Crowded event. Luckily while there were plenty of people, the vast majority of them were kids or nice collectors. Never got contentious.

Gates opened at 11 am and practice ran from 1:00-2:00pm.

Gates opening at 11 implied that there would be…something…happening inside by that time. Using that we figured players would start rolling in around 10am.

I was wrong.

Gates opened on time, but the players themselves did not show up until after 12:30 pm. Nobody signed coming off the bus. After standing around for four hours it was kind of disappointing.

No idea who would be in which dugout. The Hawaii home clubhouse is nicer…assumed that is where the MLB players would be. At first, I thought this was the right choice. Media was set up in front of the dugout. Neat.

But I was wrong again.

The coaches for the MLB team walked over, did interviews, and walked back. I guess it was a lighting issue. The University of Hawaii players were there.

So I was forced to move to the other side. By then it was already one deep.

Things got worse when people took their seats and everyone jammed into a 4 foot by 4 foot area. Again, everyone was being nice. Plus it was all little kids in front of me, so I was not in a terrible spot. I am tall.

The real problem was the vast majority of the players would not come over, instead only signing balls for people above the dugout. Lots of guys said they would come over…but none did.

If you really wanted an OMLB signed in a dead sharpie this was an event for you!

After an hour sitting in this spot, I had netted one terrible looking Kirby Yates autograph. At this point, I was thirsty, sunburnt and thinking this event was going to be a complete waste of a Saturday. Then Ronald Acuna walked over.

Things got hectic. Everyone rushed forward and we had ourselves a good old fashion autograph scrum. I was able to get him…but had friends behind me who wanted him as well. He was moving quickly down the line, so I pulled out of the line and let them in. Lost my spot.

Practice ended. Not sure that 8 hours and borderline heat stroke was worth an Acuna autograph. I was ready to go home.

For shits and giggles I went back to the bus. My expectations were rock bottom. When the players arrived security blocked off all access and the player did not stop. Figured more of the same. But I couldn’t not check it out.

I was wrong again.

Assuming you could move fast and recognize guys a few dudes were stopping. I did…pretty ok:

Dan Otero. I am an Indians fan so this is pretty neat. He has been a mainstay of the Tribes bullpen for the last couple of seasons. Hoping he has a nice bounce-back season in 2019.

Chris Taylor has a weird season. Led the league in strikeouts…but otherwise had a very nice year with the Dodgers, hitting .254/.331/.444 with 17 HR, good for an OPS+ of 110.

Enrique Hernandez hit .256/.336/.470 with 21 HR for the Dodgers this season. Not bad for a super utility player.

Mitch Haniger is one of the better catchers in the majors. This season he hit .285/.366/.493 with 26 HR–good for an OPS+ of 139. He was selected to his first All-Star team this season as well.

Eugenio Suarez is probably my favorite player in the National League. I feel like he has been underrated for a little while now, so its nice that he finally is getting the recognition he deserves. This season he hit .283/.366/.526/ with an OPS+ of 135. He was also selected to his first All-Star game this season.

Junior Guerra went 6-9 this season with a 4.09 ERA/1.404 WHIP. His ERA+ is exactly 100, so he is about as league average as you can get.

Don Mattingly. Originally I was not going to go after him, but the night before the event I noticed by old factory set of of 1989 Bowman sitting on my shelf. I figured Mattingly was in. Found his card and thought it would work signed. I generally don’t like to get cards signed that have a facsimile autograph already on them, but I assumed he would sign above it and look fine. I was right, and it did.

Was not a particularly huge Mattingly fan growing up, but it was not from the lack of exposure to him. He was a household name and the only reason I was not a bigger fan was simply that I was from Cleveland. I was too busy loving Cory Snyder and Brook Jacoby.

I don’t think that he makes the Hall of Fame–but he is close. Three Silver Slugger awards, nine Gold Gloves, six All-Star selections, 1984 batting title and 1985 AL MVP. He also led the league in hits twice, RBI once and OPS+ once.

Edgar Martinez Seven All-Star selections, five Silver Sluggers and two batting titles. He also led the league in OBP three times and OPS+ one. A very nice career. Again, he is pretty close to the Hall of Fame. I kind of think he will get in sooner rather than later.

Took over an hour after the rest of the players left for Juan Soto to come out. Security was rough–the dude on the left was not scared to yell–but Soto was still happy to sign for everyone. He was doing it quick though.

Seller on ebay rushed this card to me so I could have it for today. Worked out.

—

This even is going on again today. I am spent. Tired. Sore. Sunburned. If I went back it would be to get one or two guys and Dave Winfield. And I can buy a nice Winfield online for like $20.

So I am spending the day and the beach with my wife and three year old, eating the ticket. I think that is the right answer.