Sunday, April 30, 2017

Ricky Jordan


I met him at the Philadelphia Phillies fantasy camp at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2015.

Ricky signed a 1991 Upper Deck card #160.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jordari02.shtml

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Greg Luzinski


I met him at the Philadelphia Phillies fantasy camp at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2015.

I had met his son, Ryan, 21 years earlier.

Greg signed a 1985 Topps card #650.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/luzingr01.shtml

Friday, April 28, 2017

Big Jay Oakerson


On October 30, 2014 my brother and I went to see comedian Big Jay Oakerson perform at the Tampa Improv in Tampa, Florida.

After the show, Jay greeted fans as they exited the club. I patiently waited so that I could be last. It was well worth it. Jay spent about 10 minutes talking to me about The Ron and Fez Show, which is how I became familiar with him.

Jay signed an 8x10 photo of a screen capture from the 6th episode of season 3 of Louie.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Jay_Oakerson

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Bob Boone


I met him at the Philadelphia Phillies fantasy camp at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2015.

I had met his son, Bret, 21 years earlier.

Bob signed a 1985 Topps card #348. All of my years collecting autographs, this was the first time I got a 1985 Topps card signed. I actually broke my hand collated set because I liked this card so much.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boonebo01.shtml

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Matt Moore


I met him at the SLAMDiabetes Sam Fuld Tampa Classic 2014 at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida in 2014.

Matt signed a 2014 Topps card #588.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moorema02.shtml

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Sean Rodriguez

I met him at the SLAMDiabetes Sam Fuld Tampa Classic 2014 at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida in 2014.

Sean signed a 2014 Topps card #359.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodrise01.shtml

Monday, April 24, 2017

Josh Donaldson


I met him at the SLAMDiabetes Sam Fuld Tampa Classic 2014 at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida in 2014.

Josh signed a 2014 Topps blue parallel card #134.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/donaljo02.shtml

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Chad Ricketts


I went to high school with Chad. Many years later, after his baseball career had ended, he found me on Facebook. He sent me a message one day asking when his autograph was going to show up on my site. Unfortunately, even though I saw him play when he was with the Daytona Cubs, I didn't have a card of him at the time. He then asked for my home address and told me he'd send me a signed card.

Chad signed a 2002 Topps Total card #765.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=ricket001rob

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Bob Stanley

I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2014, when the Toronto Blue Jays, whom he was the bullpen coach for, came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Bob signed a 1988 Fleer card #367.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stanlbo01.shtml

Friday, April 21, 2017

Dres

On September 26, 2014, Dres of Black Sheep performed at Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida.

I met him just as he was about to go on stage.

Dres signed the cover of Black Sheep's A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing CD.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Rock Shoulders


I met him at a Minor League game at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Florida in 2014, when the Daytona Cubs came to play the Dunedin Blue Jays.

Rock signed a 2013 Topps Pro Debut card #80.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=should001rod

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Billy McKinney


I met him at a Minor League game at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Florida in 2014, when the Daytona Cubs came to play the Dunedin Blue Jays.

Billy signed a 2014 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects card #BP21.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mckinbi01.shtml

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Brian Anderson


I met him at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2014.

He was the color commentator for the Rays. On this day he was broadcasting from the centerfield concourse.

I was fortunate to be shown on TV standing behind him during the broadcast.


Brian signed a 1993 Classic Four Sport Draft Picks card #307.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/anderbr02.shtml

Monday, April 17, 2017

Omar Vizquel


I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2014, when the Detroit Tigers, whom he was the first base coach for, came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Omar signed a 1992 Upper Deck card #401.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vizquom01.shtml

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Phil Regan


I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the St. Lucie Mets, whom he was the pitching coach for, came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

I saw Phil walking out of the stadium and an autograph seeker walking with him but noticed Phil wasn't stopping. When I caught up with him, I heard Phil telling the guy that he doesn't like that people turn around and sell autographs on eBay. I interrupted their conversation and asked if he'd do personalizations. He said he had no problem doing those and I told him my name as he reached for my card. Phil then asked me, "have you been on eBay?" I replied, "yes, I bought that card on there." He said, "have you seen autographs on there?" Again, I said yes and immediately added "but I don't sell autographs." He smiled and said, "that's what they all say." I agreed with him. I'd like to think that I'm the only one who actually told him the truth when telling him that. Maybe he'll see this site and remember me. As for the other guy, I didn't stick around to see if he ever got his card signed. As I was walking away, I heard Phil say to him that he'd sign and then asked for his name and the guy said, "well, you see..." and that's all I heard.

