TTM This Week, Part 2: Snaring Sigs at Spring Training

 

 

I figured Saturday would be prime time to go and try out the Royals complex. I arrived early, about 8 or so even though they don’t normally start until 10. I hoped maybe I could get a few early arrivals– and I’m glad I did. Former Atlanta Braves pitcher and current KC minor league pitching coach Derrick Lewis signed two and former pitcher and current instructor John Habyan signed three.

Inside the workout area, most players I asked said they would sign after their practice, as did Mike Sweeney, a popular former player who’s now a special assistant with the club. And all were true to their word: pitchers Cole Ragans and Michael Wacha did one each, Carlos Hernandez two, and Austin Cox inked two as well. Adam Frazier insisted on walking while he signed but did both cards that I had.

My friend Aubrey is a huge Salvador Perez fan, and I’ve definitely become one after this trip. Salvy signed for several on his way off the field and the handler cut the group of us off just before he got to me, saying he had to get going for their game. Instead he just walked to the other side and kept signing there. So I jumped over there and got him on a card for my 2021 Heritage set. He kept signing for a while no matter how much the handler told him to wrap it up.

 

When a fan profusely thanked him he said “I just like making as many people happy as I can, you know?” 

 

Pretty nice.

Coach Rusty Kuntz signed my lone card while cruising around on his bike. Outfielder MJ Melendez signed two coming off the field, followed by Garrett Hampson doing two in the same spot. I caught catcher Luca Tresh walking around and he signed the three I had of him, and Sweeney came by again and signed the jersey card I pulled from a pack 20 years ago. Shortstop Nick Loftin and pitcher Jordan Lyles signed one each. George Brett didn’t look at us– as I expected. Nate Eaton and reliever John Schreiber each signed a sweet spot card.

As the minor leaguers came out, Gavin Cross ignored me, but Erick Pena fortunately ended my morning right by signing two cards– a Heritage Minors set need for me.

There’s always a lot of waiting and conversing with other autograph collectors at spring training. During my morning with the Royals, I talked to a few other collectors and mentioned both TTMCast and the fact I write for SC Daily, including my past article on the ten mystifyingly tough baseball autographs of living players. One of them said “I read that article. And I disagree with every single one on your list.” I love responses like that: they’re evidence that my writing gets views, it sparks thought and discussion, and ultimately that’s why we write.

I wanted to get some quality time in with the Reds. I had a short visit on Wednesday and just missed them Thursday, so since I was already on the west side I figured I may as well try their lot again.

Pat Kelly and a couple other coaches were walking out from the lot and I got him to sign a pair from my old Richmond Braves team sets. Sam Moll signed on the way out, hitting my lone card of him. Brandon Williamson signed four– odd fact, he’ll give a “full” sig on different cards (basically a BrWill), but only initials on doubles. Pitchers Hunter Greene and Lyon Richardson and catcher Tyler Stephenson all signed one on the way out.

I was the last one Greene signed and while his sig is minimal to begin with, this was a true hack job but the friend I got it for is cool with it.

Connor Capel signed one, veteran infielder Josh Harrison signed one of my four cards and I feel like he might have signed more if there weren’t cars waiting to exit behind him. Freddie Benavides signed one, Tyler Callihan two.

Signing sweet spot customs were Nick Martinez, Graham Ashcraft, Zach Maxwell, Mark Mathias, Chase Petty, Mike Ford, Buck Farmer, Brent Suter, Casey Legumina, and T.J. Friedl. That Ford hurts a bit though: he signed with the Reds the day before and I wasn’t aware… and left my 2021 Heritage sitting in the car. I did at least get Stephenson on the one I needed that I left in the car days before.

Selfish collectors annoy me. Noelvis Marte actually came over and signed, which is a rarity. He’s been a tough sig since his time in A-ball and I needed him for a set. He signed for the kids, then a few adults, one of whom– a smarmy looking guy with a greasy mullet– got him on a jersey. He then dropped that jersey off, grabbed another, shoved a woman out of the way and nearly threw his second one at Marte. Noelvis decided that was enough and drove off. I’m not one to go starting fights but I think several of us were contemplating dropping the guy with a left hook. I feel like Marte would have gotten to all of us had he exhibited any sort of self-control.

DAY FIVE: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25

Some days are all about quantity. Some days are all about quality. This day was the latter.Padres camp had a decent crowd– not the 300-ish I had heard about for Saturday, but still a big group being corralled into a small area early on. My goals were threefold: Trevor Hoffman, Hideo Nomo, and Yu Darvish. Sure, there are plenty I wouldn’t refuse, but from what I knew and heard, I figured I could get at least two of those three.

