Dodger RAMblings: Matt Kemp & Andre Ethier Autograph Signing at Frank & Son

Monday, April 30, 2012

Matt Kemp & Andre Ethier Autograph Signing at Frank & Son - Photos & Recap

On Saturday April 28, 2012, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier & Dee Gordon were scheduled to sign autographs at Frank & Son Collectibles Show. Kemp was schedule to sign from 10am - 11:30am, Ethier from 11:30am - 1:00pm, and Gordon from 11am - 12:30pm.

I have several items signed by all three players and wasn't originally planning to atted this signing. However, during the last week, I came across some items I thought were cool and wanted to get signed by Ethier and Kemp. I arrived at Frank & Son around 9:15am and headed in to get my autograph tickets. I have to say this was the craziest and most crowded paid signing i've been to in a very long time. I had to wait almost half an hour in line just to get my autograph tickets. Kemp arrived a few minutes after 10am and started signing right away. Honabach and Sons had put up several signs stating there would be no posed photographs but people still asked and it made the line move really slow. At around 11:10am I was still at least 75-85 spots from getting my autograph when an announcement was made that if everyone didn't get their items signed by the ending time of 11:30am, we would be offered refunds or we could leave our items and they would get signed privately. Although, some might find this o.k., I like getting my autos in person and was a little irritated. It was apparent Honabach and Sons had oversold the event.

I don't know how or why but Kemp agreed to stay over and sign for everyone that was left in line. He must've stayed till at least 12:30pm. After getting my items signed by Kemp and jumped into the line for Ethier's autograph. Since it was close to his end time, the line was moving pretty quickly and I got up to the front of the line within about 20 minutes. Andre was really talkative and after he signed my first item, he even extended his hand to shake hands with me and thank me for coming out. It caught me off guard so I just said "you're welcome" and shook his hand. As he was signing my second item, I asked him how he liked the SamBat. He replied, "I love it!" and then I asked him if it was his first year using the SamBat and he stated he "used it a couple of years ago but they weren't using good wood". I figure they must've been breaking on him. As he was finishing my autograph I told him they must be using good trees now and asked if the bat was maple and he stated, "yeah, maple". You can check out my post from the other day about Andre's use of the SamBat by clicking here

I want to give a shout out to my friend Carmen who I saw at the signing and a shout out to Steve who I also saw at the LoDuca signing last week. I still need to get him copy of the Forbes Magazine with Kemp on the cover. Also another shout out to Stephanie who I met in line. It was Stephanie's first signing and she helped me pass the time as we waited over two hours in line.

Check out my pics from the signing below.