scotthenrichs
08-05-2012, 12:14 PM
So for about the 6th year in a row, the Madison Mallards indy league team had their annual Alumni night, where they invite back a bunch of former Mallards in their 20's and 30's along with a very randomly cool assortment of former MLB stars. Past years usually include one big star (Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Rollie Fingers, Ferguson Jenkins, Harmon Kilibrew) and a few minor stars (Jack Clark, Mark Whiten, Willie Wilson, Jim Gantner, Jay Johnstone, Spaceman Lee). Also a few guys with local connections that are there every year (Brad Woodall, Jason Jacome). They sign autographs for a couple hours before the game and then play a game with all the former Mallards. Only $12 admission.
This year's lineup was a little different, it featured a bunch of semi-stars but no one big star. Great for me, bad for attendance. Attendance in the past has been 5000-6000 (stadium seats about 7500) while this year's game had about 1500. Lines for Robin Yount were 2.5 hours long in a driving rain storm a few years ago. This year after being dry all summer, the one day of the game it rained as the autograph session was about to begin, but was beautiful by game time. Autographs was under tents, so no problem there. Lack of people meant only 15 minute waits for the autographs!
Brad Woodall had a short line since he's there every year. But this was the first year I had a card for him to sign. He pitched a couple innings in the game, could still throw in the 80's mph.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8422/7718277750_e6250ee3ae.jpg
Lee Smith was a cool guy. He walked like he was 70 years old, but he still went out and pitched an inning...although he allowed a HR and 3 runs :)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8426/7718277254_0093933838.jpg
For the first time this year, they brought out a couple NFLers with local ties. First up, a guy I already had sign a card at Packer training camp years ago, so I just got one of his 8x10's signed instead. UW-LaCrosse alumn Bill Schroeder! He played some good baseball, had a couple hits and runs scored.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8431/7718277884_a6570d6ffd.jpg
U. of Wisconsin alumn and Jets Ring of Honor inductee Al Toon signed before the game as well. He had to leave early though and didn't play any baseball. For those football fans out there, his kid now plays for the Saints.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8431/7718278224_999f977a4c.jpg
Next up a Brewers fan favorite, Rob Deer. He was the type of guy that either striked out or hit a HR in the 1980's. He's still at it, last night he went 0-4 with 2 strikeouts! :) However, he still looks ripped and has tatoos all over his arms, looks like the day he retired from the Tigers still.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7718277082_14e17f9df7.jpg
Last year, Pete Rose was supposed to show up, but he backed out with a "severe back injury" at the last second and HOFer Paul Molitor stepped in and signed for hours. I had already bought a Reds mini-helmet for Rose, so I was happy to see this year they had a great replacement for that Reds mini, the 1977 NL MVP, George Foster! He was happy to sign a card as well, and joked that he should sign in green when I had a hard time deciding between black and blue ink, lol. He was just a coach for the game.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8428/7718277636_76318a3fc5.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8433/7718277486_bf0259f30e_b.jpg
Finally, another Brewers fan favorite, this time from the 1982 team. He could hardly run, but he sure can still hit. He went an astounding 4-5 with a double and 3 RBI's to take MVP honors. Keep in mind, he was hitting mostly against 20-30 year old minor leaguers throwing 80-90 mph, and he retired in 1986! Ben Oglivie!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8291/7718278050_81c5735e2f.jpg
This year's lineup was a little different, it featured a bunch of semi-stars but no one big star. Great for me, bad for attendance. Attendance in the past has been 5000-6000 (stadium seats about 7500) while this year's game had about 1500. Lines for Robin Yount were 2.5 hours long in a driving rain storm a few years ago. This year after being dry all summer, the one day of the game it rained as the autograph session was about to begin, but was beautiful by game time. Autographs was under tents, so no problem there. Lack of people meant only 15 minute waits for the autographs!
Brad Woodall had a short line since he's there every year. But this was the first year I had a card for him to sign. He pitched a couple innings in the game, could still throw in the 80's mph.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8422/7718277750_e6250ee3ae.jpg
Lee Smith was a cool guy. He walked like he was 70 years old, but he still went out and pitched an inning...although he allowed a HR and 3 runs :)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8426/7718277254_0093933838.jpg
For the first time this year, they brought out a couple NFLers with local ties. First up, a guy I already had sign a card at Packer training camp years ago, so I just got one of his 8x10's signed instead. UW-LaCrosse alumn Bill Schroeder! He played some good baseball, had a couple hits and runs scored.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8431/7718277884_a6570d6ffd.jpg
U. of Wisconsin alumn and Jets Ring of Honor inductee Al Toon signed before the game as well. He had to leave early though and didn't play any baseball. For those football fans out there, his kid now plays for the Saints.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8431/7718278224_999f977a4c.jpg
Next up a Brewers fan favorite, Rob Deer. He was the type of guy that either striked out or hit a HR in the 1980's. He's still at it, last night he went 0-4 with 2 strikeouts! :) However, he still looks ripped and has tatoos all over his arms, looks like the day he retired from the Tigers still.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7718277082_14e17f9df7.jpg
Last year, Pete Rose was supposed to show up, but he backed out with a "severe back injury" at the last second and HOFer Paul Molitor stepped in and signed for hours. I had already bought a Reds mini-helmet for Rose, so I was happy to see this year they had a great replacement for that Reds mini, the 1977 NL MVP, George Foster! He was happy to sign a card as well, and joked that he should sign in green when I had a hard time deciding between black and blue ink, lol. He was just a coach for the game.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8428/7718277636_76318a3fc5.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8433/7718277486_bf0259f30e_b.jpg
Finally, another Brewers fan favorite, this time from the 1982 team. He could hardly run, but he sure can still hit. He went an astounding 4-5 with a double and 3 RBI's to take MVP honors. Keep in mind, he was hitting mostly against 20-30 year old minor leaguers throwing 80-90 mph, and he retired in 1986! Ben Oglivie!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8291/7718278050_81c5735e2f.jpg