Columbus Morning Sports Report 2014

     The Columbus Morning Sports Report 2014 was today at the Columbus Convention Center. My son and I paid to be VIPs and had many autograph opportunities today. Clark Kellogg was at the VIP reception and posed for photos and signed autographs. Chris "Beanie" Wells and Paul Warfield, former OSU Buckeye football players and NFL alumni, were both there and signed autographs. Mr. Wells was very nice about photographs with him -- thanks, Mr. Wells!
     From the Columbus Blue Jackets, POHO John Davidson was there talking with fans and signing autographs. So were Boone Jenner, Brandon Dubinsky, and Jack Johnson. All were mingling and access was easy. There was not a lot of pressure to "hurry up -- they are going to leave". Instead, it was a relaxed atmosphere. In addition, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was there and was chatting with a number of people. I spoke with him briefly. The CBJ folks signed our fan card from the 2014 playoffs that said "We Are The 5th Line".
     This is a very nice event and autograph opportunities are ample. Check it out! It is an annual event put on by the Columbus Sports Commission.

Columbus Clippers

     We were initially upset that the Clippers were moving to Huntington Park. Now that seems like an odd statement. Read on.
     Getting autographs at Clippers games at "old" Copper Stadium, especially from the visiting team, was great! The far stands along the left field line meant you were mere feet away from the visiting team as they went from their locker room to the field and dugout on the 3rd base side. My kids were skeptical. But within the first 7 minutes of hanging out there for a Louisville Bats visit to the stadium, we had a handful of autographs. Ultimately, that day, my son got every single player except one plus two coaches. Wow.
     Then we found out the Clippers were moving downtown. We were excited for the location and the new stadium. We however knew that it was unlikely things could be so good in the "ease of collecting autographs" department. Our first few experiences with the stadium were not so good and only reinforced our missing the Coop.
     After the first year, however, things have improved. We routinely get a few autographs at Huntington Park. My oldest son got two Clippers' autographs at a recent day game (he had a ball, was in good position, and was wearing an Indians t-shirt). Although the dugouts and the locker rooms are connected (and the players do not need to walk right by you), it has turned out to be a decent place for autographs. And I tell everyone who has not been there that it is one of my favorite ballparks. And I have been to 35 major league stadiums and about 15-20 minor league stadiums. Thank you Clippers for the new stadium! We will keep coming!

January 2013

     January has shown itself to be a good month for autographs in Ohio. There was Columbus Blue Jacket preseason practices at the Ice Haus. There was Tribefest in Cleveland. There was Post-Game Team Autograph night at the CBJ v. Blackhawks game last Saturday. And finally, there was the Reds Winter Caravan.

     The Ice Haus practices by the CBJ are always a good place for autographs. The hallway where the players exit the ice and walk to the locker room means if you are in a good spot at the front of the railing, ask nice, and are prepared, it is likely you will be able to receive quite a few autographs. Although there were quite a few people there (see picture above), we only missed Boone Jenner and Brandon Dubinsky. Everyone else signed for us. We had the '11-'12 poster (my son and I are holding them in the picture) signed -- by the end of the day, everyone still with the team had signed it!
     I understand this was the first fan fest for the Indians (ever? in some time?). We had fun. We were able to get into the KeyBank VIP area (by showing our Keybank debit card) and had fun getting autographs from and photos with Terry Francona, Carlos Santana, and others. Tribe "alumni" Tito Francona and Jim "Mudcat" Grant were also signing autographs at Tribefest. We left with 11 autographs on baseballs. Tribefest was a bargain at $10 a person! We will go next year if they have it again! Below is a picture of Jim "Mudcat" Grant.

     This year's Columbus Blue Jacket Post-game Autograph session was another terrific event. After the lockout, this game featured give-aways to all the fans of a hat and a 2013 schedule poster. Both were good for autographs. Each player had a silver Sharpie, a black Sharpie, and a pen. I brought a oil-based white paint pen. My sons and their friend had the players sign with the Sharpie pens. This looked pretty good. I think the white medium-sized paint pen looked really terrific on the posters -- I am finding that shiny paper products (many posters, cheer cards, etc.) seem to let paint pens look their best. The "paint" really stands out. We have received between 12 and 16 autographs on these nights -- we got 12 this time. A nice time was had by all. The three 13 year old boys I was with were all very happy.
     I went to the Thursday (Ashland, KY), Friday (Bloomington, IN), Saturday (Columbus, Ohio -- Nationwide Arena), and Sunday (Hamilton, Ohio) Reds Winter Caravan visits in January. Each day, I got there 1.5-2 hours early. I received autographs from all the participants: Todd Frazier on a game-used bat, Jay Bruce on a Reds' jersey, Homer Bailey on a Redsfest 2012 poster, Corky Miller on a baseball, and many more. The key to Redsfest now is to get there early!
     Good luck and happy autograph hunting!    

