IP-Chicago burbs:arfmax:2013

[arfmax]

Today I went to the All Star Sports Spectacular event at an auto dealer in Delavan, WI. They had 1 Packer and 2 Brewers appearing, all at the same time. I was able to get 6 cards signed and 1 promo 8x10 photo signed of 2nd year Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, 6 cards signed of Milwaukee Brewers 2nd baseman Rickie Weeks, and 8 cards signed of Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo, all for free. Mr. Worthy was an incredibly nice player, outgoing, friendly, gregarious, and having a great time interacting with fans.

Photo of the Worthy cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psb7cf40b8.jpg

Photo of the Weeks cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psa3d63379.jpg

Photo of the Gallardo cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1c8ad35d.jpg

-arfmax

IP autos in 2013: 260

[arfmax]

Today, I was able to get three autographs on cards, for free, of former St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, and Boston Bruins defenseman Rick Zombo, at the conclusion of his Defensemen Hockey Camp, at an ice rink in Vernon Hills, IL.

Photo of the signed Zombo cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psff2648ed.jpg

-arfmax

IP autos in 2013: 263

[arfmax]

Today I went to the opening day of the National Sports Collectors Convention in Rosemont, IL. I purchased a VIP pass, and on the first day, they had some free signers for the VIPs, and then there were some signers in the evening for VIPs that were holding a free ticket for the athletes.

I ended up getting 5 tradng cards autographed by former Chicago Bears running back Neal Anderson, 2 cards signed by former US Olympian Bob Beamon, 2 cards signed by former US Olympian D. Fosbury, 1 card signed by member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, former Dallas Cowboy Mel Renfro, and 1 card signed by former Chicago Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas.

Also included in the images are two autographs obtained by two of the Benchwarmers models, who were also in attendance.

Finally, I got an autograph of former baseball pitcher, NL Rookie of the Year, NL Cy Young award winner, World Series champ, no-hitter pitcher Dwight "Doc" Gooden, on an authentic baseball. He would not inscribe anything unfortunately.

Photo of the Anderson autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3dae370d.jpg

Photo of the Fosbury/Beamon/Renfro/Pappas/Benchwarmers autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psdb653698.jpg

Photo of the Gooden ball:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5ce85051.jpg

-arfmax

IP autos in 2013: 275 (I'm not counting the Benchwarmers)

[arfmax]

Today I went to Day 3 of the National Sports Collectors Convention in Rosemont, IL. I purchased a VIP pass, and there were some signers for VIPs that were holding a free ticket for the athletes.

I was able to get 2 cards signed by former UCLA quarterback Gary Beban, inscribed with 1967 Heisman, 1 card from former Milwaukee Brewer Pat Listach, inscribed with 92 AL ROY, and 2 cards from former Dallas Cowboy Larry Brown, both inscribed with Super Bowl XXX MVP.

Also during the day, Panini brought in former Ohio State and current Boston Celtics forward Jared Sullinger, and I was able to get a card and a 5x7 promo photo signed, and another group brought in former WWE Wrestler Victoria, aka former TNA wrestler Tara, and she signed a card and a 5x7 promo photo.
Finally, I got three autographs obtained from three of the Benchwarmers models, who were also in attendance. My wife is not thrilled about these additions to my collection!

Photo of the Beban/Listach/Brown autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7fe73467.jpg

Photo of the Sullinger/Victoria/Tara and Benchwarmers autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7c9b76d2.jpg


-arfmax

IP autos in 2013: 284 (I'm still not counting the Benchwarmers)

[LakersMC]

Sounds like you are killing it. Are you going every day? So you got Doc Gooden for free? That's pretty good.

When the National used to come out to SoCal, I would drag my wife & my dad to go just to snag more freebies & autographs.

Thanks for posting. I love seeing reports about the Nat.

[arfmax]

LakersMC-Only went Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Frankly, I spent about 80% of my time in the autograph pavilion, trying to get the various VIP signatures, and the rest at the corporate booths waiting on lines for redemptions. The "for free" part is relative, as I had to buy a VIP package for $125 in order to get the VIP signatures including Gooden, but even if you cost out all the signatures, it comes out pretty cheap. Also, entry fee each day would have been $25, so it all balances!

[arfmax]

Today I went to the final day, Day 5 of the National Sports Collectors Convention in Rosemont, IL. I purchased a VIP pass, and there were some signers for VIPs that were holding a free ticket for the athletes.

