On the Signing Front

The signing front
returns with the first few teams of the 2014 tour,but first I want to get the non-baseball additions out of the way

Football
Former Redskins wide receiver Gary Clark-Thanks to Derreck and Mikayla Chupak for getting the former All-Pro at one of Mikayla's school functions..
Former Browns linebacker Bob Babich-Mail
Former Oklahoma quarterback J.C.Watts-mail

Hockey
Junior hockey star and likely eventual top pick in the NHL draft-Connor McDavid-Thanks to Bruce Begole,who went to a game and got him for me!

Baseball-Mail
Former Orioles and Blue Jays shortstop Tim Nordbrook

Non-Sports
Actress Carrie Fisher-who signed a Blue Brothers and Star Wars Card-Mail
Actress Erin Gray of Buck Rogers fame-Mail


The first team to arrive at beautiful Municipal Stadium was the Rome Braves in their only visit to Hagerstown this season.
Rome was not loaded with the usual Braves roster ,but there were a few interesting players.
A pair of catchers both signed their Danville cards and Panini Elite in defensive oriented Bryan De La Rosa and offensive prospect Victor Caratini,while I liked the skills of shortstop Johan Carmargo,he has struggled with the bat.
Other nice additions were hard throwing Carlos Salazar and Andry Ubeira along with Reed Harper.
I also was given a Bowman signed by Nationals minor leaguer Travis Ott by Bill Cover during this series.

Next up was a chilly afternoon game in Altoona with Kendall Morris for the Erie Seawolves.
I never seem to have a ton of Erie cards as the Tigers affiliate never is on the local circuit until the players reach the AA level in Erie.
The main reason for the trip was former All-Star catcher Lance Parrish,a long time favorite and the new manager at Erie.
Parrish is very nice and signed everything.Seemed like a really nice guy.
The top prospect on the team was second baseman Devon Travis,who signed his Midwest League prospect card along with his Panini Elite.
Travis was injured shortly after this game and has yet to return to the field.
Other nice additions were Eugenio Suarez,who signed his Florida State League prospect card and a Prism given to me by Kendall And Aaron Westlake,who signed four cards,including a Midwest League prospect card.
I really like the Prism set,but like Rize,it's kinda expensive for the set and other than once at Target,the packs were hard to find.

Next into Hagerstown were the Delmarva Shorebirds,who I had pretty much cleaned up on last season.
I needed a few stragglers though and they were good ones.
Orioles first rounder Hunter Harvey has been excellent this season and Harvey was very nice in signing his Bowman and Rize cards.
Two other Orioles high picks in the 2013 draft were added as well in catcher Chance Sisco and outfielder Josh Hart.
Drew Dosch signed his Panini Elite and added "Go Penguins" to the card.
I like to get players that went to schools that I like to add that to cards and Youngstown State fits that bill.
I also got pitching coach Alan Mills on few of his cards with the Yankees,Orioles and Columbus Clippers on the long missed Line Drive card from 1991....

The first team into Frederick this season was the Carolina Mudcats and the Cleveland Indians affiliate was a one bereft of prospects,at least one that I hadn't gotten.
The best catches were Bowman refractors of Jeremy Lucas and Josh Martin and pitching coach Steve Karsay,who spent time with the Indians among other MLB teams.
Karsay was nice and chatted a bit as well.
The game was neat as starting pitcher Dylan Baker tossed six perfect innings after I had missed him in cards.
Fortunately for me,Kendall needed to get more Steve Karsays finished and he was able to get Baker on his Panini Elite and Lake County cards.
Baker would injure his ankle before his next start,finishing him for the year and giving him a unique line for 2014..

A morning trip with Derreck and Brad Adams for the Altoona Curve in Harrisburg turned out to be very productive,albeit chilly.
The biggest pickup was shortstop prospect Alen Hanson,who signed one before the game and one after in being less than personable about signing.
However,something beats nothing as Hanson signed a green Bowman refractor and a Florida State League prospect card.
Other nice additions were former pitcher and current power hitter Stetson Allie,toolsy outfielder Willy Garcia and Adrian Sampson,who has jumped on some prospect lists after a strong April.
Manager Carlos Garcia has been a less than friendly signer in the past,but on this day was smiling,happy and for the first time signed two cards.
In the past,the former Pirate infielder signed either one or none and was usually grumpy about it...

Meet the team day for the Frederick Keys saw the opportunity for the Keys and the Lynchburg Hillcats.
I needed very few of the Keys,but was able to fill in some stuff that arrived in the winter,such as Parker Bridwell's heritage,both of Jason Esposito's team set cards from 2013 and Trent Mummy.
Mummy was a player that seemed to always be hurt and I never had much luck getting him.
I got him on two cards,but the next day,Mummy was released...

Lynchburg featured top prospect Lucas Sims,who had been a great signer in Hagerstown as a Rome Brave and Sims signed both cards that I had as did Jose Peraza in signing two Bowmans and Mauricio Cabrera signed his Topps heritage and Bowman.
The other interesting pickup was Kevin Ahrens,who at one time had been a top prospect in the Blue Jays system.Ahrens signed two older Tri-Stars for me.
It's funny,no matter the player,when you can get older cards out of the box and signed,it's always great because you think those cards are never getting out!

We wrap up with the Lakewood Blue Claws in Hagerstown.
I didn't have much for Lakewood as many of them I had gotten last season in State College with the Williamsport Crosscutters.
Top pick J.P.Crawford signed a Bowman refractor,Zach Green signed three different USA cards before he was demoted due to a slow start and Carlos Tocci on a Bowman,.
The star of this stop was a Sun as Washington Nationals outfielder Denard Span appeared on a rehab assignment.
Span was the best person that has shown up in Hagerstown and was a terrific person.
Span chatted with everyone,took pictures and asked "did I get everyone? Is everyone OK?".
Exactly the type of guy that you want to root for and someone that gets what a big deal that it is for a big leaguer to show up in your town.

WHEW! That wraps up for today,but barely starts the season off!
I'll be back sometime soon with more from the front!