Determined to get Harper's IP Auto - Day 1

[pakman916]

Let me start with some background. I've never been into getting people's autograph. I don't like the idea of shoving something in front of another person's face and asking them to sign something. I've run into several athletes in my life and never really cared for an auto.

But there's something challenging about Bryce Harper. I don't want to turn this into a discussion about the hype. Please...we don't need another Harper thread...although this is another one, so I guess I'm a hypocrite. Anyway, not being the type to back down from a challenge...I'm mysteriously allured to trying to get Bryce Harper's autograph. And it's not so much about Bryce Harper anymore, but it's almost the "sport" of getting the elusive autograph.

I live in MD, so I had easy access to Hagerstown while he was there. Too bad I didn't think of this earlier, I was only able to catch the last few games while he was there, then he got promoted. To add to the difficulty, I have no clue what I'm doing since I've never been to a minor league game and I've never hunted down an autograph. I don't know how to compete with these veteran graphers. I even chased Harper and Machado to the SAL All Star Game and came away with squat!

Harrisburg is not close to where I live, so I figured my best and final chance to get Harper's auto would be when the Senators play the Baysoxs in Bowie...45 minutes away.

I bought tickets for the game right when Harper was promoted. I even made sure to get seats on the visitors side next to the dugout. Row A Seat 1.

So I leave work early and drive to Bowie. First thing I encounter is traffic. Next I get lost because the signs didn't make sense. I finally get there and I miss the special early entrance pass I picked up because I got lost. So I waited in line with everyone else. They were giving out Jayson Werth Bobbleheads to the first 1000 fans. I head straight to the third base line only to find people crowded there...and Bryce Harper hadn't even entered the field yet. So I'm standing in the aisle and I can see my seat, but people are standing there. So I stay put because I didn't want to lose my "prime" spot. A few Senators players hit the field and I was able to get Derek Norris and Tyler Moore's autograph. I also got a few other players to sign a ball. Then Bryce Harper heads towards us. Where does he go? Right to my assigned seat!!! WTF!!!! He hangs out at the next aisle over while the crowd boxed me in. After the crowd disperses, I head to my seat and the guy next to me tells me how he got the security to clear out that area and that I should have came and sat down. No kidding! Then he tells me how Bryce Harper was literally in front of him the whole time signing autographs...and that if I had been there, I could have spoken to him. So yes....struck out.

After the game, Bryce comes over to sign more autographs, this time, he was where I was standing earlier. He wouldn't come over to where I was sitting. WTF!!! Strike 2.

Finally, I wait by the bus. No dice. Strike 3. All in all...it was a failure. Now, keep i mind...it's not even about Bryce Harper at this point. It's my stubbornness and the pure challenge that has got me bent on getting this autograph. It just kills me that I picked the very seat that he would end up coming over to sign autographs, and I wasn't even there!!!

Anyway, I still had fun. I also got some good photos:

Zach Britton Pitching

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af281/sportscardfanatic/Harrisburg%20vs%20Bowie/IMG_1173.jpg

Bryce hitting a double.

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af281/sportscardfanatic/Harrisburg%20vs%20Bowie/IMG_1290.jpg

Tyler Moore (I love catching the ball in mid-air)

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af281/sportscardfanatic/Harrisburg%20vs%20Bowie/IMG_1283.jpg

Tyler Moore's Auto

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af281/sportscardfanatic/IMG_20110726_013326.jpg

Hopefully I'll have better luck tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.

[hoopster3977]

Like stalking?

[pakman916]

Like stalking?

I don't consider it stalking. It's more like a scavenger hunt. Bucket list?

[JDK16]

hey tyler moore but be worth more then bryce one day dudes on fire has ike 25 hrs this year

[tonedef2oo8]

So how much do you plan on selling the Bryce ball for?

[bigfrank]

hey tyler moore but be worth more then bryce one day dudes on fire has ike 25 hrs this year

you are correct sir

[pakman916]

So how much do you plan on selling the Bryce ball for?

