Game 12: ValleyCats, #1 Draft Pick Mark Appel, & Tommy John

We were in NY last weekend to visit family and wanted to make the trip to Albany to see the Tri City ValleyCats.   I can say that no team has been more supportive of us and our efforts than the ValleyCats.  Two years ago, Michelle Skinner sent us several packages including lots of old card sets, bobble heads, t shirts, and other fun team stuff.  The coolest thing she did was get the ValleyCats and Finnigan's Sports Cards to team up and make a donation to NAAF from their card sales. 

Michelle Skinner with a signed copy of the NAAF newsletter

ValleyCats and Jeff Finnigan's donation to NAAF

We went to go see the ValleyCats and get one of those big checks on the field in August of 2011 when THIS happened.  While we never made it up there then, we knew this was our chance.  We were going to go on Friday the 5th but the team announced that #1 draft pick, Mark Appel, would be making his professional debut. While it would have been cool to see him pitch, there was a slight problem.  1. It would be PACKED!  2.  Pitchers don't sign autographs on the days the pitch. 

We really wanted to try to get his autograph, so we waited until Saturday to go...Good choice!  On our way there, Michelle called and said they had Tommy John there speaking to fans about ALS.  While he would go out for the first pitch, he wanted to let a kid throw it for him.  Michelle let Gavin and I throw out the first pitch for Tommy John. Most kids only know Tommy John for the surgery, but Gavin and I already knew him.  He was the manager of the Bridgeport Bluefish from 2007 to 2009.  It was fun to talk to him about the Atlantic League and the time he spent visiting Lancaster. 

Tommy John with Blake and Gavin

Last minute tips from Tommy John

First Pitches

After the pitches, we got to stand down on the line for the National Anthem.  Mark Appel came out to line up with the team but we thought it might be too late.  We asked Michelle if we could get his autograph real quick after the anthem and she said yes.  Mark was very nice and signed a ball for Gavin and I.  The game was about to start so we didn't ask to get a picture with him but the autographed balls are awesome!

#1 Draft pick Mark Appel

The ballpark is really nice and very family friendly.  We loved the speed pitch...I topped out at 51 and Gavin topped out at 44.  Kyle loved Southpaw...and Spiderman.  It was superhero night so he kept wanting to go see Spiderman.

Kyle and Spiderman

Kyle batting

Blake pitching

Gavin pitching

Finnigan's Sports Cards machine

Michelle gave me the magnet from the machine they had on in 2011

It was a beautiful night and good to finally get to meet Michelle and thank her for all she and the staff have done for us!  They are a first class operation! Thanks again...we will be back!

Kyle got Southpaw's autograph

Mark Appel x2, Tommy John

Today's Autographs:  12
2013 Autographs: 176
2013 My donation: $8.80

Tri City Valley Cats

When we started out our autograph campaign in the spring, I sent a letter to minor league teams seeking donations of any old card sets they might have left. We have lots of minor league baseball teams in the area, both affiliated and independent leagues. This would give us the opportunity to get those cards signed and we couldn't afford to buy them all. I knew not all the teams would respond and would be thankful for any team that did respond. If you read the early posts on our blog you can see that many teams participated. Gavin and I couldn't wait to check the mail to see if we got something. There is one team that had several responses...the Tri City Valley Cats. They are the short season team for the Houston Astros. Back in April, Michelle Skinner sent us a package that included LOTS of team card sets, t shirt, Ben Zobrist bobble head, and stickers. That was by far more than we expected and we were so thankful...but there's more. We received a letter in June stating that the Valley Cats and Finnigans Sports Cards would be teaming up to make a donation to NAAF through Autographs 4 Alopecia.



We headed out the week before school to catch a game in Troy, NY and receive a check for NAAF. Unfortunately this happened and we never made it. When we got home from Cleveland there was a package waiting for us from Michelle and the Valley Cats. When we opened the box, there were t shirts, hats, stadium replica, baseballs, 2011 team card set, and a Hunter Pence bobble head. There was also a check in there for $300! We are so thankful to Michelle, Jeff at Finnigans Sports Cards, and the entire Valley Cats organization for their thoughtfulness. We will definitely be visiting the Capital region next summer and already can't wait!

