TWINS AUTOGRAPH PARTY
This past weekend, my sister and I went down to the Metrodome to hang out at the Twins Autograph Party 2005. It is an annual event in which there are tents set up, and most of the current Twins players sign autographs from 12:30-2:00. When their time is up, a number of the Twins former players sign from 2:30-4:00. There is a silent auction and a live auction later with some incredible autographed paraphernalia. Anyway, here are a bunch of pictures from the day. We then went to the Twins/Padres game that Saturday night. Enjoy, and feel free to e-mail me. Thanks!
The longest lines of the day were to the booth that contained backup catcher Mike Redmond. I was really quite surprised to see the fans turn up to support Redmond who is doing well in his row. Oh, that is reigning Cy Young Award winner, Johan Santana, with him.
Right up there in terms of most popular line to stand in for ridiculous amounts of time was that of Torii Hunter. As I mentioned the other day, one of the coolest things that I saw that day was when a child in a wheelchair came up to Torii and aimed his fist toward Hunter. Torii went to give him that, and the kid dropped Starbursts for Torii to eat. That was pretty cool. Glenn Williams was in the same tent as Hunter. I felt bad for him. People came to see Hunter with posters and bobbleheads and cards and more. I had to ask my sister how many people standing in the long lines even realize who Glenn Williams is, or that he had a game-winning single the night before.
Bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek has been with the Twins for longer than anyone else. Joe Mauer is the local boy turned mega-star while playing for the hometown nine! I'm sure a few were really happy to get Stelly's autograph!
This is Justin Morneau. Did you know that he is from Canada? He's so shy and quiet about that! Ha!
Michael Cuddyer signing a guy's guitar. It was actually very cool! Mr. Ron Gardenhire in the background. I wonder if Cuddy drew the short straw, or how this worked?
Lew, as usual, looking like he's just having a great time! Luis Rodriguez just checking out Lew's autograph. Luis Rivas, knows he's seen one of these thrown toward him when he's been in the batter's box. He's just still not quite sure what to do with it. But he does get rid of it quickly on the double play!
I had never seen Rod Carew up close. I never realized just how tall he is. He is a good sign, but he must have some exclusive signing deals because there were signs saying that he couldn't sign certain items, like bats and helmets, or something like that.
Bert Blyleven is constantly calling Harmon Killebrew one of the best human beings he's ever met. We watched "Killer" sign for awhile and he actually had a brief conversation with each person that he gave an autograph to. Very nice!
Brian Raabe is always at the former Twins signings. I know he played for the Gophers, but I don't think that he ever actually suited up with the Twins. I'll have to look that up (Research shows that Raabe played six games for the Twins in 1995 and seven games in 1996. He then played a combined four games between the Mariners and the Rockies in 1997.). The other man (farthest) is Dick Stigman. I know this name because he is from Nimrod, Minnesota, a very small town in central Minnesota. He went on to have a very good major league career as a pitcher. He spent 1962-1965 with the Twins and went 37-37. He came to the team along with Vic Power for Pedro Ramos. He also spent time with the Cleveland Indians (Where he was an All-Star in his rookie year, 1960) and the Boston Red Sox.
Here are just a few pictures from the game. We were in the 7th row, just on the fair ball side of the left field foul pole.
Joe Mauer playing some long toss.
Brad Radke warming up in the bullpen with Joe Mauer before the game.
Some of the players are stretching while watching the pre-game softball home run derby. From left to right: Luis Rodriguez, Justin Morneau, Torii Hunter, Shannon Stewart (touching his toes), Luis Rivas and Michael Cuddyer.
Gotta get a game time picture from where you sit, so maybe this gives you a better idea.
That's really it. I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Send me an e-mail.