I don't plan to sell it. I'm a DC sports collector. This is going into my PC. When my kids are old enough, I'm going to give everything I have to them.

you are correct sir

I had a bunch of balls with me. I knew Moore was HOT, so I had him sign a separate ball. I had the other guys on the team sign a "team" ball. Note: Moore hit another HR last night. I feel bad for Zach Britton...he got tore up in the 5th. He shut everyone down for 4 innings then the Senators bats came alive. Rhinehart and Moore hit back to back HRs. And I think Harper hit a double right after that. You know what I love about going to minor league games...I can sit in the first row for $14...and there is no problem getting a seat.

[JDK16]

no doubt we got the double A dodgers here and we go quite often.. never very crowed and some decent baseball to boot.. I got Paul Goldshimdt to sign last week... Not many huge names on the Dodgers team.. Did get Dee Gordon last year.. Waiting on Zach Lee to get here i guess haha.. I agree though minor league baseball is great entertainment for the $$ me and my son go as much as possible

[bigfrank]

I don't plan to sell it. I'm a DC sports collector. This is going into my PC. When my kids are old enough, I'm going to give everything I have to them.



I had a bunch of balls with me. I knew Moore was HOT, so I had him sign a separate ball. I had the other guys on the team sign a "team" ball. Note: Moore hit another HR last night. I feel bad for Zach Britton...he got tore up in the 5th. He shut everyone down for 4 innings then the Senators bats came alive. Rhinehart and Moore hit back to back HRs. And I think Harper hit a double right after that. You know what I love about going to minor league games...I can sit in the first row for $14...and there is no problem getting a seat.

Harper will obviously be good, but will be a few years, everyone else is so much older than him right now. Moore is a beast though. I live 15 minutes from the single A Legends (Astros), 10 bucks and your on the first row! Thinking Adam Bailey is going to be good.

[bigfrank]

Got Baileys sig a couple weeks ago before he moved up

[speedmasterp]

I was standing in that little crowd where he was signing. He did sign quite a few autos, mostly for kids, which is fine. I'm 0/4 now on Harper, 3 times in Hagerstown (2 times where I was next in line and he stopped), and now once in Bowie, where I was right in front of him again. Can't really say anything bad about him at this point since every game I've been to he has signed for someone.

My friend I was with who lives in Hagerstown did get his 5th Harper auto on the sweet spot, not sure how he does it. I think he doesn't have any hair on his arms so it blends in with the kids arms reaching out. That's my best guess.

I did pull a Harper from Bowman Platinum last night (thanks Target for not waiting for the release date).

[pakman916]

no doubt we got the double A dodgers here and we go quite often.. never very crowed and some decent baseball to boot.. I got Paul Goldshimdt to sign last week... Not many huge names on the Dodgers team.. Did get Dee Gordon last year.. Waiting on Zach Lee to get here i guess haha.. I agree though minor league baseball is great entertainment for the $$ me and my son go as much as possible

My son is 1 or 2 years away from enjoying live baseball. I took him to his first game to see Hagerstown (Harper) vs Delmarva (Machado). For the first few innings, he was really into the game, but as the game dragged on, he lost interest. Hopefully we have some stars in our systems in 2 years. Rendon and Bundy? Machado is in Frederick...planning on catching a few of those games as well.

[pakman916]

I was standing in that little crowd where he was signing. He did sign quite a few autos, mostly for kids, which is fine. I'm 0/4 now on Harper, 3 times in Hagerstown (2 times where I was next in line and he stopped), and now once in Bowie, where I was right in front of him again. Can't really say anything bad about him at this point since every game I've been to he has signed for someone.

My friend I was with who lives in Hagerstown did get his 5th Harper auto on the sweet spot, not sure how he does it. I think he doesn't have any hair on his arms so it blends in with the kids arms reaching out. That's my best guess.

I did pull a Harper from Bowman Platinum last night (thanks Target for not waiting for the release date).

Haha...your buddy must have been in my seat! Section 120, Row A, Seat 1. haha.

Yeah...I was pretty bummed. It's funny though. Being a card collector, you get to know the players better than most. So a player would walk by and everyone would be clueless...then I would shout "DEREK! Can I get your autograph!" Then everyone would follow suit. I think I got Derek and Tyler because I knew their names.

[CurryCrew30]

Nice pictures and best of luck on your next outting!

