Saturday, December 31, 2016

2016: My Autograph Collecting Year in Review

In 2016 I added 527 autographs to my collection, I never ask for more than one autograph from each person that I meet, so, that's 527 different autographs that I amassed.

It started in early January when I met Juan Berenguer at the Minnesota Twins Fantasy camp in Fort Myers, Florida, and ended with Felipe Lopez just a couple of weeks ago at his former high school in Altamonte Springs, Florida.


Felipe Lopez, 2009 Upper Deck
Juan Berenguer, 1992 Upper Deck





























Let's take a look at some of the highlights between me meeting Mr. Berenguer and Mr. Lopez.

The month of January always has fantasy camps operating just about every week. I was able to visit 7 different camps (Twins, Orioles, Mets, Cardinals, Yankees, Phillies, Pirates and Orioles). I added 37 players from those teams.

January also happens to be the month in which I was born. On my birthday (January 13th) I went to Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, where they were holding a winter development program for their top prospects. It's not opened to the public, so I just waited outside and got Brent Honeywell and Ryne Stanek to sign for me when they were finished. It was my first time collecting autographs on my birthday.

Brent Honeywell, 2014 Bowman Draft









Ryne Stanek, 2015 FSL Top Prospects


February is when pitchers and catchers start reporting to spring training, but it's also a time when soccer players in Major League Soccer and lower divisions begin preparing for their upcoming seasons. I decided to start collecting soccer cards this year, beginning with players from my local team, the Tampa Bay Rowdies.


Freddy Adu was my very first soccer autograph. Unfortunately, I didn't prep the card well enough.


Freddy Adu, 2007 Upper Deck
I ended up with 55 signed soccer cards this season. I got to meet several past and present players who represented the United States in World Cups. That was a big thrill for me.


Claudio Reyna, 2007 Upper Deck
Earnie Stewart, 2002 Panini
Tony Meola, 1993 Upper Deck


Jozy Altidore, 2015 Topps
Michael Bradley, 2015 Topps


























I started following the English Premier League in 2006. I selected Chelsea FC as my team and have been a fan ever since. In 2016 I met 4 players who have played for Chelsea during my time as being a fan. I never expected to meet any of these guys when I watched them on TV. Now my collection includes perhaps two of their biggest stars, one of whom is Chelsea's leading goal scorer and 4th all-time in the Premier League.


Didier Drogba, 2015 Panini
Frank Lampard, 2014 Topps Premier





















Shaun Wright-Phillips, 2005 Topps
Joe Cole, 2014 Topps Premier


























March is when spring training baseball games start. The Phillies spring home is about 15 minutes from where I live. Really close. Sadly, I do not drive, so, I rely on public transportation. It's 90 minutes by bus. I'm dedicated to my hobby and don't let it bother me. Of the 15 home games the Phillies had this spring, I was there for 10 of them. I only ever try for visiting teams during spring training games. I added 28 new signatures to my collection. It started with Astros first base coach, Rich Dauer and ended with Twins outfielder, Byron Buxton.

Rich Dauer, 1984 Topps
Byron Buxton, 2015 Topps Pro Debut
























The Florida State League kicked off its season in April. I don't know how many games I attended, but I saw every team multiple times and visited 4 different stadiums. The FSL season helped me add an additional 153 autographs. It started with David Harris of the Dunedin Blue Jays and ended with Stephen Tarpley of the Tampa Yankees.

David Harris, 2015 Dunedin Blue Jays
Stephen Tarpley, Bradenton Marauders
























In September, after the conclusion of the FSL season, I decided to try something that I have never done in all my years of collecting autographs. I requested an autograph by mail. I had heard that the 1952 American League MVP, Bobby Shantz, was a great signer and returned items quickly. Knowing that he was 90 (he turned 91 the week after I sent my card) and that I'd probably never have the opportunity to meet him, I decided to write him a letter. Six days later my card came back signed. So far I am 3-3 with autograph requests. I have also written to Pat Neshek and Tom Willis.


Tom Willis, 2015 Topps

Bobby Shantz, 1993 Ted Williams
Pat Neshek, 2016 Topps

October is a time for playoff baseball and the World Series, but here in Florida, we have the Instructional League, where younger Minor League players get extra work to improve their skills. It's also for injured players to rebound from injuries and for players traded to new teams to get acclimated with their new coaching staffs. If you buy a lot of lower-level Minor League team sets,  you'll do great with autographs in the FIL. I came away with 44. Ryan McKenna of the Orioles was my first and I finished with Jojo Romero of the Phillies.

