Gavin Floyd Autograph - Tampa Bay Rays game 2010

Autograph: Gavin Floyd

Date: 5/30/2010

Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL

Event: Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago White Sox

This one isn't all that impressive. I was at a Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago White Sox game, Floyd was by the bullpen down the third base line. He had pitched 2 days before and was finishing up a bullpen session before the game. Once he was done with the bullpen session he came over and signed autographs for a while and I got my hand in there. Not sure why he didn't go for the sweet spot on the ball, I guess he doesn't feel worthy.

Evan Longoria Autograph - Rays fan fest 2010

Autograph: Evan Longoria

Date: 2/20/2010

Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL

Event: Rays Fan Fest

Rays fan fest is a great way to get autographs of your favorite players. However, it requires a lot of waiting in line. I waited in line about 3 hours for Longoria. This includes getting there an hour early then waiting 2 hours after the doors to the event opened for his signing time. I was about 20th in line of a line of easily over 300. Longoria was signing anything and had no problem signing in the sweet spot. Rays Fan Fest had lines for several other top players as well but by the time I got Longorias autograph I was very tired of waiting in line and didn't want to wait another 1.5 hours for another rays player. I later got an autograph that day from Hall of Famer Robin Roberts in a much shorter line. If your local team has a fan fest each year I strongly recommend going.

Jimmy Rollins Autograph - Phillies Spring Training 2004

Autograph: Jimmy Rollins

Date: 3/13/2004

Location: Brighthouse Networks Field, Clearwater, FL

Event: Spring Training - Phillies

Jimmy Rollins was signing autographs behind home plate just to the first base side of the net. He was signing for a while as I had enough time to get down there from the other side of the stadium. This one was particularly exciting to me as it was my first card autograph... unfortunately not on that exciting of a card.

Jason Giambi Autograph - Spring Training - Yankees vs Phillies 2003

Autograph: Jason Giambi

Date: 3/17/2003

Location: Legends Field, Tampa, FL (now Steinbrenner Field)

Event: Spring Training - Yankees vs Phillies

Jason Giambi was signing autographs before the game on the third base side by the net for about 30 minutes. I just got down there and reached my arm in there with this game used ball. This was one of my earlier autographs so I stupidly used a very cheap pen. 7 years later this autograph has faded out completely and is no longer visible. Lesson learned: use a good pen!