[speedmasterp]

Haha...your buddy must have been in my seat! Section 120, Row A, Seat 1. haha.

Yeah...I was pretty bummed. It's funny though. Being a card collector, you get to know the players better than most. So a player would walk by and everyone would be clueless...then I would shout "DEREK! Can I get your autograph!" Then everyone would follow suit. I think I got Derek and Tyler because I knew their names.

I think I was next to your seat behind some kids. There were kids in the front row of the aisle and in in front of what i'm guessing was your seat, b/c the people who sat in that row made everyone move (as previously discussed). He came over and signed when the kids yelled. Everyone else other than those 2-3 kids were just in the right place at the right time. My friend was actually in the middle of the aisle. I'm not the type to push over kids or other people, which is probably why i'm so bad at getting auto's, but like you said, its the hunt that's fun.

I'd go back today and tomorrow if i wasn't busy. I really don't care too much if i get his auto. I have more memories of the stars that I don't get compared to the auto's i do get. I'm 0/4 while standing in front of Hanley, and now 0/3 while standing right in front of harper.

[tehchamp]

Yeah, make a note that if you have a ticket for a certain spot, other people have to move to accommodate you, no matter what time it is. You bought the ticket for that seat, you are entitled to it from the minute you get there til the end of the game.
Yes, you'll piss people off that are waiting there for auto's, but tell them they should've bought the tickets for there.

Autograph hunting is very thrilling, seeking out auto's of guys, and when you get that superstar its an amazing feeling.

[pakman916]

This time, left on time, got there on time, and didn't get lost. They were giving away passes to get in during batting practice, so I was able to enter the park 2.5 hours before the game started. Right as I walked down to the same area, Harper came out and started signing for the few people there. And just like that, I got my first signed Bryce Harper autographed ball.

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af281/sportscardfanatic/IMG_20110726_164855.jpg

Yeah, I know it has my name on it. I would have preferred it not, but that's still okay. I have no plans to sell it. When he asked me for my name, I should have given him my kid's name instead. I wasn't thinking.

I was also able to get some cards signed. Derek Norris (Pro Debut Card) and Tyler Moore (11 Bowman Chrome Card.)

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af281/sportscardfanatic/IMG_20110727_001307.jpg

After warmups, the players went to change into their uniforms. When they came out, the signed some more. This is when the madness began. I was sitting on the bottom step chatting with the dude in the seat next to me. There were 3 kids waiting patiently to get balls signed. One kid had a sharpie, so I told him to use the ball point instead and handed him an extra one. We all stood up when Harper headed our way. Then everyone mobbed the rail. I wasn't expecting it, as they basically pushed me over. I was pressed up against the 3 young kids in front of me. I felt bad for them because we were crushing them. I was very close to throwing elbows, but I had no leverage whatsoever. Madness. The three kids in front of me got autos, but Harper wouldn't sign my ball nor the jerks behind me. GOOD!

The Baysox won (2-6). Afterwards, this is the first time I saw Harper sign so many autographs. I've heard he doesn't usually sign when his team loses, but he must have signed 30-50 autographs. I attempted to get a second one for my youngest. Unfortunately, he grabbed a sharpie from the first guy and went down the line with it. I'm not complaining, but I've heard that sharpie ink tends to bleed into leather. Not to mention, the auto just looks sloppy. But still, I got my 2nd autograph.

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af281/sportscardfanatic/IMG_20110727_001953.jpg

But I had a great time at the game today. I met some nice people and we just had a good time. I really enjoy going to minor league games. I'm a little pissed I didn't know how much fun they were earlier in my life, as I would have gone to games to places I've traveled. I lived in the Seattle Area for 6 years...that would have been a blast. I'm going to make sure I take the family out to the different ball clubs in the area at least once to each park (Hagerstown Suns, Frederick Keys, Bowie Baysox, Potomac Nationals and maybe squeeze in Delmarva and Harrisburg.) GREAT time!

[pakman916]

Yeah, make a note that if you have a ticket for a certain spot, other people have to move to accommodate you, no matter what time it is. You bought the ticket for that seat, you are entitled to it from the minute you get there til the end of the game.
Yes, you'll piss people off that are waiting there for auto's, but tell them they should've bought the tickets for there.

