IP-Chicago and burbs:arfmax:2016

[arfmax]

Today, I went to a signing by golf legend John Daly at a local food store. Daly was in town to promote his handcrafted vodka mixed with peach or raspberry, and I was able to get him to sign 3 cards, an 8x10, a golf ball, and a bottle of his raspberry iced tea mixed with vodka, for free, in Arlington Heights, IL. Unfortunately, he was 45 minutes late, as he had problems with the generator on his RV, and then went to another location which is closed instead of the right place, and finally, he sat down and used the blue Sharpie that was on the table, which gave a much thicker signature than I wanted, especially on the golf ball, but that's a small quibble.

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

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 294

[arfmax]

Sunday evening, I went to O'Hare airport to pick up my wife and kids, who had gone on a vacation that I couldn't attend. I thought it would be nice to park and go inside, instead of waiting outside, so I was sitting in baggage claim playing on my phone when a woman came over and sat next to me, with heavy perfume on. I was mentally irritated by this when I heard some adult telling his son to go get his hat signed, and the kid was scared to do it. The woman sitting next to me then tells that kid to go ahead, the person he is scared of is her son, and he won't mind, he gets it all the time. I turn to look, and it is the Chicago Bulls 2016 1st round draft pick Denzel Valentine that is waiting to get his baggage from a flight from Michigan. He signed for the kid, took a couple of photos with someone else, and then came over to his mother. I had nothing on me, of course, as I didn't expect this, but I found a Welcome to Chicago mini magazine, and borrowed a pen, and asked him to sign. Unfortunately, the cover of this free mini magazine was some weird waxy substance, and the pen wouldn't sign it, so he made some imprints on it, and then I asked him to sign inside, which he did. I will post a picture tonight, you just never know who you are going to run into!

Photo of the Valentine auto:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psxptouy17.jpg

This is the cover that didn't work:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...pskjpeopdz.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 295

[adiddle]

Nice one but it goes to show that even when you are not graphing you are graphing.

Just a quick story my wife was in Boston a couple of years ago for a sales meeting and when at dinner she noticed a couple of tables away was Rick Springfield. She waited until after dinner and approached him and took a picture which he was happy to accommodate. They talked for a bit and left. Couple of weeks later she received a copy of his book signed by him that he mailed to her. I questioned it and she said during their conversation hes was telling about his concerts and she said how she has followed him when younger. He asked for address and said expect something in the mail. So just from a casual conversation so you never know.

[arfmax]

Today I went to an appearance at the AT&T Store on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago of 2015 Women's World Cup winner, 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist, and participant in the upcoming 2016 Olympics, women's soccer star Alex Morgan. Ms. Morgan signed three photos for me and my kids, for free, and on the photo of her with her gold medal, I had her inscribe '2012 Olympic Gold'.

Photo of the Morgan autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psshhog8ql.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 298

[arfmax]

Today, I went to Summerfest in Milwaukee, which is billed as the world's largest music festival. Today was free admission from noon to 3 pm, and I went because Michael Carter-Williams of the Milwaukee Bucks was going to be at the Bucks Experience and signing autos, and I have never been able to get MCW before. He did a quick interview, and then signed multiple items for people in line, and myself and my daughter ended up with 8 signed cards, although he used a thicker blue Sharpie on the first batch, instead of the thin/fine one. Oh well, still cool to get MCW!

Photo of the MCW autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psgezm97xs.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 306

[arfmax]

Yesterday, I went to an appearance by NHRA Drag Racer Courtney Force at a hobby store in Orland Park, IL. Ms. Force signed three 8x10's for me, for free, and inscribed one with the requested "National Funny Car Speed Record 331 mph", which is an amazing number!

Photo of the signed Force photos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6loirc2x.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 309

[arfmax]

Today I went to the racetrack in Arlington Heights, IL, where each summer, they have Chicago Bears Day, and bring in a couple of former players to sign autographs in the paddock. Today, they had James "Big Cat" Williams, Alex Brown, and former center Jay Hilgenberg. I have already gotten autos from Brown and Big Cat, so I went to the Hilgenberg line instead, and ended up with 8 cards signed, for free. Years ago, I tried to get him to sign cards at a Bears blood drive, but he wouldn't, he would only sign photos that you brought, so I was glad to get him on my cards.

Photo of the signed Hilgenberg autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psqh4kpd7m.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 317

[arfmax]

This afternoon, I went to a casino in East Chicago, Indiana, to get autographs from former Chicago Cubs ace Kerry Wood., I was able to get 3 cards signed, and 1 ball, which he inscribed with '1,582 K's', all for free.

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

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 321

[arfmax]

Today, I went to the Kane County Cougars (Arizona Diamondbacks Class A) versus the South Bend Cubs game in Geneva, IL. I was able to get 3 autographs on cards from pitching prospect Carlos Hernandez, 1 autograph on a card from pitching prospect Mason McCullough, 1 autograph on a card from pitching prospect Kirby Bellow, and 2 autographs on cards from pitching prospect Keegan Long, 2 autos on cards from pitching coach Rich Sauveur, 2 autographs on cards from manager Mike Benjamin, and 1 autograph on a card from hitting coach Jonathan Mathews, 2 autographs on cards from catching prospect BJ Lopez, 1 autograph on a card from infield prospect Austin Byler, 1 autograph on a card from infield prospect Gerard Hernandez, 3 autographs on cards from outfield prospect Matt Railey, 2 autographs on cards from infield prospect Raymel Flores, 2 autographs on cards from infield prospect Fernery Ozuna, and 1 autograph on a card from outfield prospect Colin Bray. It helped that they were doing Autograph Sunday, where they have most of the players on the team (no coaches and no one on the injured list) come onto the field before warmups for 10 minutes, and sign autographs for everyone.

Total of 24 autographs.

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

Photo of the coaches autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psunqn4i0c.jpg

Photo of the position player autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7rpmhliy.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 345

[arfmax]

Today I went to Greenfield, WI, for the 3rd Annual MECA Fest. MECA Fest is an event designed to raise money to acquire bullet proof vests for police dogs in Wisconsin, however, at each of the fests, they have had Brewers players appear as well. This year, they had Corey Knebel, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Chase Anderson, Will Smith, Hernan Perez, and Jonathan Lucroy. They also advertised Scooter Gennett, who apparently wasn't feeling well, so didn't attend, Jeremy Jeffries, Alex Presley (currently on the Detroit Tigers), Taylor Jungmann (at AAA Colorado), Michael Blazek (at AAA Colorado), and Zach Davies (no show). Autographs were $10 donation a ticket, and I purchased 4 tickets, as I wanted to get 2 Lucroy, 1 Zach Davies, and 1 Scooter. Since Scooter and Davies didn't show, I scrambled and bought a ball from a vendor. They took tickets at the front of the line, but the players were all sitting together, and were mostly bored, since Lucroy was at the end and was the only one signing things, so some were just signing if you had anything with you. At the end of the day, I was able to get one card autographed by relief pitcher Will Smith, 1 card autographed by center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis, 3 cards signed by catcher Jonathan Lucroy, and 1 ball signed by Lucroy on the sweet spot. Since some of these guys are allegedly heading out of town in trades in a few days, it was nice to get them.

Photo of the autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psko5e0kbg.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 351