Crosscutters vs. Muckdogs – 7/17/15 – Doubleheader – Bobbleheads

On Friday evening the Williamsport Crosscutters played a doubleheader against the Batavia Muckdogs.  Williamsport went on to win both games 4-3 and 8-0.  The first 1,000 fans through the gate for Game 1 received a Pat Borders bobblehead.  Pat Borders is the new Manager of the Crosscutters, and was the 1992 World Series MVP with the Blue Jays.

Before finding a seat, I took a stroll through the Saw Mill Gift Shop.  I was able to pickup three new pins I didn’t have.  The pins I found look to be leftover stadium giveaways they gave out last year.

Jose Pujols at bat.

Jesus Posso at bat.

Gabriel Castellanos pitching for the Muckdogs.

Missing the “N”.

Pat Borders bobblehead given to the first 1,000 fans.

Williamsport Crosscutters 9th Annual Hot Stove Banquet

Its been almost a decade since the Williamsport Crosscutters held their first Hot Stove Banquet.  On the night of January 19th, baseball fans were invited to sit back, relax, eat some good food, and here stories from the celebrity guests.  This year the guest list included Phillies Manager Ryne Sandberg, Denny McLain, Crosscutters Manager and 1992 World Series MVP Pat Borders, and Pat Gillick.  Other members of the Phillies organization were also there in attendance.  Phillies pitcher Ken Giles was suppose to be there, but due to a scheduling conflict he couldn’t make it.

For a ticket price of $49.00, I believe you get one heck of a deal.  That includes a full chicken dinner, salad, and cake.  Plus at the conclusion of the event you can get autographs from the guests, given you get in line fast enough.  Some guests stick around longer than others.  Its best to prioritize which autographs you want first, second, and third so you can get in that particular line early.  You never quite know when they’ll cut the line off.  I was able to snag Ryne Sandberg on my bat.

The Chinese auction had a lot of signed baseballs, bobbleheads, and pins.  I threw some tickets into three different bags for bobbleheads, but didn’t win any this time.  They were also giving away a Dellin Betances game-worn Yankees jersey that came with a COA from Steiner.

Right before the autograph session began, they made an announcement that the Phillies had a special gift for everyone as they left.  All attendees were to receive a FREE Chase Utley bobblehead on the way out.  This was an added bonus that I didn’t see coming.  I collect bobbleheads and never had one of Chase Utley before.  This specific Utley bobblehead was a stadium giveaway the Phillies gave out last season.  They must have made some extra.

Overall, it was one of the best Hot Stove Banquets they ever had.  Denny McLain’s story about how he and Tug McGraw went over to Vietnam was very funny.  The bobblehead at the end really put it over the top for me.  Try getting a full meal, autographs, and a bobblehead for $49.00 some place else.  You won’t find it.  I forgot to mention that each seat had a Taney Baseball t-shirt too.

Next year is their 10th anniversary.  I would like to see some 10th anniversary commemorative pins made up to giveaway.  One at each place setting.  Great job everyone!!!

(Left) Pat Gillick – former Phillies General Manager & 2011 Baseball HOF inductee (Right) Gabe Sinicropi – Crosscutters VP, Marketing & Public Relations

Pat Borders – current Crosscutters Manager & 1992 World Series MVP

Ryne Sandberg signature on my bat

Utley bobblehead

Taney Baseball t-shirt

Phillie Phanatic!

Boomer!

Back-To-Back Bobblehead Nights Round Out Busy August

Well… my busy August has officially come to an end.  It all started exactly one month ago today while heading to Cleveland for the 2014 National.  Then it was on to Little League and ending this week with back-to-back bobblehead nights in State College and Williamsport.

Thursday night the State College Spikes gave out bobbleheads of Penn State’s new head coach James Franklin.  These were given to the first 1,000 fans through the gate.  I got there two hours before the gates opened.  So early I didn’t even have to pay for parking.  I wasn’t the first one in line though.  Two guys had been there since 10:30 a.m.  The gates opened at 6:00 p.m.  The Spikes won 1-0 over the Williamsport Crosscutters.

On Friday night the Williamsport Crosscutters gave out bobbleheads of Andrew McCutchen to the first 1,000 fans.  McCutchen played for the Crosscutters when they were affiliated with the Pirates.  The Crosscutters lost 7-1 against the Jammers.

Pin Pick-Ups From The 2014 Little League World Series

Little League Baseball is celebrating it’s 75th Anniversary this year.  This weekend I took my annual trip up to South Williamsport in search of as many pins as I could find.  I ended up coming home with 16 new pins, plus 6 duplicates.  So 22 in all.  In all the years I’ve been going to Little League, I’ve only watched one game.  I go for the food and promos.  Its almost like having an extra day at the National.

