1993 Ted Williams, Bert Campaneris

#44 Bert Campaneris

This is the third and final Bert Campaneris card that I got signed at the Willie Wilson Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City. The game was held in July after the All-Star break. You can see the first card that he signed here and the second one here. Also, you can see the one card that I got signed by him the previous year here.

There really isn't anymore to say about this autograph that I didn't say in any of the other Campaneris posts. But, like I said in the last Wills post, this set is great for autographs. This one is black and white and the black Sharpie really stands out. The Wills card had some color and the blue Sharpie really went well with the Dodger Blue in his uniform. I wish that I could say I planned it that way.

1982 Donruss, John Wathan

#86 John Wathan

Here is the third and final card that I got signed by John Wathan at the Willie Wilson Classic.

I caught a bit of Game 6 of the '85 World Series today on the MLB Network. John Wathan pinch ran in the ninth for Hal McRea because he is pretty fast for a catcher.

1981 Topps, John Wathan

#157 John Wathan

Here is the second card of John Wathan that I got signed prior to the Willie Wilson classic last month.

For those of you that do not know, John set the catchers stolen base mark in 1982 when he swiped 31 bases. I have no idea if that is still a record or not. But, according to Ryan Lefebvre and Frank White, the Royals TV announcers, John Wathan hates the phrase "fast for a catcher". According to those two, John thinks that if you are fast, you are fast regardless of what position you play. Whenever they bring it up on a broadcast, it usually goes something like this- "Don't tell John Wathan this, but that guy is fast for a catcher".

1978 Topps, John Wathan

#343 John Wathan

I got this card signed at the Willie Wilson Classic this year. I was able to get all of my cards signed as John was walking up to the ballpark from the parking lot. John was mobbed by a ton of fans and he signed for every single one of them. It was cool to see.

John only signed two of my three cards. But after the mob started to thin out, I sent my dad over to get this card signed.

John was the only player playing for the old-time Royals that night that wasn't a member of the team Hall of Fame. But, they needed a catcher and opted for John Wathan over Jamie Quirk. John is almost 60 years old, but he went out there and started the game behind the plate. I was definitely impressed.

1976 Topps, Bert Campaneris

#580 Bert Campaneris

Here is the second card that Bert signed for me at this years Willie Wilson Classic. When I was getting my cards ready for the event, it came down to either taking this card or Bert's '75 Topps card. I love getting the '75 cards signed, but the photo on that card has Bert sitting on the edge of the dugout and it is really dark in the photo. So, I took this one with me instead and am really pleased with the result.

1969 Topps, Bert Campaneris

#495 Bert Campaneris

This is one of the cards that Bert signed for me at this years Willie Wilson Classic. He was the only player that signed for me prior to the game. He actually signed for many people and was willing to sign anything that anyone wanted signed. It it wasn't for him, my trip to the old-timers game would have been almost a complete wash.

I got a card signed by him at last years game, too. At the time, it was the only card of him that I had (or so I thought). So, this past year, I have grabbed any older cards of him that I could find in anticipation of this years event. So, I was lucky to at least get him to sign for me.

The black Sharpie I used for this card looks a little better than the blue I used on Maury's card yesterday. But, the next two Maury Wills cards look good in blue, so I can't complain.

Speaking of the Willie Wilson Classic, I am heading to a Kansas City T-Bones game on Saturday. When I checked the promotional schedule a couple of weeks ago, Saturday was listed as having an appearance by Willie Wilson. When I checked it yesterday, it is no longer listed as an appearance. Instead, Willie is now signed to a one day contract and is slated to be the starting centerfielder that night. I wonder how that is going to work out.

1994 Topps, Dave Stewart

#455 Dave Stewart

Yesterday, I had a card from the 1993 National League Champion Phillies team, Pete Incaviglia. Today, I counter that with a card from the 1993 World Champion Blue Jays team, Dave Stewart.

Just like yesterday's Incaviglia card, this is the third and final Dave Stewart card on here. Also like the Inky card, this Stewart card features him on a different team than the previous two. The original Dave Stewart post was posted in August of last year and it shows him as a Dodger. The second Stewart post was done in November and shows him as an Athletic. And, of course, he is a Blue Jay on this card.

I got my Stewart cards signed at the Willie Wilson Classic last year. He was at the event again this year, but I didn't see him sign anything. I wish he would have. I had two cards of him with me- an '85 Topps as a Ranger and an '86 Topps as a Phillie. I don't think that I have five cards signed by a player that show him on five different teams. The most that I think I have is four and that is with Jamie Quirk.

