The wife and I met Jacob deGrom this past Sunday

therealcjc33 · 02-01-2023, 09:54 PM

Our local Kroger hosted a free public signing with deGrom and Andrew Heaney this past Sunday. Got there around 8:45 am (signing started at 1 pm). We were numbers 130 and 131 in line. deGrom is such a super nice and humble guy. He signed a ball and picture for us. Can't wait to see him on the mound this year!

Can't seem to figure out how to upload pics

Phishphan21 · 02-01-2023, 11:00 PM

That’s kewl
Did he bring both arms?

rainmaker · 02-01-2023, 11:03 PM

130 people were there 4.5 hours before the start of the event?! That sounds crazy to me. Cool to hear it was a positive experience.

PLAYED4NOTHING · 02-01-2023, 11:12 PM

Very cool ! Yeah he seems to be about as down to earth of a player as your going to see. Can’t think of many currently active players I’d wait in line to meet or get autograph of but DeGrom would be the exception.

Archimedes · 02-01-2023, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainmaker

130 people were there 4.5 hours before the start of the event?! That sounds crazy to me. Cool to hear it was a positive experience.

Seriously, that's nuts to me.

DaBears1985 · 02-02-2023, 12:47 AM

Awesome

But I would have never thought that Kroger would sponsor something like this. Idk about Heaney, but a few hours of Jacob’s time is worth a lot of money. Maybe their uptick in grocery sales from the event covered the cost

therealcjc33 · 02-02-2023, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainmaker

130 people were there 4.5 hours before the start of the event?! That sounds crazy to me. Cool to hear it was a positive experience.

We were talking to the woman in front of us (who arrived at 8:40) and she was saying that she overheard someone "bragging" about being there at 4 am.

The store didn't open until 7 am.

therealcjc33 · 02-02-2023, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLAYED4NOTHING

Very cool ! Yeah he seems to be about as down to earth of a player as your going to see. Can’t think of many currently active players I’d wait in line to meet or get autograph of but DeGrom would be the exception.

It was a super cool experience for sure. My wife asked the handler if he could personalize the photo to us, but unfortunately he couldn't. Jacob even looked a little aggravated about that "rule". It was supposed to be a "hurry up" thing, but he actually took time to talk a little and even some selfies for people. I felt like since he was gracious enough to sign 2 items for us, I wasn't going to try to get a selfie as well.

therealcjc33 · 02-02-2023, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBears1985

Awesome

But I would have never thought that Kroger would sponsor something like this. Idk about Heaney, but a few hours of Jacob’s time is worth a lot of money. Maybe their uptick in grocery sales from the event covered the cost

Lol, they definitely made some revenue from people in line.

therealcjc33 · 02-02-2023, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archimedes

Seriously, that's nuts to me.

They only handed out 200 or so tickets. I told my wife we would probably be towards the front of the line since we got there so early. We asked where the line was and when he pointed to all the people, I was shocked. People literally had little "forts" set up.

NCWolf · 02-02-2023, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therealcjc33

Our local Kroger hosted a free public signing with deGrom and Andrew Heaney this past Sunday. Got there around 8:45 am (signing started at 1 pm). We were numbers 130 and 131 in line. deGrom is such a super nice and humble guy. He signed a ball and picture for us. Can't wait to see him on the mound this year!

Can't seem to figure out how to upload pics

Trying to remember if there was ever an instance of a phenomenal pitcher leaving the Mets, eventually winding up a Texas Ranger and then throwing no-nos on his way to the HOF....

therealcjc33 · 02-02-2023, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCWolf

Trying to remember if there was ever an instance of a phenomenal pitcher leaving the Mets, eventually winding up a Texas Ranger and then throwing no-nos on his way to the HOF....

Hmmmmmm. Can't think of anyone

Mandy1320 · 02-02-2023, 09:09 AM

I hope you didn't shake his hand too hard.

Hunter · 02-02-2023, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainmaker

130 people were there 4.5 hours before the start of the event?! That sounds crazy to me. Cool to hear it was a positive experience.

Should have seen the last Chipper public signing. It was at an RV center in a small town in North GA, on a Wednesday, at 10:00 AM. I was three or four hours early and we waited in line for over 2 hours.

And that was with no outside items, just stock 8x10s for everyone. Sign and move, and repeat.

Archimedes · 02-02-2023, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therealcjc33

They only handed out 200 or so tickets. I told my wife we would probably be towards the front of the line since we got there so early. We asked where the line was and when he pointed to all the people, I was shocked. People literally had little "forts" set up.

Wow, amazing!

TimBuckTwo · 02-02-2023, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainmaker

130 people were there 4.5 hours before the start of the event?! That sounds crazy to me. Cool to hear it was a positive experience.

