Ah, I LOVE me some Spring Training... Phillies v FSU

WARNING: PICTURE INTENSIVE! Cell phones - abort now!

As some of you know, one of the things I do with my son is get pix of him at SPring Training games with players -- and he gets their autos on both a ball and eventually the picture. PLayers ALWAYS sign the pic of themselves and my son. Facebook friends of mine can see the 30-40 of these we've amassed over the years...

Had a great haul today. Great game. . . my college (FSU) vs. my Phillies.

Some of you may remember I hosted a clinic at my little league with Scott Mathieson and Vance Worley. This was a pic I took last year. Had it signed today... along with my son's jersey of his favorite Phillie.





THe pics are unedited... just took em and uploaded. Enjoy.














As you can see, we met with Jon Papelbon, Hunter Pence, Mike Schmidt (my child and my childhood hero), Joe Blanton, Pete Orr, Brian Schneider and Tyson Gillies. I had lunch last year with Tyson and we've communicated through email and twitter about both Scott Mathieson and potential opportunities for him to make a little money down here during the off season. He's a really great guy despite the reputation he may have received, and it was fun to talk to him for a few minutesbefore the game.

Hunter Pence was a total clown, interacting with and signing for a lot of people. He is going to be, if he's not already, a tremendous fan favorite in Philly.

My son got their auto as well as Shane Victorino's and a few others. Vic is a notoriously bad signer...

I think they saved Thome's pine tar covered helmet and got it out of mothballs because his helmet is already disgusting.

Love this. Carson's got it so good. How did the Phil's do today?

Good stuff Jeff, thanks for sharing!

Wow great pics! Pence does kind of look like a goofball. Tall lankey kid. That Schmidt picture blows me away.

Awesome, thanks for sharing. You can see one of the many reasons that I collected Pence while he was here in Houston. He's a really good dude who obviously has a child-like enthusiasm for the game and, unfortunately, you just don't see that often enough anymore

You're a stinkin' Seminoles fan? Ugh...

and great Pics man! Thanks for posting.

Great pics, Jeff! Glad to see Thome hanging around for one more year. (even if it is to PH. Don't think he'll be getting that much time at first) That park is beautiful.

It's interesting how differently teams have spring training. Maybe I was there at the wrong time, but I don't remember people being that close to players in the Tiger's camp.

BowmanChromeAddict said:

Love this. Carson's got it so good. How did the Phil's do today?

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Offense was flat until the 7th inning... granted, Utley, Chooch, and Howard didn't play... The subs started ripping into the guy the Noles put in and that was all it was...6-1 Phils.

The young Phillies future bullpen guys (Schwimmer, Rosenberg, Aumont, JC Ramirez) looked good against FSU as did the starter, Austin Hyatt.

I keep telling you to come down, Jim... I have a spare bedroom... there's no better place for you and your son than Bright House Field........



You know how long I've been getting players to pose with him. The sheer quality and number of players was probably the best ever (2 HOFers in Thome and Schmidt, as well as studs Papelbon and Pence), and I could have had Vance pose again, but it seemed unnecessary.

gt2590 said:

You're a stinkin' Seminoles fan? Ugh...

and great Pics man! Thanks for posting.

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class of '95.

nborton said:

It's interesting how differently teams have spring training. Maybe I was there at the wrong time, but I don't remember people being that close to players in the Tiger's camp.

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Never been to the tigers camp in Lakeland... but I've been this close to the Phils ever since they moved to the new stadium. The players HAVE to walk down the 3rd base line to get off the field, or on it, so that's where ya camp out... I'm sure I've posted my older pictures of my son with other phillies... i'll find the link and post it.....

Found it.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=136360&hilit=+spring

Bob Loblaw said:

nborton said:

It's interesting how differently teams have spring training. Maybe I was there at the wrong time, but I don't remember people being that close to players in the Tiger's camp.

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Never been to the tigers camp in Lakeland... but I've been this close to the Phils ever since they moved to the new stadium. The players HAVE to walk down the 3rd base line to get off the field, or on it, so that's where ya camp out... I'm sure I've posted my older pictures of my son with other phillies... i'll find the link and post it.....

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Ahh, that makes sense. That's kinda nice.

Its not spring time until Jeff posts his pictures from Phillies camp!! Your kid is getting big Jeff. It seems we have watched him grow up before our eyes!!!

Great story and pictures Jeff. I particularly like this shot of Victorino.

Great pics, I have to get to Clearwater for a game soon....

I love everything about Hunter Pence (the high pants, the goofy running, the crashing through glass sliding doors to chase tail in Spring Training,etc.), everything...except that he's a Phillie. Even though his trade landed some serious prospects in Singleton, Cosart, and Santana - I miss him more than any other ex-Astro.

nbailey said:

I love everything about Hunter Pence (the high pants, the goofy running, the crashing through glass sliding doors to chase tail in Spring Training,etc.), everything...except that he's a Phillie. Even though his trade landed some serious prospects in Singleton, Cosart, and Santana - I miss him more than any other ex-Astro.

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My son lovs Reebok Zigtechs (and they've become my running shoe on his recommendation). Pence was/is the first ML'er to wear them, I believe - hence why we have a few pics of Pence's shoes.

He's a funny guy... the signal he's making that I didn't capture was a peace sign... I don't quite know what to call the face, but.. I can tell that Philly's gonna love him.

Wow, you all def had blast time today. I noticed Tyson Gillies so quickly. He's a deaf ball player and I collect his stuff in past few years. I have a huge deaf sports collection and Im hoping he's going to have a breaking year and get good name out of his soul. He got so much in him. He was once compared to Griffey's quickness. What's his twitter?

Thanks for sharing, sir-

nbailey said:

I love everything about Hunter Pence (the high pants, the goofy running, the crashing through glass sliding doors to chase tail in Spring Training,etc.), everything...except that he's a Phillie. Even though his trade landed some serious prospects in Singleton, Cosart, and Santana - I miss him more than any other ex-Astro.

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+1

Really hurt the day I found out he was traded. I am a huge Pence fan and had a really nice Pence collection at one time.