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2014 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING (GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE/FLORIDA) AUTOGRAPH ADVICE

My girlfriend and I are going down to Spring Training in Florida for the first time this March. We're planning on catching a few games and would really like to try for some autographs. As of right now, we've got tickets to the Cardinals/Tigers game in Lakeland on March 3rd and Orioles/Yankees game in Tampa the next night. Not sure what other stadiums we'll hit just yet. I'd really like to get Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander and Derek Jeter to sign their respective jerseys that I already have. Does anyone have any inside info on which Spring Training stadiums have the best access for autographs? Anything I need to know before I venture down to the Sunshine State? Wish I was going today, this Jersey weather is terrible!

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Comment by GraphingMlb on January 22, 2014 at 9:18pm: Most practice facilities open gates around 9 am here in Az...I can assume it is about the same in Florida on how things are run..There was times I would hit the parks around 8 am to catch the guys driving in then wait for the practices to start.

Comment by Taylor Williams on January 23, 2014 at 2:14pm: In my experience, AZ is a little easier to get signatures than Fla. Getting to the facility during morning workouts or as they arrive to the camp is the best advice. Don't show up with a huge backpack and a bunch of stuff to get signed. You will be pegged as a dealer. Take the one item you want signed and act like the biggest fan of the player or team. If you wait until game time, stars will leave about the 4th or 5th inning of the early games. If you befriend security, they sometimes will let you know where he has stopped before to sign as he leaves the park. Generally, the older ballparks are more autograph friendly, in my opinion.

Comment by Dustin Jones on January 24, 2014 at 4:44pm: Thanks for the input guys. Are any of you going to Spring Training in FL this spring?

Comment by Dane on January 27, 2014 at 10:43pm: I'll be going, just like the last three years. :D

Comment by Anthony Patterson on February 4, 2014 at 10:44am: I'll be there as well. Should be interesting.

Comment by GraphingMlb on February 11, 2014 at 1:40pm: My son and I went to the dodgers Facility Sunday Morning as it was the first day of workouts for Pitchers and catchers..Mattingly does a line at the end of practice so he is an Automatic graph if you want..Kershaw signed several at the end but the dodger fans and dealers were rabid so kids got hurt a bit or couldnt get a place up front do to the greedy adults..Mark Mcgwire stopped and signed plenty on the way out in the morning. Brian Wilson,Dan Haren and Grienke straight up ignored everyone there. Chris Perez signed for everyone and in multiples.

Comment by Kenny Sweitzer, Jr. on February 11, 2014 at 6:43pm: god theres some bad advice....

miggy signs, jeter signs and verlanders signs too. its all about location!. take it from a seasoned FLOIRDA autographer. jeter will sign hes difficult but does it. miggy signs at the stadium, get there early. and verlander occasionly does it. but you cant expect to get there when the game to start and just get them. get there several hours before the game starts and try and get em before they come in and after they leave in the 3rd inning.

FYI jeter has been banging it out for dealers for the last 3 weeks. "tough" ehhh. idk.

Comment by Anthony Bautista on February 11, 2014 at 6:49pm: Exactly what I said man. Jeter is a great in person signer . Even with his Steiner contract .

Comment by GraphingMlb on February 11, 2014 at 6:55pm: I picked up from a dealer the other day on a jeter...nice ball too. Like I said and it seems true to FL show up early.

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