Thursday, December 31, 2020

Mickey Hatcher


I met him at the hotel he and the players and staff were staying at for the Minnesota Twins fantasy camp in Fort Myers, Florida in 2018.

Mickey signed a 1990 Upper Deck card #283.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hatchmi01.shtml

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Dick Stigman


I met him at the hotel he and the players and staff were staying at for the Minnesota Twins fantasy camp in Fort Myers, Florida in 2018.

Dick signed a 1959 Topps card #142.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stigmdi01.shtml

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Tommy Watkins


I met him at the hotel he and the players and staff were staying at for the Minnesota Twins fantasy camp in Fort Myers, Florida in 2018.

Tommy signed a 2017 Cedar Rapids Kernels Team Set card #26.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/watkito01.shtml

Monday, December 28, 2020

Ron Cey


A week before Christmas 2017, I decided to send Mr. Cey an autograph request through the mail.

Ten days later my card came back signed.

Ron signed a 1993 Ted Williams card #10.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/ceyro01.shtml

Sunday, December 27, 2020

Dick Groat


A week before Christmas 2017, I decided to send Mr. Groat an autograph request through the mail.

Seven days later my card came back signed.

Dick signed a 1992 Action Packed card #28.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/groatdi01.shtml

Saturday, December 26, 2020

Carl Erskine


Two days shy of Mr. Erskine's 91st birthday (December 13, 2017), I decided to send him an autograph request through the mail.

Eleven days later my card came back signed. He also included his own letter with my card.


Carl signed a 1993 Ted Williams card #13.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/erskica01.shtml

Friday, December 25, 2020

Andrew Miller


I met him at the SLAMDiabetes 4th Annual Sam Fuld Tampa Classic on December 9, 2017, at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.

Andrew signed a 2017 Bowman card #38.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/millean01.shtml

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Steve Cishek


I met him at the SLAMDiabetes 4th Annual Sam Fuld Tampa Classic on December 9, 2017, at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.

Steve signed a 2015 Topps Heritage card #359.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cishest01.shtml

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Gabe Kapler


I met him at the SLAMDiabetes 4th Annual Sam Fuld Tampa Classic on December 9, 2017, at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.

Gabe signed a 2009 O-Pee-Chee card #298.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kaplega01.shtml

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Joe Jiannetti


I met him at the SLAMDiabetes 4th Annual Sam Fuld Tampa Classic on December 8, 2017, at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.

Joe signed a 2002 Topps Total card #284.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=jianne001jos

Monday, December 21, 2020

Carlos Baerga


I met him at the Alomar Sports Fantasy Camp at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Florida in 2017.

As I was waiting for Carlos to come out, I noticed Roberto Alomar was on the cover of this magazine. Carlos comes out and he walks right over and signs it for me. I wasn't planning on it but less than 5 minutes later, Roberto comes out, so I got him to sign it, too.


Carlos signed the back of the April 1993 issue of Beckett Baseball Card Monthly.

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Jason Frasor


I met him at the Alomar Sports Fantasy Camp at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Florida in 2017.

Jason signed a 2010 Topps card #393.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/frasoja01.shtml

Saturday, December 19, 2020

Mookie Wilson


I met him at the Alomar Sports Fantasy Camp at the Bobby Mattick Training Center at Englebert Complex in Dunedin, Florida in 2017.

I had met his son, Preston, 20 years earlier.

Mookie signed a 1988 Score card #474.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wilsomo01.shtml

Friday, December 18, 2020

Jim Presley


I met him at the Pro Ball Baseball Clinic at Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida in 2017.

Jim signed a 1985 Topps Traded card #92T.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/preslji01.shtml

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Ty Van Burkleo


I met him at the Pro Ball Baseball Clinic at Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida in 2017.

Ty signed a 1991 BBM card #343.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vanbuty01.shtml

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Rob Picciolo


I met him at the Pro Ball Baseball Clinic at Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida in 2017.
Sadly, just 4 weeks after getting this card signed, Rob suffered a fatal heart attack.

