IP-Chicago and burbs:arfmax:2016

[arfmax]

Today, I went to a book signing at a local book store in Wilmette, IL by women's soccer star Carli Lloyd. Lots of little female soccer fans in attendance, and Ms. Lloyd was quick with all signatures and photos. I put an Allen & Ginter card in front of her after she signed the book and asked her to sign it, but she said no, that she was only signing books today. Had to try.

Photo of the signed book:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...pscyzjdhuv.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 467

[arfmax]

Today was the 4th annual free Milwaukee Bucks Fan Fest. They have an open practice and scrimmage, and then sign autographs, take photos, play games on XBOX, and shoot free throws. The team is split into 4 groups, and they rotate through the stations. In the past, I have watched the scrimmage, and then gotten in the auto line, which puts you pretty far back. Today, I skipped that and just went right to the auto line when the doors opened. So, multiple hours of standing first in line, but I was able to get the first group for autos, which was what I wanted, as I needed to get back to Chicago for a family function that evening. Anyway, long story shorter, the 1st autograph group was rookie Malcolm Brogden, Orlando Johnson, Michael Carter-Williams, Mirza Teletovic, and Jabari Parker. I was able to get 1 8x10 signed by Brogden, and 2 cards signed by Johnson, MCW, Teletovic, and Parker, for a total of 9 autos, for free.

Photo of the autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4ezvkslr.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 476

[arfmax]

Today, I went to a book signing by star skier and model Lindsey Vonn, at a bookstore in Naperville, IL. With the purchase of her new book, Ms. Vonn would autograph the book, and I was also able to get her to sign a 2013 Topps Allen & Ginter card, although she was only signing with a gold Sharpie, and she sorta only initialed the card. Still a cool success, and she is beautiful!

Photo of the signed book:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2scwfrjm.jpg
Photo of the signed card:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1cdasvtw.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 478

[arfmax]

Today, I went to a local signing with former Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox. I have gotten him a few times before, so I don't have anything else I need him to sign, but he was close, so I couldn't pass it up. I printed two 8x10's, and he signed both, for free, in Deerfield, IL.

Photo of the Knox autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psqdkvuo9o.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 480

[arfmax]

Today, I went to the annual Walter & Connie Payton Foundation Tailgate party. In the past, it has been closer to my home, free with toy donation, and with more former athletes, and this year was much further away, $10 entry, and only 4 former players. I was able to get 3 cards signed by former Bears wide receiver Wendell Davis, 4 cards signed by former Chicago Bulls forward Cliff Levingston, 1 card and 1 8x10 by former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Jim Osborne, and 1 generic card and 1 8x10 by former Bears player Mickey Pruitt.

Photo of the Davis and Levingston autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psla1qeyiq.jpg

Photo of the Osborne and Pruitt autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0e9zleul.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 491

[arfmax]

Yesterday, I went to the 30th Anniversary party for Stern Pinball at a local club in Lincolnshire, IL. The main reason I went is because there was a solo performance by Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies, which is one of my favorite bands, but the party also included a meet and greet with Ernie Hudson, who played Winston Zeddemore in the original Ghostbusters movies, has appeared in lots of other movies and TV shows, and is the voice of the new Ghostbusters pinball machine. I was able to get three cards signed by Mr. Hudson. He was very chatty and very nice to everyone. The autos were free, the event was not.

Photo of the signed cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psrtm9iq97.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 494

[adiddle]

I love looking for your weekend jaunts Ethan. You get some pretty neat signings. Keep it up

[arfmax]

Thanks Alan!

[arfmax]

Yesterday, I went to an appearance at a food store in Crystal Lake, IL by former Chicago Bears safety/defensive back Tony Parrish. He was more talkative than any other player I have encountered, and when I gave him the cards to sign, he proceeded to talk about each of them, and the exact game, play, circumstances, etc. For instance, the 1998 Bowman card, he explained was in warmups in his 2nd preseason game (you could tell it was warmups because his chin straps weren't buckled to his helmet), and he did make the catch. The 1999 Topps card was 100 degrees in Pittsburgh at Three Rivers Stadium, and 110 on the field, and the old turf was terrible, and players were taking their shoes off on the sideline and dunking them in ice buckets, but he couldn't, because he had an ankle guard on his cleats (as seen in the card photo), but he still put his feet with shoes into the buckets and got some relief! The 2001 Fleer Tradition card he was complaining that the main photo looks like he has a mustache, and he has never been able to grow a mustache, so he thought someone at the card company was playing with filters and thought the shadow was a mustache, so they enhanced it. Seriously, I have never had someone be able to do that! Anyway, I was able to get 4 cards for free.

Photo of the Parrish cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0t63ugab.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 498

[arfmax]

This evening, I went to an appearance at a local bar/club in Palatine, IL by former Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox, which I had posted for 50/50 opportunity. Mr. Knox signed two 8x10's for me, but since they were the same photo, he personalized one of them to me. The non-personalized one is for @rtsjr

Photo of the Knox autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1xc6tdr2.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 500