D-Backs Fan Fest Recap: Part 1

My buddy and I arrived at the D-Backs Fan Fest on Saturday, February 11th at about 7:30 am. We were prepared to wait 3+ hours in line in order to purchase autograph tickets for some of our favorite D-Backs players and coaches. We were probably around the 30th people in the general public line. Tickets were suppossed to go on sale to the general public at 10:30 am or whenever the line for Season Ticket Holders was complete "whichever comes first". The part in quotation marks is from the flyer that was handed out by D-Backs staff around 8:30 am. 10:30 am came and went and the Season Ticket Holders kept coming. The Season Ticket Holders were allowed to completely finish purchasing autograph tickets before the general public was allowed to purchase any autograph tickets. By the time we got up to a ticket window almost all the tickets were sold out. We had waited for over 3 hours and ended up not getting a single autograph ticket. Needless to say I was extremly frustrated and I voiced my concerns over how things were handled. I will keep you posted as to the results. We entered the stadium and got out Subway gift cards (I still haven't checked to see how much is on mine - it's somewhere between $1 and $500 - I'm guessing mine will be $1). We went down to the Yard Sale and I did purchase a few items including these three autographed 8 x 10's of former D-Backs. I got them for $2 each. I also got a $2 Augie Ojeda bobblehead that I did not have yet.

Kelly Johnson

Brandon Allen

Clay Zavada

Trading with the Troll

Marck, aka "The Troll", of the blog The Collective Troll and I recently completed another trade. He contacted me and asked if I would be interested in a Justin Upton Jersey card from the 2009 Topps Heritage High Numbers set. I answered with a big YES! I sent him a Devil Ray auto (Pete La Forest) and some Carl Crawford cards that he needed and in return I got the Upton jersey. I got his package in the mail today. Not only did he include the Upton jersey, but he sent a few more D-Backs including 2 additional cards from the Topps Heritage High Numbers set. Thanks Troll!

Topps Heritage High Numbers CLAY ZAVADA Rookie Card - This is the only Zavada card I have been able to find. I wanted this card and almost bought it on eBay, so thank you very much Troll. Zavada has a great story and is also a good pitcher. The only bad thing about the card is that it dosen't feature his trademark handlebar mustache.

Topps Heritage High Numbers CHAD QUALLS Chrome Parallel #'d 0265/1960

Topps Heritage High Numbers Clubhouse Collection JUSTIN UPTON Jersey - This is my first Upton relic card! I love that it's black and not the typical white or grey.

Get to know D-Backs pitcher Clay Zavada

Pulled this out of the D-Backs Insider (July 23-29, 2009) that I got from the game this past Friday. I posted previously about Clay and how he got to the big leagues (see my post: Best 'stach since Rollie Fingers), so I thought I would post this as well. Notice that he's not sporting the handlebar mustache in this picture. Too bad.

Best 'stache since Rollie Fingers

Clay Zavada is a relief pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks. I went to a Diamondbacks game on June 9th. Clay Zavada had made his MLB debut just 19 days earlier on May 21st, and I was not familiar with him when I saw him stretching and running in the outfield with the other pitchers during batting practice. But the 'stache catches your eye. I didn't know who he was but I do know that he was the only Diamondbacks player that day that acknowledged the fans in the bleachers hoping for a batting practice homerun ball. He came over and talked to a few fans and signed autographs. Even better than his 'stache is his story. Check out the New York Times article by Katie Thomas published December 20, 2008.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/sports/baseball/21pitcher.html

It chronicles the fact that Clay's mother passed away when he just 3 years old, leaving his father to raise Clay and his brother. Clay was drafted in the 30th round of the 2006 draft by the Diamondbacks. His father died unexpectedly of a heart attack that December and it devestated Clay to the point that he did not report to Spring Training in 2007. The Diamondbacks dropped his contract later that summer. Clay decided to go back to college and complete his Bachelors degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to honor his fathers wishes. After more than a year without so much as picking up a baseball, Clay decided to try out for an independent league team, the Southern Illinois Miners. It took a few games, but Clay eventually caught the attention of the Diamondbacks, and in June of 2008, they re-signed him to a one-year contract. From that point, it took Clay less than a year to reach the majors. That is some story and that is some 'stache. Congratualations Clay and good luch in the big leagues!

If anybody has any of Clay's cards I would love to trade. I just checked ebay and there wasn't a single Clay Zavada card listed.