2012 Angels Fan Fest - the no performance enhancing acquaintances experience

I wasn't expecting to get every current Angels player autograph, but 2012 Angels Fan Fest seemed like a disappointment because not every current player actually made an appearance to sign autographs - assuming I have something to get signed in the first place, the experience to watch paint dry in line before getting a couple of random autographs wasn't too bad for $5, but even guys Jered Weaver, Torii Hunter, Mark Trumbo didn't sign.

Anyways, there maybe other ways to get current Angels autographs over the course of the season, even Albert Pujols- some opportunities may cost more than $5, most opportunities come by going to a game or waiting hours before [or after] and it is what it is when the Angels put on an event like the Fan Fest for the general public.

My game plan was to try and get a couple of current Angels players, though with the way things are set up, the public isn't told which specific players is going to signing at any particular table - I was hoping to run into a 'decent' Angels player regardless of when I finally got up to the tent / table were players [two at a table] signed.

Maybe two hours and 30 minutes later, I got my first two autographs - I was among the last several people to get an autograph of a couple of Angels relievers.

Jordan Walden (1) - I threw my card out past the lady ahead of me in line [there was literally a few minutes left and it seemed like she wasn't paying attention] and Walden signed my card, though he used his own black Sharpie and the autograph streaked.

I didn't prep the 2011 Topps Chrome Orange parallel card down and took a chance it would be signed cleanly - it wasn't clean, though I'll probably keep it instead of trying to remove the autograph.

Scott Downs (1) - seems like an approachable guy who you can say a little something to and he'd respond back.

I asked security if there was only going to be one session of current Angels signing - the guy said it would be, but then Angels alumni would be signing through the next section.

Got back in a line and maybe having some the retired Angels players sign saved the event from being completely useless - there was Clyde Wright, Mike Witt, Chuck Finley, Jim Abbott and Garret Anderson signing.

I was in the line where Jim Abbott ended up, but jumped over to the line for GA - who was a notorious 'non signer' when he was an active player with the Angels in his prime.

I got several GA cards from a trade a few days ago - he also threw out the first pitch [to the Angels equipment manager who won the Baseball I.Q. game show on MLB Network] before Friday's game.

With the cards I traded for staring me in the face and him being at the stadium recently - maybe it a clue I'd better bring a few of those cards as well as dig out my unsigned 2008 Topps Allen and Ginter 'setter' in case he shows up.

Anderson (1) - had him sign my 2008 Topps Allen and Ginter.

I guess it's not really sad, but it seemed like just several years ago where he was an active player - now GA's hair has some gray and nearly 40 years old, he's trotted out as an Angels retired alumni.

Witt (1) - there was only a couple of minutes left before the alumni were going to be herded from the tables to conclude the signings.

The cute handler standing next to Witt got the word from her boss and was really watching the clock tick down - it came down to the wire, but I was able to get my 1991 Toppps Stadium Club Charter Members dual card completed.

I wanted the card signed since Mark Langston just signed it on Friday [a card another collector helped me get signed] - I figured to get it done now or else I may have to wait a while for the next time Witt makes an appearance.

Dangling in the wind was my 1985 Topps Super card I bought for a quarter at a card shop - like the Anderson cards, it kind of stared back at me the night before as I'm putting my binders / cards together.

I thought it wouldn't hurt to bring it to Angels Fan Fest - just so if Witt showed up, I'd actually get it signed.

I didn't know what I was going to do, but on foot I sort of followed the golf carts transporting the five alumni and maybe some Angels handlers / employees on foot - it looked like they were heading back to the team offices.

When I got towards the offices, I saw Witt was actually leaving - I lumbered towards Witt getting into his SUV.

Witt (1) - he signed my 1985 Topps Super and he casually points out, "aren't you causing that alarm to go off?"

I must have tripped the alarm of the vehicle I bumped against as I'm getting Witt to sign - I thank him as I try to back away and collect my thoughts.

I didn't have a ticket to Sunday's game but was planning on sticking around to see if I can get postgame autographs from the Angels - my friend was going to do the same thing and said he was pooped out to do anything [like go to Lake Elsinore as he had originally planned] but sleep in his car [for at least a couple of hours].

I was hanging out in the back for about an hour after the game - Pujols didn't sign, though Angels manager Mike Scioscia signed a handful through the fence before he had to go. It wasn't worth trying to wade into the clustermuck of people trying to hand stuff through the Angels' parking structure just to get a Scioscia scribble.

Kevin Jepsen (1) - I thought it could have been C.J. Wilson or Downs who relented to stop and sign until I saw an autograph Jepsen signed for a boy.

