RBI (94) A Pair of Rehab Hits...

The past week there have been a few stars making a few rehab starts with the local minor league teams here in Southern California. Matt Kemp made one recently but I wasn't in town to go out and try to get him. I did however return from my vacation with the perfect timing to recharge my batteries and get ready to graph.

I eased myself back into graphing with a rehab start of my own by going to get Andre Ethier when he made his second rehab start out in Rancho.

Ethier was really nice and signed for the reasonably sized crowd that was waiting for him, even doing multiples and taking photos with people. I had Andre Ethier autograph this 2011 Topps Lineage and an 8x10 photo that I'm working on getting done.

It was a pretty short wait for Andre and I got to get him pretty quickly. It was a nice and easy at bat to get ready for graphing again.

I worked a full game though when I went to try and get Angels pitcher Dan Haren for his start at Inland Empire with the 66ers. I only had to wait about 45 minutes for Ethier. I had to wait 2 and a half hours for Haren, thankfully it was only in the mid 80's today.

Haren is a tough guy to get. He rarely signs at the stadium and I've heard stories of him being spotted out and about without a very happy ending for the fan who saw him. I wasn't really sure if he'd even sign especially with 7 of us waiting for him. Surprisingly though he parked his car and walked over to us waiting for him and started to sign. I was happy to finally add him to my 2011 team ball. It took him a while to find a spot to sign because it's almost complete and is that much closer with a Dan Haren autograph on my baseball.

All in all not a bad way to end my minor league assignment and get prepared for the Angels coming back home.

RBI (93) ...Combine For A No-Hitter...

The Mike Witt and Mark Langston combine for a no-hitter call is one of my favorite calls in Angel team history. And every time the Angels take the field I get treated to it as part of the pre-game video introduction.

For those who don't know, Mike Witt is a very tough autograph to get a hold of. He's been notoriously rare to get through the mail and doesn't often do appearances. For the 2012 Angel Fan Fest, the team had Witt come out for the fans. He was really pleasant and nice to meet while signing and he sweet spotted my ball. He wasn't able to write his Perfect Game inscription, so I had a back up plan to make sure my run in with Witt remained a special one.

Mark Langston is a incredibly personable and kind signer, I've never seen him turning down a request when he's on the way to prepare for the Angels radio broadcast. That's especially special considering he had a very notable career as a 4 time All-Star, 7 time Gold Glover with 179 Wins and 2,464 Strikeouts. I had gotten Langston on a few cards, but I had something special planned to recognize his part in Angel history. After getting Witt I kept the ball in my car and the next home series ran to get it and had Langston not only sign the ball, but he was nice enough to inscribe "No Hitter" for me.

The game was special to Angel fans for a long time because until Ervin Santana's in 2011 no halo had tossed one since the Langston/Witt no-no in 1990. Langston started the game against his long time team the Seattle Mariners and tossed great 7 innings. Witt came in and finished the final 2 innings to complete the no-hitter.

Both guys were class acts and this is one of my highlight pieces in my collection.

RBI (92) A 365 Return Rolls in...

It's been a while since I received a successful 365 challenge return and I've been working on a batch right now, so I thought I'd share the success. It was a quick and very surprising return by a great signer, Arizona Diamondback's starting pitcher Daniel Hudson.

Hudson was a 5th round pick in the 2008 MLB draft, taken by the Chicago White Sox. He flew through the minors and reached the White Sox in September 2009 for a taste of the bigs. He returned to the minors but then was called up in 2010 to replace Jake Peavy following Peavy's injury. Hudson was suitably impressive in his time in the rotation that when the White Sox decided to make a playoff run and wanted veteran innings eater Edwin Jackson, the Diamondbacks took Hudson and a minor leaguer for Jackson.

Hudson was dynamic in the 2011 season, helping ace Ian Kennedy push the Diamondbacks into an unexpected divisional title. He also collected a little piece of hardware for himself in his first year in the National League, being awarded the 2011 Silver Slugger award for a pitcher.

Daniel Hudson was nice enough to personalize and autograph this 2012 Topps Heritage for me c/o the Arizona Diamondbacks after only 12 Days. I'm very happy to have Hudson's reply as I think he's going to be a good solid ace potential pitcher despite his recent injury troubles that will require Tommy John surgery.

On a side note, one of the things that inspired me to write this one was a recent run in with D'backs ace Ian Kennedy. Kennedy informed me he doesn't get to this TTM during the season...but he knew one guy who does...

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.

RBI (90) A Freshman (fish) All-Star...

Well it's official the Angels have 4 selections in the 2012 All-Star Game in Kansas City, and they're sending some fresh fish to the game. And by fresh fish I of course mean 1st time All-Star 20-year old outfielder Mike Trout.

Trouty attended All-Star festivities before in 2010 at the Big A when he was a member of the 2010 XM Futures Game. You can read more about his minor league career and that game in RBI (1) In honor of the events across the pond...

A 2011 call up let Trout flash his Home Run power and speed, but he showed the need to make adjustments at the plate. His 2012 call up has been that and more and he has boosted his average and OBP by more than 100 points to be in contention for the batting title while demonstrating 20/40 potential. His call up has helped sparked the Halos to play some of the best ball in the MLB and push them in contention for a wild card spot.

I doubt this will be the last time Trout makes an appearance at the All Star game so I hope he gets used to not having a break come July. At least this year he will have some comfort having Mark Trumbo, Jered Weaver, and CJ Wilson along for the ride.

I was able to get this Mike Trout autographed 8x10 photograph in person at Angel Stadium before an Angels game and it's a great piece to have with the 2010 Bowman Platinum Mike Trout Autograph I already have.

Update: I'm glad I was able to get such a large photo signed considering how difficult it's become. Especially now that Mike Trout is officially the 2012 AL Rookie of the Year.

Happy Birthday...

to me. It's my birthday. Yay.

Even John Smoltz is happy for me.

RBI (89) Excuse me Mr. Lasorda...

it would mean so much to me if you'd please autograph my ball. That's right folks, this weekend during the 2012 Angels vs Dodgers Freeway Series I was able to get Hall of Fame manager and Dodger icon Tommy Lasorda's autograph.

Lasorda played in the MLB for part of 3 seasons but in the International League became a pitching legend helping the Montreal Royals win 5 Governors Cups. He was counted as a member of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers who won the World Series. After retiring as a player Lasorda joined the Dodgers organization as a scout and began a relationship that would be legendary in baseball.

Joining the franchise as a scout Lasorda eventually worked his way up through the Dodgers organization. As a scout turned minor league manager and then being named 3rd base coach under Walter Alston in 1973. Lasorda was deemed Alston's eventual replacement and when he retired in 1976 he took over the club. As the club's manager he complied a 1,599-1,439 record that included 4 National League pennants and 8 Divisional titles. Of those 4 NL pennants he took the club to win 2 World Series Championships and also took home 2 National League Manager of the Year awards.

The Dodgers retired his #2 and the Cooperstown Hall of Fame Veterans Committee inducted him into the Hall of Fame in 1997. Since retiring as a manager in 1996, Lasorda has been an executive for the organization and entered his 6th decade working for the organization in various capacities. He has the longest running continual service in franchise history, edging out legendary broadcaster Vin Scully by a single season.

I was able to get Tommy Lasorda's autograph on my baseball in person at Angel stadium when he was in attendance to watch his Dodgers play the Angels during the 2012 season.