JANUARY MEANS TEAM CARAVANS

January is the month when the major league clubs who care about marketing reach out to communities by sending out team caravans, usually 4-6 individuals representing a team showing up at malls or evening dinners to make their pitch for the upcoming season.

My caravan month usually begins with the Iowa Cubs fanfest.  They usually schedule it on a Friday evening and Saturday in January.  This year I opted not to attend Friday night's gathering.  The headliners were Deion Sanders signing for $55 and Earl Weaver for $30.  I'm not a Cowboy fan, and I doubt if "Neon Deion" was any more than a mediocre player in either sport, so I wasn't about to drop $55 bucks to buy his signature.  Earl Weaver is a Hall of Famer, but since I already had him on a HOF plaque and a 70 Topps, I had no real need to purchase his autograph either.

 

It was a bit different for me when I drove up Saturday morning.  I was by myself.  Nancy's mother was failing, and the previous Friday Nancy had gotten word from hospice that it was time to head up to be with her mother.  She left that Saturday.  I stayed home, worked and cat-sat.  Nancy's mother died the following Friday.  Nancy was fortunate that she had an understanding employer who allowed her to be up there for that final week.  So, I was to head up to Duluth Monday to join her.  It was a lonesome three and a half hour drive, but I had an excellent book to listen to.  Gore Vidal was reading his "Point to Point Navigation," which I recommend highly.

The Iowa Cubs had Tony Perez ($25) Andre Dawson ($20) Harmon Killebrew ($30) and Bruce Sutter ($30) signing autographs.  I purchased two tickets of each.  Just a note.  When Tony Perez appeared at Kane County for the MWL All Star game festivities a few years ago, Mr. Superstar refused to autograph baseball cards.  I noticed though for $25 bucks a pop he suddenly had no compunctions about it.  Does the word "hypocrite" pop into your mind or is it just me?  Anyway, I got his HOF post card plaque signed as well as a 70 Topps.  For Killebrew I got 61 and 70 Topps reprints signed, for Sutter a HOF plaque postcard and an 82 Fleer, and for Dawson two different 91 Stadium Club.

Just to prove that I can lack class as well: I hurried to get in line when one of the booths announced THEIR special autograph guest.  I grew up watching Vern Gagne's AWA wrestling when I was a kid, and to be able to shake "Mad Dog" Vachon's hand and have him autograph an 8x10 for $10 for me, was an opportunity that I couldn't resist.  It looks as though he's confined to a wheelchair now, but he still looks good.  I would've recognized him had I seen him on the street.

The free autographs are the main attraction of the I-Cub fanfest.  This year they dropped the ball.  I enjoyed the opportunity to get a few Ryan O'Malley and Eric Patterson items signed, but since I'd seen them in Peoria and Des Moines this past season, I would've preferred other guests.  Same with Jody Davis and Bob Dernier, whom I'd gotten in Peoria and Des Moines during the season.  Really, the only individual that I added two my autograph collection whom I hadn't gotten before was Jeremy Hellickson, a top Tampa Bay draft pick.

Hey, I-Cubs...Free autographs draw fans.  Bring back Cal Eldred.  Mike Boddicker would be nice.  Gene Oliver from the Quad Cities would appeal to both Cub and Cardinal fans.  Or how about prospects?  I would have been glad to pay for Jeff Clement or Alex Gordon.  Both would have been great draws.  But, who listens to me.  The I-Cubs couldn't even get their coaching staff to come in this year as they have every previous year.  It would have been nice to see Buddy Bailey, Von Joshua and Mike Harkey there as well.  The Royals stiffed the fanfest for the second year in a row as well, promising to send representatives up to the fanfest and reneging at the last minute.  Last year they said "flu."  This year they blamed the weather.  Hmmm.  You've got to make a little more effort guys, when you can't field a contending ballclub.

 

Saturday was a busy day.  I left the I-Cubs fanfest and immediately drove back to Burlington.  It was the night of the annual Bees Winter dinner.  The guest speaker was Dayton Moore, the Royals new General Manager.  I was pleased to add his autograph on an 8x10 to my Royals scrapbook, but of course, all we heard is how he was going to turn the Royals around.  Hmmm...Six years with the Royals and the Bees have yet to field a winning team.  I'll opt to be a Missourian and just say "Show me."  I did bid successfully at the silent auction on a sharp-looking Frank white bobblehead that shows him holding his six golden gloves.  I figure I'll catch him somewhere to be able to get it signed.

 

A complete digression here.  I'm doing this article during the Colts/Bears Super Bowl.  Sloppy weather is creating a sloppy game, but wasn't Prince's halftime show awesome!  Both Nancy and I were very impressed, especially after watching the walking dead rolling Stones perform during last year's halftime.

 

Sunday I was minus Nancy as well, but invited a friend and he was kind enough to accompany me and help me get autographs when the Cardinal Caravan came to John O'Donnell.  The price was steep.  $25 a ticket.  The souvenir the fans were promised as part of the admission priced was a World Series Championship pennant.  Wow.  In case you think I'm serious, I'll say it again in a voice dripping with sarcasm.  Wow.

We were assured that seven players would show up.  A good line-up, including game one hero Anthony Reyes, Brad Thompson, Blake Hawksworth, Danny Cox, Aaron Miles( a former Quad City player), Al Hrabosky and Colby Rasmus (another former Quad City player).  Weather was the villian again, as according to the cardinals. the flight that would've brought Miles, Hawksworth and Cox up was cancelled.  I didn't do too bad though.  Thanks to my friend Doc's help, I went home with 4 cards signed by Reyes, 4 by Thompson, and 2 by Rasmus and Hrabosky.

 

TRY TRISTAR PROSPECTS PLUS!

If you haven't seen them yet, puch up "TriStar Prospect Plus." on your computer.  That should take you to their website.  TriStar has put out a hundred card minor league set with shorter print chase cards in it as well.  It's an intelligently chosen selection of prospects that includes everyone from Upton, Hochevar and Maybin and Gordon to youngsters such as Colvin and Conger and Kiker who should be playing their first full seasons of ball this season.  It's a beautiful set.  I bought a box 10 packs, seven cards per pack, 1 autograph per pack) and was pleased.  I pulled an Evan Longoria autograph among my ten, as well as Josh Papelbon, Travis Snyder and tyler colvin, among others.  Recommend you check out this quality set.

Anyway, I've rambled on long enough.  Take care and try to have fun with the hobby.  I always try to.