Stanford at Jackie Robinson stadium

I went down to UCLA to try and get a few future MLB draft picks that already have cards in USA sets. There are about 7 guys on Stanford that already have cards, including, Mark Appel, who man "draft experts" have going in the first couple picks. I was really disappointed with the ushers at Jackie Robinson Stadium, and how rude they were. They did not seem very accommodating at all to the graphers and made it pretty hard to get signatures. Anyway here's what I got
Mark Appel 2-2
John Hochstatter 8/8
Brett Mooneyham 7/7
Brian Ragira 0/7 "not now."
AJ Vanegas 0/12 Starting Pitcher

Chauncey Billups autograph signing in Beverly Hills

I overslept a bit, but the fact that this was at noon on a Monday helped out a lot. When I got there the line wasn't too bad at all. Saw some of the regular LA graphers again, which is always fun. There had to be a bit of a hangover from a lot of them because this weekend was one of the most hectic autograph schedules in the Los Angeles area in recent memory. There is no way you could do everything. I got autographs nearly everyday this week Tuesday-Monday, but now its time to get back to Dodger stadium and back to work. Anyway, about the signing, it went pretty smooth, except the Clipper security guard was up there with him and was saying, "on per," and "no blue" I wanted my photo done in blue, as it stands I got it done in silver and it streaked a little bit, oh well what can you do? Ill try to post a better picture when I am not at a starbucks.

Angels Fan Fest

Once upon a time this was a really cool event. In 2012 its the biggest crap shoot around. Which is why I arrived at 9 AM instead of 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning. Basically there are four lines and they randomly put players in your line and you get whoever is at your table. I decided to put a little effort in, just because I had a ticket to the game, but I wasn't going to kill myself over it and then get stuck in a line of someone who I didn't care about. I was way back in the line I got in, which happened to be for Vernon Wells and Chris Iannetta, both guys are pretty easy to be honest. By the time I was about 20 from the front they cut it off. This is what I was expecting. The same thing happened to me last year, and then they brought the whole starting rotation out and put them at tables. This year, I guess because the signings started about 30 minutes behind schedule, they decided to bring alumni. The five alumni you had a chance of getting were;  Chuck Finley, Mike Witt, Jim Abott, Clyde Wright, and Garret Anderson. Fortunately Garret Anderson came into the line I was in. I got him to add a 2003 All star game MVP inscription which was pretty cool. Overall it wasn't a great fan fest, but "GA" used to be next to impossible in person and rarely does signings, so it wasn't horrible. My buddy David, put in quite a bit of work and organized well with his friends so he racked really well, so shout-out to, Dave on the big day. You can catch up on his blog here, http://davidsautographsignings.blogspot.com/

Also my buddy and former roommate, Jack was able to get a bat done. Jack and I do a lot of graphing together so make sure you are following him on twitter @Jack_D_Anderson and while you are at it, make sure you are following me as well @hologramsteven. I would love to get connected and meet some of you fine LA graphers!

Ramon Sessions autograph signing in Torrance, California

My mom decided to go with me to a beautiful autograph signing on a Saturday afternoon. The location was maybe 20 minutes away from my house which wasn't too bad. It was advertised to be from 3-5:30. But I found out later that Ramon was scheduled to appear from 3:30 to 5:30. He was a bit late on top of that. Originally they would make a line for autographs and then once those people got their signature they escorted them into a separate line which had a backdrop for pictures. Ramon was getting up after signing 10 autographs and taking pictures with a professional photographer in front of the backdrop. After maybe 20 minutes of this they realized the line was moving way too slow and told people they could go behind a table for their picture. Originally they said you could get signed whatever Ramon would do, but by the time I got up to the table they were saying no pics and 1 autograph per. I got my two, but Ramon didn't use the pen I wanted for my chrome rookie card and it bubbled, then my mom tried to take a picture and everyone was telling me not to, so it looks like Ramon is a bit shocked. My mom was up after me and Ramon wouldn't grab a blue and just went ahead and did both her items in black. Kinda bummed he wasn't switching pens, and I couldn't get a picture after being in line for almost three hours, but its all good. Saw a lot of the normal LA graphers out there, which was cool. Hope everyone had a great Saturday.

Orioles walking up to Angels stadium

Went out to the stadium today in hopes of getting Jim Palmer and Matt Wieters. I went to the entrance that they are typically known to use and there was no site of either today. It was unfortunate that I was trying for Palmer because with him being a broadcaster I knew he'd be more likely to come in later, so I waited up until 4:30 when I heard he used a different entrance. At that point I gave up and hit home, but I hit plenty of traffic on the 5 on the way home.
Kevin Gregg 2/3
Nolan Reimold 1/4
Brian Mastuz ignored everyone until he was about to enter the stadium, did one. I was next and instead of signing for me, he just dropped the guys pen on the ground from the guy he just signed a beautiful sweet spot ball for. He was the starting pitcher, but i still found it pretty strange
Nick Johnson 1/4
Nick Markakis 1/4
Brian Roberts "no"
Ryan Flaherty 5/8 did no dupes for me, but was just doing 3 per for others
Mark Langston 1/2 (is doing angels radio now. I'd be willing to take anyones item and get it signed for 10 bucks. Let me know if you guys need anything from Langston. I'd be happy to help out.)