Mid 1990s junk wax breaks - packs 8-10

1997 Fleer Ultra II
#455 Kevin Orie
#481 James Mouton
#496 Willie Blair
#389 Mickey Tettleton
#4 of 12 Cal Ripken Jr. - Power Plus insert
#33 of 50 Mickey Lolich - Million Dollar Moments insert / game card
#544 Pat Cline
#518 David Arias RC - the back is a little scratched up.
#316 Gary Gaetti
#G372 Cliff Floyd - Gold Medallion parallel

1997 Fleer Tradition - this was a clean pack otherwise; cards were done in a matte format so no real foil to get in the way except for inserts.

#632 Mark Acre
#529 Richie Sexson
#712 Mike Piazza
#618 Marc Valdez
#523 Kevin Orie

#716 Ryne Sandberg
#543 David Wells
#527 Greg McMichael
#664 John Burke

#12 of 50 Roger Clemens - Million Dollar Moments insert / game card

1997 Fleer Tradition - these were clean packs otherwise.
#504 Danny Patterson
#555 Rheal Cormier
#740 Mark McGwire - Oakland A's team checklist
#509 Jeff Kent

#6 of 20 Ken Griffey Jr. - Headliners insert

#703 Derek Jeter
#565 Benji Gil
#659 Ariel Prieto

#7 of 12 Chipper Jones - Soaring Stars insert
#605 Todd Zeile
#634 Terry Mulholland
#27 of 50 Bobby Richardson - Million Dollar Moments insert / game card

Mid 1990s junk wax breaks - packs 5-7

1997 Fleer Ultra II
#333 Royce Clayton
##502 Kevin Tapani
#511 Dustin Hermanson
#522 Calvin Maduro
#549 Eli Marrero

#7 of 10 Jason Dickson - Golden Prospects insert; I remember him as a pitcher who wasn't overpowering but had some good moments in the Major Leagues before injuries cut short his career.
#49 of 50 Jim Bunning - Million Dollar Moments insert / game card

#380 Jim Thome
#326 Jeff Fassero
#500 Jeff Abbott

#G370 Mike Bordick - Gold Medallion parallel

1993 Upper Deck II
#753 Danny Jackson
#731 Jay Howell
#823 Albert Belle
#749 Todd Burns
#699 David Wells
#630 Roger Clemens
#675 Rob Dibble
#668 Darren Holmes
#597 Tim Raines
#548 Spike Owen
#541 Jeff Reardon
#520 Carlos Martinez
#479 Inaugural Catch
#461 Ray Lankford
#434 Mark Newfield

1994 Upper Deck II - like the other 1994 UD II pack, the contents were clean otherwise, though there was nothing really interesting to pull.

#478 Reggie Jefferson
#385 Barry Larkin
#446 Ray Lankford
#376 Vince Coleman
#324 Jeff Blauser
#324 Jeff Blauser - back-to-back
#369 B.J. Surhoff - Electric Diamond parallel
#382 Bip Roberts
#458 Bill Gullickson

#282 Mo Vaughn
#520 Chan Ho Park
#299 Shannon Stewart

Mid 1990s junk wax breaks - packs 1 - 4

At Angels FanFest, I found an exhibitor selling a bunch of junk wax, junk wax era factory sets, et al - I thought I'd rounded up a good mix of 10 packs [$0.50 each] from 'premium quality' years, where card companies strived to produced cards looked a little better than your average 'junk wax' era cards from the mid 1980s through about 1991.

I guess as great as the cards had started to look through the mid 1990s - the cards in the foil packs I picked up didn't age well at all.

The glossy cards stuck together and inks that once added to the aesthetic had caused paper loss when the cards were peeled apart from each other - I threw away the cards that generally ended up being garbage and made do with the cards I could salvage.

1997 Fleer Ultra II
#419 Mark Lemke
#384 Mike Lansing
#408 Ed Sprague
#433 Mariano Duncan
#539 Aaron Sele

#6 of 10 Mike Piazza checklist

#10 of 50 Chipper Jones - Million Dollar Moments insert / game card
#379 Todd Zeile
#356 Jimmy Key
#466 Mark Portugal

#G521 Wayne Kirby - Gold Medallion parallel

1993 Upper Deck II
#835 Felix Jose
#834 David Nied
#749 Todd Burns
#811 Jeremy Hernandez
#648 Jim Deshaies
#628 Lenny Webster
#672 Tony Fernandez
#694 John Smiley
#558 Milt Thompson
#513 Jose Lind
#523 Scott Fletcher
#602 Luis Rivera
#510 Rondell White
#497 Juan Gonzalez
#437 Brad Pennington

1994 Upper Deck II - this was a clean pack otherwise.
#518 James Mouton
#529 Alan Benes
#296 Matt Brunson
#448 Bret Boone
#454 Dante Bichette - Bichette was somewhat of a favorite when he hit his peak years with the Colorado Rockies because I used to mimicked his stance and his gesture once he knew he'd pretty much creamed the ball.
#428 Bret Saberhagen

