Whitey Herzog Dallas Card Show May 2022

I picked up Whitey Herzog at the May Dallas Card Show. I got there ‘early’ and was 10th in line. He was nice. He chatted and told tales.  I got lost on one tale, not sure if it happened with the Texas Rangers or another team. It seems there was a truck accident and it spilled the contains; which were women’s nylons. The owner managed to get the contents and that became a promotion night giveaway.

Whitey had everyone laughing.

AH

Robin Yount 2011 TriStar Houston

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

This was a quick day trip to Houston and back. Robin Yount was at the TriStar Houston show.

AH

Carl Yastrzemski 1999 National Atlanta

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

The 99 National in Atlanta was interesting. The Wife and I had a good time.  The airline needed our seats and paid us very good money for them. Then the next flight we were upgrade to 1^st class.   I nice start to the day.

I had heard of Carl Yastrzemski my whole live. Even though I wasn’t a Red Sox fan, I was excited to get his autograph.

AH

Dave Winfield National 2002 Chicago

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

I was happy to add Dave Winfield to my collection. I do remember him being a big guy and he interacted with some fans as he signed.

AH

Dick Williams TriStar Houston 2009

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

I don’t remember anything about this signing other I drove to Houston. I just know I was happy to add Dick Williams to my collection

AH

Frank Thomas TriStar Houston 2012

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

I can’t believe this was 8 years ago.  As is often the case, I drove down to Houston early in the morning. Frank Thomas was friendly an all smiles.  

AH

Don Sutton

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

Again, I don’t remember much about Don Sutton’s signing. I’m pretty sure it was at a National card show.

I remember him from the Dodgers when both they and the Phillies were trying to make the playoffs in the later 70’s

AH

Bruce Sutter TriStar Houston 2008

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

Again, I don’t remember much about Bruce Sutter’s signing.

As is often the case, I drove down to Houston early in the morning. Got a few autographs. Then rushed back to Dallas to try to beat the traffic.

AH

Warren Spahn

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

Again, this is most likely from a National but I don’t know which year or city. I don’t remember much about Warren Spahn.  This was always a legendary name to me I know I was excited to see him in person.

AH

Duke Snider

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

Again, this is most likely from a National but I don’t know which year or city. I don’t remember much about Duke Snider other than the boyish grin of his.

AH

Ozzie Smith Houston 1998

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

Since the National was in Chicago in 98, this must have been a TriStar event in Houston.

When I handed over my ball, Ozzie Smith looked up. He saw my UofA shirt.  He mentioned a good friend of his went to Arizona.  I asked who and he said Terry Francona.  Ozzie asked me if I knew him. Nope, I never met hm. His minor league career started before I enrolled.  Although the dorm I lived in was across the street from baseball stadium, I never saw him play. However, he was the current manager of the Phillies and I was excited about that.

Ozzie and I chatted for a moment or two longer. Much like Steve Carlton, he wanted to say a few things and the handlers were trying to shoo me off. I was willing to leave as others were still in line but Ozzie didn’t let them.

I don’t remember the details of our conversation but I KNOW I must have mentioned I saw him at the All-Star Game in Philly. It was Ozzie’s last year playing.  My parents got me tickets to the game and The Wife and I sat in the nose bleed section of The Vet. It was awesome!

AH

Lee Smith

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

Somehow even after Lee Smith was retired and I saw him at a National, he still intimidated me. I can’t image standing at the plate against him.

AH

Enos Slaughter

 More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

This must be from a National before the year 2000.  I only remember how impressed I was to actually get Enos Slaughter to sign a baseball for me. It didn’t matter I was in line with a 100 other people. I was fairly new at this and he was a legend.

AH

Tom Seaver Arlington 1999

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

Do you remember Y2K and the hysteria?  I was changing careers because of Y2K. I was learning COBOL. I was in class and we were told we needed to attend an all-day Saturday session. I asked the instructor if I could leave early and come back before class ended.  I wanted to get Tom Seaver’sautograph.

The instructor smiled and said, for Tom Terrific, I could do that.  While I struggled with parts of COBOL, it was worth it.

AH

Ryne Sanberg

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

While he could have been a Phillie, it was probably better he was a Cubbie.

I probably got Ryne Sanberg at a Chicago National but I ‘m not sure.

AH

Nolan Ryan TTM

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

I’m pretty certain this Nolan Ryan autograph was done through the mail. I did it when I was first laid off. I don’t think he does that anymore. At one time, you sent a donation to his charity with a baseball or card, he would return it signed. It was fairly fast.

The one ball I got signed in person I gave to a friend.  A SDCC friend. Yes, I bet you were waiting for me to bring up ComicCon. I was going to SDCC for years and had a nodding acquaintance relation with a small group of collectors. As prepared as I was for autographs, they knew SOOO much more. We crossed path several times every day.  One day, we actually started talking. They helped me a lot. One year, they gave me an extra Stan Lee ticket. I was shocked. That was super rare at SDCC. It was a gift.

To repay that kindness, when I found out that the husband was a HUGE Ryan fan, I sent him my signed Ryan Ball.  It was a surprise and he was just at surprised and excited as I was for the Stan Lee.

AH

Ivan Rodriguez Arlington 99

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

If this was like any other TX Rangers Fan Fest, I’m sure I got in line at o’Dark Thirty , in the cold and waited hours to get to get Ivan(Pudge) Rodriguez’s autograph. I should have hung out at the ball park more to avoid the line.

He was friendly and gracious.

AH

Frank Robinson Chicago National 1998

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

If I remember correctly, I went to the 98 National with The Wife and two friends from Jersey. We had a great time although we only saw each other at the end of the day. We all had separate agendas. 

Frank Robinson was one of a few autographs I obtained there.

AH

Brooks Robinson

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

Being a Phillies Phan, I know who Brooks Robinson is. His fans are always telling me he was a better 3^rd baseman than Schmidt. Well, it might (or might not) be fun to debate. Still a great addition to my signed ball collection.

AH

Robin Roberts

More Mr. Peabody and the WABAC trips…

Being a Phillies Phan, I had to add Robin Roberts to my collection. I’m not sure where I got him to sign. I think it was a Cleveland National but I’m not sure.

AH