Figurines, Bobbleheads and more

Over the years I tried to get all the bobbleheads, figurines, and other things that looked decent, or of my favorite players. I have a very large collection (mostly because of a huge buying spree in the summer of 2010). But I still have gotten A LOT via the venue handouts. Lots are still NIB, lots are opened some are NIB without box art to show what it looks like.

This medallion set was very difficult to complete. It was via the local paper and it had a coupon, couldn't buy the medal without the coupon, can't get the coupon without the paper, and couldn't get the medallion after they were sold out, and boy they sold FAST!

Bengals 2006 Medallion set

 I don't know much about this pin set my mom did it, I suppose it was similar to the medallion set above.

2010 Bengals pin set

 Some of my older SGA items

Marty and Joe, Griffey Jr., Mr. Red, GABP ball, Adam Dunn figure, Felipe Lopez, Adam Dunn, Eric Davis, Gnome, Wily Mo Pena, Johnny Bench, Austin Kearns, Sean Casey, playing cards 

 Reds Aroldis Chapman action figure was a SGA while i was on Vacation in 2011.

2010 SGA Champman action figure

 Some of my Mcfarlanes figures and my complete set of NBA lego figures (have the cards but didnt set them up) a bengals replica mini helmet and my 2009 Elder stein.

Chad Johnson, Joe Nuxhall, Mini helmet, Mini Chad alt., Bengals Chad, Carson, TJ celebration ornament, Isiah Thomas, Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Joe Dumars (now signed), Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace (Broke), and Rasheed Wallace

 These are a result of my buying spree all except the Nuxhall (I did buy but as a replacement to the one my baby brother broke)

Wesley Sneijder, Joe Nuxhall, Griffey Jr., Joe Morgan, Oscar Robertson, Chris Sabo, Johnny Bench, Eric Davis, Deon Sanders, Joe Morgan, Pete Rose, Barry Larkin, Griffey Jr. and Sr.

 SGA while I was on vacation 2012

Todd Frazier

 SGA while on vacation 2011

Jonny Gomes Wobble arm (just like when he walks up)

 2009? Reds HOF giveaway

Marge Schoot, Schotzie 1990 champs bobblehead

 SGA 2010

Sparky Anderson statue

 SGA 2012

Joey Votto MVP bobblehead

Joey Votto's first edition Mcfarlane Elite Series 1 (the only series)

Joey Votto MLB Elite series 1 

Calvin? "Pokey" Reese

Pokey Reese played for the Reds a few years. He won 2 Gold Gloves in his career and a WS ring with the 04 Red Sox. I found out that his name was Calvin after I saw he was signing, never occurred to me that Pokey was a nickname. I remember everybody would comment about his hat being crooked and they thought maybe he had a crooked head.

Reese 02 UD Victory, and 2000 Topps Gallery

Fred Lewis

Fred Lewis played for the Reds for one season as they were looking for a (consistent) batter for their LF position (still looking to this day). He looked good sometimes while others Heisey clearly deserved the spot. He was the 1st SF Giant to hit 2 Grand Slams his rookie season, and hit a Splash Hit (HR out of the stadium into McCovey Cove). This one took a very long time to come back, but was the first ever that I got to say "thanks" written on the return envelope's flap.

Lewis 2011 SGA

Jerry Sloan

Jerry SLoan coach the likes of the Utah Jazz. Stockton and Malone who never could find a way to beat Jordan's Bulls. Sloan is known for using the formula of PG (Stockton, Williams(assist guy))  and a big men down low (Malone, Boozer). As a player he was elected an All-Star twice and his #4 is retired in Chicago. Jerry Sloan was inducted to the NBA HOF in 2006 (same time as his longtime Star PG John Stockton). This is the first TTM success I got that was personalized.

Sloan 90-91 SkyBox

Mike Bibby

Mike Bibby, I recognize him as the mixed looking white guy on the Atlanta Hawks high octane offense that took Boston's big 3 to 7 games in 08. On video games he had the strangest follow-through. He played on Arizona's NCAA championship team that beat UK (Arizona retired his #10).

Bibby 10-11 Panini Prestige

Kal Daniels

Kal Daniels Reds power hitting outfielder. I don't know much about him but this card is the most recognizable in my collection, IDK why but when I saw he was signing I knew exactly where the card was and what it looked like from being in the same spot of my binder so long. (also just a nice smiling shot for a card)

Daniels 88 Topps

TJ Houshmandzadeh

TJ Housh-enchilada, Housh-yourmama? LOL that was the old NFL fantasy league commercial saying the year after the Bengals WR Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmanzadeh led the Bengals to the playoffs (along with the turnover leading defense) in 05. TJ in 2007  tied Patriots WR Wes Welker with 112 to lead the league and make his first ProBowl appearance.