Phil signed a 1965 Topps card #191.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reganph01.shtml

Saturday, April 15, 2017

L.J. Mazzilli


I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the St. Lucie Mets came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

I had met his father, Lee, in 1997.

L.J. signed a 2014 Topps Pro Debut card #19.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mazzil000lj-

Friday, April 14, 2017

Gavin Cecchini


I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the St. Lucie Mets came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

Gavin signed a 2014 Topps Pro Debut card #15.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cecchga02.shtml

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Juan Nieves

I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2014, when the Boston Red Sox, whom he was the pitching coach for, came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Juan signed a 1990 Upper Deck card #648.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nieveju01.shtml

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Joe Szekely


I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the Charlotte Stone Crabs, whom he was the hitting coach for, came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

As I'm sitting next to the Stone Crabs dugout, Jim Hoff recognizes me and comes over to say hi. He asks whose card I have and I showed him as I pronounced the name "Joe Zeek-lee." Jim then pronounces it correctly and says, "ah, Joe Zeck-lee." I was so glad he corrected me. I hate mispronouncing people's names. It helped so much when I was finally able to call for Mr. Szekely after the game.

Joe signed a 1990 CMC card #337.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=szekel001jos

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Jeremy Hellickson


I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the Charlotte Stone Crabs, whom he was on a rehab assignment with, came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

Jeremy signed a 2014 Topps card #202.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hellije01.shtml

Monday, April 10, 2017

Roger LaFrancois

I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the Palm Beach Cardinals, whom he was the hitting coach for, came to play the Clearwater Threshers.
I didn't have an extra card of him and actually broke my complete 1983 Topps set just to get his signature.

Roger signed a 1983 Topps card #344.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lafraro01.shtml

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Dann Bilardello


I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the Palm Beach Cardinals, whom he was managing, came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

Dann signed a 1987 Topps card #577.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bilarda01.shtml

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Dante Bichette, Jr.

I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the Tampa Yankees came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

I had met his father, Dante, just 4 months earlier.

Dante signed a 2013 Topps Heritage Minor League card #134.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=bichet000dan

Friday, April 7, 2017

Al Pedrique


I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the Tampa Yankees, whom he was managing, came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

It had been 14 years since the last time I got an autograph (Rich Monteleone) at a Minor League game. Ironically, it was these same 2 teams that I saw play, though, the Clearwater Phillies have since become the Clearwater Threshers and they left Jack Russell Memorial Stadium at the conclusion of the 2003 season.

Al signed a 1990 ProCards card #149.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pedrial01.shtml

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Orestes Destrade


I met him at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2014.
He was the Rays TV postgame host.

Orestes signed a 1991 BBM card #214.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/destror01.shtml

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Wayne Kirby

I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2014, when the Baltimore Orioles, whom he was the first base coach for, came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.
This was the first baseball card I ever got signed at a Major League game.

Wayne signed a 1990 ProCards card #80.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kirbywa01.shtml

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Andy McGaffigan

I met him at the Tampa Bay Rays Fan Fest at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on February 22, 2014.

Andy signed a 1990 Upper Deck card #597.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcgafan01.shtml

Monday, April 3, 2017

Mike Devereaux


I met him at the Tampa Bay Rays Fan Fest at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on February 22, 2014.

Mike signed a 1988 Fleer card #512.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/devermi01.shtml

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Reggie Jefferson


I met him at the Tampa Bay Rays Fan Fest at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on February 22, 2014.

Reggie signed a 1991 Leaf card #514.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jeffere01.shtml

Saturday, April 1, 2017

Dante Bichette

I met him at the Tampa Bay Rays Fan Fest at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on February 22, 2014.

Dante signed a 1992 Upper Deck card #378.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bicheda01.shtml