FanFest!

This 1998 Pinnacle Snapshot of Darren Oliver isn't exactly a card but I count it anyway. Got it signed in person last Saturday at the Rangers 2015 FanFest. It was the second FanFest for me and Spiff Jr.

We were running behind and got to the ballpark around 0830 for the 0900 opening of the gates. The line was already stretched halfway around the stadium. The wait was a chilly one and the line moved slowly once the gates opened but we finally got in around 0920.

Spiff Jr had already decided he wanted to start with the retired players autographs. Apparently his experience futilely waiting in line last year for Derek Holland was still in his mind. We immediately headed for the visiting clubhouse where the players were scheduled to sign in shifts throughout the day. In addition to Oliver, Jerry Browne, Curt Wilkerson, Cecil Espy, Toby Harrah, Larry Hardy, Jeff Frye, Tim Crabtree, Dave Hostetler, Mike Jeffcoat, Kevin Mench, David Hulse, Jeff Russell, Ken Hill, German Duran, Jim Kern, Bump Wills, Mike Bacsik Sr, and Mike Bacsik Jr were also present. We managed to get autographs from all of them. Spiff Jr also ran down Rangers Captain in the tunnel outside the clubhouse and got his autograph as well.

The players were all very gracious and would sign practically anything put in front of them. Cards, photos, balls, bats, seats, caps, jerseys, and posters were just a few of the things I saw getting signed. Toby Harrah shared a story from a game played in Yankee Stadium. German Duran chatted about an injury to his hand that's almost healed. Mike Bacsik Sr asked every kid who their favorite player is.

In addition to the autographs, Spiff Jr also got to wave at Ivan Rodriguez as he went by and received a wave in return. We checked out the Rangers clubhouse. Spiff Jr got his picture taken in front of the two League Champion trophies from 2010 and 2011 as well as in front of a couple of players lockers. Adrian Beltre had a SGA bobblehead of Yu Darvish in his locker and Roughned Odor had a Pudge SGA bobblehead in his locker. Shin-Soo Choo had a pile of baseball cards in his locker - now you know where the card you sent him with a request to be signed ended up.

Leaving the clubhouse we walked up the tunnel to the Rangers dugout and hung out there for a few minutes. The field was covered and nobody was allowed on. That was an unwelcome change from last year as was the bullpen being closed.

Hit the card shop on the way home for supplies and a few Rangers and Senators cards. Spiff Jr. spent a few dollars for a case for the baseball he just had Kevin Mench sign. All in all a great day. Looking forward to the 2015 season and next year's FanFest.

Odds and ends.

One of the problems with dealing with a recent move is the lack of new cards. I don't have any of the 2013 issues yet. I've seen them in stores but didn't pick any up because I had no place to store them and make sure they didn't get damaged. Everything was in storage.

That said, you will have to settle for Dean Palmer on card number 88 of the 1996 Pinnacle Aficionado set. I like the concept of this set with the player's profile embossed along one side of the card. The placement of the background picture on Palmer's card is not the best though.

Ok, the Rangers won last night. Good. Puts them at 4-1 on this home stand and 6-2 on the season. Considering that's against Anaheim and Tampa Bay as well as Houston I figure things area looking ok so far. Good to see the young guys step up. Rookie Nick Tepesch gave up just one run in 7.1 innings. Not too bad for a guy who wasn't supposed to make the team coming out of Spring Training. Rookie Leonys Martin went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in the number nine spot. Also good to see the old man Lance Berkman working on making believers out of skeptics. I wasn't thrilled when Texas signed Lance but if he keeps up like his 3-for-4 performance last night I'm going to have to say I was wrong.

I want to go on record right here and now and say the Rangers main worry in the American League West is not the Angels of wherever they are this week. It's that no-name Oakland A's team. I said it before Spring Training started but want to get it here in writing. The A's six game winning streak seems to be bearing me out.

Kind of a downer as well. With Nick Tepesch's arrival, the Rangers designated Julio Borbon for assignment. Once the center fielder of the future, Borbon got passed up by Martin and Craig Gentry. Now he's out of options and the Rangers have ten days to trade him or place him on waivers. Borbon's not a bad player and you can bet John Daniels is on the phone trying to swing a deal. Best of luck to Julio wherever he lands. Just not while playing against Texas.

Nap time.

Well, last night was a change. For the first time in a long time I watched the Rangers in a critical game and didn't think to myself, "I wish they still had Pudge." Catcher Mike Napoli did a pretty good impersonation of Ivan Rodriguez, shown here on card numer 96 of the 1996 Aficionado set.

Nap did just about everything for the Rangers last night. He hammered a two run double in the eighth inning. That added to the two solo home runs the Rangers had already scored off Chris Carpenter courtesy of Adrian Beltre and Mitch Moreland. 4-2 ended up being the final score.

Pretty good night for Nap eh? Well, in addition to his RBI performance Mike also made three great plays in the field. He caught Ranger nemesis Allen Craig stealing. Twice. Once on a missed hit-and-run play and once on the back end of a strike-out throw-out double play. The batter at the plate both times? Albert Pujols. On the final play of the game Neftali Feliz struck out Lance Berkman. Napoli missed the ball and it hit his left shin guard before shooting up the first base line. I figured that the Cardinals had just gotten an extra out. Up popped Mike and raced down the line. He outpaced the sprinting Berkman and pounced on the ball about three quarters of the way to the bag. An underhand toss to Moreland and the Rangers have a 3-2 lead in the Series.

Back to St. Louis with the lead. I'll take that. Go Rangers!

No thanks.

So, T.R. Sullivan reports that the Rangers might talk to the Dodgers about Manny Ramirez.

Uh, anyone remember the guy pictured on card number 49 of the 1993 Pinnacle set? Supposed to be a real lift for the team. Didn't work out so well. Especially in the clubhouse.

Take a pass on Manny guys. Please.

Success!

Got two cards in the mail today from Danny Patterson. One was this 1998 Pinnacle #120. I had sent the cards to him at his home in Arizona and he signed and returned both.

To say that I am happy to get them back signed is probably an understatement. I have been trying to get back into requesting autos through the mail and just recently decided to try retired players at home. So far this has been my only success with a retired player. That and four return to sender envelopes are all I have to show for my efforts at retired players' autographs. Hopefully that will change and I will have a few more to show in the next few months.

As a PS, sorry about the lack of posts the past two days. I came down with a cold just in time for house-guests to arrive. That pretty effectively precluded posting. Both the guests and the cold are now gone and I see no reason not to get back to daily posts once again.