#375 David Justice - this guy was the favorite player of my best friend in high school.
#406 Bernard Gilkey
#479 Don Slaught
#327 John Smiley
#506 Bobby Ayala
#318 Pedro Martinez

#460 Curt Schilling
#309 Mike Blowers

1997 Fleer Ultra II
#513 Luis Alicea
#404 Brian Hunter
#439 Glenallen Hill
#448 Brian McRae
#311 Dave Hollins
#6 of 12 Tony Gwynn - Leather Shop insert

#8 of 50 Cal Ripken Jr. - Million Dollar Moments insert / game card
#459 Mike Devereaux
#385 Devon White
#526 Mike Bielecki
#G414 Jason Schmidt - Gold Medallion parallel

Featured autographs - San Diego Padres stragglers

My friend and I redeemed our free tickets [each Angels Fanfest ticket was good for a voucher for the game last Sunday] for the game and went inside - only really caught the last 30 minutes before the game started and no San Diego Padres came over except Everth Cabrera.

I really wanted Anthony Rizzo, who the first base prospect acquired in the Adrian Gonzalez trade along with pitcher Casey Kelly and outfielder Reymond Fuentes - I couldn't believe he was right there in the flesh and he was oblivious otherwise, even as he was walking back to the dugout after warming before the game.

Got a few guys from the Padres after the game - despite my professed devotion to the Angels, I'll be probably find myself spending more time chasing after visiting teams' autographs when I have the opportunity during the MLB season.

Before the game Cabrera managed to sign two final autographs for one guy before he left to go into the dugout - I had to wait until after the game to get him.

Kyle Phillips - he had family waiting for him at Angels Stadium and he talked with them before going back to where the team bus was.

Mark Loretta - one of the countless number of former MLB players who have jobs in the front office for at least one of the teams they played for.

Featured autographs - Hisanori Takahashi

After a long day at FanFest and waiting for the game to end, my Achilles heel was hurting and I could barely get inside the car - when the pain had subsided, I finally lumbered into the car.

At the tunnel next to where the media trucks are parked Tunnel B, I saw some Japanese guys talking by some SUVs and figured - at least one of them had got to be Hisanori Takahashi and I snuck behind some of the park trucks to see if I could approach him

I walk towards who I thought was Takahashi and call blurt out his name - I ended up getting to sign three cards and hopefully he'll get to pitch in a regular season MLB game soon enough, so I could add his name to my collection of Angels autographs.

Edit: Takahashi faltered in his debut with the Angels - it looks like he retired only one batter, allowing three hits, including a home run Jeff Francoeur in the Angels' 4-2 Opening Day win against Kansas City.

As the saying goes - no pain, no gain.

Featured autograph - Joel Pineiro

After getting Jered Weaver's autograph at Angels FanFest, I decided to jump in one last line when I saw it was Joel Pineiro signing - there was security guard holding up a sign that there would be no guaranteed autographs beyond a certain point; the security guy moved with the line so at any time they can stop the signing or whatever.

I was able to reach the table where Pineiro was signing and got him to sign a 2010 Topps Allen and Ginter - he isn't an impossible autograph to get by any means, but another guy who maybe trickier to worry about getting during the regular season.

Relief pitcher Kevin Jepsen was signing with Pineiro and I got a card signed for my friend - it looks like Jepsen busted out a full signature instead of just the 'quick' autograph he typically signs, so I probably should have a card for myself to get signed.

That was pretty much it for autographs at the Angels FanFest - various fans got various things signed and they got to walk up to weary Angels players looking to finally start 2011 regular season.

Featured autograph - Jered Weaver

This is the baseball Jered Weaver signed for me at the 2011 Angels FanFest - I think he was the one player I wanted to get on the team this upcoming season.

Featured autographs - Brandon Wood and Alexi Amarista

The next players my friend and I probably stood in line for at Angels FanFest was Brandon Wood and Alexi Amarista - I must have gotten Wood later on because I've seen other Wood autographs posted from the FanFest that were letter-for-letter perfect.

I'm not going to lose sleep over how a player signs as long as the autograph is clean - but sometimes it is nice to get a version where the player has obviously taken more time writing out his autograph.

The handler who generally made sure the scheduled signers only signed one autograph per person seemed to be only focused on Wood - so I busted out two cards for Amarista to sign and also got help from my friend in getting one other card autographed.

Featured autographs - Maicer Izturis and Howard Kendrick

My friend and I ended up at the Rich Thompson / Matt Palmer line at the Angels FanFest - I think all I had for Palmer was a 2010 Topps Target retro, which I guess I should get signed sooner than later, even though he is generally a good signer.

