IP-Chicago and burbs:arfmax:2016

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After the Ahmad Merritt signing, I went a few towns over to Itasca, IL, where there was a paid signing for Mike Ditka, Paul Hornung, and Jim Covert. The prices were very reasonable, and so I got Paul Hornung to sign a mini football, with a free HOF inscription, for $25. I don't usually like to pay for autographs, but this was a good price, and a true legend of football.

Photo of the Hornung auto:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psz09hnbjj.jpg

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Total IP autos in 2016: 412

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Today was the semi-annual Larry A. Pogofsky All-Star Softball Challenge, where former Chicago Cubs and former Chicago White Sox play a charity softball game at the Schaumburg Boomers stadium. The Boomers are a team in the Frontier Independent League, so it is a small, intimate stadium. There was no game in 2015, but there was one in 2013 and 2014 that I went to. The lineup for these things always changes between Day 1 and the actual game, but I was still able to get a lot of cards autographed.
From the former Chicago Cubs, I was able to get 5 cards signed by former outfielder Brian McRae, 1 card signed by former outfielder Corey Patterson, 2 cards signed by former pitcher Mike Remlinger, 3 cards signed by former pitcher Ryan Dempster, 2 cards signed by former pitcher Jon Lieber, 1 card signed by former outfielder Roosevelt Brown, and 1 card signed by former pitcher Carlos Zambrano, although he signed in blue pen for some reason, but better than 2 years ago when he wouldn't autograph anything!

From the former White Sox, I got 1 card signed by former infielder Joe Crede, 2 cards signed by former 2nd baseman Norberto Martin, 1 card signed by former pitcher Bobby Howry, 4 cards signed by former 1st baseman Greg Walker, 2 cards signed by former outfielder Carl Everett, 2 cards signed by former pitcher Scott Eyre, 2 cards signed by former catcher Toby Hall, and 1 card signed by former outfielder Brian Anderson.


Total cards signed: 30

Photo of the former Cubs autographs:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psvwgegotw.jpg

Photo of the former White Sox autographs:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...pstr7ie7je.jpg

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Total IP autos in 2016: 442

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Yesterday, I went to the Chicago White Sox game at US Cellular Field, where it was Chicago Bulls night. If you bought certain tickets in the outfield, you got a Scottie Pippen bobblehead, and they let you through the gates 45 minutes before everyone else. I went with my daughter, with dreams of catching all the batting practice home run balls. Unfortunately, that was not to be, but a batting practice ball sliced into the stands, and my daughter ran over and got it, and then a player hit a ball to right field that the player standing there got, and he turned around and threw that ball to her, so she got two balls, and was thrilled.

Anyway, there were autographs from Toni Kukoc and Bob Love to celebrate Bulls night. I did not know who would be there, so I brought a stack of former Bulls cards, but I ended up missing out on Kukoc, because we were trying to get batting practice balls, and I have nothing for Bob Love to sign.

I then staked out a spot by the White Sox dugout, and tried to get player autos. The catcher, starting pitcher, and some coaches came by, and then only 4 players came out for warmups, Tyler Saladino, Carlos Sanchez, Tim Anderson, and Todd Frazier. Frazier came over after warming up and starting signing down the line, one per person. My daughter got a card signed, and I had him sign a ball, although he signed on the side panel. He was almost to the end of the line, with two or three people left, when the National Anthem was about to begin. He told the last people that he would be back, and as soon as the anthem ended, he came right back and finished up. A class act all the way. Saladino and Sanchez didn't come over, and Anderson came and signed a few, but then took off. The team is not very good record-wise, you'd think they would be a little more friendly on a Tuesday evening with a sparse crowd!

Anyway, happy to get Frazier.

Photo of the Frazier autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...pszdhno6xr.jpg

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Total IP autos in 2016: 444

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This morning, I went a planned free signing by Chicago Cubs reliever Pedro Strop. He has been injured for a month or so, and yesterday evening was the Cubs party for clinching the division. The event was supposed to start at 9 am, and at 8:30 or so, it was cancelled, as he apparently was required to be at Wrigley for a medical exam at 10 am. Nothing like waking up at 6 am for no reason.

Anyway, I went much earlier to the Chicago Bulls/White Sox Academy in Lisle, where they were celebrating Bulls day, and their 15th anniversary. While there, Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls walked by, but I didn't get a photo, and he was on his way out the back door. I was able to get 6 autographs on cards from former University of Illinois guard and Chicago Bulls guard Kendall Gill, for free.

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

Off to another signing in a bit...

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 450

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This afternoon, I went to a free signing with former Chicago Bears offensive lineman Keith Van Horne in Downers Grove, IL. Mr. Van Horne signed three cards for me.

Photo of the Van Horne autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...pssvragelo.jpg

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Total IP autos in 2016: 453

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Today, I went to the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, where the Milwaukee Bucks were having a Shoot Down Cancer event with head coach and former NBA star Jason Kidd, where they were giving donations for every made free throw and every made 3-pointer. I was able to get Mr. Kidd to sign one card, for free. I missed my free throw, badly.

Photo of the Jason Kidd autograph:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psmscxluc5.jpg

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Total IP autos in 2016: 454

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Tuesday, I went to an appearance at a local grocery store by Chicago Bears offensive lineman Kyle Long, sponsored by a national soup company. They didn't advertise it, and there were 5 people there, yet they would not let him sign any outside items. He presigned a bunch of 8x10's that they handed out, but nothing else. I took a photo with him, and asked him directly if he would sign a can of soup, he said yes, and the woman from the soup brand told him no. Seriously, 5 people there, and he was there for an hour and 45 minutes. I waited outside the store for him, but she walked him out and steered him away from me so he couldn't sign. Nice to get the 8x10, but come on, get over yourself and your rules!

Photo of the Kyle Long auto:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psp7l3ctdp.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 455

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This evening, I went to a Meet and Greet with Chicago Cubs rookie 2nd baseman Javier Baez. I have had historically bad luck with Cubs signings, but at this one, I was able to get two cards signed from the rookie, as well as a photo taken with the player that the professional photographer was taking, which they instantly print out, at Studio XFinity in Chicago, IL, for free.

Photo of the two signed Baez cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psd8tfhrdr.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 457

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Today, I went to the Chicago Bulls/White Sox Academy in Lisle, where they were celebrating White Sox day, and their 15th anniversary. I was able to get two autographs on cards from former player Mike Huff, and 4 cards autographed by former Sox slugger Dan Pasqua, for free.

Photo of the Huff autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psxymb8v12.jpg

Photo of the Pasqua autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9bitbplz.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 463

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Today, I went to the taping of a Chicago Bears TV show on a local sports channel, where the guest was cornerback Tracy Porter, in Vernon Hills, IL. After the show, Mr. Porter signed autographs, and I got three cards signed, for free.

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

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2016: 466