Diamond Resorts Invitational Pro-Am - 1/13/2016

**mberger718** · 01-14-2016, 05:24 PM

I went to this event in Orlando with high hopes but also concern. The advertisements for the event said no baseballs/bats/pucks/etc., and also said no memorabilia. I had contacted people with the event that said that 8x10 photographs and cards were okay, but I had a bad feeling I'd have an issue with getting these items into the event.

I got to the golf course around 6am, before any players or autograph collectors were there, only security and event volunteers. Eventually the sun came out and some autograph collectors (but not a lot) arrived. Many decided not to go to the tournament because of the restrictions. This played in my favor as many of the participants were really nice, would sign multiple times and multiple items throughout the day, and even pose for pictures. We did have one issue out on the course, as security told us we could only get autographs by the driving range, which was near Hole 1. At the time they told us that, we were just about to get Tom Glavine, so we missed him. However, I pretty much got every single player that I wanted, except for Glavine. I had brought a bunch of photos and cards with me, but some people brought baseballs and were not given any issues by security. Many had nothing except for the tournament flag(s) they bought at the event.

Will post pictures tonight but my haul was the following:

John Smoltz - 2 HOF postcards, 1 8x10 photo
Greg Maddux - 1 8x10 Studio Card (for my autographed set), 1 HOF postcard, 1 1997 Fleer Card (for my autographed set)
Tim Wakefield - 1 1997 Fleer Card (for my autographed set)
A.J. Pierzynski - 2 baseball cards
Ozzie Smith - 1 1997 Fleer Card (for my autographed set)
Mark Mulder - 1 baseball card
Roger Clemens - 1 8x10 photo
Justin Verlander - 1 Sports Illustrated cover, 1 baseball card
Reggie Jackson - 1 HOF postcard, 1 baseball card
Mike Eurizione - 2 8x10 photos
Joe Theismann - 1 8x10 photo, 1 3x5 index card
Jerry Rice - 1 Goal Line Art Card
Brian Urlacher - 2 8x10 photos
Johnny Damon - 3 8x10 photos
Eric Gagne - 1 3x5 index card
Larry the Cable Guy - 2 3x5 index cards
Oliver Hudson (actor) - 2 3x5 index cards
Ryan Longwell - 2 3x5 index cards
Billy Joe Tolliver - 2 3x5 index cards
Blair O'Neal (golf channel) - 2 3x5 index cards
Colt Ford (country singer) - 2 3x5 index cards
Rick Rhoden - 1 3x5 index card
Jeremy Roenick - 2 3x5 index cards
Marcus Allen - 1 tournament program (he would not sign anything else)

43 autographs total, definitely my best day in many years of doing this in terms of quality, and quantity.
Plus, my 1997 Fleer autographed set (all done in-person) went from 332/500 (66.4%) to 335/500 (67%).
My 1998 Donruss Studio autographed set (all done in-person) went from 29/36 (80.6%) to 30/36 (83.3%).

What's funny is that Tom Glavine is one of the nicest guys and best signers on the planet, and security prevented us from getting him.
Some of the toughest autographs to get in baseball like Verlander and Maddux, all of the sudden became easy on this day.