4.25 hours to be correct

awz50 · 02-02-2023, 05:08 PM

Not surprised at all people showed up that early

Rage · 02-02-2023, 05:18 PM

did you see Dane Dunning in line?

therealcjc33 · 02-03-2023, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rage

did you see Dane Dunning in line?

Lol not this time.

scotthenrichs · 02-03-2023, 12:13 PM

A few years ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo signed at a car dealership in the area (southern Wisconsin) and this was before he won a championship and around the time he won his first MVP. I think the signing was at 6pm or so. The line was around the building by 8am that day.

ewokpelts · 02-03-2023, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBears1985

Awesome

But I would have never thought that Kroger would sponsor something like this. Idk about Heaney, but a few hours of Jacob’s time is worth a lot of money. Maybe their uptick in grocery sales from the event covered the cost

May be a sponsor that has ties to both kroger and the rangers. There was a tim anderson signing at a chicago White Castle that was sponsored by coke a few years ago.

ewokpelts · 02-03-2023, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotthenrichs

A few years ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo signed at a car dealership in the area (southern Wisconsin) and this was before he won a championship and around the time he won his first MVP. I think the signing was at 6pm or so. The line was around the building by 8am that day.

Auto dealers love signings. You stand in line so long, you just might buy a car!

Rage · 02-03-2023, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewokpelts

Auto dealers love signings. You stand in line so long, you just might buy a car!

"Giannis just cosigned my lease!"

scotthenrichs · 02-03-2023, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewokpelts

Auto dealers love signings. You stand in line so long, you just might buy a car!

Ha, exactly. Kind of like when I was at a Subway once and Rey Mysterio was doing a signing because WWE had an event that night in the area. After getting him to sign, I 619'd a footlong.

Tastybrisket10 · 02-03-2023, 04:50 PM

Congrats on getting in line! We went to the Kroger one in NRH to see Jung and Garver and the line was super easy. Walked in at 100 right at 1PM and there was still cards available when we left. Didn’t have worth any value for them to sign but I got to bring my 3yo and have him hand a ball to the players so totally worth it!

02-01-2023, 09:54 PM	#1
therealcjc33 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Posts: 1,553	The wife and I met Jacob deGrom this past Sunday Our local Kroger hosted a free public signing with deGrom and Andrew Heaney this past Sunday. Got there around 8:45 am (signing started at 1 pm). We were numbers 130 and 131 in line. deGrom is such a super nice and humble guy. He signed a ball and picture for us. Can't wait to see him on the mound this year! Can't seem to figure out how to upload pics

02-01-2023, 11:03 PM	#3
rainmaker Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 2,839 thewescoast	130 people were there 4.5 hours before the start of the event?! That sounds crazy to me. Cool to hear it was a positive experience. __________________ https://www.flickr.com/photos/152850287@N08/albums

02-02-2023, 05:08 PM	#17
awz50 Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: New Hampshire>>>Arizona>>>>Florida Posts: 33,616 awz50	Not surprised at all people showed up that early __________________ Collecting Baseball Hof Autographs 249/352 Blowouts Official Red Sox face of the franchise Eduardo Rodriguez Super Collector

02-02-2023, 05:18 PM	#18
Rage Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: CA Posts: 3,697 santacruzbaseballcards1	did you see Dane Dunning in line? __________________ Check out my eBay store

02-01-2023, 11:00 PM	#2
Phishphan21 Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 282	That’s kewl Did he bring both arms?

02-01-2023, 11:12 PM	#4
PLAYED4NOTHING Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 1,695	Very cool ! Yeah he seems to be about as down to earth of a player as your going to see. Can’t think of many currently active players I’d wait in line to meet or get autograph of but DeGrom would be the exception.

02-02-2023, 12:47 AM	#6
DaBears1985 Banned Join Date: Jan 2023 Posts: 465	Awesome But I would have never thought that Kroger would sponsor something like this. Idk about Heaney, but a few hours of Jacob’s time is worth a lot of money. Maybe their uptick in grocery sales from the event covered the cost

02-02-2023, 09:09 AM	#13
Mandy1320 Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 2,888 marande-5259	I hope you didn't shake his hand too hard.

02-03-2023, 12:13 PM	#20
scotthenrichs Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,678 henrichs_1 Sah0620	A few years ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo signed at a car dealership in the area (southern Wisconsin) and this was before he won a championship and around the time he won his first MVP. I think the signing was at 6pm or so. The line was around the building by 8am that day.

02-03-2023, 04:50 PM	#25
Tastybrisket10 Member Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: DFW Posts: 219 Tastybrisket10 Tastybrisket10	Congrats on getting in line! We went to the Kroger one in NRH to see Jung and Garver and the line was super easy. Walked in at 100 right at 1PM and there was still cards available when we left. Didn’t have worth any value for them to sign but I got to bring my 3yo and have him hand a ball to the players so totally worth it!