Get a good look at some of the pictures, pins, and promos I got.

Honda VAC

Honda french fry and popcorn

Genetti Hotel 3-pin set.

WeatherBug

Williamsport Sun-Gazette – this pin looks exactly like last year’s.  They just changed the year.  Their other pins for 2014 are different though.

Spalding

Kellogg’s

GameChanger

Dairy Queen

Lance

Bomb Pop

This pin was inspired by the newly created artwork by 3D Pop Artist Charles Fazzino.

All

Honda – in order to obtain the peanut, popcorn, and french fry that hang on the bottom too, you needed to do a bunch of activities at their booth.

Dunkin’ Donuts

Dugout 75th Anniversary tuxedo pin

I usually don’t go in the main gift shop, but I needed to pickup the new Little League OYO minifigure.  I knew OYO would find their way to Little League someday.

“Pin-Up” of the Week: 2014 Williamsport Crosscutters Stadium Giveaway Collectible Pin Series

The 2014 Little League World Series is officially underway in South Williamsport.  You know what that means?  New pins!!!  The Little League World Series is a prime place to pick-up a ton of new promotional pins.  Its just not the corporate sponsors setup on the Little League campus that give out pins either.  Many of the businesses throughout Williamsport have them too.

It took a little time, but the Williamsport Crosscutters have finally decided to give out some pins.  The Crosscutters will be giving out specific pins during certain home games that take place during the 2014 Little League World Series.  These pins are usually saved for the first 1,000 fans through the gate.  As you can see, there are four total pins which will be given out between 8/13/14 and 8/21/14.  None of the pins have anything to do with Little League Baseball, but from a marketing standpoint it makes perfect sense to be giving out pins while the Little League World Series is going on.

I don’t know why it took so long for them to come around to this.  Pin #3 was once sold in the Crosscutters gift shop because I already have it.  That makes me think this was a last minute promotion they probably put together.  Perhaps they got the idea from that tweet I sent them back in June.

 

Crosscutters Host 8th Annual Hot Stove Banquet

The Crosscutters held their 8th annual Hot Stove Banquet at the Genetti Hotel last evening.  It was a night filled with old friends, new friends, great food, stories, giveaways, and autographs.  Some of the guests included Philadelphia Phillies Manager Ryne Sandberg, Phillies third baseman Cody Asche, and Phillies broadcaster Greg Murphy.  Returning for a second year in a row was Montoursville native and former major league third baseman Tom O’Malley.

Whoever made the decision to hold the Chinese Auction out in the lobby is a genius.  This allowed for more tables in the ballroom and a lot more room to eat at your seat.  In the past things have been a bit cramped.  The only drawback to the evening was that everyone wasn’t able to get autographs from all the guests.  After obtaining signatures from Cody Asche and Greg Murphy, I went to get in line to see Ryne Sandberg.  Unfortunately they cut the line off for Sandberg right in front of me.  That’s alright.  I had never attempted to get three autographs during this sold out event before.  On a positive note though, when I returned to the table I discovered I had won a prize pack from the Chinese Auction.

Phillies Manager Ryne Sandberg

Phillies 3B Cody Asche

Phillies broadcaster Greg Murphy

The prize pack I won was donated by the State College Spikes.  It included a T-shirt, signed baseball, signed program, and a Stan Belinda mini bobblehead the Spikes gave away last year.

A Look Inside The Newly Renovated World Of Little League Museum

At the conclusion of the 2012 Little League Baseball World Series, Little League began a $4.3 million renovation to the Peter J. McGovern museum.  The World Of Little League Museum has drastically improved over what it use to look like from when it originally opened in 1982.  Walking in the front door you’re immediately inside their new and much larger gift shop packed with tons of Little League items.  Pins, shirts, baseballs, golf balls, books, hats, you name it they probably have a Little League logo on it.

After watching an eight minute video about Little League, you can take yourself on a tour of the newly renovated museum.  The museum is divided up into six “innings” with each section housing items that recount Little League’s past.  Not only have many physical aspects of the museum changed, but they now have about 3x the amount of artifacts.  Many generous individuals have donated and/or loaned pieces which will stay on display.  Many pieces come directly from the family of Little League’s founder Carl Stotz.  They’ve also included a bunch of interactive computer elements that will teach you about each exhibit.

