Last weekend, I went to MAB Celebrity Service’s Pinstripe Parade autograph show with my friend Bart. It was kind of overwhelming, really.
People bought around 300 tickets at $60 a piece for New York Yankees prospect Gleyber Torres’ autograph. Alex Rodriguez, in his first area autograph signing in more than a decade, might have been even more popular even though his autograph tickets started at $149 and went up depending on what you were getting signed. New Hall of Fame member Chipper Jones was doing his first signing since the election announcement, and he was also very in demand.
It didn’t feel like there was enough space for all of the people who were waiting for autographs, and I was thankful that I wasn’t getting any so I could steer clear of the densest crowds.
But I did come home with a selection of 15 bargain-priced signed Mets photos for a total cost of around what my friend spent to get one baseball card signed by Gleyber Torres.
Yesterday, I got a signed baseball card back in the mail from Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo, from a request I mailed to Mets spring training camp last February. Unlike the photo he signed for me at the Queens Baseball Convention last month, Nimmo personalized the card for me. Very cool.
Other odds & ends
- Mets GM Sandy Alderson told fans and media that the Mets probably won’t be signing free agent 3B Mike Moustakas, who would require draft pick compensation. Is anyone surprised? (To be fair, I think the Mets would be better off re-signing Neil Walker or picking up Eduardo Nunez and ignoring Asdrubal Cabrera’s desire to play second base, but that’s just me.)
- The Mets acquired minor league LHP Daniel Zamora from the Pittsburgh Pirates for LHP Josh Smoker on Wednesday. Smoker was designated for assignment to open a roster spot for Jose Reyes, and seems to have a legitimate chance to crack the Pirates’ bullpen. Zamora is a 24-year-old reliever who’s put up good minor league numbers but has only pitched three innings above the Single-A level.
- The Mets Police has a look at the 2018 Topps Mets baseball cards. They chose some really cool photos this year, and the design makes me think of old Fleer Ultra and Topps Stadium Club products (mostly a good thing.) Not sure I can get used to the swoosh that partially covers the first letter of the player’s first name, though.
I need to order mine - All 30 MLB teams will have expanded protective netting in place by Opening Day. Pretty sure there will be a lot of complaints in April/May, and it will be a non-issue for most people by Memorial Day. While there’s a low chance a fan will be injured by a foul ball or broken bat during a game, it just makes sense to reduce that chance to as close to zero as you can. So good job, MLB, for taking this step.
- Mark Appel, the number one overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft, is stepping away from baseball to pursue a business degree and a more normal career. Appel will be the third number one pick in the history of the MLB draft not to reach the majors if he leaves the game for good.
PaulHadsall.com 