I got a big ol’ zero early on, but a couple of us saw a couple players hiding their heads on the way to a field– Xander Bogaerts and… Fernando Tatis Jr.  We figured we’d wait and hope for the best. Sure enough, Tatis finished his work and walked right over to us and worked the line.

 

He signed two for me while we talked about his time with San Antonio. He was in a great mood, which was nice because he wanted nothing to do with signing when he came through Frisco with the Missions.

Later on we spotted Trevor Hoffman watching the minor leaguers and he said he would sign later for us. So while hanging out I got Lake Bachar and Sean Reynolds on sweet spot customs. Finally at one point between innings Trevor signed for us all, inking my rookie card with a ‘HOF18’ inscription for my 200th sig of the trip.

After the minor leaguers got done, Samuel Zavala signed two, Dillon Head signed one, and Homer Bush Jr. (who currently has purple fingernails) signed my lone card of him.

I figured I’d try the Milwaukee facility but no one was around and graphing the exit appeared impossible due to a big “NO AUTOGRAPHS” sign at the players lot, so I drove right back to Peoria again the for Mariners exit following their home game.

Of all the teams I had booked up, the Mariners seemed to be the most likely ones to sign upon exit. It was tough at first– it was me and two other younger graphers but once the game ended three others showed up. Seven or less is a good size group– enough to where at least one will hopefully recognize all of the players and where you can stop a couple guys simultaneously if necessary, but also not enough to overwhelm them.

I missed Logan Gilbert, which is a shame– I missed him inside their practice too. Fortunately I did at least get George Kirby on a card, along with Jonny Farmelo on one when he walked out. Cole Young also signed one. I was really hoping to get one of the club’s top prospects, Lazaro Montes, as he walked out, but he only signed for one of the three of us and said he’d get the rest of us in a couple days, with a fist bump. Nice enough guy, but I’ve heard he’s already gotten burned out on signing. Hopefully he’ll loosen up once he gets to Arkansas.

Former catcher Dan Wilson did three for me on the way out, and Scott Servais signed one more. Bryce Miller signed two followed by Cole Tucker signing two more, and Ryan Bliss inked a sweet spot custom. Another session of low quantity, but decent quality with Kirby.

I’ll take it.

DAY SIX: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26

I decided I’d get up early and try the Cubs arrivals since I had heard good things about it. Unfortunately I saw no other graphers around and didn’t know the exact spot to go to, so I gave up quickly and went up to the Rockies.Most guys at the Rockies said they’d sign when they came back from drills. Unfortunately most decided to take the far door to avoid us. Hitting coach Hensley Meulens signed one, pitcher Kyle Freeland one for the 2021 Heritage set, outfielder Bradley Zimmer signed one, and I got sweet spot customs by Noah Davis and Ryan Ritter.  Painful. To make things worse, I heard they were GREAT signers the next day, with Charlie Blackmon, Kris Bryant, and Antonio Senzatella all stopping.

I then ventured over to Hohokam for the A’s-Diamondbacks game. This was the panacea I needed. I had heard the A’s were great signers and that Hohokam was an easy park to graph. Both claims were accurate. At the field, I talked to several fans including a Padres podcaster and a Canadian photographer who even snapped a few pics of me in action graphing. Kristian Robinson of the D-Backs came over, signing two.

 

 

Philip Abner signed my lone card and coach Brent Strom hit two before the A’s started coming out. Brent Rooker signed two, Paul Blackburn did three, and Daniel Susac hit a sweet spot custom.

 

Upon exit, I got Ross Stripling, Kyle Muller, Carlos Perez, and Lucas Erceg on two each, Sean Newcomb on three, Scott Alexander, Dany Jimenez, Michael Kelly, JJ Bleday, JP Sears, Ken Waldichuk, Miguel Andujar, and Jordan Diaz on one each. I also got Stripling, Newcomb, Alexander, Zach Gelof, and Hogan Harris on sweet spot customs. Those things can come in handy if you don’t know who a player is in street clothes, as long as they sign their number.

At the Arizona bus, I got Blaze Alexander on three, plus Tristin English and Cristian Mena on sweet spot customs. Ducking back to the fence as the bus closed up, I got Paul Abbott on three. I knew I’d see the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, so I didn’t go after them too hard.

DAY SEVEN: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27

After finding out more about the Cubs entry, I headed over there at about 7 in the morning. I could have slept in and done just as well. No one signed.So from there it was off to the Angels, where I ran into a couple of the guys I hung out with postgame at the Mariners lot a couple days before. The Angels facility doesn’t have the greatest access, but once again Jo Adell came over and signed.