My friend and I were almost close to reaching the table with Thompson and Palmer before the players switched off - the new signers were Maicer Izturis and Howard Kendrick, which was actually a good thing since getting those guys can be tricky to get during the season.

Hopefully Izturis stays relatively healthy for the entire year while Kendrick sort of builds upon what he has done in the Major Leagues so far - he has shown the ability to be a good Major League player, but I think he can get a little better.

Featured autographs - Mike Trout and Michael Kohn

The atmosphere at the 2011 Angels FanFest was OK - there were things to do for individuals and families who didn't want to be slaves to the autograph lines, which kept growing as the day went on.

I think the earliest scheduled players signed for 45 minutes, the middle block of scheduled signers signed for 30 minutes and after a two hour 'intermission' [##@$@#!] the last group of signers 45 minutes.

There were a couple of carnival rides for people to ride - there was a "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" contest for adults and kids.

This band consisting of kids were sort of interesting - they were up on the main stage entertaining the people.

There was an Angels trivia contest and random booths selling snacks, offering food samples and also featuring various other things like baseball memorabilia and baseball cards - there were interviews with coaches and players.

Angels alumni members Jim Abbott, Jay Johnstone, Gary Disarcina, Bobby Grich and Clyde Wright were taking pictures for season ticket holders - though I think all took pictures or signed autographs for 'regular' fans at some point.

I think I was walking around and saw Mike Trout was signing, so my friend and I jumped in the line for him - for those living under the dark Trout is has been hyped up as the uber prospect of uber prospects, only with some kid named Bryce Harper ahead of him on the totem pole.

I was tempted to bust out my official MLB baseball for Trout - but I used the unsigned cards I had since I'd gotten him on a baseball already.

Reliever Michael Kohn was signing next to Trout and I got him to sign his minor league card from 2008 - Kohn made his Major League debut in 2010 and looks to build upon a pretty good start to his MLB career.

Featured autograph - Mark Trumbo

I thought Mark Trumbo was more of a suspect than a top prospect since he was signed out of high school and he didn't get to the Major Leagues for a cup of coffee until he was 24 - however, maybe the Angels patience in Trumbo is finally going to payoff as the 25 year old has enjoyed a fine spring and is looking to play in his first full season in the Major Leagues.

Featured autographs - Chris Petit and Andrew Romine

Featured autograph - Jordan Walden

Jordan Walden was the first player I was able to get at the Angels FanFest - I think Walden was one of the players signing by himself.

I think one of the lessons learned by the Angels' personnel from previous FanFests was not to release information as to who the scheduled signers are - I'm pretty sure this was due to people holding up the autograph lines and causing a bottleneck, when the Angels want to get as many people through.

I'd picked up a couple of Walden's early minor league cards - but the novelty of getting his latest 2011 Topps Heritage card signed at the Angels Fanfest was too much to pass up.

2011 Angels FanFest - a tune up of sorts of Halo fans

My Sharpie had gone unused for much of the spring but with less than a week before the 2011 MLB season started - I was able to use my tool in order to get some stuff signed at the 2011 Angels FanFest held at Angel Stadium last Sunday.

There were four stations at the FanFest with mostly two players paired up signing - maybe because it was still sprinkling and the better players didn't show up yet, it was easier to get multiple players during the first couple of signing sessions.

I'm going to be trying to showcase the autographs in the next several days - but the following is the list of players I got at the fanfest along with other autographs I got.

Jordan Walden (1)
Chris Petit (1)
Andrew Romine (1)
Mark Trumbo (1)
Mike Trout (1/1, 1 help)
Maicer Izturis (1)
Howard Kendrick (1)
Brandon Wood (1)
Alexi Amarista (2/2, 1 help)
Joel Pineiro (1)
Kevin Jepsen - helped out a friend featured on the site.

At the fanfest, a voucher was given to fans - that can be redeemed for a game ticket to the afternoon's Angels exhibition against the San Diego Padres Tucson, San Antonio and Lake Elsinore players to make an impression with their parent club.

After the game - there was still a few autograph opportunities to be sought out.

Everth Cabrera 2/2 - Padres
Kyle Phillips (1) - Padres
Mark Loretta (1) - Padres
Tyson Auer 2/2 - Angels minor leaguer.
Hisanori Takahashi 3/3 - spotted him as I was leaving the stadium.

Jered Weaver (1) - there was an intermission at around 10:45, where players stopped signing, because the Angels had to take batting practice at the stadium.

Some of the players were herded back out onto the Fanfest for Q&A and signing sessions - I've gotten Weaver before but I've never thought about getting him on a baseball, so he was the one Angels player to get on a single-signed baseball this year.


Mike Scioscia (1) - there were still fans waiting for the Angels' players / coaches to drive out after the day was done. Angels Manager Mike Scioscia stopped and signed for those who wanted his autograph.