RBI (198) Liz Carmouche…

Recently I started to prepare for the upcoming baseball season by printing out some photos to start loading up my folder for this season. While going through my box of photos I still had from last year I ran across a few of the MMA photos I hadn't been able to get signed yet. I decided to pop by the post office and send a TTM request to UFC fighter Liz Carmouche.

Carmouche made history becoming the first woman to enter the octagon to fight women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey at UFC 157 in Anaheim. I hadn't been able to get Carmouche's autograph during fight week so I decided to take a shot through the mail.

I got this Liz Carmouche autographed 8x10 photograph from her pre-UFC days back in only 6 days after I sent it to her care of her gym. She's currently preparing to fight again for the promotion against Miesha Tate so I'm grateful she took some time from her training to sign for a fan. Also I really appreciate how she took the time to find the dark spot of the photo to sign with her silver sharpie, it's the little things that show if a signer cares or not and it means a lot to me that she did.

It was a historic moment for Liz to walk into the Octagon in the UFC and I'm glad I was there to see it happen in person. I'm glad to include both female fighters in my collection now from that night.

You can follow Liz Carmouche @iamgirlrilla on Twitter.

RBI (197) More Tianna G

If you missed my previous post about getting a print of Tianna G, I suggest you check it out. I opted to pick up another Tianna G print to rotate through the frames on my wall and I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. I mean…Tianna G is hot, who wouldn't be happy with it.

Not bad huh? I'm not sure I'll ever be able to pass up picking a print or poster of Tianna G if I've got the chance to snag one. Between Shay Maria, Tianna G and Alysha Nett I'm thinking I'll need to find a copy of the Dawn and Justene Jaro to add in.

RBI (196) Mike Epps at Ontario Improv 1/17/14

Part of my goal for this past off season was to increase the events I graph. I tried out the NHL by graphing the Ducks, went to a new charity event and to wrap up the season decided to try out a comedy club. Actor and comedian Mike Epps was performing at the Ontario Improv so I decided to try getting him to put in my collection. He's hilarious and been in numerous hit movies so I thought it'd be a fun way to try graphing something new while adding part of Hollywood to my collection.

To be honest this was a lot harder than I anticipated. First off the Ontario Improv has 3 different entry doors with 4 different parking lots with 3 separate walkways and rear mall access. Essentially to have no blind spot you're too far back from the different lots to actually do anything besides see the guy walk in. To make matters even better I decided to go hang out and wait on a Friday during a 3-day weekend. Did I mention the Improv is directly across from an AMC movie theatre and Gameworks also shares the courtyard too? Yeah supposedly I'm supposed to be good at this kind of thing.

I missed Mike Epps walking in because of misplaying my positioning with the lots and just being overwhelmed with the sheer volume of faces to check as they walked into and out of the mall/Gameworks/AMC. I returned home disappointed to miss my chance but after recharging my batteries and catching a bite to eat I decided I wouldn't be blanked by Mike Epps. I returned to the club to try catching him after his second show. Well wouldn't you know I was able to find him the second time!

First he was nice enough to sign a photo of him playing Day-Day in Friday After Next. Yes he did misspell my name, but I don't think Day-Day would be that great a speller do you?

After signing the first photo he signed a photo from The Hangover 3 playing Black Doug, but he spelled my name correctly in this one.

I'm really glad to add these Mike Epps' autographed photographs to my collection considering he's been in numerous successful movie franchises. The "Friday", "Hangover and "Resident Evil" franchises are all some serious credits so I'm happy to have Epps autograph. He was really pleasant to talk to, didn't mind taking the time to signing the multiples and took a photo with me. It was a great experience to meet him and I'm glad I stepped up my game to get the actor's autograph.

RBI (195) Taijuan Walker...

At the end of the year I was able to do a nifty trade with one of my friends from the stadium that unlike the real baseball world was actually able to help both of us out. In the trade I was able to get Seattle Mariners stud pitching prospect Taijuan Walker. The Mariners have been making waves with their moves this past off season and Walker is one of the reasons why management is looking to finally make a real line up to put up runs for the rotation. Felix Hernandez, Iwakuma, Walker and fellow prospect Danny Hultzen are making the rest of the American League take note of the pitchers the Mariners will be putting on the mound for this year.

I'm looking forward to seeing Walker develop into a big leaguer so I'm glad to have this Taijuan Walker autographed baseball in my collection from this early in what hopes to be a bright career.