CBJ Development Camp

     This July's Columbus Blue Jackets Development Camp was again a good opportunity for autographs. The July 4th session was particularly good with many players stopping after their time on ice to sign. Ryan Johansen even asked very nicely if everyone got an autograph! Well done, Mr. Johansen! Alex Aleardi handed my son a (broken) practice-used stick -- nice!! We were able to get top draft picks Ryan Murray and Oscar Dansk. Boone Jenner and Cam Atkinson also signed.
      The usual area below the bleachers is where the autograph collecting occurred. It always pays to get there early as there is not much room up in front where your chances of getting an autograph is much greater. One point: development camp offers nothing associated with it to have you collect autographs. Whether you bring pictures or pucks or something else, it is on you. No CBJ logo items, including pucks, were in the Blue Line Store the last day of camp -- perhaps they had sold out (except hats or jerseys -- not the perfect thing to have autographed there). The one exception was the mini CBJ blue helmets, which might be a nice item to have signed. Silver sharpie always looks great on those blue helmets!
      Note: the CBJ Select-A-Seat nights -- one is coming up 7-18-12 -- are always a fun way to get a couple of autographs. This week: Jackson, Aucoin, and Filigno are all signing on this date. First 500 fans get a free All-Star puck, too! These nights are at Nationwide Arena and are a great way to see what is available as Season Tickets for the 2012-2013 season. We will be there at Nationwide -- we hope you will be too!

Columbus Spring Autograph Opportunities

     As of this last week of March 2012, there are only a handful of Blue Jackets practices left. The practices that take place at the Dispatch Ice Haus are always great places to get an autograph. The practices that take place at the Nationwide Arena that are open do not allow for autograph opportunities. Check the schedule at their website here under the Schedule Tab to see where and when the practices will be held.
     Next Weds. April 4th at the LC Pavillion from 5-8 pm will be a free event to Meet the Clippers. There are autograph sessions. We have never attended this event, but I understand it is a nice way to collect the Clippers' players autographs. Such up and coming players as Lonnie Chisenhall and Matt LaPorta in the Indians system have been sent to the Clippers to start the season. They are a good bet to be there.
     When the Clippers moved from Cooper Stadium to Huntington Park, we were disappointed. Not because Huntington is not a great park -- we love it! But because Cooper Stadium was such an amazing place to get the opposing team's players autograph. In order to get to the dugout, they had to go around the third base side stands. They would walk a few feet from the railing. We had a lot of luck getting the Louisville Bats to sign there -- one day, the only guy who did not sign for us was Homer Bailey (a tough autograph).
     As some time has passed, we actually are having good luck with the Bats and Clippers signing autographs at Huntington Park. Ted Power, the former Reds pitcher and the pitching coach of the Bats, is always willing to sign -- thanks, Mr. Power! And last year, we had good luck with a number of games. As always, it pays to be down by the dugout (Clippers on the first base side; visitors on the third base side) when the players first come out. Many times, we have worn the gear of the major league team (Reds, Indians, etc.) and had good fortune with autographs. I must admit, we do not always do so well identifying the up and coming players as they come by, decreasing our success. And interestingly, the rosters on the team's website can change so quickly the website is out of date. I called a Louisville Bat by the wrong name last year because the roster on the website had not been updated -- though thanks for signing for us anyway, Jeremy Horst!
     So good luck with the Spring autograph hunting!

This is a picture of Sam, Adam, and Noah at a Clippers game last year when they each were tossed a ball!

