnson come out but it was the wrong Gary Johnson and he
didn't seem to pleased when I asked him to sign. I was looking
everywhere for Josh Rainwater who is still listed on there roster but
he was nowhere to be found. I found out he was picked up by the Tigers
and assigned to Oneonta. After this I didn't think I was going to get
Timmons. Finally he came over after for signing for about 20 kids. I
handed him my sheet with 8 cards told him to only sign 2 because the
game was going to start. I offered him some cards and he passed but
continued signing and signed all 8 cards I had. Defintely the best one
person signing of the season.
July 20, 2004
Bridgeport Bluefish @ Long Island Ducks, Citibank Park, Islip, NY
Today was another great outing even though most of the players that I
needed were on IR and didn't travel with the team. I saw Terry McGriff
and Jose Lind enter the dugout and went to the opposite side of it and
asked for one. A player named Kevin Henthrone helped me get Lind and
Then I handed McGriff cards at the same time. Lind looked up at me and
seemed upset so he only signed 1/4. McGriff did 3/3. Later on I was
talking to Henthorne and asked him about collecting. He asked if I
could find some of his minor league cards and he told me if I found
some he'd trade me for a Bridgeport team set since he is also the team
photographer. He also told me that the security at the Citibank Park is
full of it. That you can get players in the parking lot as the exist
the stadium. I gave him a D.J. Boston card to give to give to him and
in exchange he made sure I got every player I needed. Jose Amado 1/1,
Blake Williams 2/2, T.J. Matthews 1/1. Will Pennyfeather was also
great. Henthrone went over to ask him to come and sign and it seemed
like he wasn't going to. Then Pennyfeather yelled to me and told me
he'd be over in a second. He came over after strecting and signed 2/2,
and said "Sorry it took me so long, not as young as I used to be in
those cards, takes me a little longer." I missed out on Mel Rojas, Brad
Cornett, D.J. Boston because they were all on IR. Hopefully next time
these guys come to town I can get all of them on a team set.
July 18, 2004
PA Road Warriors @ Long Island Ducks, Citibank Park, Islip, NY
Today was a rough day because I only had one PA player to get. A few
former Vermont Expos were on that team but they weren't the nicest of
the guys the previous year so I passed. DaRond Stovall the lone PA
player did sign after doing his stretching. Prior to that I was able to
get half of the Ducks team set signed. I was very surprised by one
player who was definetely one of the coolest guys I've receieved a sig
from, former major leauger Bryan Rekar. He signed 5/5 and was nice
about it. We talked about the cost of living on Long Island being a
pain in the ass. Lapoint was also great. I asked him if he thought it
was going to rain and he said @ 4pm. Everyone else was pretty cool. It
was a total mob scene as it was an autograph session and little kids
were cutting in line and really being a pain. I had this happen a few
times and on my last attempt of the day Wendell McGee was told by
someone in the Ducks organization to stop signing. Wendell kept going
until everyone got one! I missed out on a chance to get my 69' Mets
photo signed. Jerry Grote made a guest appearence and I'm going Tuesday
night so hopefully I can get him them. Meanwhile I got him to sign a
Ducks Promo hat for my dad, which came out great! Thanks Jerry!
July
10, 2004 Toledo Mudhens @ Syracuse
Skycheifs, P & C Stadium, Syracuse, NY
Toledo came out a little late
before the game but were willing to sign. Shane Loux walked by me
because he needed to get out to the bullpen. Chad Alexander (1/1),
Danny Klassen (1/1), Adrain Burnside (1/1), John Ennis (3/3),
Jeff Jones (5/5..and great guy), Nook Logan (3/3). Funny
story..there is a guy who many people told me about in Syracuse who
gives players 100 cards to sign. Apparently the night before he had Ed
Rogers sign 100 cards. He asked Burnside to sign 20 something and he
did them all. Burnside turned around and walked away but I called him
back. He signed 20 for that guy and couldn't do 1 for me. Nook Logan
took a different approach. The game was getting ready to start and Nook
told me he need to stretch and to wait a second. He came back and
signed 3/3. That guy handed him a stack and he turned to me and laughed
and said and said to the guy..."this is bullshit...I'm signing one." He
signed one and walked away. I thought that was great. Meanwhile James
Baldwin hid from the fans and my cousin went to get him and asked him
and he bit my cousin's head off. He signed one per. I didn't ask again
after the game because he was being the biggest prick. After the game I
sent my brother/cousin to get Syracuse. Mike Smith signed a program for
my brother but everyone else didn't sign or went out a different exist
(according to them). Meanwhile I finished Toledo up with some other
collectors. I got Matt Anderson (1/3), Nate Cornejo (1/1), Andy Van
Hekken (2/3 and the other hound got me one 1/2), Shane Loux (3/3
pithced a great game), Erik Eckenstahler (2/2). Greg Norton did 1/1 but
it seemed to piss me him off same thing with Eric Owns who did (2/3),
Larry Parrish did 5/5. After the game I thought Rick Kirstin was
Eckenstahler and we started talking...i felt bad for the guy because he
got ripped in the game. I asked him to sign a team card. Warren Morriss
was a great guy didn't have anything for him to sign. Seemed like
Toledo was pissy because they lost a double dip the day before.
