On the signing front-II

The April signing front continues with the Lynchburg Hillcats in Frederick and our first trip to Harrisburg for the Senators and the Reading Phillies.

The Lynchburg Hillcats were a Pittsburgh Pirate affiliate for years until the swap of High A franchises with the Cincinnati Reds.
This was disappointing as a Pirate fan,but if it had to be done,it was with a team that was not already in the area.
The night of the game was met with a rain delay and the game was delayed for roughly an hour,but this was a good thing.
At Frederick,often the players are milling around outside the clubhouse and are happy to sign under a tented area to keep the rain off themselves.
Collectors are happy to oblige because it keeps their things out of the rain as well.

The Hillcats weren't loaded with prospects,but did have two former first round picks on the roster.
Catcher Devin Mesoraco was the Reds top pick in 2007 and Brad Boxberger was a supplemental first rounder in the 09 draft.
Boxberger was the scheduled starter and as such signed just one card per person.
That worked out for me as I only had his Tristar card anyway.
Promising third baseman Neftali Soto was another nice signer as he quietly signed three of three.
All in all,despite a lack of top notch prospects,it was a good night in Frederick as I was able to have every card that I brought signed and that is always a good night....

Corey,Ryan and I traveled to Harrisburg for the Reading Phillies and a shot at the elusive Stephen Strasburg on the Senators side.
Harrisburg has had their much lauded stadium renovation since our last visit there two years ago and it really does look like a different facility.
I was able to get a few Phillies before the game,but not Dominic Brown as he was there,but hadn't been playing due to an injury.
Harrisburg has a small cutout area that they call autograph alley on the visitors side.
It isn't really large,but it is nice to see that they thought of taking care of the collectors when the facility was redesigned.

Across the field,Strasburg was signing and Corey along with Ryan were trying to get close.
Both report that an overly officious usher was incredibly rude to others although not to them.
Strasburg signed some after the game and Corey was able to get a ball signed,but Ryan missed on the card that I gave him (more on that card later).
The only Senator that they were able to get before the game was former Suns catcher Sean Rooney.
The seats that the Senators had for us were very nice down the left field line and I enjoyed the view of the game as we were joined by Bill Cover for the contest.
The interesting part of the game action was the "color commentary" by a fan that said every sentence multiple times as in "5-1,5-1 5-1 now,6th inning,6th inning,6th inning.
This gentleman was harmless enough,but immediately brought forth memories of Dustin Hoffman as "Raymond Babbitt" in Rain Man.
SO that meant that Rain Man impersonations and movie quotes were in vogue for the evening.


We waited after the game and wondering who the person was signing by the clubhouses and one collector thought it was Drew Storen.
I wasn't sure who it was,but I knew it wasn't Storen as I knew him in Hagerstown.
It turned out to be Steven Strasburg and we began to wait our turn.
I had just one card,his tristar card,which is a artist depiction not an actual photo of the righthander.
Strasburg saw the card and commented "I can't sign that card,sorry".
I hurriedly grabbed a baseball and returned to the line where Strasburg signed it without a problem.
I have always wondered why players refuse to sign certain cards,even there is an issue with a company.
They aren't hurting the company any,only collectors.
I was able to get a few Phillies,but not Dominic Brown,who had a plate full of food and begged off to sign "tomorrow night".
Disappointing,but these things happen sometimes.
The most notable of the Reading players was former Seattle first rounder and Canadian World Baseball Classic pitcher Phillippe Aumont,who the Phils obtained in the Cliff Lee trade.
Very nice guy.

A quick tip of the cap to Jason Christenson,who was able to get me quite a few players from Akron and Erie.
Most notably former big leaguer and Erie skipper Phil Nevin,but Jason was able to land the two Indian prospects that were the most elusive for me last season in Lonnie Chisenhall and Cord Phelps,along with Scott Barnes,who Cleveland obtained from the Giants late season.

Other additions include two certifieds from the Topps Pro Debut set in the Pirates Chase D'Arnaud (ebay) and the Braves Travis Jones (pulled from a pack).

The next on the signing front will wrap up April with the Salem Red Sox in Frederick and the Hagerstown visits from Delmarva and Augusta..