What to wear

     We have had some interesting things happen when seeking autographs. It has helped shape our understanding of how to prepare. It certainly makes sense that if you demonstrate to the athlete that you are a fan of their team, you are more likely to receive an autograph. And for times in which you are pursuing a particular autograph, wearing something linking you to that player is bound to help -- a replica of their jersey, a t-shirt with their name or image on it, etc.
     We were at a Twins v. Indians game in Progressive Field a couple years ago. Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins was signing autographs along side the outfield wall along the first base side. Although my children were probably 13, 9, and 9 at the time and were in good position, they did not receive an autograph. Mr. Morneau was clearly looking people up and down and seeing if they were wearing something tying them to the Twins -- a hat, a t-shirt, a jersey. Those that were "showing their colors" got an autograph. Those that were not, did not receive an autograph. That evening, we were not showing our colors. As much as we admire Mr. Morneau and would have loved to receive his autograph, I certainly understand.
     My oldest son is a fan of both the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs. That has lead to some interesting scenarios. We have been in Wrigley for a Reds v. Cubs game or in Great American Ballpark for a Cubs v. Reds game and Sam has had some conflicts: Reds gear? Or Cubs gear? Although I do not like the "the exception that proves the rule" saying, here is a funny thing that happened at one Cubs at Reds game a few years ago. Adam and I were standing at the first base line near the Reds dugout. That day, the only Red to sign autographs was Micah Owings and he signed for both of us. Sam had camped out at the third base line near the Cubs autographs. We have not had much luck with the Cubs signing at regular season games, even if one is clearly a big fan based on their gear. When the game was about to start and Adam and I had returned to our seats, Sam left the "Cubs side" and came over to the "Reds side". He was wearing his Cubs jersey. Paul Janish, the Cincinnati Reds shortstop, was stretching in the grass near the foul pole. He had just recently came into a blow-out loss as a relief pitcher. Sam has always liked Paul Janish. He shouted out to Paul "You are my favorite pitcher, Paul!". In a minute, Paul came over to Sam and signed for him -- just him. When Sam met us at our seats, we almost could not believe Sam had made this work -- especially while wearing a Cubs jersey! When I discussed this with Mr. Janish at Reds Fest 2010, he got a chuckle out of it and mumbled "That is sad I am his favorite pitcher!".
     This Spring, we went to see some Cactus League action. When one morning there were no major leaguers practicing at the Reds facility, we went next door (down the street) to the Indians facility. Sam and I had on Reds jerseys. I was wearing a Reds cap. Adam was carrying a Reds Fest 2011 cinch sack. There were very few folks around: mostly senior citizens, a couple middle aged couples, and one other middle school aged boy. And somehow, whenever someone starting to sign autographs, they signed for us. Only Matt LaPorta mentioned it. When he said something about our Reds gear, I told him we were from Ohio, liked the Reds and the Indians, and that my dad (long time Indians fan) would be bothered that we were wearing Reds gear. He said "It bothers me a little bit, too!". But he signed for us!
     So do your best to dress the part, but do not walk away from an opportunity because you are not wearing the right gear. And knowing something catchy to say certainly helps!

Cincinnati Reds Spring Training

     The Cincinnati Reds are now in their third year spending their Spring Training in Arizona. Their training facility and stadium are in Goodyear, West of Phoenix. They share the stadium with the Cleveland Indians. Each team has their own training facility, a collection of fields, batting cages, and building for offices and locker rooms. They are just down the street (Estrella Parkway) from the Goodyear Ballpark and there is an off-street access road that connects the whole complex.
     The practices generally start about 9 a.m. and the access gates to walk onto the complex grounds are opened at that time. There is free parking along the access road in front of the facility. The major league players practice on the North side and the minor leaguers on the South side. The minor league area has four fields. The players and coaches need to walk on a common side walk to reach the walkway back to the private access areas. There are sets of small stands so that you can sit and watch the action on the field.   To reach the area, the sidewalk runs right out to the front of the facility. The major league area has three fields and batting cages. To reach the area, fans need to walk down the Northern most sidewalk. You can then either walk to the right and go to a set of stands that overlook the action. Or you can take the way to the left that goes around the outfield wall. It feels as if this cannot be the "right way to go". But it is! You reach an area where two of the fields are connected by a sidewalk. The major leaguers regularly have to walk on and off the fields via this sidewalk. There is a guard rail to designate where you can stand. This puts you no more than 10-12 feet from where the players and coaches walk by the area.

     As with many practices, the best times to "catch someone" for an autograph is when they first arrive or are leaving for the morning. Although we had success with this when we attended, some players are certainly arriving at different times, so it is appropriate to ask politely anytime.
     The day we attended, Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Aroldis Chapman, Dusty Baker, Sean Marshall, Ryan Madson, Mike Leake, Drew Stubbs, Chris Welsh, Billy Hatcher, Sam LeCure, Todd Frazier, and Zach Cozart all signed between 9 a.m. and 11:25 a.m. I took the picture above of my son Sam Teller patiently waits for Joey Votto's autograph. He is showing good form with the ball and pen extended towards the player without crowding the player. And bonus points for having the cap of the pen off!