Friday, November 22, 2013

Harlem Wizards

When it was first announced that Manheim Township would be hosting the Harlem Wizards, we knew we wanted to go!  We had seen them back in 2008 for the first time and they were a blast to watch. The Wizards would take on a team of teachers from the Manheim Township School District known as the Blue Streaks Dream Team as a fundraiser for our school.  During the day, the Wizard players visited our different schools and promoted the game.  It must have worked because it was packed!

It was a great night getting to watch the Wizards do their ball handling drills, amazing dunks, funny routines, and also see some of our teachers play as well.  One cool thing they did was between the 3rd and 4th quarter.  They had all of the students come down on the court and dance with them for a few songs.   There was lots of interaction with the fans and it was so much fun. They also have a promotion going on that if you share a photo or video on their facebook page with #slamtastic, you can win a prize pack.  This is the picture we put up...must have been a tiring night for Air Jamaica.  :)

An exhausted Air Jamaica

After the game, the players stayed around so that everyone could get autographs and pictures.  We got a poster to get signed but could only get to 4 of the 6 guys that were there.  Gavin also got his ticket signed by his math teacher, Mr. Seiger. Thank you to the Wizards and Manheim Township for a great night!  Gavin and I start basketball practice in 2 weeks so we were glad to see some new things to try this year :)

Oh, by the way...as if there was any question...the Wizards won! :)


 
  
Blake is the left arrow, Gavin is the right arrow
Dancing with the Wizards
TOJO doing some ball tricks

DP making the full court pass

DP going to wake up King Arthur
Gavin and his Math teacher, Mr. Seiger

TOJO signing our poster

Gavin with Rocket

Gavin with King Arthur

 
 
Today's Autographs: 5
2013 Autographs: 428
2013 My donation: $21.40


Saturday, November 9, 2013

Quack to Quack Champions

One of the best things about going to baseball parks is getting to know people.  We've gotten to know a few people from Long Island and one of them is Emil Coccaro.  Emil is the clubhouse manager for the  Long Island Ducks and battled alopecia as a boy. Earlier in the summer, he brought us some autographed balls and told us he was working on a special project that wouldn't be done until the end of the season.  You can check out that post here... 

http://www.autographs4alopecia.com/2013/06/a-champion-on-and-off-field.html

Emil with the back to back championship trophies


Well, that special project has arrived!

Emil sent us a Kraig Binick game used jersey from the 2012 championship season.  There is a #8 patch on the side in honor of Hall of Famer and former Ducks manager, Gary Carter, and the front of the jersey is autographed by the 2013 Long Island Ducks championship team.  WOW!   When he told us he was working on a project, we had no idea that the Ducks would end up winning their 2nd championship in a row!  He joked in the letter about it being from Long Island, but WE LOVE IT and it will look great hanging in our room.



Thanks Emil!  Can't wait to see you next year!


Today's Autographs: 20
2013 Autographs: 423
2013 My donation: $21.15

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Friends from Long Island

Over the course of the last 2 seasons we've gotten some packages from Kyle in Long Island.  We finally had the chance to meet him and his family last summer when they made the trip to Lancaster.  We had plans to get to Long Island this summer, but there was so much going on and we just didn't make it.  Next year, Long Island is a for sure trip! 

We recently got another package from Kyle and his family that included lots of pocket schedules of NY/NJ teams as well as a few signed cards from the Long Island Ducks.  We really appreciate how he's been able to help us and build a friendship through baseball. 

Thanks Kyle and family...see you next season!

Blake, Kyle, and Gavin in 2012



Today's Autographs: 3
2013 Autographs: 403
2013 My donation: $20.15

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Fall Classic

Tonight starts the 2013 World Series between the Cardinals and Red Sox.  So...who are we picking?  We have ties to both teams.  When Autographs 4 Alopecia kicked off in 2011 we received a package from Dave at Roger Dean Stadium, spring training home of the St Louis Cardinals.  It had some autographed cards of Adam Wainwright, Jason Motte, and Daniel Descalso who are in the World Series this year.  Another connection to the Cardinals is Jamie Pogue.  Jamie played in the Atlantic League for the Long Island Ducks, Bridgeport Bluefish, and for Barnstormers Manager Butch Hobson in Nashua.  He is now the bullpen catcher for the Cardinals.  We have several cards signed of Jamie from before Autographs 4 Alopecia started.

Later in the summer of 2011, we got a package from Mike Napoli that had one of his catchers masks autographed and some cards.  When he was with the Rangers we said his heart was as big as Texas...now he's just Boston Strong! After this season with the Red Sox he is due for another big contract!  ...and we love his beard!

Here is a link to the Mike Napoli post... 

http://www.autographs4alopecia.com/2011/08/heart-as-big-as-texas.html

So, we like both teams and are happy for them, but here are our picks...

Blake... Red Sox in 5
Gavin... Red Sox in 5
Kyle...Cardinals in 7
Mom...Red Sox in 6
Dad...Red Sox in 7

So, who is your pick?



