The signing season began with the West Virginia Power hitting town for their only visit of the season.
I have never understood why the Hagerstown Suns do not push harder for more visits from the Power,as this is their only trip to Hagerstown this season.
Between the proximity to West Virginia and the large amount of Pirates fans in the area,this should be a layup.
Three visits from Lexington and just one from West Virginia?
The Power was a strong signing team,although the lack of a card for Alen Hanson was a disappointment.
Highly touted prospect Josh Bell could not have been nicer and talked for quite a while.
It took me a little bit of work to get Stetson Allie,who signed a lot for some and then gave up and ignored the rest.
I did get him eventually,so all's well that ends well.
But of all,the best experience was with Rinku Singh,who talked for a while.walked down from the bullpen and talked about how happy he was just to be there.
"Everyday is a great day to play baseball",I could not agree more,Rinku and here is hoping that you can make it to Pittsburgh!
A short drive to Frederick for their opening series against the Salem Red Sox was next.
I did not have a ton for Salem,since I did most of them when they were at Greenville,but it was Rod Langway day,so a chance to add a hockey hall of famer was a easy decision to make.
Langway was nice enough and I was able to get through the line so quick that I could work on the Red Sox.
I was able to get one of the two players that I wanted most as Jackie Bradley Jr signed for everyone and has a great signature as well.
Xander Boegarts was disappointing as three guys were in front of me and he signed for them,but when I got there with two cards,he looked at me and said "no" and walked away.
uhh,OK?
Former Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman is a Salem coach and was very nice in signing four cards.
Next into Hagerstown was the Lexington Legends from the Astros parent club.
I had next to no cards,but filled in what I had,but really wanted their bench boss Ivan DeJesus,the former Cubs and Phillies shortstop.
DeJesus signed none for the first two days,but offered two nice stories for the front.
My friend Kendall hollers "Ivan,would you please sign"? DeJesus: "how you doin'?" as he runs away.
Hey,Kendall,how you doin'?
The other comes as we wait for him at the bus,where he sprints at 59 years old faster than any collector from the locker room to the bus and then sits in the front seat and grins at us.
I did get him on the final day and even then a story-Another collector called him over to the two of us.He signs the first card and even gets ready to sign a second,puts the sharpie on the card to the point of a dot on it and then hands it back unsigned.
Ivan DeJesus-How are YOU doin'?
Thanks to Kendall Morris for knocking some cards off the Richmond Flying Squirrels (what a dumb name,but cool mascot) that included Tommy Joseph.
My usual partner Bill Cover and I tackled the Winston-Salem Drive on a night that cold would be a very generous adjective.
COLD CITY!
Kendall was back again to ask former big leaguer and Dash batting coach Gary Ward to sign.
Ward looked at him like he was going to squash and then said"Two".
I had three,but easily settled for two on this night.
Other than outfielder Trayce Thompson,who talked to me about hoops and his brother Klay of the Golden State Warriors,I did not really get much finished.
The cold made players indistinguishable as they all looked the same as they ran by with jackets and hoods up.
Very little finished on this night.
The Lakewood Blue Claws and the prospects from the Phillies were next in the Hub City and with two former big leaguers on the coaching staff,the Blue Claws were a decent draw for the collectors.
Former Cubs pitcher Les Lancaster was terrific as he signed as much as anyone had,but manager Mickey Morandini was a two per and although I did not have him do this to me,he gave some grumbles to one collector about signing his Cubs cards.
The Phillies have two more super athletic outfielders off the conveyor belt that seem to provide every season in Kyrell Hudson and Aaron Altherr and Kelly Dugan,a first baseman that has a famous connection as his dad was commissioner Doug in the Adam Sandler film Happy Gilmore.
During this series,Cutter Dykstra joined the Suns and Dykstra is a favorite of mine for both his constant hustle and his terrific interaction with the fans.
I have yet to see a night that Cutter didn't take the time to sign and talk to whomever asks him to.
Dykstra is a very easy player to root for...
The Lynchburg Hillcats were touted as a great signing team by a friend of mine.
My experience in Frederick was a bit different as their two top prospects were a mixed bag with Nick Amato doing one (although I liked the fact that Nick said upfront one only and did not vary from person to person) and Matt Lipka signed for no one and ran right by.
Lipka is reported to be an after the game signer,so I'll try that next time.
If Lynchburg was a disappointment,the Rome Braves were more than enough to make up for them as the Braves might have been the best signing team in Hagerstown in a long time.
I had many cards for David Filak,who signed all with a great attitude as did catcher Cory Brownsten,who talked about his love for the Buffalo Sabres.Prospect Elmer Reyes was a nice pickup,but my favorite two were Brandon Drury and Kyle Kubitza,who both signed,talked for a long time on the first night and shook hands with after thanking me for asking.
Great guys and I wish more teams were like the Rome Braves.....
Through the Mail
Baseball
Former Cubs,Twins and Rangers pitcher Bill Hands
Former Cubs,Pirates and Giants pitcher Rick Reuschel
Former Tigers pitcher Virgil Trucks
Former Cardinals,Cubs,Astros and Yankees outfielder Jerry Mumphrey
Former Astros and Angels pitcher Ken Forsch
Former Indians and White Sox second baseman Eddie Leon
Former Rangers second baseman Bump Wills
Former Pirates manager Jim Leyland
Former Orioles and Pirates pitcher Grant Jackson
Football
Former Seahawks kicker Norm Johnson
Former Buccaneer defensive end Eric Curry
Former Browns center Mike Babb
Former Eagles receiver Pete Retzlaff
Former Chiefs running back Curtis McClinton
Former Browns quarterback Frank Ryan
Former Eagles safety Jesse Campbell
Former Colts quarterback Bert Jones
Former Eagles running back Tom Woodeshick
Former Falcons linebacker Tommy Nobis
Basketball
Former Cavaliers forward Larry Nance
Former Purdue head coach Gene Keady
Former Cavaliers and Pacers forward Mike Sanders
Hockey
Former Barons and North Stars goalie Gilles Meloche
Golf
Fred Couples
Ray Floyd
Lou Graham
Tom Watson
Misc
Jake Garn-Former US Congressman and Astronaut-Thanks to Pol Heiney for his kind gift on Mr.Garn's card!
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