Rob signed a 1984 Topps card #88.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/picciro01.shtml

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Jim Hickey


I met him at the Pro Ball Baseball Clinic at Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida in 2017.

Jim signed a 1991 ProCards card #2818.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=hickey003jam

Monday, December 14, 2020

Glenn Sherlock


I met him at the Pro Ball Baseball Clinic at Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida in 2017.

Glenn signed a 1987 TCMA/CMC Columbus Clippers Team Set card #25.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=sherlo001gle

Sunday, December 13, 2020

Don Wakamatsu


I met him at the Pro Ball Baseball Clinic at Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida in 2017.

Don signed a 1990 CMC card #649.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wakamdo01.shtml

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Talib Kweli


I met him before his show at The State Theatre on November 18, 2017 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Talib signed his Quality CD.

Friday, December 11, 2020

The Sh-Booms


I met them (Mizz Bren, Bryan Sherbrook, Nick Walsh, Al Ruiz, Kevin Connolly, Mike Ortiz, and Davis Schleicher) before their show at The State Theatre on November 18, 2017 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

I arrived early to the venue hoping to meet Talib Kweli, who was headlining the show. I was unfamiliar with the Sh-Booms, who were opening for him. I had looked them up on YouTube the night before to familiarize myself with their music. When I arrived at the performer's entrance behind the venue, I recognized the Sh-Booms standing around. After a few minutes, Mizz Bren walked by me and I stopped her to tell her that I was a big fan of their song, "Usage Fee."


She thanked me and then told me that she was going to give me something when she gets back. When she returned she told me to come with her to meet the band. She then went inside and grabbed a CD of theirs and offered to have them all sign it for me.

The Sh-Booms signed their Usage Fee E.P. CD.

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Aaron Harang


I met him at the Florida State League Hall of Fame induction ceremony on November 15, 2017 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater, Florida.
Aaron was being honored for his playing career.

Photo courtesy of www.milb.com

Aaron signed a 2007 Topps Allen & Ginter's card #52.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/haranaa01.shtml

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Martin Vingaard


I met him at a Tampa Bay Rowdies playoff game at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2017.

Martin signed a 2010/2011 Panini Champions League sticker #254.

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

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Josh Stephen


I met him during the Philadelphia Phillies Florida Instructional League at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2017.

Josh signed a 2017 Williamsport Crosscutters Team Set card #28.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=stephe005jos

Monday, December 7, 2020

Eduardo Navas


I met him at a Florida Instructional League game at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2017, when the New York Yankees came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Eduardo signed a 2017 Charleston RiverDogs Team Set card.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=navas-000edu

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Austin Listi


I met him during the Philadelphia Phillies Florida Instructional League at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2017.

Austin signed a 2017 Williamsport Crosscutters Team Set card #15.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=listi-000aus

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Connor Brogdon


I met him during the Philadelphia Phillies Florida Instructional League at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2017.

Connor signed a 2017 Williamsport Crosscutters Team Set card #04.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brogdco01.shtml

Friday, December 4, 2020

Luis Ramirez


I met him during the Philadelphia Phillies Florida Instructional League at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2017.

Luis signed a 2017 Williamsport Crosscutters Team Set card #24.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=ramire015lui

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Rodolfo Duran


I met him during the Philadelphia Phillies Florida Instructional League at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2017.

Rodolfo signed a 2017 Williamsport Crosscutters Team Set card #08.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=duran-000rod

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Derian Cruz


I met him at a Florida Instructional League game at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2017, when the Atlanta Braves came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Derian signed a 2017 Rome Braves Team Set card #05.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cruz--000der

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Drew Waters


I met him at a Florida Instructional League game at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2017, when the Atlanta Braves came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Drew signed a 2017 Danville Braves Team Set card.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/waterdr01.shtml