 


 
 
 

 

Monday, October 21, 2013

The Bullpen Rules

Over the last few seasons we've been sitting behind the Barnstormers bullpen and have gotten to know Jeff, Barb, and Casey Rule.  Jeff loves to take pictures.  He has taken some of his best ones and made card size photos for us the last 2 years and shared a few 8x10's.  There is a shot of the bullpen guys, the 2013 All Stars, and 2 of Blake Gailen after he was signed and sent to the Blue Jays AAA.  The Barnstormers also did a poster set this year and we were unable to make those 3 games.  Thanks to Jeff, we have signed posters of Blake Gailen, Lenny Dinardo, and Olmo Rosario.  Thanks Rules!





Today's Autographs: 24
 2013 Autographs: 400
2013 My donation: $20.00

Monday, October 7, 2013

Game 20: Last Baseball Game of the Season

While I had a youth activity, Gavin took his friend Brett to the final game that we'd go to this summer.  The Barnstormers would be ending the season on the road and Gavin had a game Sunday, so this was it for baseball and 2013. 

They got there early so Gavin could get the cards signed that our friend Jeff makes for us.  He takes great pictures and gets them cut down to card size for us.  It's nice especially for the guys that don't have a regular card in the team set. 

The Barnstormers lost the game 7-2 and had a good season but would not be making the playoffs despite the 3rd best record in the league. We had planned on making one of the road games and possibly a Patriots playoff game, but they didn't work out...so this was our last baseball game of 2013!  Stay tuned though...there is more to come.


The fireworks are behind you guys...
 
 


Today's Autographs: 17
 2013 Autographs: 376
2013 My donation: $18.80

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Game 18 and 19: Gone Fishing

Labor Day weekend was a good weekend for baseball as one of our favorites were coming to town...the Bridgeport Bluefish.  We have always enjoyed watching them in Lancaster and York, mainly to see Luis Lopez.  It was good to see Luis and he was classy as always.

Luis Lopez talking to Gavin
Blake getting Yusuf Carter to sign


Saturday night we got to watch Dwayne Pollok tie the Atlantic League record with 18 wins and set the Barnstormers single season strikeout record.  Dwayne has put together 2 straight awesome summers pitching here and someone should sign him in the off season!  It seemed like the only one hitting him was Luis Lopez who was 2-4 Friday and had 6 hits in the 3 game series.
 
2 of our favorites...Dwayne Pollok vs Luis Lopez
 
Sunday was fun as always as we got to play catch on the field.  Kyle was with us and played catch  and helped us get autographs too.  He was excited to help get autographs, but was really excited to see Elmo was there and handing out goldfish.

Down on the field

Kyle with Elmo

Jerry Owens signing autographs

Kyle waiting to get his ball signed

It was a great series as the Barnstormers won 2 out of 3 to keep their slim playoff hopes alive!



Today's Autographs: 48
 2013 Autographs: 359
2013 My donation: $17.95



Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Game 17: War of the Roses Finale

After Gavin and I got back from NY, we were going to catch 1 more game before school started.  Sunday afternoon we went to the final War of the Roses game between the Lancaster Barnstormers and York Revolution.  We knew this would be the last time we'd see York, so I went to get the Revolution and Gavin stayed to get some of the Barnstormers 2013 card set signed. 

Travis Denker signing autographs

As Gavin was getting Brodie Downs to sign his card, Brodie asked Gavin to sign the inside bill of his hat.  He had other kids sign it too and said how cool it was for the kids to sign.  Here is a great article in our newpaper about Brodie. 

http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/886980_Late-bloomer-Downs-wants-to-be-on-the-hill--not-over-it.html

Gavin signing Brodie Downs hat

York won the season series, but Lancaster took the game today in a 1-0 pitchers dual! A "back to school" cheese steak, a great ball game, and some good autographs...and then home to watch Japan and California in the Little League World Series championship!



Today's Autographs: 41
 2013 Autographs: 311
2013 My donation: $15.55

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Game 16: Clowning Around with Kyle

My Grandpa has been in the hospital and we wanted to get to visit one more time before school started so Gavin and I went to NY to see him and my Grandma.  There was a clown convention going on in Lancaster last week, so dad took Kyle to the Barnstormers game where they were having a clown parade on Friday. 

Cylo's #1 fan






Kyle LOVED the clowns!  We weren't sure if he would like them or be scared but dad said he just wanted to walk around and look at clowns and Cylo.  There were over 100 clowns there and Kyle got to meet many of them and get his picture with them.  It was also team card set giveaway and so Kyle went down to get a few of his cards signed too.  He did really well...probably because he was so cute they couldn't refuse! 

Gustavo Molina signing for Kyle

Another Clown in the bullpen

Saturday morning there was a write up in the newspaper about the clowns being there and Kyle was in one of the pictures too!  He had so much fun and saw LOTS of clowns...I just hope he doesn't expect them all the time at games now :)

Kyle in the Lancaster Newspaper



 Today's Autographs: 14
 2013 Autographs: 270
2013 My donation: $13.50

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Autographs at the Little League World Series

One of the fun parts of the Little League World Series was walking around and meeting the players.  Dicks Sporting Goods gave away autograph books with a page for each team that made it really nice for getting signatures.  When we came home it makes it more fun watching the games because we can say that we met some of the kids.  ESPN also has a lot going on there and we were able to get Nomar Garciaparra and Orel Hershiser to sign for us as well. If you've never watched the LLWS, there are a few games left...check it out.  So here are some of the autographs we got while in Williamsport.









LLWS Autographs: 57
 2013 Autographs: 256
2013 My donation: $12.80