Syracuse is another great place to get sigs. Locker rooms are right
outside the stadium and players usally wait for a shuttle
July
9, 2004 Bowie BaySox @ Binghamton
Mets, NYSEG Stadium, Binghamton, NY
This was by far one of the best
outings of the season. I got almost every B-Met I needed except two
(Jeremy Hill, and Matt Peterson because I had to get Bowie after the
game). Justin Huber(4/4), Blake McKinley(4/4), David Bacani (1/1), Josh
Pressley (2/2). Jeff Duncan was sent down and I was able to get him on
a ice cream helmet. The coaches didn't sign before the game. After the
game Howard Johnson signed everything for everyone including 9/9 for
me. Oberkfell did 4/4. Jerry Reuss didn't sign before the game and blew
everyone off...after the game 5/5. Scott Kazmir was called up and was
there but my cousin didn't know who he was and didn't ask him to sign
when I left to get Bowie. Bowie signed all the cards I
had....Ed Rogers signed 4/4 right after the game. He went out of his
way to sign too.Walter Young (2/2) kind of didn't seem to want to sign
but did. Another collector Bill got me Eli Whiteside (2/2). and Gene
Kingsdale (2/2) While I went back to see if the B-Mets were coming out.
I also got Val Majewski signed a team card for me too. Binghamton is a great stadium to
hound at because the locker rooms are in the stadium. The players leave
through it and you are able to get whomever you need.
June 27, 2004
Somerset Patriots @ Long Island Ducks, Citibank Park, Islip, NY
What an unusual outing! Most of the
players were willing to sign for us
but the coaches were a pain. Sparky Lyle came out and signed breifly
then ducked back in for cover. My cousin went around and got him on the
side of the dugout. John Montefusco was a asshole. Didn't sign for
anyone and avoided all the fans as much as possible. Former major
leeaguer Scott Aldred was the last one in the dugout and the first one
out. Looked at me twice and din't sign. No for the upsides. Paul
Ottavinia, Ryan Radmanovich, Chris Wakeland were great signers.
Radmanovich did 4/4 and was really nice. Edgard Clemente waved me to
wait a second and came back later to sign 6/6 between my cousin and me.
He was really cool about signing. Then I was looking for Norm Hutchins.
He was late getting into the dugout and so after the game I went down
to get him. He was on the bases when the game ended so I watched him
leave and ran down to the exist ramp. With all his equipment in his
hands he dropped it and signed 6/6 for me and was awesome about it.
Great guy! Aldred and Montefusco continued there hibernation and didn't
even look up. All and all it wasn't a bad outing but it could have been
better. I didn't get him to sign anything but Jeff Nettles was
great about signing he even helped pick out some players for me. He was
easy to talk to and was curtious to every fan. June 13, 2004
Atlantic City Surf @ Long Island Ducks, Citibank Park, Islip, NY
The Ducks have autorgaph signings every sunday for 15 minutes prior to
the game. I was able to get Mets Legend Bud Harrelson, former Met Bill
Pulsipher and former major league pitcher Dave Lapoint. All of which
were very cool including Bud who made sure every person in his line got
an autograph. The lone Atlantic City player I got was former Tiger
prospect Demetrious Heath. He was great about signing but has a weird
signature. All in all it was a good outing, I bought a Ducks team set
so next week I'll be able to get that signed.
