Attended the annual Cubs Convention this past weekend, so here's the story...
Arrived Thursday night, which we've done the past few years in order to get settled in and a good night's sleep ahead of the weekend. Got Tyler Colvin to sign a ball.
Friday saw a bit of a change in protocal as the Cubs opened the doors two hours earlier than normal to allow guests to get their weekend passes. Saved me a couple of hours of standing in line. Also, GU items went on sale at the team's table an hour ahead of usual time at 2pm instead of 3. Picked up a road GU jersey and pants of Micah Hoffpauir, my wife's distant cousin, for $125 combined, less than half of what it would have cost a year ago when he was still on the team.
Not nearly as much GU stuff offered by the team as in year's past. Didn't hang around much this weekend as the Hoffpauir items were all we were looking for.
At 3pm the doors opened to the exhibit hall. Not nearly as many dealers as in the past, and not much quality stuff to offer. In fact, I ended up coming home with much less than normal. Ended up picking up team pictures from 70 and 72, a Santo reprint handed out by Bazooka at a recent confectioner's trade show, and a Hoffpauir locker room nameplate from the Steiner table (which had quite a bit of GU items for sale), which was an item my son had hoped to find at the Cubs GU sale. Virtually no older programs, media guides or yearbooks for sale and very few card dealers. Too many t-shirt, jersey, sweatshirt dealers on the floor for my taste. I did pick up a Moises Alou signed ball for $25 to add to my collection of Cubs all stars. Fukudome, which I still need, was available for $70. I passed, figuring if he gets traded or released this year, the price will really plummet.
At registration we won an Aramis Ramirez autograph ticket, which was much needed as we brought 07 and 08 division champion balls and needed sigs from him on both, as well as Kerry Wood, Geovany Soto and Carlos Zambrano, all of whom were in attendance.
My son and wife got in line for Soto early Saturday, but the line was incredibly long for him and Matt Garza, who preceded him. Neither got his sig, but could have stayed in line and would have gotten Carlos Marmol. Since we didn't need Marmol, they got out of line and my son came to a session I was attending (got there very early to get a prime seat in an attempt to get Soto, Ramirez and Zambrano later in the day).
My daughter was able to get Marlon Byrd to sign a ball prior to his question and answer session.
I ended up staying in the same conference room all day, attending question and answer sessions with Cubs management, TV broadcasters Len Kasper and Bob Brenly (who were both great signing for fans afterward), pitchers and catchers Soto, Zambrano, Koyie Hill and Tom Gorezelany, and finally a panel on Dominican players with Ramirez, Starlin Castro and new signee Carlos Pena.
Before it was all over, we ended up with Ramirez sigs on both balls, one from the VIP signing and one after the Q&A, along with one each from Soto and Zambrano. My son is very good at getting autographs in such settings.
We were fortunate on the Ramirez side as a bit of a scandal occured when dozens were shutout of the VIP signing when Ramirez left after his signing period to attend his next scheduled function and it was discovered that a large number of counterfeit tickets had floated around. Billy Williams signing was also affected by this. Check cubs.com or the Chicago Tribune website for a full report.
Outside of those balls, we didn't seek out any other autos during the weekend.
Sites seen: Fergie Jenkins had a table for his charitable foundation. For $20 you got an official ball, cube holder and an autograph. With the ball and holder being sold for $15 at dealer tables, it meant $5 for a Fergie auto. Also, he had Gaylord Perry, Bill Buckner, Dave Kingman and Lee Smith signing at his table for the same deal.
Ernie Banks signed at the Ryan Dempster Foundation table for a $15 donation. I think Banks also signed at the Harry Caray's Restaurant table at some point, but can't confirm. He's done it in the past, giving a free auto on any item as long as you purchased something from Harry Caray's, which could be as little as $5.
Neither Dempster nor Greg Maddux were in attendance due to family matters. Many disappointed by Maddux's absence.
Most well received at opening ceremonies was Kerry Wood. Never saw him otherwise, so I still need his sigs on the two baseballs.
Stayed in the hotel Sunday and watched the Bears game, then attended the Blackhawks game that night.
Overall, good success on the autograph front and enjoyable Q&A sessions, but a disappointment on the dealer side.