Visaila @ Rancho

Went out for an hour of Cal League Graphing
Visaila
Doug Drabek 1/1
Bobby Borchering 2/8
Anthony Meo 6/6
David Holmberg 1/1
Eric Groff 1/1
Patrick Schuster 2/2
Chris Owings 4/8
Michael Belfiore 4/4
Keon Broxton 6/6
Didn't see Andrew Chaffin, was told that Kyle Winkler went back to Arizona, and somehow I missed it that Taikashi Saito was on Rehab
Rancho
Leon Landry 4/4
Logan Bawcom 2/2
Tony Delmonico 8/8
Zach Lee 4/4
Garrett Gould 8/8

A's again on Pujols Bobblehead

Had Angels tickets again so I went down trying to get the A's walking in, and then I tried for them again leaving. During the game I saw Rod Carew in the dugout club restaurant eating. I got a sweetspot ball and a picture with. When I got back to my seats, this guy next to me would not stop talking about how much he wanted the ball for his son. I was kind of torn if I should just give it to the kid and then the dad handed me 200.00 for it. I was no longer torn to say the least.(200 bucks for a Rod Carew is very extravagant, but that is the type of Orange County folks that sit in the Diamond Club. When he gave the ball to his son, the kid seemed estatic so that was cool seeing a kid to be so happy over a baseball, I guess it doesn't hurt that I got paid for it as well).  The only regret I have was not asking my roommate who I was there with to get me a second one. Carew was looking a bit frail and old, so if you have a chance to get him, make sure you get him soon. Anyway, it was Pujols bobble head night so that drew a nice crowd. Here is how I did with the Athletics. I did walk ups and then post game outside the stadium. 

Grant Balfour 1/1
Fautino De Los Santos 4/4
Graham Godfrey 4/4
Brandon Mccarthy 1/4
Jordan Noberto 3/3 (used someone else's pen and they bubbled.)
Tyson Ross 3/3
Daric Barton 1/4
Jemile Weeks 1/4, 1/1, 1/1 (There were a few graphers that didn't want him and helped me out here.)
Anthony Recker 3/3
Josh Reddick 1/4
Yoennis Cespedes 1/1, 1/1 sweetspot balls. Brought a bat, and before he even got to me he said, "no bats" kind of disappointing. I saw a few on eBay.
Chilli Davis 1/1

Thunder Hotel/Athletics Leaving Angels stadium

I spent a whole day at the Thunder hotel. Not only were there quite a few graphers that decided to not follow the rules the hotel offered, there was construction on the hotel which altered where we were able to stand. And to top it all off. The Thunder security guard is getting really, really bad. Durant said "later," all day, literally all day, until he went to the game at 4:30. He said "later," going to shoot around, coming back from shoot around, going to lunch, coming back from lunch. He even called out a guy and pointed right at him and called him a liar, "This guy told me he had to go back to San Diego, and he's still here. I aint believing none of your stories anymore." Haven't heard anything like that from Durant before. When he finally signed he put on his head phones and didn't interact with anyone at all. His security was calling out people that tried to dip
Durant 1/2 16x20Westbrook 1/2 16x20Lazar Haywood 1/1Cole Aldrich 1/8Nick Collison 1/8Reggie Jackson 1/4Serge Ibaka 0/James Harden 0/ Huge jerk now

Then went to Anaheim to do the A's. I had heard most of the team including Cespedes came in the front, so post game thats where I hangout. About an hour in the only players to leave was Kila and Josh Reddick (who didn't even sign) the few graphers that were left decided that they were going to go to the Angels parking lot to try and get Weaver, who they said usually signs on the day he pitches after the game. Right as we were about to leave for the Angels parking lot Cespedes comes out and signs for the five of us. Afterwards we were shooting the breeze for a good 5-10 minutes before two of the five people's phone ring simoutanously. It turns out Pujols came out and signed for all 15 people outside the Angels parking lot. What bad luck!! I wish I wasn't talking so much and got back to the Angels parking lot. Felt sick to my stomach after that one
Kila Kaaihue 1/4Josh Reddick 0/4 "Not tonight."Yoeniss Cespedes 2/2 one crap ball, left my other nice on in the car. AGAINChilli Davis 1/2MISSED ALBERT PUJOLS

Abner Mares open training session in Santa Fe Springs

Mares was having an open training session in preparation for a fight. I wasn't interested in Mares, but I was interested in the Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya, who I read was supposed to be on hand as well. The training was supposed to start at 1:30, I got there super early because I knew I wouldn't be able to stay after because of work. I was the first one there, one by one Mares crew showed up. Then media and fans trickled in, and finally about 10 other graphers. Mares showed up about 10 minutes after it was supposed to start. And De La Hoya rolled up at about 2:00 in a Bentley. He signed and joked around with everyone there, although his handler kept saying, "last one," and "no more." Regardless, I got the "Golden Boy" to sign my gloves with that inscription, and I also got a picture with. Not a bad day before having to go to work.

Here is a pic of Oscar's ride if anyone cared.

Double Header of baseball

Double Header
Royals leaving Angels stadium
There are many exits you could take to leave Angels stadium so these for the most part were the only guys I saw
Bruce Chen 2-4
Danny Duffy 4-4 Such a nice guy
Luis Mendoza 4-4
Luke Hochevar 1-4
Billy Butler 4-4
Chris Getz 4-4
Jeff Francouer 4-4 "Jeff, can you sign the rookie card?" "I'll just go ahead and sign them all."
Yuniesky Betancourt was the only player I saw who didn't sign

Quakes and 66er's pregame
Randal Grichuk 4-8
Tyler Kehrer 3-3
Max Russell 2-2
Taylor Lindsey 5-5
Drew Heid 1-1
Ronaldo Gomez 5-5
Jonathan Garcia 2-2
Austin Gallagher 7-7