911 What is your emergency?

Well...what a week! We started out early Wednesday morning and headed to Troy, NY, home of the Tri City Valley Cats. They have been raising money for NAAF this season with their baseball card machine and were going to present a check on the field before the game Wednesday night. About 1:00 we heard a BOOM and pulled over to the side of the road. Blown tire... no big deal we have a spare. Dad got the lug nuts off the front tire and went to jack up the van. The jack bent and buckled on him. Now we have the spare out, lug nuts off, but can't get the van up to change it...so we wait. We thought someone might stop and even tried to flag a few down thinking we could just use their jack. After no one stopped, dad called a tire store about a mile and a half away but they would have to tow us because we were on the side of a major highway. Against moms wishes, dad called 911. They were going to send some help. After about an hour, a state trooper pulled up behind us and said that the NJDOT will be coming. After about another hour dad called 911 again. Apparently they were busy that day. Since Kyle had finished his last bottle and we had no more water with us, we thought they would come quicker...NOPE! Finally, Tony showed up in his NJDOT service truck and got out a hydraulic jack. So after 3 1/2 hours on the side of Rt 287 in New Jersey (with 1 pack of Twizzlers and 2 sodas for everyone) we were on our way. Since the tire was blown, it couldn't be patched we had to go get a tire. We knew there would be no way to make it to the Valley Cats that night, so we called and rescheduled it for Thursday night. The good news is we were 5 minutes away from the Somerset Patriots so we headed over to TD Bank Ballpark. We talked to our friend Rob and he told us of a few tire stores close by. Now for the bad news...NO ONE HAS THE TIRE IN STOCK! Not even the same tire...we just wanted the same size! Pep Boys told us they would have it the earliest at about 10am on Thursday. So, we headed back to the ballpark to catch a game...against our Lancaster Barnstormers. We got a hotel and would be back on the road in the morning...or so we thought. After breakfast, Gavin and I wanted to take a quick dip in the pool. We didn't know it would be THAT quick. Shortly after we got out there it started to pour down rain! That wasn't really a big deal until we started to hear thunder. So we checked out and headed to Pep Boys...and, no tire! It didn't make the truck and they never bothered to call us. Next earliest tire delivery would be around 4:00! It was at another store 25 miles away so we asked for the address. We thought we would just go there...but it was 25 miles in the WRONG direction! The service manager said he would go pick it up for us and to come back in a couple of hours. There was a Chuck E Cheese right there so we went and played games for a while. After a while we headed back and they had the tire! It was still too late to make it to the Valley Cats so we had to call Michelle again. With their season coming to an end, we wouldn't make it up this season. So around 3:30 we headed home! The Barnstormers were giving away Cylo t shirts that night so we thought we would get home in time for that game at least. After spending an hour and a half going just 5 miles we were in PA! Not sure if the traffic was just construction or people leaving NJ/NY because of hurricane Irene, but it was heavy! We finally got home around 6:30 and went to get our t shirts! So here is how we can sum up our trip:

Felt like this...

Saw too much of this:

and this...

and missed out on this...

but ended up back here...

and got one of these...

...and that's the short story! What a couple of days! Thanks to Michelle and the Tri City Valley Cats and what you have done for NAAF this summer and raising awareness. We are so thankful and will definately make it up next summer!

Tri City Valley Cats

I received a letter this week from Michelle Skinner at the Tri City Valley Cats. They are the single A short season for the Houston Astros and play in the New York-Penn league. Earlier in the season Michelle sent me a box full of goodies...card sets, bobble heads, t shirts, and many signed cards. That was an awesome day getting the mail and going through all the stuff. This week Michelle sent me a letter that they have been brainstorming ways to help alopecia.


Finnigan's Sports Cards is a local card shop in Albany and they are sponsoring the baseball card machine at Joseph L Bruno Stadium, home of the Valley Cats. Finnigan's Sports Cards have partnered with the Valley Cats to support our cause by donating half of all the proceeds to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation through Autographs 4 Alopecia!


We will be traveling to New York late in the season to be recognized and be presented with our donation! Thanks Michelle, Valley Cats staff, and Finnigan's Sports Cards for your much appreciated effort!

More Mail!

A few more teams have responded with cards, first pitches and donations. I wanted to thank the Syracuse Chiefs, Pittsfield Colonials, and the TriCity Valley Cats for their support in helping me. Thanks you so much for your help!