Autograph hunting is very thrilling, seeking out auto's of guys, and when you get that superstar its an amazing feeling.

That's funny, the thought had crossed my mind, but the place I was standing just seemed like a prime location. I didn't want to lose it and move to my seat, only for him to walk over to where I was. Derek Norris and Tyler Moore both went to where I was standing....so I just figured I was good. WRONG!

I just found out my seat tomorrow is not that great. But oh well. It's a day game, so hopefully, it won't be that crowded. I just need 1 more ball for my 2nd kid and I'm set. I may try to get him to sign a 3rd ball if he's personalizing it so that their names are on it.

[cwells52]

no doubt we got the double A dodgers here and we go quite often.. never very crowed and some decent baseball to boot.. I got Paul Goldshimdt to sign last week... Not many huge names on the Dodgers team.. Did get Dee Gordon last year.. Waiting on Zach Lee to get here i guess haha.. I agree though minor league baseball is great entertainment for the $$ me and my son go as much as possible

Your not even gonna mention Kyle Russell? ;)


To the OP nice Harper success sir.

[jlzinck]

Yeah, I know it has my name on it.I would have preferred it not, but that's still okay. I have no plans to sell it. When he asked me for my name, I should have given him my kid's name instead. I wasn't thinking.


The above bolded statement blows my f'n mind.

You talk about wanting to give this to you kid(s) and not sell it and pass it down to them yada, yada, yada......

Now the ball has YOUR name on it so when you pass it down to your kids they have a nice story about the ball and how is has more "value" to them because of it.

I think if all autos were personalized it would be better for the fans because it would drive away the people only in it for the $$. SMH

[cwells52]

To each their own man....I prefer my autos to be personalized but some people don't, its their item and their decision on their preference.

[u_want_my_cards]

The above bolded statement blows my f'n mind.

You talk about wanting to give this to you kid(s) and not sell it and pass it down to them yada, yada, yada......

Now the ball has YOUR name on it so when you pass it down to your kids they have a nice story about the ball and how is has more "value" to them because of it.

I think if all autos were personalized it would be better for the fans because it would drive away the people only in it for the $$. SMH

Unfortunately, I have been doing IP auto's for a long ass time and many people can "erase" the personalization. Kinda makes me sick. Of course these are coming from the idiots that do IP autos for a job and think they are cool. But I actually think its very cool when they do it to me. Of course, every once in a while I have to sell some things to get some $$$ back but its crazy what people do.

[bigfrank]

The above bolded statement blows my f'n mind.

You talk about wanting to give this to you kid(s) and not sell it and pass it down to them yada, yada, yada......

Now the ball has YOUR name on it so when you pass it down to your kids they have a nice story about the ball and how is has more "value" to them because of it.

I think if all autos were personalized it would be better for the fans because it would drive away the people only in it for the $$. SMH

Has nothing to do with selling it or not, i would prefer NOT to have my name on it for my PC too

[jtrinaldi]

u should have gotten photos for Bryce so that way when he personalizes it you could use the prismacolor blending marker to get rid of the personalization. Chris Archer personalized an 11x14 in Kodak for me when everyone else was getting cards done and when I got home, took it off in a minute...god i love this marker.

[tehchamp]

Unfortunately, I have been doing IP auto's for a long ass time and many people can "erase" the personalization. Kinda makes me sick. Of course these are coming from the idiots that do IP autos for a job and think they are cool. But I actually think its very cool when they do it to me. Of course, every once in a while I have to sell some things to get some $$$ back but its crazy what people do.

I always wondered how people could afford to do IP auto's for a living. I mean when I was IP'ing heavily(staking out at hotels for players), I'd see dealers and I knew of some that would actually travel the country getting IP auto's, and selling them on eBay. Heck spring training is a gold mine for IP'ing.

u should have gotten photos for Bryce so that way when he personalizes it you could use the prismacolor blending marker to get rid of the personalization. Chris Archer personalized an 11x14 in Kodak for me when everyone else was getting cards done and when I got home, took it off in a minute...god i love this marker.

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/50254_316419649465_2670981_n.jpg