IP-Chicago and burbs:arfmax:2015

[arfmax]

Starting 2015 with a good one.

10-Jan-2015:

Today, I went to the grand opening of Fit Speed Athletic Performance in Northbrook, IL, which is the training facility co-owned by Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall. The event itself was a bit of a mess, with a radio show for an hour and a half before autographs, and way too many people, but I was able to get four autographs, three on cards, and one on a McFarlane shell from Mr. Marshall, with my family in tow. I was using a gold Deco Paint Pen on the McFarlane, but it really came out light. I don't think I will ever master the paint pens.

Photo of the Marshall autos (sorry for the flash on the Valor card):
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4369c72b.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2015: 4

[bryanATX]

With the paint pens, its all about getting that tip full of paint....and test, test, TEST just prior to use while youre in line. Nice gets tho! Jealous of your 2015 already. ..hahaha

[arfmax]

Today, I went to Milwaukee for the annual Brewers On Deck event. I like the fact that it is all one-day instead of having to go back and forth or get hotel rooms. Most of the 40-man roster attends, as well as all of the coaches, and some alumni. There are multiple stages, including a free stage. The free one has mostly younger players or newer players, and the other stages have guys who have some big league experience. For the other stages, each autograph costs $10, which goes to Brewers charities, and they give out 250 vouchers per player. Then, there are a handful of premium players, and these are also $10, but you need to enter a raffle to get them. The premium players this year were Bob Uecker, Ryan Braun, Carlos Gomez, and Jonathan Lucroy. I spent most of my time with the free stages, and here is my overall haul:
Brewers alumni: 2 autographs on cards from former pitcher Jerry Augustine, and 2 autographs on cards from Cecil Cooper.
Photo of alumni autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psd47812e8.jpg

Brewers coaches: 2 autographs on cards from new coach Darnell Coles, 1 autograph on a card from Lee Tunnell, 1 autograph on a card from Jerry Narron, 1 autograph on a card from Rick Kranitz, 2 autographs on cards from Mike Guerrero, 2 autographs on cards from Ron Roenicke, 2 autographs on cards from John Shelby, and 2 autographs on promotional 4x6 cards of Ed Sedar.
Photo of coaches autographs:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...pseb99806a.jpg
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7802bad5.jpg

Brewers players:
Love him or hate him, I was able to get one autograph on card, for $10, of 2007 NL Rookie of the Year, former NL MVP, Ryan Braun. I also got 2 autographs on cards from Luis Sardinas, 2 autographs on cards from David Goforth, 2 autographs on cards from Taylor Jungmann, 2 autographs on cards from Corey Knebel, 1 autograph on a card from Jason Rogers, 1 autograph on a card from Brooks Hall, 1 autograph on a card from Shane Peterson, 1 autograph on a card from Hector Gomez, 1 autograph on a card and 1 autograph on a 4x6 promo picture from Clint Coulter, and 1 autograph on a card and 1 autograph on a 4x6 promo picture from Michael Blazek.
Photo of the player autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psb06d71df.jpg
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psc467e2e7.jpg

A good total haul, disappointed that they didn't have any of the minor players on the free stage, and instead, had players like Mike Fiers, Jeremy Jeffress, Will Smith, Logan Schafer, etc on the $10 pay stages. The money wasn't the issue, it was the time, the free stage rotated players every 30 minutes, and the pay stage had players there for 45 minutes, but you needed to be there at least 30 minutes before it started, and you couldn't be everywhere at once.

Anyway, spent the day in lines, but got a total of 34 autos.

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2015: 38

[arfmax]

Today, I attended an event in Skokie, IL, and got autographs from St. Louis Blues prospect and current Chicago Wolves winger Shane Harper. I got two autos on cards, for free.

Photo of the Harper autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psbc05bb8e.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2015: 40

[arfmax]

Today, I was able to meet former Chicago Bulls star Bob Love, at a Home and Business Expo in Marengo, IL. Mr. Love signed four cards, for free.

Photo of the Love signed cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0e285acd.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2015: 44

[arfmax]

One of my favorites today...this morning, I attended a book signing by former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, who was signing copies of his book Middle School Rules of Brian Urlacher at a Walmart in Skokie, IL. I was able to get two books signed, and an 8x10 signed, for free (I paid for the books, obviously). He was incredibly nice, and took a lot of pictures, and chatted with everyone. He is a surefire Hall of Famer, and I was glad to get his autos today!

Photo of the Urlacher autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psd7f266c5.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2015: 47

[harley2001]

Great job on the Urlacher!!

[arfmax]

Today, I was able to meet two former Chicago Blackhawks, who were appearing at a bar in Berwyn before the Blackhawks game, where they did a live 5 minute interview on NBCSN. The players were former center Jeremy Roenick, and former goalie Ed Belfour. I was able to get two autos from Mr. Roenick, on cards, as he had to leave to go to the game, and I was able to get 5 autos from Mr. Belfour, 4 on cards, and one on a puck, which he inscribed with 2011 HOF, all for free.

Photo of the Roenick autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...pse113c065.jpg

Photo of the Belfour autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps868550e8.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2015: 54

[harley2001]

I need to move to Chicago for some of these great IP!

[arfmax]

Today, I was able to meet and get a single autograph from Chicago Blackhawks starting goaltender Corey Crawford, for free, at a mattress store in Vernon Hills, IL. Event was 3-4 pm, and he was super fast, and was able to get through 100 people in less than 20 minutes. They then let people who were waiting outside in (people pas the 100 cut-off), but wouldn't let people who had already been in line go back around, even though many other people did just that. I happen to live nearby, so I went home, picked up my daughter, and brought her back at 3:40, and they wouldn't let me and her in, and said that they had cut-off the line. There were four people inside, and they would not let anyone else in. Then, he left, and they had security block people from getting to him in his car (his car was right outside the doors), and he was gone by 3:48. I really hate the fact that they advertise an event to go to 4, and then cut it off when there aren't people there. I can understand if there were 100 people still waiting, but there were 4 inside, and no one outside. Also ticked at the number of people that went through twice, when I wasn't allowed to. Anyway, happy to get an auto, but the amount of time spent doesn't quite equate. Oh, and he smudged the auto as well.

Photo of the signed Crawford card:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psz40iunqu.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2015: 55