Spring Training Autographs of Fergie Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, and Lee Smith

While vacationing in Arizona last week, I just had to hit up a Spring Training game to see my favorite team, the Chicago Cubs, get ready for the upcoming baseball season. The atmosphere at Sloan Field is great, and my wife, my dad, and I got some cheap tickets in the outfield lawn, which is a great place to lay down a blanket, sit on the ground, and watch a baseball game.  They actually have the grass beginning at the top of the outfield fence, and going on a bit of an incline, which allows fans to get a great look at the game.

The Cubs beat the Oakland Athletics 9-5, and man, there was some power behind the Cubs' bats, as four home runs were hit into the outfield during the game. I also got to see 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta pitch for a few innings. I'm not one to predict this early on that this year may be "The Year," but the Cubs are looking VERY impressive so far.

Also at the game, just like at the one I attended last year, was an autograph signing session hosted by the Fergie Jenkins Foundation. The organization was founded in 1999 and raises money to support a number of humanitarian charities, "through the love of sport." One of their fundraisers is through autograph signings at Spring Training games, which Jenkins attends, and he brings other former ballplayers and athletes along, as well. Each of the guests has a basic $20 charge for smaller items and anywhere from $30-$50 for larger items, which makes them quite affordable, especially when a couple Hall-of-Famers are thrown in.

I ended up getting autographs and photos from three of the guests, and here's what I ended up with:

Fergie Jenkins

Gaylord Perry

Lee Smith

And here's a picture of the wife and I at our spot on the outfield lawn.

TTM Returns: Week Ending 4-2-16

Here's a quick look at my TTM returns for the week ending April 2, 2016:

Patrick Kane

Ruslan Fedotenko

Matt Read

Scott Clemmensen

Jean-Francois Berube

TTM Returns: Week Ending 3-19-16

Here's a quick look at my TTM returns for the week ending March 19, 2016:

Tanner Kero

Cody Eakin

Nick Cousins

TTM Returns: Week Ending 3-12-16

Here is a quick look at my TTM returns for the week ending March 12, 2016:

Mike Fisher

Ryan Garbutt

Ryan Craig

TTM Returns: Week Ending 3-6-16

Here's a quick look at my TTM returns for the week ending March 6, 2016:

Brian Bellows

Mikko Rantanen

Josh Anderson

Jared Boll

Niklas Backstrom Autographed Puck

I got really lucky at the Modano/Ciccarelli signing, when I stopped into the FanHQ store, and was able to take advantage of an opportunity that I thought I had lost. Goaltender Niklas Backstrom was doing a private signing just weeks before, and being a little unsure of the funds I would have available due to the other signing, I hesitated and let the opportunity pass. As luck would have it, they had a few Backstrom items left over, including just one Official Game Puck signed by him.

I much prefer these to the other "autograph-style" ones that other people like, so the timing worked out perfectly. Not only that, but I only ended up spending $30 on it, which is a whole $20 cheaper than it would have been, had i ordered the puck/auto/coa/shipping at its original time.

Two Mystery 8x10s and One Non-Mystery 8x10 from FanHQ

While at the Ridgedale Mall in Minnetonka, MN for the Mike Modano & Dino Ciccarelli signing, I stopped into the FanHQ store for a bit and picked up a few autographed 8x10s.

One of the things that they have, that I purchased a couple of last December at the Zach Parise/Jason Pominville signing, was two "Mystery Signed Photos," which featured an 8x10, autographed by a Minnesota athlete. I picked up two of them this time as well, and just like last time, I pulled a hockey player and a football player.

James Sheppard
Sheppard played for the Minnestoa Wild for three seasons, beginning in 2007-08, and also spent time with the San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers. He is now playing for the Kloten Flyers of the Swiss A League.

Robert Griffith
Griffith was a strong safety who played eight season with the Minnesota Vikings (1994-2001) and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2001. He would also play a few seasons with the Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals, before signing a contract with the Vikings to retire as a member of the team. 

Those were my two mystery photos, but here's my non-mystery one:

Dave Langevin
Langevin's autograph was there because he did a signing a while back as a former member of the Minnesota North Stars. He played in Minnesota for only two seasons (1985-86 & 1986-87), but reached hockey's pinnacle as a member of the New York Islanders, where he was on four Stanley Cup winning teams (1980-83).