Monday, February 28, 2022

Dewey Robinson


I met him at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018.

On the final Friday of the regular season, the Tampa Bay Rays invite their instructional league squad, minor league award winners, and minor league coaches/staff to take in a Major League game. I knew that Dewey had been a pitching coordinator for them, so I had been carrying his card with me for several years. Finally, on this night, I recognized him in attendance.

Dewey signed a 1987 ProCards card #1878.

Sunday, February 27, 2022

Jason Phillips


I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, when the Toronto Blue Jays, whom he was a bullpen catcher for, came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Jason signed a 2004 Fleer Ultra card #125.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/phillja04.shtml

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Stan Boroski


I met him at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, while he was the bullpen coach for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Stan signed a 1983 Midwest League Stars of Tomorrow card #28.

Friday, February 25, 2022

Taylor Walls


I met him at an autograph signing at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018.

Before the game, the Rays honored their 2018 Minor League award winners. Taylor was the recipient of the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Taylor signed a 2017 Bowman Draft card #BD-87.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wallsta01.shtml

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Chris Betts


I met him at an autograph signing at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018.

Before the game, the Rays honored their 2018 Minor League award winners. Chris was the recipient of the Hudson Valley Renegades Most Valuable Player award.

Chris signed a 2015 Bowman Draft card #194.

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

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Wander Franco


I met him at an autograph signing at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018.

Before the game, the Rays honored their 2018 Minor League award winners. Wander was the recipient of the Princeton Rays Most Valuable Player award.

Wander signed a 2018 Princeton Rays Team Set card.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/francwa01.shtml

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Brayan Gonzalez


I met him during the Philadelphia Phillies Florida Instructional League at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2018.

Brayan signed a 2018 Williamsport Crosscutters Team Set card #09.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gonzal003bra

Monday, February 21, 2022

Matt Vierling


I met him during the Philadelphia Phillies Florida Instructional League at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2018.

Matt signed a 2018 Williamsport Crosscutters Team Set card #29.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vierlma01.shtml

Sunday, February 20, 2022

Drew Benes


I met him at a Florida Instructional League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2018, when the Pittsburgh Pirates, whom he was coaching, came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

I had met his uncle, Alan 24 years earlier in 1994.

Drew signed a 2017 West Virginia Power Team Set card #31.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=benes-002and

Saturday, February 19, 2022

Matt Kroon


I met him during the Philadelphia Phillies Florida Instructional League at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2018.

Matt signed a 2018 Williamsport Crosscutters Team Set card #13.

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

Friday, February 18, 2022

Ben Pelletier


I met him during the Philadelphia Phillies Florida Instructional League at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2018.

Ben signed a 2018 Williamsport Crosscutters Team Set card #22.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=pellet001ben

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Devon Sandoval


I met him at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, when Atlanta United 2 came to play the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Devon signed a 2016 Topps Major League Soccer card #73.

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

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Marcus Jensen


I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, when the Oakland A's, whom he was the bullpen coach for, came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Marcus signed a 1994 Fleer Excel card #292.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jensema01.shtml

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Dustin Fowler


I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, when the Oakland A's came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Dustin signed a 2018 Bowman card #36.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fowledu01.shtml

Monday, February 14, 2022

Dean Kiekhefer


I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, when the Oakland A's came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Dean signed a 2016 Topps Update Series card #US2.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kiekhde01.shtml

Sunday, February 13, 2022

Chad Pinder


I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, when the Oakland A's came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Chad signed a 2015 Bowman Prospects card #BP110.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pindech01.shtml

Saturday, February 12, 2022

Matt Williams


I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, when the Oakland A's, whom he was the third base coach for, came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Matt signed an 8x10 photo.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/willima04.shtml

Friday, February 11, 2022

Fernando Rodney


I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, when the Oakland A's came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Fernando signed a 2015 Topps card #52.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodnefe01.shtml

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Matt Chapman


I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, when the Oakland A's came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Matt signed a 2015 Topps Pro Debut card #146.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/chapmma01.shtml

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Joey Wendle


I met him at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018.

Joey signed a 2014 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects card #BP110.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wendljo01.shtml

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Jonathan Villar


I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, when the Baltimore Orioles came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Jonathan signed a 2016 Topps card #533.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/villajo01.shtml

Monday, February 7, 2022

Luis Ortiz


I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, when the Baltimore Orioles came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

He ended up making his Major League debut during this game. Unfortunately, it was a blowout by the 7th inning when he was introduced. The Orioles were down 11-2 and Luis didn't help matters. He pitched 0.2 innings giving up 3 earned runs off of 3 hits and 2 walks and a wild pitch. One of those 3 hits was Andrew Velazquez's first Major League hit.
Luis Ortiz debut ticket
Luis signed a 2016 Bowman Draft card #BD-158.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ortizlu02.shtml

Sunday, February 6, 2022

Adam Jones


I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, when the Baltimore Orioles came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Adam signed a 2015 Topps Opening Day card #19.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jonesad01.shtml

Saturday, February 5, 2022

Roger McDowell


I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, when the Baltimore Orioles, whom he was the pitching coach for, came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Roger signed a 1985 Topps Traded card #83T.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcdowro01.shtml

Friday, February 4, 2022

Andrew Cashner


I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, when the Baltimore Orioles came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Andrew signed a 2015 Topps card #231.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cashnan01.shtml

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Renato Nunez


I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018, when the Baltimore Orioles came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Renato signed a 2015 Topps Heritage Minor League card #82.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nunezre01.shtml

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Mauricio Llovera


I met him at game 1 of the Florida State League North division series between the Daytona Tortugas and Clearwater Threshers at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2018.

Mauricio signed a 2017 Lakewood Blueclaws Team Set card #18.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/llovema01.shtml

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Cory Thompson


I met him at game 1 of the Florida State League North division series between the Daytona Tortugas and Clearwater Threshers at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2018.

Cory signed a 2016 Dayton Dragons Team Set card.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=thomps000cor