My Return to Orioles Alumni Autographing

I've written about it a few times over the years, but the Orioles do something pretty awesome prior to every Monday and Thursday home game; they bring back three alumni players to meet fans and sign autographs on Eutaw Street. Due to some changed responsibilites with work, I wasn't able to make many (maybe any?) of the alumni signings last year, but I've already made it to one this season.

The Orioles don't typically announce who is signing beforehand, but a few people on collecting sites sometimes seem to get some insider info about who will be showing up. And I heard a few weeks back that John Stefero, who I needed to get a personalized upgrade of, would be in town. Also signing that night were Ken Dixon, and Chris Hoiles.

I tried to snap a few pictures of the former O's as I worked my way through the line but it was easier said then done, here is one of my first attempts, that shows Chris Hoiles being cool and standing up for a selfie with a fan. (Yes, that's definitely my first mention of the word selfie on my site.)

Here is a somewhat better shot of the three signers as I neared the front of the line. 

And here's the autograph I was after, it's always a good day for me when I can knock another personalized autograph off.

Chris Hoiles was awesome as always and signed three cards for Kalina and me. He was one of her favorite players and it's always easier to ask for her to help me out when he's involved.

I was able to snag signed postcards of Dixon and Stefero as well. As you can see in my pictures, the players generally have a pre-signed stack of them for people to grab, so I always try to not be too greedy. But when I have autographs sitting in front of me, it's hard to resist!

I only had the one card of Stefero's for him to sign, but I was just happy to get the personalized auto. Dixon signed these two cards of me, but I have to say that he always seems distracted at these signings and pays much more time talking to his former teammates than interacting with the fans. An autograph is an autograph, but a simple acknowledgement at these types of things are always nice.

I hope to be able to make at least a few more of these alumni signings throughout the season. I hope that you fellow collectors might be able to use them to improve your collections too.

UGH- Getting Swept at Home Is Horrible

The Tigers wrapped up their three game sweep of the O's today at Camden Yards and it was garbage. After having won five games in a row last week, the Birds have now dropped four straight at home. Now I know the Tigers are the best team in the A.L. (and it showed), but the Orioles should have at least won Tuesday's game if not for the shocking implosion of possibly not-the-closer-anymore, Tommy Hunter.

I think I feel about this sweep the way Mike DeJean felt about getting this picture taken, just not in the mood, ya know? Or maybe it was just how Mike felt about his time with the Orioles, during which he was 0-5 with a 6.13 ERA over 37 games in the first half of the 2004 season. He was traded to the Mets for Karim Garcia on July 19, 2004 to mercifully end his time with the O's.

Now Mike did pitch 565 MLB games over ten seasons for five teams, but those 37 games for the O's were his only time in the American League. The National League was much more kind to him, where he accrued a 30-28 record and a 4.18 ERA.