I was able to get 2 cards signed by former Chicago White Sox pitcher and 1963 AL Rookie of the Year Gary Peters, inscribed with 1963 AL ROY, 1 card signed by former Chicago White Sox outfielder Ralph Garr, inscribed with "Road Runner", 1 card signed by former Chicago White Sox pitcher LaMarr Hoyt, inscribed with 83 AL Cy Young, 1 card signed by former White Sox pitcher Jack McDowell, inscribed with '93 AL Cy Young, 1 card signed by former pitcher Jeff Reardon, inscribed with 367 saves, and 2 cards signed by member of the 30/30 club, former Cincinnati Red Eric Davis.

Finally, I got an autograph obtained from Mary Riley, a Benchwarmer model, who was at the corporate booth. I got her all three days that I attended, but alas, she didn't recognize or remember me.

Photo of the Day 5 VIP autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psc3601ad8.jpg

-arfmax

IP autos in 2013: 292 (I'm still not counting the Benchwarmers)

[arfmax]

Today I went to the Kane County Cougars versus Cedar Rapids Kernals game at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, in Geneva, IL. It was a last minute kind of thing, frankly. The Kane County Cougars are in their first season as the single A club of the Chicago Cubs, and the Cedar Rapids Kernals are the single A club of the Minnesota Twins.

For Kane County, I got 4 cards signed by injured center field prospect Albert Almora, who even though he is on the disabled list, came to the park and also participated in the on-field autographs for the fans.
I also got 3 cards signed by first baseman/designated hitter Rock Shoulders, 3 cards signed by 1st baseman/designated hitter Dan Vogelbach, 3 cards signed by pitching coach and former MLB pitcher Ron Villone.
I also got 2 cards signed by catcher Carlos Escobar, 2 cards signed by pitcher Brian Smith, 2 cards signed by pitcher Stephen Perakslis, 2 cards signed by oufielder Oliver Zapata, 2 cards signed by pitcher Justin Amlung, 2 cards signed by pitcher Nathan Dorris, 1 card signed by catcher Willson Contreras, 1 card signed by outfielder Jose Dore, one card signed by outfielder Reggie Golden, and finally, 2 8x10's signed by Chicago Cubs 2013 2nd round draft pick, pitcher Rob Zastryzny.

Photo of the Almora signed cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps168d0208.jpg

Photo of the Shoulders/Vogelbach/Villone signed cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5941876e.jpg

Photo of the Escobar/Smith/Perakslis/Zapata/Amlung/Dorris/Contreras/Dore/Golden signed cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7de8cd7f.jpg

Photo of the Zastryzny signed 8x10's:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psa809a0cb.jpg

Ended up with 30 total signatures, although my 13 year old daughter helped a lot.

-arfmax

IP autos in 2013: 322

[arfmax]

Today, I had one of my greatest successes of all-time. I work for a pharmaceutical company, and have worked there for 11 years, and we are having a week-long celebration of helping patients who have taken our products. We have a program that people can join, and they are able to tell their story to others, about how the drug worked for them, and how they manage their disease, etc. We have two celebrities involved in this, one is Larry the Cable Guy, who doesn't really count as a celebrity to me, and the other is one of the greatest running backs of all-time, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, former Dallas Cowboys star running back, Emmitt Smith. Today, for the first time, Emmitt was scheduled to come into our office (we have over 2,000 people in our office) and speak in a conference room about his experience with our drug for 2 half-hour sessions. We had to register in advance, and were told no pictures and no autographs, but as the session ended and Emmitt was being escorted out, I was able to walk with him for 5 seconds and get him to sign a card! He was incredibly nice during the presentation, very personable and friendly, but I was thrilled to get a free autograph!

Please click below to see the picture, I had him sign a 2010 Topps Magic card:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psef397fa5.jpg

A friend of mine also took a picture of Emmitt, which I have attached here (I cropped the friend out):
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8b442d4b.jpg

-arfmax

IP autos in 2013: 323

[arfmax]

Today, I attended a grand opening event and got free autographs of Chicago Cubs legend and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Andre Dawson. I got 7 cards signed, and one ball signed, although he would not inscribe HOF or anything else. Event was at a grand opening in Aurora, IL.

Photo of the signed Dawson cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psce8dd898.jpg

Photo of the signed Dawson ball:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1b96c02e.jpg

-arfmax

IP autos in 2013: 331