When the world comes to Williamsport next month, this newly renovated museum will be one of the major highlights to visitors.  I picked up three new pins for 2013.  That includes the new Australia jersey pin.  This is the first year that Australia will be represented at the Little League World Series.  Their pins are going to be on fire.

Babe Ruth wore this uniform in 1934 during a barnstorming tour of Japan.  The tour of well-known Major League players fanned an interest in baseball among the Japanese people that had been growing since the sport was introduced there decades earlier.  It is one of only a few existing known uniforms that Babe Ruth wore during his playing career.  After winning the World Series in 1923, Babe Ruth visited Williamsport, PA.  During batting practice on 10/31/23, he hit the ball you see on the stand next to the uniform 500 feet, and then autographed it.

Edward Younken pitched the first no-hitter in Little League with this ball, on August 6, 1942.  It is signed by him and by manager John Lindemuth of the Lundy Lumber team.

Presidential signed baseballs – Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, & George W. Bush

Jimmy Carter autographed baseball

That’s a lot of pins!

Cy Young was a big fan of Little League and attended each World Series from 1951 until he passed away in 1955.  He wore that hat during his final visit to Williamsport.

Nice collection of Cy Young T206 & T205 cards.

Cy Young autographed baseball

Hack Wilson model bat

Little League’s first home plate was carved from rubber that it’s founder, Carl Stotz, found in his father’s basement.  The knife he used, won in a footrace at a railroad picnic when he was a boy, broke in the process.  The plate is 14 1/8″ wide, slightly smaller than the standard 17 inches.

While turning the corner and entering the Hall Of Excellence I was a bit shocked to see this space suit.  The Hall of Excellence is dedicated to a lot of famous people that played in Little League.  One of those people is NASA astronaut Story Musgrave.  This is the suit Dr. Musgrave used to train for Skylab.  Other famous Little League players from the past include Mike Schmidt, Mike Mussina, Jim Palmer, Kyle Petty, and Tom Selleck.

The view from the Viewing Plaza.

Viewing Plaza

Williamsport Crosscutters 7th Annual Hot Stove Banquet & Auction

Last night I attended the 7th annual Williamsport Crosscutters Hot Stove Banquet & Auction.  For the past seven years, the Crosscutters have been bringing in all types of colorful guests to entertain fans while at the same time raising money for a good cause.  This year the guest lineup included Denny McLain, Tom O’Malley, Justin De Fratus, and other members of the baseball community.  Good food, great stories, cool memorabilia, all in the middle of a snow storm.

View from my seat.  The Genetti Hotel Ballroom was packed.

Denny McLain is the last pitcher to win 30 games in a single season.  In 1968, he went 31-6.  I highly doubt this will ever happen again.  Listening to his stories about Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams were very fun.  McLain even mentioned that he is in talks to do a potential reality T.V. show.  Given his interesting history, it would probably make for some fun T.V.  Perhaps he and Pete Rose could do a crossover episode.

Phillies relief pitcher Justin De Fratus (on left)

The 2012 Little League World Series – Pictures, Pins, & That SUBWAY Guy

Its a proven fact.  I’m totally addicted to waiting in line for promos.  I do it a majority of the time while attending the National Sports Collectors Convention, and I did it again today while taking my annual trip to the Little League World Series.  It was a blast!  Take a look.

Japan and Panama were playing.  Did you know that Panama’s national anthem isn’t Van Halen’s song Panama? 🙂

Over in the corporate area, Jared Fogle a.k.a The SUBWAY Guy, was signing autographs and taking pictures.

ESPN booth

THE PINS:

One of the ushers was nice enough to do a trade with me.  I had a few extra Honda pins, and I traded one of those for this usher pin.

Wilson Trophy makes a lot of the sponsor pins.  On my way into the stadium I stopped by the Wilson Trophy tent and picked up this neat pin.  The two Little League players actually slide up and down the hill.  This pin is quite large, and is one of my biggest.

Dunkin’ Donuts, Susquehanna Bank, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Wegmans, and SUBWAY pins

Hilton Hotels, Kellogg’s, Chiquita, Honda, Relay For Life, and 2012 Little League World Series logo pins

Genetti Hotel 3-pin set

In the end, I came out with a total of 20 pins.  Some of them are duplicates.  I don’t go to watch the games.  I’m there for the promos.  If your a pin collector and a baseball fan, this is the place to be.

And no.  I did not come across any ESPN pins.

I’ve Turned Into Where’s Waldo!

Enlarge image

This is another photo from the Phillies dinner I attended Monday night.  The Williamsport Crosscutters posted it earlier today.  I bet you can’t find me in it.  This is not a trick.  I’m in there.  I feel like Where’s Waldo?