Championship Graphing- Shane Victorino!

After watching the Sox clinch across the street from Fenway on Wednesday night, and wandering the streets of Boston for Halloween last night, I was fortunate enough to have a day off of work to recover today.  I didn't get a chance to do any graphing during the playoff run, but I found out earlier today that Shane Victorino would be signing autographs at Macy's in downtown Boston.  The first 200 people that made a purchase of $35 or more would be allowed to get one item signed, but it had to be one of the items that you bought at the store.  They had nothing but hats and t-shirts, so I bought one of each and figured I'd just get the hat signed.  I knew going into it that it would be a longshot to get an outside item done, especially given the extensive list of rules they gave out at the event:

There were several people checking to make sure that the only item you had to get signed was either a hat or t-shirt.  I had brought my cards with me just in case.  They were taking any bags that you were carrying, so the only thing in your hands when you got to the table was the item you were getting signed.  I realized my only chance of getting a card signed was to hide it inside the hat and reveal it when I got up to the table.  Even then, I had my doubts that Victorino would do it.  I guess the championship has kept him in a pretty good mood, because he discreetly signed my card and gave a smile.  

• Shane Victorino- 09 Topps

TTM Returns: Matt Thornton & Mark Loretta

• Matt Thornton 3/3- The Red Sox reliever signed cards from the 10 Upper Deck, 11 Topps, and 13 Topps Heritage sets.  Sent 7/15 (63 days)

• Mark Loretta 2/2- Mark certainly took his time with this return.  He signed cards from the 09 Topps and 09 Upper Deck sets that I sent out during last year's spring training when he was with the Padres.  Sent 2/24/12 (591 days)

End of (Regular) Season Update

I've been pretty busy over the last month or so, with little luck when it comes to graphing.  At the last three games I went to during the regular season, I only got one auto at each game:

Yankees @ Red Sox, 9/15 (Mariano's last game at Fenway)

• Hiroki Kuroda- 08 Allen & Ginter RC

Orioles @ Red Sox, 9/17

• Jonathan Schoop- 11 Bowman Chrome

Orioles @ Red Sox, 9/18

• Larry Lucchino- Red Sox 100th anniversary schedule

I was away last weekend when the Rays were in town.  I had tickets for a Game 5, but unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), that game never happened.  I won't be around for any of the ALCS either, so hopefully I'll have a shot at some postseason graphing if the Sox make it all the way to the World Series.

Tigers @ Red Sox, 9/3- Best Day of the Year!

I usually like to compare autograph seeking to fishing; it's a lot of standing around and waiting, sometimes with little or nothing to show for it.  And then there are some days, like yesterday, that make it all worthwhile.  Yesterday was definitely a season highlight for me, for both autographs and a great game to watch between Scherzer and Lester.  There was definitely an element of October in the ballpark last night.

• Brandon Snyder- 11 Topps RC
• Andrew Miller- 07 Upper Deck RC
• Clay Buchholz- 10 Allen & Ginter
• Andy Dirks- 13 Topps Postseason Highlights
• Joaquin Benoit- 12 Topps
• Nick Castellanos- 10 Topps Tigers team card
• Torii Hunter- 09 Topps U&H
• Prince Fielder- 09 Topps U&H
• Justin Verlander- 09 Topps U&H

Tigers @ Red Sox, 9/2

• Alex Avila- 13 Heritage
• Rick Porcello- 13 Heritage

Orioles @ Red Sox, 8/27

Rough day for a team that used to be easy.

• Troy Patton- 12 Topps
• Nick Markakis- 08 Allen & Ginter

TTM Return: David Mantle

• David Mantle 1/1- The "Son of the Mick" signed his dad's card from the 09 Topps set, as well as a few index cards.  Even though I'll probably never complete this set, it's nice to get one done that probably wouldn't have been completed any other way.  Now I need to find a few Ryan Freel's from this set as well.  Sent 5/28 (90 days)