This was one of the first groups I got back haha. Here's a breakdown through October 16, 2015...
First autograph acquired in these sets: 1987-88 Pacific Hector Marinaro at the MISL All-Star Fan Fest, Warrensville Heights, Ohio: February 16, 2002 (4,990 days ago)
Project undertaken in earnest: September 5, 2015 (41 days ago)
All time: 88 mailouts
2012-2013: 5 sent, 4 successes, 1 waiting (pretty sure this one is gone for good; fortunately I have a new address for the guy with documented successes so I can try again soon)
September 2015: 28 successes, 12 waiting, 8 failed (2 successful on re-sends). Three of those successes have been international (still waiting on three others internationally).
October 2015: 4 successes, 31 waiting, 1 failed
1987-88 set: 125 signatures needed, 27 acquired (21.6% complete)
1988-89 set: 111 signatures needed, 31 acquired (27.9% complete)
1989-90 set: 111 signatures needed, 29 acquired (26.1% complete)
1990-91 set: 257 signatures needed, 58 acquired (22.6% complete)
1991-92 set: 192 signatures needed, 51 acquired (26.6% complete)
GRAND TOTAL: 796 signatures needed, 196 acquired (24.62% completed)
Funny story on that first Hector sig, I was right near the door where the players could come on and off the field, and in the middle of the skills competition, Marinaro (the all-time leading scorer in indoor soccer history and
one of several reasons I occasionally wear #21) just happens to be walking quickly toward it. I'm right in the perfect spot and I hold out a card and marker and ask him if he'll sign it for me. He quickly grabs it, signs it, hands it back without a word, and darts his way through the crowd... to the bathroom. Sorry Hector!
That was a great weekend though-- I got to see some of the all-time greats play, and most of them signed cards and a pennant for me. I think/hope the pennant is still at my dad's house in Ohio. Included among these players: future Indoor Soccer Hall of Famers Slobo Ilijevski, Kai Haaskivi, Ron Newman, Branko Segota, Tatu, and Victor Nogueira, and multi-time All-Stars Doc Lawson, Marinaro, Dave MacKenzie, Cris Vaccaro, Daryl Doran, Glenn Carbonara, Wes Wade, Kia Zolgharnain, Carl Valentine, Richard Chinapoo, Mike Powers, and Michael King.
