Well, the 2007 minor league season is over. Allow me the time to
ruminate a bit about the players and teams I encountered. The West
Michigan Whitecaps won the League championship again. They're a
Detroit affiliate. Regrettably, they were the least friendly team
in the league. Ray Burris, Benny Distefano and Tom Brookens were
accommodating to autographers, but Ray Burris was not. He flat
out refused to sign till after the game, and then just one card.
Makes it tough for someone like me who can never stay till the end
of the game on a worknight. Grady Sizemore's brother already had
a bit of major leagueritis as well.
On the other hand, former major
leaguers like Doug Dacenzo (Fort Wayne) Lance Parrish (Great
Lakes) and even Ryne Sandberg made themselves autograph
accessible, although if you waited in line to get Rhyno, that was
about all you would get that day. Long lines and lots of fans
there for just him. As I expected it would, it made getting the
rest of the Peoria team difficult.
I got to see some outstanding
players. West Michigan's Gorkys Hernandez, Lnsing's Snider,
Dayton's Stubbs and Valakia and Beloit's Parmalee headed up a
strong crop of hitters, and Clayton Kershaw, Jeff Manship. Pedro
Viola and Chris Cody headed up a strong pitching contingent. I'm
always amazed at how much talent comes through the Midwest League,
and this past year was no exception. Now I'm preparing for next
year.
Idaho Falls has finally come through for us Bees fans by issuing
not one but TWO card sets. They're both pricey, but must haves,
for me at least. In case you haven't noticed, minor league card
sets have taken a big jump in costs this year. Orem, Everett and
Idaho Falls are all close to $20 a set.
My Fantasy Baseball team, the "Anarchist Bombers," finished a
respectable 3rd in our 12 manager league. I had a
well-balanced team with Grady Sizemore, David Wright and Curtis
Granderson leading my offense, and Brandon Webb, John Lackey
and Curt Schilling leading my pitching staff. Despite the fact
that Matt Cain got little support when he pitched, I had a shot at
the title until the last week and a half. My pitching collapsed.
Still, 3rd place won me $50, part of which I used to order a Roger
Clemens/Thomas Diamond dual autograph insert from that wonderful
2004 SP Prospect set.
My football team, the "Bomb-Throwing
Anarchists" (does anyone notice a theme here?) is off to a 6-0
start as of today. Better yet, I'm leading the town football
"Pick-em" pool going into this week. Can this last? doubtful,
but it's fun while I'm leading the pack. Ben Roethlisberger and
Derek Anderson are my quarterbacks. My first pick (I drafted 6th
in a 14 team league [two 7 team divisions], was Joseph Addai,
(Lionel Betts has been a bust as my 6th pick), and I 'm solid in
the passing game, having snared Steve Smith in the second round,
Antonio Gates in the 4th round, and Randy Moss in the 5th round (a
steal!). I've no depth at running back. One good injury could
kill me there, so, hopefully my team can stay healthy.
Looks like I'll get another long coveted autograph on the 25th of
this month. Nancy and I have ordered tickets to attend a Sarah
Vowell reading and book signing in Iowa City, about a 2 hour drive
from here. How many authors can charge $25 and $35 dollars for a
reading. Usually they're grateful when people show up to hear
them. If you have never read her though, give her a try. You're
in for a real treat. My favorite book of hers is "Assassination
Vacation. Sarah travels to sights associated with the lives and
murders of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley. Sounds
boring, but it isn't. The book's a fun read even if you're not a
history buff. She brings her warped, irreverrent perspective to
the sights and her wit sparkles. I'm bringing the 4 books of hers
that I own and a laminated double-sided 8x10 to hopefully get
autographed. Now, If I could get a shot at Bob Dylan, Joni
Mithcell and (fat chance) J K Rowling.
An EBay story... I lost my rating virginity a couple months ago.
I thought I'd scored a pretty good deal. Got a 2004 SP Prospect
Twins triple autograph for $2.86 plus shipping. Made my PayPal
payment immediately. Waited for the card. Waited.
Finally after over three weeks had
passed I contacted the dealer. He said that the card had
evidently been lost in the mail, and asked me for my PayPal
account so that he could reimburse me. Hmmm. Shouldn't he have
that as a record of my payment.
This smelled fishier than a Friday
night Lenten dinner, so I didn't respond. Just sat back and
waited. Sure enough, the guy had held onto the card and relisted
it about a month later. I confronted him and reported him to
EBay. He claimed the card had finally come back to him in the
mail, and since he didn't have any way to contact me, he relisted
it. Hmmmm. My e-mail was on my feedback page, which he hadn't
addressed, despite my prompt payment. Anyway, end story is that
he got abusive (I realized that I was dealing with a youngster),
and after I left negative feedback, he retaliated. Oh well. 1959
positives and 'one negative now. EBay didn't seem to care about
the fact that he relisted a card he's already sold. Don't get me
wrong. I love surfing EBay, and I won't let one jerk ruin it for
me. Just a lesson to you to be careful whom you deal with. I try
to stick with autograph insert cards, which I know are authentic.
CONTEST......
Let's make this one simple and not
dependent upon who are most skilled at Google research. Let's
make this one strictly luck.
How many points will my Bomb-Throwing
Anarchists score in the game following when Stu posts this
article. My team is on AOL, so I'm using their scoring rules.
Just e-mail me at
dnhanson@maplecity.com (not Stu) the number of points
you think I'll score. Closest to the correct result will get first
choice of the following 3 lots, 2nd closest 2nd choice, and 3rd,
the one left. A tie will be resolved by the earlier result given
preference. I will cease taking entries when the first football
game of the week in question begins.
LOT 1 Clayton Kershaw signed Team USA Junior National Team card
Drew Stubbs signed Nation
Honors Jersey card (white)
Sean Doolittle signed
2005 Team USA National card
LOT 2 autographed Kasey Kiker
Bowman base AFLAC card
Mark Romanczyk signed
National Honors jersey card (white)
Koby Clemens autographed
2005 justifiable card
LOT 3 Felix Pie 2002 autographed
Just Rookies silver card
Rick Ankiel signed MWL Top
Prospect card
Jason Marquis 1999 Team
Best autograph insert card
I got all the autographs in person but
the Marquis and Clemens.
Well, I've rambled on long enough.
Good luck and have fun with the hobby. I always try to.