2009 Hall of Fame Classic

On Friday, the Royals had the Hall of Fame Classic (HFC). The HFC was an oldtimers game that was played to commemorate the opening of the Royals Hall of Fame (RHF). The renovations to Kauffman Stadium have been complete since the start of the season, with one exception- the Royals Hall of Fame. That Hall was completed prior to the All-Star break and was set to open for the first home game of the second half.

The last couple of seasons, Willie Wilson has hosted the Willie Wilson Classic at Community America Ballpark, home of the Kansas City T-Bones of the Northern League. Supposedly, Willie and the Royals had some sort of falling out and the Royals never invited him back to the ballpark, with the one exception of his 2000 RHF induction. But, apparently, everything got worked out and Willie was at Royals Fanfest this past winter. It was around that time that the HFC, presented by Willie Wilson, was announced. So, that meant that Kauffman Stadium was getting the event and not Community America Ballpark.

I went to the Willie Wilson Classic last year and had a great time. I got a ton of autographs and enjoyed the game. Just click on the WWC label to see some of my posts about the event.

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy myself this year as much as last year. For starters, this game was held prior to a Royals game while last years was held on an open date. As an autograph collector, I knew that the visiting team would not be taking batting practice on the field because of the HFC. So, I planned on getting to the ballpark around noon to try to get some signatures from the Rays, and maybe some of the oldtimers, as they arrived at the ballpark. To my dismay, way too many people had the same idea. It was unreal for a Royals game. There was about thirty people there when I arrived and that number kept growing as the afternoon went one. The only Rays autograph that I got was from a coach, Todd Greene. The only oldtimers autograph that I got was from John Wathan. I also got an autograph from Luke Hochevar and Mike Jacobs of the Royals as well as a Goose Joak Original signed by the Royals GM, Dayton Moore. Needless to say, I didn't do too well outside of the ballpark.

Around 3:30, a bus arrived at the players drop-off point. I thought that it was going to be the Rays second team bus until it pulled up and looked like a fancy school bus. I was about to leave the area until I saw Willie Wilson jump off the bus. He was followed by the other oldtimers as they made their way to the ballpark. Everyone was asking for signatures and no one signed a single one. They said that they would sign inside of the park.

After that, I went and got in line at the gates. It was about twenty-five minutes before the gates opened and I was first in line. On the way to the gate, I drifted off by Arrowhead Stadium to get a picture of "The K" from beind the home plate area. Here is how it looks after the renovation.



For those of you unfamiliar to the ballpark, here is what it looked like two years ago.



So, I got in line and waited for the gaets to open. I was on the third base side since it is closer to the visitor's dugout. I figured that the RHF players would be in the Royals dugout and the Legends team would be in the thrid base dugout. That wasn't the case and I had to make my way over to the first base dugout. I got a good spot there and waited for all the players that said that they would sign inside to start signing. Needless to say, that did not happen. I only saw three guys sign autographs inside the ballpark- Bert Campaneris, Fergie Jenkins, and Todd Hundley.

Bert signed a bunch of autographs in my area and I was fortunate enough to get three cards signed by him. Fergie signed a little on the opposite end of the dugout. People had to toss their balls over to him to get them signed and I wasn't about to throw my autograph book over the dugout. I got his signature last year, so I skipped out on him this year. Todd Hundley signed a few autographs down the foul line after warming up with his dad, but he didn't sign long enough for me to even leave my spot. I didn't see a single RHFer sign for anybody! It was kind of depressing even though I already had signatures from most of them.

After a quick batting practice session, the Legends headed over to the third base dugout. They were getting ready to announce the participants and I was able to get this photo of Willie Wilson and Frank White in the dugout.



Shortly afterward, as they were being announced, George Brett was announced.



George wasn't on the list of Royals players, so it was good to see him out on the field that day.

Here is the Royals Hall of Famers on the field (L-R Willie Wilson, Frank White, John Mayberry, Amos Otis, John Wathan [not a RHF, but someone had to catch], George Brett, Jeff Montgomery, Dennis Loenard, and Steve Busby). Freddie Patek was about to be introduced as the photo was taken and I have no idea where Cookie Rojas, Larry Gura, Whitey Herzog, and Bret Saberhagen were that day (actually Saberhagen was in a pro/am golf tournament at Lake Tahoe).



As for the Legends team, it consisted of Fergie Jenkins, Ron Robinson, Todd Hundley, Randy Hundley, George Foster, Bert Campaneris, Bobby Dernier, Dave Stewart, and John Warden.

Here is a picture from the first inning as Frank White bats with George Brett on deck. The second photo shows Brett grounding into a double play as John Mayberry gets ready on deck.





This was the first time that I have seen Brett bat in-person since I was a fourth grader in 1989. It was kind of cool, but not as cool as it would have been if he had got a hit, like Frank White did.

