We were standing in the hot sun as the Gardenhire line inched forward. I was worried after finding out there was only one signing, one item, one time per ticket. I wondered how in the world I was going to get both of my Gardenhire bobbleheads autographed! I was mentioning my dilemma to my Spring Valley friend and he said that his son in line with him would get the signature. Minnesota Nice!

We got to Gardenhire and I told him this was the second thing he had signed for me. That he had inscribed his 1999 jacket when he was down to see his son Toby play for the Rochester Honkers. He remembered, saying that Toby was doing well this year and enjoying himself.  I mentioned that Toby was a good athlete. Gardy said, “Yes he is,” and that “it was good to see me again.”  I don’t think that I cut that much ice with Gardenhire, but a parent is always pleased to hear good things about their child. Gardy even reached for Kay’s book and signed that also.

The Spring Valley family gave me the signed bobblehead and my trip to the cities was made right there. I gave them a book and was very pleased to do so.

Where to next?  The current Twins were still signing. The Matt Guerrier, Tom Kelly, Scott Ulger line looked possible. Again the long wait standing in the sun. Talked with some folks and TC the Twins’ mascot in a bear suit came by. I asked him if the costume was hot, he nodded yes. He posed for a picture for the grandchildren and signed a book. Amazing how well he could write with a paw for a hand.

Finally we were in front of Matt Guerrier. I asked him how his arm was. He said, “Good, how’s yours?”  I said, “Good, but yours is more important.” He smiled at me. I imagine pitchers get asked about their arms dozens of times during an autograph session.

Tom Kelly was next. Kelly had steered the Twins to World Series wins in ’87 and ’91. I admired Kelly for doing not what the sports establishment and sportswriters thought was right, but what he thought was right for the team and the players. I asked him if it was true that in the extra innings of the third game of the  St. Louis World Series, he was going to bring left fielder Dan Gladden in to pitch so he wouldn’t burn out his last pitcher. Kelly said that was so long ago, he didn’t remember and that he had tried to forget the game.  I said, “Well, you may have lost the game, but you won the Series.”  He just grinned at me.

Next was Franciso Liriano. I had talked with Liriano previously in 2006 when he was having a marvelous year and was Minnesota’s premier pitcher, even outshining Johan Santana. (Not an easy thing to do.)  During that short interview I asked him how his arm was. He said, “Good, no great.”  (As you know, he ended up with surgery shortly thereafter.)  Desperate for another question, I asked him what his favorite leisure activity was.  He said, “Dominoes.”  I said, “How about checkers?” He said, “Dominoes.”  So, when approaching Liriano this year, I asked how his arm was.  He said, not changing expressions, nor looking up, “good.” I then pulled out my “ace in the hole.”  “How’s your Domino game?” Again no reaction, not looking up he said, “Good.” I can’t blame him much. Liriano has had a lousy year so far. Probably didn’t want to be out in the heat talking to fans, particularly ones asking him about his arm.

This three-parter will be concluded next week with Rod Carew, the game, what the first 10,000 fans through the gate received and how much is cold coke.