Autograph Opportunity, February 8, 2014 Vince Ferragamo

Well folks I thought it'd be a good way to start off 2014 by passing along a Southern California autograph appearance, this one by former NFL QB Vince Ferragamo. Ferragamo is of Los Angeles Rams and Super Bowl XIV fame, appearing on 2 Sports Illustrated covers so he's a nifty pick up for collectors. There are few NFL autograph opportunities in Southern California so be sure to take advantage of the chance graciously provided by Dr. Alex Corbin Liu, an optometrist to the stars and friend of autograph seekers.

Vince Ferragamo will appear at Dr. Liu's practice in Rowland Heights on Saturday February 8, 2014 from 2:00-3:00 for an autograph and photo opportunity. I've heard previous events held by Dr. Liu have been top notch so check it out if you've got the chance to make it to this Southern California autograph signing.

2013 Graphing Highlights

This was a great year for graphing and here are some of my favorite pieces I was able to get and why.

After trying to get him for two years I was finally able to get Albert Pujols' autograph on a photo I took of him at the press conference introducing him to the Angels. It may not be the nicest of signatures, or remotely legible, but I was able to put the future Hall of Famer and former MVP in my collection.

One of my favorite players Justin Masterson was named to his first All Star game so I immediately picked up a jersey to add to my collection. I've had a nice few encounters with the fan friendly All Star pitcher, and was really happy when he autographed and inscribed the All Star jersey I picked up of him.

Dustin Pedroia autographed the jersey I've had for a few years and it's definitely one of my favorite all time pieces. Not only is Pedroia one of my favorite players but putting another piece in the collection for a jersey I picked up extra shifts in college to purchase is personally rewarding.

Future NHL Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne was one of my first hockey autographs and he signed this puck. It definitely makes the yearly highlight since it's the hockey legend's farewell tour before he retires.

I did really well this year adding to my UFC autograph collection, and I was able to add future UFC Hall of Famer and legend Georges St-Pierre's autograph on this 8x10 photograph. Considering he's such a big draw he'd fight in Vegas or Canada getting him at the UFC World Media Tour was really one of my few options to add him to my collection.

NBA superstar Blake Griffin autographed this Clippers jersey for me at a KIA appearance at the Los Angeles Auto Show. He's putting together another great season and hopefully the Clippers are able to make a long run with him at the forefront.

I added plenty of other autographs, interviews and stories this year but those are some of my favorite highlights. Of course getting Mariano Rivera, Dan Henderson and James Harden were also great autographs to pick up, but there's too many to post. I'm quite happy though that I was able to finish off the year branching off from just graphing with a great interview by Angels' pitcher Hector Santiago, a Grant Green interview and reviewing Jon Hart's book Man Versus ball.

Big League Moment Angels Pitcher Hector Santiago Interview

For the 2014 off season the Angels participated in a 3-team trade to try to solve the rotation problems of the previous season. Slugger Mark Trumbo was dealt and in return the Halo's received two young arms Tyler Skaggs, a former Angel prospect, and Hector Santiago. Santiago is developing into a reliable arm in the rotation, building up a solid innings count with a very good K/9 ratio supporting his 3.56 ERA. While many writers are focusing on the potential of Skaggs, Santiago's arm has the potential to be the key bridge in the rotation for Halos this season and farther down the line.

Santiago was kind enough to do an interview and answer a few questions for me about his MLB career.

First off, new member of the Angels. How did you find out about the trade? Who broke the news to you about it?

"Rick Hahn, GM of White Sox called me."

How did you find out you were being called up to the Majors with the White Sox in 2011?

"My Double A manager called me early Sunday morning and asked if I could pitch for the Sox at night."

After your call up did any player go out of their way to show you the day to day of being a big leaguer and help mentor you?

"No not really I kept to myself and just went about my business."

Pitching coach Don Cooper, what was his biggest piece of advice to you as a young pitcher? 

"He always said focus and fastball command two big things pitchers need to have success."

You're a fan favorite in Chicago and likely one in the Anaheim being so twitter active. What's the biggest thing fans can do to show you support?

"Fans show their support all the time through twitter but actually showing up to games and cheering us on in good and bad times gives us confidence and trust in the fans. We love when we talk out and see our teams colors and logos all over the place. "

The White Sox are a popular franchise, how do you feel about autograph seekers? Do you mind it? Anything you especially enjoy signing?

"I don't mind signing anything or anytime but I hope that fans understand that we are at work and we can't always stop and sign. But I try to sign as much as I can! And I like signing team baseballs the most because it shows your team fan! But sweet spot is pretty cool!

This team is gonna be great. I see some MVP type seasons ahead and hopefully a Cy Young! Don't forget about Rookie of the Year!"

It was great of Hector Santiago to do spend some of his offseason doing this interview and I'm looking forward to him becoming an anchor in the Angels rotation for years to come. If you don't follow him on twitter you should follow the fan friendly pitcher's twitter @HecSantiago53