IP-Chicago and burbs:arfmax:2017

[arfmax]

New year. On Monday, I went with my family to Rockford, IL, for Hog Talk, which is a monthly radio show for the Rockford Ice Hogs, the AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. On Monday's show, they had goaltender Lars Johansson, defenseman Viktor Svedberg, and head coach Ted Dent. I was able to get 2 8x10's signed by Johansson, 5 cards and 1 8x10 signed by Svedberg, and 5 cards signed by Ted Dent. The cards were all from the Ice Hogs team set given out two years ago.

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

Photo of the Svedberg autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psyzyfuej0.jpg

Photo of the Dent autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psz0rnbwya.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 13

[arfmax]

Last night, I went to another regular season game of the new D-League Team, the Windy City Bulls against the Westchester Knicks. Before the game, I got one generic Duke cards signed by Knicks center Marshall Plumlee, and after the game, I got three cards signed by Knicks guard Doron Lamb. Struck out with Von Wafer and Courtney Fells, but that was more a case of bad timing, so I couldn't even ask them to sign.

After the game ended, two Windy City Bulls players sit at a table for autographs, and I got Thomas Walkup on the back of a newspaper that the team was giving out which had his player spotlight on it as well as on a custom Windy City Bulls logo card, and guard Andre Dawkins on a card.
The game was notable because during the day, the Chicago Bulls assigned Paul Zipser and 2015 1st round draft pick Bobby Portis to Windy City. Portis played most of the game, and scored over 30 points, and after the game, he stopped by the railing and signed for every fan that came over, which really surprised me. I was able to get 4 cards signed, 2 by me and 2 by my daughter. I was also surprised to see Rajon Rondo of the Bulls and Isaiah Canaan of the Bulls come and sit by the baseline to watch their teammates. Rondo took a photo at halftime with a youth basketball team, but wouldn't sign any autographs for them, and disappeared a minute or two before the game ended. After the game, I was able to get Isaiah Canaan to sign a blank card as he was heading out.


Photo of the Westchester Knicks autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psvo2qeaa5.jpg

Photo of the Windy City Bulls and Chicago Bulls autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7gd72ux4.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 25

[arfmax]

Yesterday, I went to a food store in Milwaukee, WI where Milwaukee Bucks shooting forward Steve Novak was appearing. I got 4 cards signed, for free.

Photo of the signed Novak cards:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psx3ddjmbl.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 29

[Atlantaman]

On fire to start the year!

[djauwerda]

Good start to the year, Amigo!

[arfmax]

Today I went to a Chicago Wolves Read to Succeed event at a library in Northbrook, IL, where they had current St. Louis Blues defense prospect Vince Dunn appearing. Mr. Dunn answered everyone's questions, did some giveaways, and signed autos, and I got 1 card and 1 8x10 signed, for free.

Photo of the Dunn autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9oagb7y4.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 31

[arfmax]

Went to Milwaukee a day before Brewers On Deck so I could get there nice and early on Sunday morning. Since I was in Milwaukee, I went to a Milwaukee Admirals game, which is the Nashville Predators AHL team. They were playing the San Jose Barracuda, and after the game, I tried to get a couple of Admirals players to sign cards, but couldn't find any. Instead, San Jose starting goaltender Troy Grosenick came out of the locker room to greet his entire family, and I got him to sign the ticket stub from the game. Better than nothing!

Photo of the Grosenick auto:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psqgbl0xo3.jpg

As a preview, I ended up with 59 autographs at Brews On Deck on Sunday!

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 32

[arfmax]

On Sunday, I went to Brewers On Deck at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, which is the yearly 1-day Fan Fest. They announce the players in advance, and tell you who is signing autographs at what time and what stage at what cost, but they don't give you much info about alumni, prospects, or the free autographs from players until you get there. Almost all the starters from last year were on the pay stages, but the autos were only $10 which goes to Brewers charities, which is good. The exception is Ryan Braun, who is $25, and Bob Uecker, who is $25. They had alumni Rollie Fingers, Robin Yount, and Cecil Cooper, but they were not on any autograph stage, only the main stage. Anyway, a very long day of standing in lines by myself, but I did well.
Alumni: I got 1 auto on a card from former Brewer and current Wisconsin Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson, 1 auto on a card from former Brewer Jerry Augustine, 1 auto on a card from former Brewer Jim Gantner, and 2 autos on cards and 2 autos on 5x7 promo player cards by former Brew Ken Sanders (7 total).
Photo of the alumni autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psmx7ymiau.jpg
Prospects: Last year they had more prospects, this year only 4. I was able to get 2 autos on cards from outfield prospect Ryan Cordell, 3 autos on cards from outfield prospect Lewis Brinson, 4 autos on cards and 1 auto on the promo 5x7 player card from pitching prospect Josh Hader, and 4 autos on cards from outfield prospect Brett Phillips (14 total).
Photo of the prospects autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psmi1rx4eu.jpg
Current players (Part I): I spent most of my time on the free autograph stage, which had newly acquired Brewers and Brewers who aren't everyday starters. I got 2 autos on cards and 1 auto on a 5x7 player card of catcher Jett Bandy, 3 autos on cards from pitcher Michael Blazek, 2 autos on cards from pitcher Zach Davies (the only ones I paid for all day, $10 each for charity), 2 autos on cards and 1 auto on a 5x7 player card from pitcher Adrian Houser, 2 autos on cards and 1 auto on a 5x7 player card from pitcher Damien Magnifico, 1 auto on a card from pitcher Jacob Barnes, 2 autos on cards and 1 auto on a 5x7 player card from pitcher Jorge Lopez (18 total).
Photo of current players autos (part I):
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...pszgcygx0k.jpg
Current players (Part II): I got 2 autos on cards and 1 auto on a 5x7 player card from catcher Andrew Susac, 1 auto on a card and 1 auto on a 5x7 player card from pitcher Brent Suter, 2 autos on cards from pitcher Rob Scahill, 4 autos on cards from outfielder Michael Reed, 5 autos on cards from new pitcher Tommy Milone, and 3 autos on cards and 2 autos on 5x7 player cards from pitcher Jhan Marinez (21 total).
Photo of current players autos (part II):
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...pstqvvkg3c.jpg

60 total autos in 1 day.

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 92

[arfmax]

Yesterday, I went to an appearance in Rolling Meadows, IL by Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk. It was half healthy cooking demo, and half autographs, and after the cooking, I was able to get two items signed by him, one rookie card, and one 5x7 Winter Classic Young Guns card that I got from a local hobby store.

Photo of the van Riemsdyk autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...pscyftnucy.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 94

[arfmax]

This evening, I went to a Chicago Blackhawks radio show taping with special guest Brian Campbell, defenseman for the Blackhawks. Mr. Campbell signed two cards fro me, for free, in Downers Grove, IL.

Photo of the Campbell autos:
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...psyp8qw2m6.jpg

-arfmax
Total IP autos in 2017: 96