Houshmandzadeh 05 Topps

Leo Cardenas

Leo Cardenas, don't know much about his playing career except he was waaay better than expected and had the club record for HRs (until some guy named Barry Larkin came along.) He is very funny and attends a lot of games and signs about yearly at the Reds HOF. His nickname was Chico, it even listed on some of his cards as Chico instead of Leo.

Chico and myself

Cardenas ball and 66 Topps

Lee May

Lee May, "The Big Bopper" known for his bat, and absolutely not his glove. In the movie 4192 Pete says he played 2nd next to May at 1st, anytime there was a pop up around May would look and say whose got it, instead of I've got it. (probably exaggerated but still funny)

May event photo inscrtibed "The Big Bopper", and 70 Topps

Robert Parish

Robert Parish "The Chief" HOF inductee 03. 4x NBA Champ (81,84,86,97), Celtics retired his number 00. This man got to play with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, an impressive list of teammates if you ask me.

Parish 09-10 Panini Prestige, 04-05 SkyBox Legends of the Draft

"Sir" Arthur Rhodes

Arthur Rhodes was our SU/CP before Chapman was called up. He was DOMINANT, going 33 innings without giving up a run (while he had plantar faciitis). Ended up winning the World Series with the Cardinals in 2011.

Rhodes 09-10 SGA

Gary "The Glove" Payton

Gary Payton known for his dominant perimeter defense. Sent aand took about 2 weeks (sent 2 separate times). Played on the 04 HOF Lakers squad, and later follwed Shaq to the Heat. I like his stance on his number being retired, He played in Seattle and wants his number in Seattle's rafters not OKC.

Payton 93 UD, and 10-11 Panini Prestige

Joey Jay

I got lucky with this one. Sent it out blindly without the fee, and got it back signed and after that he came to RedsFest and started signing without a fee. Maybe I started something for him and fans.

Jay 66 Topps

Reds announcers Jeff Brantley "The Cowboy" and Chris Welsh

Chris Welsh and Jeff Brantley are former Reds who broadcast on RedsLive (TV broadcast) and occasionally 700 WLW (radio broadcast). Brantley "The Cowboy" is known for always talking about UDF ice cream, and other delicious food that GABP offers. Chris Welsh is known for wearing bowties on Tuesdays. I like these 2, I would much rather see them together than have Thom Brennaman in the booth, but thats another story. Both of these were obtained at RedsFest.

Welsh 87 Topps, Brantley 97 Pinnacle

Mat Latos

Mat Latos is the Reds #2 starter, he was acquired from San Diego and has been a very good SP for us ever since. His wife Dallas has a funny blog and Twitter (explicit). They now own a home in northern Cincinnati suburbs. Mat could easily be our Ace. This card is the first 1 I actually paid for to stand in line. I had a friend come too, it was his first autograph experience and he got an ROMLB sweetspot.

Latos 2012 Topps

Dave Parker "The Cobra"

This one is from my Uncle's collection. He had like 5 or 6 Dave Parker rookie cards, I knew he wouldn't mid if I borrow just one. The Reds HOF finally got a good player to come in and sign, not that all of them aren't good but they're usually the same few over and over. Dave Parker usually charges so I jumped on the opportunity to have a card signed.

Dave Parker 75 Topps Rookie

Eric Davis

I tried Eric Davis for years, no TTM returns, never got in the RedsFest line fast enough, or never bought the item allowing the autograph (of the purchased item). I was finally able to jump in a line quick enough to get a few. I even offered to trade my card for his WS ring, he gave me the funniest look.

Davis 90 UD

Dmitri Young

This is one I was never able to get as a kid, but now he does a lot of work with the Reds again. He came back to RedsFest, makes guest announcing appearances. I was able to get this one at RedsFest.

Dmitri Young 02 Topps

Jack McKeon

About a week ago I sent to Jack McKeon former Reds and Marlins manager. He won Manager of the year with both teams and managed the Marlins to the 2003 World Series to win that year. Only took about 10 days to come back.

McKeon 98 SGA

Andrew Bynum

I know what most of you are thinking after reading the title, but he WAS a promising young talent for the Lakers after Shaq left. Now he is injury prone, but still a force to be reckoned with in the post, when he actually plays. He is a Pacer for those who don't know. One of the only current (at the time) Lakers players to actually respond to fan mail, props to him.

