Pringles Park Recon

[Cobra22nd]

An Overview of Autographing at Pringles Park
By Chad Griffith (cobra22nd)

Autographing at Pringles Park can be an iffy proposition. Access is extremely limited and management, specifically General Manager Jeff Parker, can be unfriendly to collectors at times. The Cubs players would often go out of their way after the game to avoid graphers—mostly kids. I will describe the layout of the park and locations to autograph in this article.

The first thing that you notice when you arrive is that the clubhouses are beyond the outfield fence. For this reason, neither team comes out of the dugout to go warm up. Players going to the bullpen don’t, as a general rule, go near the dugout. Getting relief pitchers at this park is the single greatest challenge you will face. You can pretty much forget about trying to do both teams pregame, unless you get there early enough that one of the teams is still doing infield.

The home team enters the field through a door in the fence along the third base foul line. Their bullpen is in between the last section of seats and the outfield fence. Access is limited to an area in the corner there. However, relievers are often late to come out. The Jaxx players often will go directly to the field to warm up without going to their dugout. Access to the dugout itself is kind of crappy. I recommend setting up near 3rd if you are getting Jaxx players. Be forewarned that with the Cubs players, this was a hit or miss proposition, and very often resulted in a miss. This year, we will learn if the Mariner’s players are a little more fan friendly. My honest opinion is that if you want Diamond Jaxx autographs, you’d be better served elsewhere, like at Huntsville. However, if you can make it to one of their ‘meet the players’ promos, do so. Just be sure to get there early. They let the season ticket holders in first, so there is already a line when Joe fan gets there.

The visiting team enters the field through a door closer to center. If the team you are after has jersey numbers on front, a zoom lens or spotting scope will be of great help to you. The bullpen is located on the 1st base side and often the relievers will walk on the other side of the fence, out of sight. It appears that you can go down the berm right to the bullpen, but I have never done so, nor have I seen it done. I have considered it, though. Since the players have to come so far, you have longer to identify them and ready yourself. Again, players don’t necessarily go to the dugout first. Be prepared
to wait, though.

After the game, if you stick around, you’ll find it difficult to succeed. Your best chance is with the Jaxx, as the visitors often leave post haste! If you attempt to sneak onto the player’s parking lot, you can expect to encounter Jeff Parker, who will tell you to leave. He may even intercept you. Be forewarned that on getaway day, you will not have access to the visitors at all, since their bus will be on the far end of the clubhouse.

Of all the parks I have hounded at, this is one of my least favorite. I’d really rather drive to Huntsville, which is 3 hours further for me than Jackson, Tn. I think that speaks volumes about the situation. However, if you enjoy a challenge, Pringles Park is the most challenging park in the midsouth.