RBI (105) A Piece of Baseball History...

As many of you know I'm a pretty big Red Sox fan, and this year the Sox were only coming to town for one series. I had already gone to Fenway to join in celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Fenway park and decided to continue noting the historic season while they were in Anaheim.

To recognize the 100th year of the stadium I wanted to graph something more substantial than just a few ball or cards. I ended up purchasing an authentic seat back from Fenway park, certified by the MLB as having been Game Used. This is my 2nd baseball seat, which some would say is overkill but I like them. I opted for a red seat back and selected seat #6 also in honor of Johnny Pesky passing away this year.

The first person to sign my seat was manager Bobby Valentine. Plenty of fans booed at me having Bobby V sign the seat and I'll admit I was hesitant at first when I was driving to the stadium coming up with the list of who would be seat worthy. In the end when this era of Sox baseball and the end of the curse is brought up the discussion will always end with "...and then Bobby V..." he's going to be an infamous name in the annuals of Sox historians and thus worthy of the seat. I will add my own complaint about Bobby V. since I took a silver marker for him to sign with but he wouldn't switch from blue sharpie and thus dictated how the rest of the seat needs to be signed. I mean maybe you don't want to switch sharpies between jersey's or cards...but it's a seat. Really Bobby V?

While he may not always be popular with the team I had author and Boston Globe writer Dan Shaughnessy sign my seat also. This was another person I had a quick moment of debate over but seeing as he's written multiple noteworthy books on the Sox and has covered the Sox as long as I can remember I opted to include him as a related personality.

The next person to sign the seat was Umpire Crew Chief and head of the Umpire's Union Joe West. West is not only a notable personality in the game but also involved in Sox history when he work Clay Buchholz's no-hitter from home plate and ended it with a called 3rd strike.

The final person to sign the seat for me was my favorite Red Sox player 2nd baseman Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia was a big score for me and work kept me from doing any pre-game graphing so when I heard he had signed for 2 people on his way in I was crushed. Luckily I was able to get his attention inside the stadium and he signed for me. I was really excited to get the AL ROY/MVP/Gold Glover/Silver Slugger and it's definitely a highlight on this piece. I'm not sure how many people can say they have a Dustin Pedroia autographed Fenway Park seat, but I'm one of the few that can.

This likely be a lifetime piece that I will work on and it'll be interesting to see how this ends up one day when I'm old and have it on a shelf somewhere while I watch a game in retirement.

RBI (91) 100 Years of Fenway and a Red Sox Hall of Famer...

There's no witty tie in for this one, just a few facts.

Fact I just went to Boston for vacation.

Fact my streak of consecutive games with an autograph is over. I went to the night game of the Red Sox-Yankee Saturday double header and didn't get anything. I didn't try any pre or post game graphing and inside I only saw Robinson Cano sign 3 autographs while walking into the dugout.

Fact the next night I decided to treat myself on said vacation to one more game during Fenway Park's 100th Anniversary. I went to a ticket reseller since I knew I didn't have enough cash on hand to get a ticket on the street and was informed of another fact.

Fact the only tickets available were in a suite.

Fact I sat in a suite in Fenway Park.

Fact I have a new streak going.

Story time.

I was informed that the only tickets that were still available were in a suite that the company bought and was selling off. I decided I didn't care and HAD to get into the game to watch the greatest rivalry in sports in the greatest baseball park in the greatest city. Life in the suite. Awesome. Worth every penny.

I however was called during the game and stepped outside to watch the game on the flat screen through the window and take the call. While on the call I saw what? Just a crowd of people asking for an autograph on the floor below me. I immediately turned and sprinted down a pretty good distance to get to the ramp and then down. I caught my target of attention right as he was saying goodnight to a staff member and was walking toward his luxury suite.

"Mr. Tiant, can you sign my ticket please."

Louis Tiant in all his mustached glory turned around, shook his head, and said "Man you kids crazy man" as he reached his hand out toward me. He pulled out his own sharpie and autographed my ticket before putting his sharpie away. Why is this important? Because he handed the ticket back to me with one hand while I said thank you, and as he nodded with his other hand gave me a grandfatherly pat on the cheek "There you go, get out of here."

El Tiante. In Fenway Park. One on One.

For those not versed in El Tiante he is a Cuban born player who played from 1964-1982 for the Indians, Twins, Red Sox, Yankees, Pirates, and Angels. He was a 3 time All-Star, '75 Babe Ruth Award winner, and 1972 AL Comeback Player of the Year. His career line stands at 229-172 with a 3.30 ERA and 2,416 Strikeouts. He was the starter for Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, arguably the greatest game ever played.

He was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997 and Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. He has not made it into Cooperstown and it will be up to the Veterans Committee if he gets to take that plunge. Regardless I have a Louis Tiant autograph in my collection on commemorative Fenway Park ticket stock from a Yankees vs Red Sox game. Awesome.