Arrived Thursday night, which we've done the past few years in order to get settled in and a good night's sleep ahead of the weekend. Got Tyler Colvin to sign a ball.
Friday saw a bit of a change in protocal as the Cubs opened the doors two hours earlier than normal to allow guests to get their weekend passes. Saved me a couple of hours of standing in line. Also, GU items went on sale at the team's table an hour ahead of usual time at 2pm instead of 3. Picked up a road GU jersey and pants of Micah Hoffpauir, my wife's distant cousin, for $125 combined, less than half of what it would have cost a year ago when he was still on the team.
Not nearly as much GU stuff offered by the team as in year's past. Didn't hang around much this weekend as the Hoffpauir items were all we were looking for.
At 3pm the doors opened to the exhibit hall. Not nearly as many dealers as in the past, and not much quality stuff to offer. In fact, I ended up coming home with much less than normal. Ended up picking up team pictures from 70 and 72, a Santo reprint handed out by Bazooka at a recent confectioner's trade show, and a Hoffpauir locker room nameplate from the Steiner table (which had quite a bit of GU items for sale), which was an item my son had hoped to find at the Cubs GU sale. Virtually no older programs, media guides or yearbooks for sale and very few card dealers. Too many t-shirt, jersey, sweatshirt dealers on the floor for my taste. I did pick up a Moises Alou signed ball for $25 to add to my collection of Cubs all stars. Fukudome, which I still need, was available for $70. I passed, figuring if he gets traded or released this year, the price will really plummet.
At registration we won an Aramis Ramirez autograph ticket, which was much needed as we brought 07 and 08 division champion balls and needed sigs from him on both, as well as Kerry Wood, Geovany Soto and Carlos Zambrano, all of whom were in attendance.
My son and wife got in line for Soto early Saturday, but the line was incredibly long for him and Matt Garza, who preceded him. Neither got his sig, but could have stayed in line and would have gotten Carlos Marmol. Since we didn't need Marmol, they got out of line and my son came to a session I was attending (got there very early to get a prime seat in an attempt to get Soto, Ramirez and Zambrano later in the day).
My daughter was able to get Marlon Byrd to sign a ball prior to his question and answer session.
I ended up staying in the same conference room all day, attending question and answer sessions with Cubs management, TV broadcasters Len Kasper and Bob Brenly (who were both great signing for fans afterward), pitchers and catchers Soto, Zambrano, Koyie Hill and Tom Gorezelany, and finally a panel on Dominican players with Ramirez, Starlin Castro and new signee Carlos Pena.
Before it was all over, we ended up with Ramirez sigs on both balls, one from the VIP signing and one after the Q&A, along with one each from Soto and Zambrano. My son is very good at getting autographs in such settings.
We were fortunate on the Ramirez side as a bit of a scandal occured when dozens were shutout of the VIP signing when Ramirez left after his signing period to attend his next scheduled function and it was discovered that a large number of counterfeit tickets had floated around. Billy Williams signing was also affected by this. Check cubs.com or the Chicago Tribune website for a full report.
Outside of those balls, we didn't seek out any other autos during the weekend.
Sites seen: Fergie Jenkins had a table for his charitable foundation. For $20 you got an official ball, cube holder and an autograph. With the ball and holder being sold for $15 at dealer tables, it meant $5 for a Fergie auto. Also, he had Gaylord Perry, Bill Buckner, Dave Kingman and Lee Smith signing at his table for the same deal.
Ernie Banks signed at the Ryan Dempster Foundation table for a $15 donation. I think Banks also signed at the Harry Caray's Restaurant table at some point, but can't confirm. He's done it in the past, giving a free auto on any item as long as you purchased something from Harry Caray's, which could be as little as $5.
Neither Dempster nor Greg Maddux were in attendance due to family matters. Many disappointed by Maddux's absence.
Most well received at opening ceremonies was Kerry Wood. Never saw him otherwise, so I still need his sigs on the two baseballs.
Stayed in the hotel Sunday and watched the Bears game, then attended the Blackhawks game that night.
Overall, good success on the autograph front and enjoyable Q&A sessions, but a disappointment on the dealer side.