Bynum 08 Topps

Wily Mo Pena

Wily Mo was an outfielder who was backup for Griffey Jr. He got some decent play time while Griffey was struggling with injuries and he wasn't bad at all. He also has an awesome name, lol. In 2011 I was getting into buying cards again and was going through what I had, I came across an 02 SGA set and Wily Mo Pena was in there. I wanted to get it signed and looked up where he was, AND HE WAS STILL PLAYING! He was on some Reno, NV team that is a Minor League affiliate of the Diamondbacks. I was lucky to get it signed and returned, and shortly after he was called up to play for the Diamondbacks for a few games.

Wily Mo Pena 2002 SGA

Bengals notecards

So in 2011 I bought tons of Topps and they put these nifty blanks in the packs. I kept all of mine to get signed for when I didn't have an actual card for the person, which actually happens quite often because I'm picky on cards I like and want signed. Here are all the notecards I've had Bengals sign.

Bengals Proshop signing

UC WR Armon Binns

 ESPN 1530 Radio Show

Former Bengals Artrell Hawkins (Andrew Hawkins brother) and Dave Lapham (Bengals Radio Announcer)

 Inside connection

Jeromy Miles (newspaper picture), Anthony Collins

 Inside connection

Jeromy Miles

 Bengals ProShop signing

Brandon Tate and Andrew Hawkins

2000 MLB HOF Commemorative Coins

In 2000 Kroger sold HOF commemorative coins for the Cincinnati Inductees Marty Brennaman, Tony Perez and Sparky Anderson. We bought like 6 sets of them. Unfortunately I can never get the Sparky one signed now but I have the other 2 and can try to get any others that come out from now onward.

Perez HOF coin

Brennaman HOF coin

Paul George and Lance Stephenson

Up until last season the only way to get Pacers autographs was in person TTMs never even came back, well now just about all of them come back.
ANY WAY
Anybody who watches the Pacers know that Paul George and Lance Stephenson are growing into perennial All-Stars and team leaders. In 2011 I went to a Pacers game I had no idea who either of them were but I things and they were signing, so I took it, they were the only ones to sign at that game.

Lance notecard and 10-11 Panini Prestige. Paul 10-11 Panini Prestige x2 (Draft Pick Rights (Blue))

NBA preseaon in Cincinnati

Every year Oscar Robertson brings an NBA preseason game to US Bank arena to see how big the Cincinnati NBA fan base is. Not a full house, but a good turn out. The game I got to go to was Cavs vs Magic (Kyrie Irving's rookie year). I didnt have many Cavs things so I was camped on the Magic side, I was the only one and was only there with notecards and cards for a few players (who didn't sign that night). I was able to get 2.

Justin Harper and Gustavo Ayon

RedsFest

So growing up as a (above average tall) kid I played basketball every winter. A few years ago I heard about a little thing called RedsFest and wondered why I had never been, that's right, basketball. Well now I try to make it yearly. I have had many great successes here. Not even just at the event Johnny Cueto ate lunch with his family at the Tower Place food court before RedsFest. Well here's (nearly) everything I've gotten from many frustrating hours of standing in lines with people who don't even know who half the team is, and some just there to make a few quick bucks off theirs. Many thanks to my brother Frank (him and I are dominant at squeezing through crowds to jump in line and had a dominate formula for getting only who we was on the list) (also I was afraid of asking for inscriptions at first so I always asked him to to those, sorry Frank lol), my brother Harrison (who helped me get a few gems and taught me that there are lots of free handouts I didn't even know about, because he was tired of waiting in lines.), and my wife (girlfriend at the time) Christina who does it just to spend time with me.
(not pictured Billy Hatcher and Eric Davis 1991 90's champs SGA set (that's for a different post))

Aroldis Chapman 2011 Rookie cards (1 inscribed 105 MPH)

Billy Hamilton notecard, Travis Wood 2011 Topps and SGA, Homer Bailey 2010 Topps and SGA, Johnny Cueto SGA (obtained after he ate lunch in my mall food court), Devin Mesoraco Bowman's Best, Tom Browning (Mr. Perfect inscription) 89 Topps, Jim Maloney 1970 Topps

Dusty Baker, Ryan Hanigan, Nick Masset, Paul Janish all x2 on SGA

Drew Stubbs, Jonny Gomes, Carlos Fisher, Edinson Volquez, and Mike Leake all SGA

Mario Soto ball, 88 Topps, 87 Donruss

Tom Browning ball, and No Hitter special edition 89 Fleer with Mr. Perfect and date of no hitter inscriptions

Yonder Alonso ball (does not sign sweet spots)

George Foster ball and 75 SGA

Chuck Harmon ball (first African-American Reds player) signed in green

Chapman rookie

Marty Brennamen 2000 HOF Frick Awarde commemorative coin