After the first, I went to get something to eat and then headed to the RHF. The HFC just wasn't nearly as fun as it was last year. Last year, John Warden MC'd the event and did a great job. This year, they had Willie Wilson, George Foster, Dennis Leonard, and John Warden mic'd up to the soundsystem and it sucked. You couln't tell who was talking or what they were talking about.

While I was eating, I watched the game for another inning. After I got in line for the RHF, I was out of the loop for the game. I didn't even know who won the game until I looked it up an hour ago (it wasn't the Royals, which was fitting).

The RHF was doing a weird thing where 40 people were admitted in every 15 minutes. I had to wait about 45 minutes before I could get in. Once I entered the facility, I was greeted by this.



It was an ash wall telling the story of baseball in Kansas City. It featured headlines from the first professional team in Kansas City, the Unions, to the Royals World Series victory in 1985.

While in that big entrance way, we had to stay there for about 15 minutes listening to a 24-year old ask some Royals trivia. After that, twelve people were admitted to a theatre where they were able to watch a 15 minute video on the history of baseball in Kansas City. At least that is what I think it was about since I wasn't one of the twelve. After that, we had the option of skipping the video and heading straight for the museum section. Why that option wasn't presented to us right away is beyond me. Hopefully, they will get this stuff straighted out in the coming weeks.

Here is one of the first displays that I saw in the RHF. It features potential logos for the Royals in there early days. Interestingly, most of the logos were designed by Hallmark. I like the one on the bottom left the best. I wish that it would have been selected, but with todays KC rather than the one that is used.



After that, there was a bunch of interactive displays. They had touch screen TVs set up where you could choose video clips that you could watch and they even has a screen where you could design your own ballpark. That sounds interesting to me, but I bet that it is not that cool once you get into it.

They had one display with all of their current minor league home jerseys on it. Right after that, they showed off some of their early jerseys. Here is a picture of the coolest two. Unfortunately, I do not think that they had an original road jersey.



Across from that display was a display of some of their promotions that they had throughout the years. They had various shirts and hats on display as well as a photo from 1969s "hot pants day". They even had every single bobblehead that they have given away since 2003.

After that, they had their closers section. Here they had a nice display for Dan Quisenberry and Jeff Montgomery. They had a Rolaids Relief Man Award for each pitcher as well as one of their gloves.



Next to that was the Cy Young award winning section. A Royal has won the award three times and each of those was on display there- Bret Saberhagan, 1985 and 1989; and David Cone, 1994.




This was the last display before one entered the main gallery. The main gallery consists of the '85 World Series trophy, the American League championship trophies, the Royals Hall of Famers pictures, and special section dedicated to the two Royals players that have had their numbers retired by the Royals- George Brett and Frank White.

Here is the entrace to that gallery. It is a giant number 5 that has George Brett's 3000th hit bat and ball located in the middle of it. George had 3,154 hits in his career and that number 5 is made up of 3,154 baseballs.



To the right of the number 5 was the Frank White section. This area featured Frank's eight Gold Gloves and one of his actual gloves. Unfortunately, I did not get a good picture of the area, so don't bother clicking on it. It is pretty blurry.



After that was the Hall of Fame section that wasn't too much different than the old section at the K. Once you left that area, you were pretty much out of the RHF and were in a miniture gift shop.

Overall, I was pleased with the Hall of Fame. It seemed a little small on the inside compared to the outside and a suite takes up the enire first level. I didn't make it into the theatre, but I'm sure that that will fill in some of the space. I would have liked to have seen something along the lines as a Municipal Stadium model, like the Reds have in there Hall of Fame with Crosly Field. But, at least they didn't have any kids games in the RHF like the Reds do (althought the "design your own stadium" could make up for that). The Royals also had one of the things that you can do at a lot of ballparks these days in the RHF. It was one of the "you make the calls" where you watch a Royals highlight and call the game in place of Denny Matthews. That might be kind of fun. I have thought about doing something similar to that at other ballparks that I have been to, but those were all recorded on tape or CD. The Royals is emailed to you. If they ever make it where you can call a half inning of the game with a buddy, I will defintiely take part in that.

Conversely, I hope that the Willie Wilson Classic goes back to Kansas City, Kansas next year. It was much more fan friendly at the minor league park.

1991 Topps, Lee Smith

#660 Lee Smith

This is the second card that Lee signed at the Willie Wilson Classic. I had three cards for him to sign, but he only signed two of them. You can see the other one he signed here and the one that I got signed through the mail in the '90s here.

This card shows Lee as a Cardinal. During his tenure in St. Louis, he recorded over 40 saves three times, including his career high of 47 in 1991. In about five days, we will find out if Lee made the Hall.

This is a pretty nice card. It shows him making the "T" that I'm always trying to get my little leaguers to do.

