Here's one of the centerpieces if not the centerpiece of my relatively thin collection of vintage basketball cards. I snagged it from work with tax refund money which tells you how long ago the purchase was. It's finally been scanned in and I'm still happy I chose this particular card over the In Action card from the same set of the same player as I was debating buying that originally.
My first Bill Russell! Russell only has three playing-era standard issue cards so the pickings are slim in terms of adding him to any collection. I think BVG actually slightly under-graded the card but they are very tough on centering in regards to vintage. The old Celtics' mascot above Bill's head is a cool touch and I absolutely love this bad boy. It's a wonderful addition to the Vintage PC.
My amigo Mike recently gave me this fantastically awesome full ticket from Game 4 of the 1978 National League Championship Series. Check out the price for a Field Box seat 37 years ago at Dodger Stadium: $12! The five-game series pitted the Blue Crew against the Philadelphia Phillies and Game 4 saw the Dodgers prevail 4-3. Bill Russell knocked in Ron Cey in the 10th to clinch the series.
I've got a few in-person autographs to post, and I'll lump them together, considering they happened ages ago. First up, a new project I've begun and am 25% done with.
Steve Garvey was doing one of his many free signings, and I had some time to swing by. I asked him to sign an 8x10 that will eventually include the rest of The Great Infield. Steve was kind enough to inscribe "'74 NL MVP" and was a great and nice guy, as he always is. Shout-out to Paul for letting me borrow a pen and giving me pointers on what pen to use for a project such as this, as well as George for saying hi. Great seeing you gentlemen!
Next up, a pair of John Hancocks I picked up at Dodger Stadium before a Friday Night Fireworks game. I hit up Aisle 27 and got Kenley Jansen on my "2012 Team Ball," and had I not had my cast on, I'm not sure he would have stopped, as he was wrapping up a quick signing session. After coming off of the field, I ran into Harry, who runs Eye On LA Sports. Harry spotted Ron Cey signing and helped me get his signature on my "team" ball, as doing these things one-handed is rather difficult. Good luck in El Paso buddy, and come back and visit!
I attended the Broxton Bobblehead game this past Tuesday. My buddies and I had infield reserve seats, third base side. We planned to get to the game around 6, and I wanted to go check out Autograph Alley in center field, having never been before.
Of course, my camera ran out of juice about 5 minutes after I entered the stadium, and try as I might, I couldn't take a picture after about 7:00. Remember kids, always charge the batteries for something you plan on using. Lesson learned.
This first response van was next to us at a light driving to the game. I imagine it was on its way to the stadium to pick up Garret Anderson's corpse.
On the way to the game, we passed by this huge billboard for Mannywood. Of course a huge bus got in my way, but you get the idea.
As we entered Dodger Stadium, we were given this nice booklet with Chad Billingsley on the cover.
We were parked right around 6:00, and made our way to center. I had no idea who would be at Autograph Alley, as the Dodgers hadn't announced it, and lo and behold I find Matt Luke there. Honestly, I have no recollection of Matt Luke as a Dodger, and had only heard his name maybe once before. I stand in a line of about 5 people, and Luke signs the card you see below for me. He was also nice enough to take a picture with me. Nice guy.
Loved seeing former Dodgers images immortalized on the pillars at the stadium. Though I unfortunately didn't run into any of the sons of the Sons Of Steve Garvey while at the game. Davey Lopes can be seen behind Garvey; I also saw Ron Cey, Bill Russell, and the amazingly awesome and exciting Mike Piazza.
The game was fantastic, a pitcher's duel from start to finish. There was a proposal (it seems there's one at every game I go to), and I thought it actually looked fairly fake, with the potential bride-to-be running away from her kneeling and ring-bearing boyfriend. She later returned and said yes, and we saw them walking in the parking lot after the game, having parked about two rows over from us. I clapped and said congrats, and they nodded and said thank you, then got in the same car and sat next to each other. So who knows, maybe it was real, maybe it wasn't. I hope it was real and they are getting married, but it did remind me of this other "marriage proposal" which was as fake as can be.
After Manny Ramirez's double to right to drive in the lone Dodger run (and the crowd was electric that whole inning), in walked the man of the day, Jonathan Broxton. As Iron Man blared throughout Dodger Stadium, the fans were going crazy, and Brox's first batter just so happened to be the best player in all of baseball, Albert Pujols. An epic at-bat followed, with Broxton finally striking out Pujols. Broxton closed the inning out, and the Dodgers went home with a 1-0 victory.
And I went home happy as well, having seen a great game and come away with an autograph and a sweet Broxton Bobblehead.