Jojo Romero, 2016 Williamsport Crosscutters
Ryan McKenna, 2015 Bowman Draft
















I got some impressive names during the FIL season. The very first player chosen in the 2016 MLB Draft, Mickey Moniak, Cavan Biggio, son of Hall of Famer, Craig, son of future Hall of Famer, Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., a couple of big name prospects that the Yankees acquired in trades, Clint Frazier and Dillon Tate, a Yankee who was rehabbing from an injury, Greg Bird, and a Yankee 4 home runs shy of 700, who came down to coach for a weekend, Alex Rodriguez.


Cavan Biggio, 2013 Panini U

Mickey Moniak, 2015 Panini USA

Clint Frazier, 2015 Topps Heritage Minors
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., 2016 Bowman Platinum
Greg Bird, 2016 Topps

Dillon Tate, 2015 Bowman Draft








































Alex Rodriguez, 1994 Classic

November is typically a month where it's tough to get baseball autographs, but in Dunedin, Florida, Roberto Alomar hosts his own fantasy camp featuring several former Blue Jays players. I was able to add 4 players that had eluded me all my years of collecting.

Devon White, 1992 Upper Deck
Pat Tabler, 1990 Upper Deck



Frank Catalanotto, 1995 Upper Deck Minors
Lloyd Moseby, 1991 Upper Deck






























In December I attended the first annual Wiffle with the Pros tournament.


Having the chance to see 3 top prospects who play for teams that don't train in Florida, was a big reason for me to attend this.



Brendan Rodgers, 2015 Bowman Draft


Foster Griffin, 2014 Bowman Draft
Forrest Wall, 2015 Bowman Prospects

 I'm very happy with my successes this year. I met some great soccer players, promising baseball prospects, players turned coaches that I grew up watching, but let's finish up this post with the Hall of Fame members that I met this year. I added 4 to my collection in 2016.
Whitey Herzog, 1988 Topps
Bert Blyleven, 1991 Upper Deck


Bobby Cox, 1984 Topps
Pat Gillick, 2015 Panini Cooperstown





























Happy 2017, Everyone!

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Stranger Things: My Favorite Autographed Cards of the 1980s


With Netflix's latest hit, Stranger Things being all the rage. I decided to scour my website, DailyAutograph.com and pick my top 10 favorite autographed cards from the 1980s.

So, in honor of the 1980s themed TV series, here are my favorites:

1980

Bucky Dent
Chris Chambliss



















These are the only 2 cards I have signed from this set. I try to avoid getting cards signed with pre-printed signatures on them. Unfortunately, these were my only options at the time.

1981

Duffy Dyer
Okay, not necessarily my favorite, but Duffy and Duffer (surname of the creators of Stranger Things) looked similar.

1982

Rick Sofield

I didn't have much to choose from in 1982, but this Minor League TCMA card is special to me because it was my 1,000th signed card in my collection.

1983

Keith Hernandez

Of course, this list is going to feature a Mets card. Keith's very first Topps card as a Met is a good place to start.

1984

Steve Lake

This was the year that I started collecting baseball cards. I have 50 cards signed from 1984 sets, but choosing a favorite was easy. When I first pulled this card from a $0.30 pack 32 years ago, it instantly became a favorite. I wasn't at all familiar with the man behind the catcher's gear, but that pose from that vantage point hooked me. I was so infatuated with this card that I had it displayed on a bulletin board in my bedroom. I met Steve in 1999 and it was such a thrill to have him sign this card for me.

1985

Tim Foli

I thought it was neat in 1985 when Topps highlighted #1 overall picks in Major League Baseball drafts throughout the years. I really liked the look of this card and was happy how it turned out.

1986

Jose Canseco

The card that started it all. My very first autographed baseball card. In 1987, it was a major deal to not only have a Canseco card, but getting his autograph that year was icing on the cake.

1987

George Bamberger

George Bamberger was the Mets manager when I first became a fan. It was pretty special to meet him over a decade later.

1988

Whitey Herzog

I love how this turned out. Whitey added his HOF inscription without me even asking.

1989

Mickey Morandini

I don't remember Mickey Morandini ever going by "Mike," but I liked the look of the card and the uniqueness of having a Mike Morandini Minor League card signed.

How appropriate, it was supposed to be 10 cards listed, but I ended up with 11.

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