1990 Topps, Lee Smith

#495 Lee Smith

I got this card signed this past spring at the Willie Wilson Classic. If you don't know what the Willie Wilson Classic is, click on the WWC label and go to the older posts to find out.

In October, I showed this Lee Smith card that I got signed through the mail in the '90s. In that post, I stated that I thought that the signature was fake. The reason I thought that is because I got this one in person and it looks nothing like the other one. So, I assumed it was fake. Then I came across a 1982 Topps Lee Smith. That set had the fascimile signature on it just like the '08 set has. The fake signature on that card looks very similar to the one on my '88 Topps card. So, I guess that Lee's signature has changed through the years slightly. Plus, he was probably in a hurry when he signed this card. Does anyone else have any Lee Smith signatures for comparison?

So there you have it- the (hopefully) future Hall of Famer, Lee Smith.

This is the very first Red Sox card on here.

1989 Upper Deck 2

#244 Willie Wilson

This is the third and final Wilson card that was signed at the Willie Wilson Classic this past spring. This is another example of "why did I take this card"? It is pretty dark with only a splinter of white uniform. Oh well, you live and you learn. I guess I figured that I had very few cards from this set signed, so I might as well. There was no gaurantee that I was going to get Stewart's and Wilson's autograph that night, anyway (Willie almost didn't sign this card).

1989 Upper Deck

#185 Dave Stewart

Here the first Upper Deck card ever shown on here. The blog is now entering the realm of the big five (Topps, Fleer, Score, Donruss, and Upper Deck). At this point, Topps' Bowman set is the only extra mainstream set being produced by the big five.

Here is the second Dave Stewart card on here. This one shows him as an Athletic, which is how I usually picture him. Dave really turned his career around in Oakland, but he was also helped out by an offense that could score at will.

1989 Topps 3

#348 Ed Hearn

This is the second of two Ed Hearn signatures that I got at the Willie Wilson Classic. This card is kind of funny compared to the last catcher card on here (Terry Kennedy). The last one featured a catcher that just popped out of his stance to chase down what was probably foul pop-up. Then we have Ed here in his fake pose taking his mask off before he even moved out of his squat. Which do you like better? Plus, he is squatting in grass (with his back to a pitcher, nonetheless) and he is smiling. It doesn't get in faker than that.

1989 Donruss 2

#430 Bob Dernier

This is the third and final Bobby Dernier that I got at the Willie Wilson Classic. It's kind of funny how the '86 card is from the Cubs, while the '84 and '89 cards are of the Phillies.

1987 Topps 5

#433 Ed Hearn

I didn't post yesterday because I was at a horseshoe tournament all day, so I have an extra one tonight.

I got this card signed at the Willie Wilson Classic. It was good to see Ed there after all of the health issues that he has had. I didn't recognize him at the game. I didn't realize how big he is. This card lists him as 6'3" and 215 pounds. From the card's photos, I always thought that he was a smaller guy.

This is the first time that I've had cards that are in numerical order (432 and 433).

1987 Fleer 3

#384 Wilie Wilson

Do you want to know the difference between Willie Wilson and Dennis Leonard? Both of them asked which of the three cards I wanted signed. But, unlike Dennis, Willie signed that card and then said "ah, screw it" and proceeded to sign the other two.

1987 Fleer 2

#374 Dennis Leonard

I got this card autographed at the Willie Wilson Classic. He wouldn't sign before the game, but he signed afterwards. He also pulled a Willie Wilson. I had three cards and he would only sign one. At least he asked which one I wanted signed. I think I told him it that is doesn't matter, so he signed the middle one.

1986 Topps 3

#496 Jay Johnstone

Here is the second and last Jay Johnstone cards that I got signed at the Willie Wilson Classic. This one is weird because Jay signed it across his face. On some of the cards that I've shown so far, the signature touches part of the face (Jenkins, Henderson, Abbott). But, this is the first instance of a signature going completely through a face.

1986 Fleer 2

#365 Bob Dernier

Here's the second installment of Bob Dernier that I got signed at the Willie Wilson Classic. It's harder to see on this card, but I like how he signs his name Bobby.

The story of how I got this card is pretty much the same as the '86 Donruss. I got a real good deal on ebay for 12 cello packs. Before that I had one pack of cards from this set.

1984 Topps 2

#358 Bob Dernier

I got this card signed at the Willie Wilson Classic. After the game, I was over by the locker rooms and Bob was sitting outside with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He just moved the cigarette to the beer hand and signed my cards. He seemed like a nice fella.

I had been wondering why Dernier was at the game. Most of the players seemed to have played with Willie Wilson at some point. After checking his stats page, I see that Dernier is from Kansas City. So, that explains it.

This is the second instance where Baseball Almanac has the same card signed as I do.