 

Aside from him it was slim pickings. Victor Medeiros and Patrick Sandoval signed one, Robert Stephenson did three, and Carson Fulmer signed two, along with sweet spot customs signed by Zach Neto and Adam Cimber. I didn’t recognize Fulmer without his glasses.

My Medeiros 2024 Topps bubbled despite my heavy use of powder that’s aimed at preventing it. I’m not sure if powder plus 2024 Topps gloss plus a Staedtler pen is a bad combo or what, but one of the ‘graphers I talked to said he did no prep and used blue Sharpie and his was just fine. Ugh, the inconsistency kills me…

From there it was into the ballpark for the Angels-Brewers game. Again, I didn’t coincentrate too hard on the Brewers since I was planning to see them on Wednesday, but I did get a few of them– Sal Frelick signed the one I had of him, Nick Bennett did two, and Luis Lara signed a sweet spot custom.  Other fans in attendance over the last several days said several Brewers signed pre-game.

Meanwhile the Angels were excellent upon entry. Fulmer signed my last card, Steve Karsay signed three, Nelson Rada and Willie Calhoun each did two, Logan O’Hoppe, Livan Soto, Mickey Moniak, Miguel Sano, and Alberto Rios all did one each. Chad Wallach and Nolan Schanuel signed my sweet spot customs. Exiting the field, I got Evan White on two and Brandon Drury on three.

Mike Trout signed but not for me. Fair warning, he has a habit of finding a kid getting a hat signed and he’ll keep on using that pen on about five or ten people’s items. Often it’s a worn down black Sharpie so expect streaking. But if we’re being honest any Trout sig is still a Trout sig. I’d take one signed in #2 pencil.

Postgame on the way out, Tim Laker signed two, Eric Young signed three (my 300th sig of the trip), Ozzie Timmons also signed three, and Garrett Mitchell did one.

My worst-case scenario goal for the trip was 200 sigs and my realistic best-case scenario was 400, so to hit 300 was a nice spot in between, especially considering I still had one day left.

DAY EIGHT: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28

Another attempt at the Cubs arrivals. Another shutout.

Newly signed Cody Bellinger looked like was going to do it but didn’t. You can hear us in the background of the video Marquee Sports posted of him walking. I’m just glad they didn’t record me trying to ask Shota and Seiya in Japanese…

Brewers access was tough– home games mean it was only minor leaguers on the back fields and no access to the areas near the building. I did at least get Chad Patrick on two as he remarked “Man, no one even knows what team I’m on anymore!” Freddy Zamora and Zavier Warren each signed two. I thought about waiting around to get a couple others but ultimately gave up and made my way to Goodyear. As a Cleveland native, I had to go and see them play at home at least once.

I should have tempered my expectations. I had heard the Diamondbacks were signing well as the away team– and Carroll and Lawlar did sign, but they did so out of my reach, mostly around a group of kids. Pavin Smith signed one for me, and coaches Tony Perezchica and Damion Easley each signed three. Tim Tawa and Brett Johnson both signed sweet spot customs.

I hoped I’d get a few Guardians postgame but they were in no mood to sign after blowing a 6-4 lead late. Jose Tena, Kyle Manzardo, Juan Arias, and Sandy Alomar Jr. all ignored me, Petey Halpin said he’d come back over and then didn’t. And manager Stephen Vogt waved and just said “I gotta go” as he walked off. I’m a Cleveland fan but their whole organization is a disaster: they’ll earn their last place finish this season. I did at least get to chat with pregame host Andre Knott and had him sign a sweet spot custom. I actually worked with him when I was in college– I interned at Tribe/Browns/Cavs flagship WTAM in 2005 while he was the Browns beat reporter. 

EPILOGUE

Much credit goes out to all who helped me on this trip from the planning to the actual times at the fields and even to those advising me from afar: Kelly, Terry, Andrew, Philip, Jason, Wes, Dr. Ken, Jeremy, Brian, Andy, Doug, Alan, Matt, Sean, Patrick, Anthony, Don, Mark, Arron, Genne, Aubrey, and plenty more that I know I’m forgetting or whose names I didn’t catch.I’m already thinking about going next year, especially if I can split the costs of a hotel and car with someone else. My hotel was not in the best area but it had no bugs, a suitable roof, and the catalytic converter was still on my rental car each morning. I’ll certainly need an upgrade if I do it again. I might even stay longer.

Maybe as spring training wraps up at the end of the month I should do an article on the things I learned. As well-prepared as I was as a first-timer, there were still many things that I found I could do better.

 

 

Here are the totals:

Cards signed: 324
Miles driven: 650
Miles flown: 1755
Complexes visited: 13 of 15
Additions to my projects: 30
Upgrades to my projects: 12
Other podcasters that I met: 3
Times I was accused of being a dealer: 1