Monday, July 31, 2023

Bobby Shuttleworth


I met him at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2020, when the Chicago Fire came to play the Philadelphia Union in a scrimmage.

Bobby signed a 2016 Topps APEX Major League Soccer card #63.

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

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Jonathan Bornstein


I met him at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2020, when the Chicago Fire came to play the Philadelphia Union in a scrimmage.

Jonathan signed a 2007 Upper Deck Major League Soccer card #16.

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

Saturday, July 29, 2023

Jonathan Campbell


I met him at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2020, when the Chicago Fire came to play the Philadelphia Union in a scrimmage.

Jonathan signed a 2016 Topps Major League Soccer card #146.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Campbell_(soccer)

Friday, July 28, 2023

Jim Thome


I met him at the Philadelphia Phillies fantasy camp at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2020.

Jim signed a 1992 Fleer Ultra card #54.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomeji01.shtml

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Destin Hood


I met him at the 2nd annual Ritchie Hockey Foundation youth baseball clinic at the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida in 2020.

Destin signed a 2009 TriStar PROjections card #99.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hoodde01.shtml

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Jürgen Klinsmann


I met him at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2020, when Hertha BSC, whom he was managing, played Eintracht Frankfurt in a friendly match during their winter break.

Jürgen signed a 2016 Panini USA Soccer card #48.

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

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Mychal Givens


I met him at his 3rd annual BlitzBall tournament at Greco Softball Complex in Tampa, Florida in 2020.


Mychal signed a 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League card #119.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/givenmy01.shtml

Monday, July 24, 2023

Carlos Carrasco


I met him at his annual toy drive at Harley-Davidson of New Port Richey in New Port Richey, Florida in 2019.




Carlos signed a 2016 Topps Bunt card #161.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carraca01.shtml

Sunday, July 23, 2023

Alan Trammell


I met him at the Pro Ball Baseball Clinic at Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida in 2019.

Alan signed a 1988 Fleer All-Star Team card #9.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/trammal01.shtml

Saturday, July 22, 2023

Will Venable


I met him at the Pro Ball Baseball Clinic at Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida in 2019.

Will signed a 2014 Topps card #64.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/venabwi01.shtml

Friday, July 21, 2023

Tony Muser


I met him at the Pro Ball Baseball Clinic at Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida in 2019.

Tony signed a 1974 Topps card #286.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/muserto01.shtml

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Ricky Romero


I met him at the Alomar Sports Fantasy Camp at Yankees Player Development & Scouting Complex in Tampa, Florida in 2019.
The camp is usually held at the Toronto Blue Jays spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida but due to planned construction, the camp was shared with the New York Yankees.

Ricky signed a 2012 Topps Allen & Ginter's card #199.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/romerri01.shtml

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Martin Paterson


I met him at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2019.

It was a few days after the regular season had ended. The Rowdies, whom he was an assistant coach for, were preparing for their road playoff match against Louisville FC, so I went down to the stadium, hoping to get an autograph before they left for Louisville, KY.
Right as I arrived, assistant Coach Stuart Robson, who always takes time to talk to me, was also just arriving. He asked who I was looking for and I showed him the card. He got a big kick out of it, even took a picture of it for himself. He told me he'd go ask Martin to come out and sign it for me. A few minutes later Martin came over to sign for me.

Martin signed a 2012/2013 Topps Match Attax Championship card #72.

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Kwadwo Poku


I met him at a Tampa Bay Rowdies game at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2019.

Kwadwo signed a 2016 Topps APEX Major League Soccer card #36.

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

Monday, July 17, 2023

Sam McMillan


I met him at a Florida Instructional League game at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2019, when the Detroit Tigers came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Sam signed a 2018 Connecticut Tigers Team Set card #20.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mcmill000sam

Sunday, July 16, 2023

Jack O'Loughlin


I met him at a Florida Instructional League game at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2019, when the Detroit Tigers came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Jack signed a 2018 Connecticut Tigers Team Set card #23.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=olough000jac

Saturday, July 15, 2023

Graeme Stinson


I met him at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2019.

During the final homestand 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. Unfortunately, an instructional league roster wasn't released online, so I didn't know whose cards to bring with me. Thankfully, a fellow autograph collector was able to recognize him, and he stopped to sign for us.

Graeme signed a 2019 Panini USA Baseball Stars & Stripes card #23.

Friday, July 14, 2023

Carter Bach


I met him at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2019.

During the final homestand 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. Unfortunately, an instructional league roster wasn't released online, so I didn't know whose cards to bring with me. Thankfully, I recognized him in attendance. Him being 6'7" helped narrow things down a little.

Carter signed a 2019 Princeton Rays Team Set card.

Thursday, July 13, 2023

Matthew Liberatore


I met him at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2019.

During the final homestand 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.
Unfortunately, the Rays instructional league roster had not been posted online anywhere, so I brought every Rays card that I had. Matthew passed me several times but I didn't recognize him. Finally, he stopped and asked who I was looking for. I told him I had cards of pretty much everyone and they're all in alphabetical order. He went through my book, page by page, telling me who was there. He then gets to the L's, takes the pen out of my hand, and starts to sign my card. I laughed because he was one guy that I thought I would've recognized but he commented that he's grown a beard since then, which is what threw me off.

Matthew signed a 2018 Bowman Draft card #BD-30.

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Craig Albernaz


I met him at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2019.

During the final homestand 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 Craig was a minor league coach for them, so I brought this card with me and luckily I recognized him in attendance.

Craig signed a 2016 Hudson Valley Renegades Team Set card.

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Jose Gonzalez


I met him at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2019.

During the final homestand 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 Jose was a minor league coach for them, so I brought this card with me and luckily I recognized him in attendance.

Jose signed a 2018 Hudson Valley Renegades Team Set card.

Monday, July 10, 2023

Diego Infante


I met him at an autograph signing at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2019.

Before the game, the Rays honored their 2019 Minor League award winners. Diego was the recipient of the Princeton Rays Most Valuable Player.

Diego signed a 2019 Princeton Rays card.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=infant000die

Sunday, July 9, 2023

Greg Jones


I met him at an autograph signing at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2019.

Before the game, the Rays honored their 2019 Minor League award winners. Greg was the recipient of the Hudson Valley Renegades Most Valuable Player.

Greg signed a 2019 Hudson Valley Renegades card.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=jones-004gre

Saturday, July 8, 2023

Caleb Sampen


I met him at an autograph signing at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2019.

Before the game, the Rays honored their 2019 Minor League award winners. Caleb was the recipient of the Bowling Green Hot Rods Most Valuable Player.

Caleb signed a 2019 Bowling Green Hot Rods Team Set card #24.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=sampen000cal

Friday, July 7, 2023

Tommy Romero


I met him at an autograph signing at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2019.

Before the game, the Rays honored their 2019 Minor League award winners. Tommy was the recipient of the Charlotte Stone Crabs Most Valuable Player.

Tommy signed a 2019 Topps Pro Debut card #163.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/romerto01.shtml

Thursday, July 6, 2023

Tyler Zombro


I met him at an autograph signing at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2019.

Before the game, the Rays honored their 2019 Minor League award winners. Tyler was the recipient of the Relief Pitcher of the Year.

Tyler signed a 2018 Bowling Green Hot Rods Team Set card #27.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=zombro000tyl

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Bryson Stott


I met him during the Philadelphia Phillies Florida Instructional League at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2019.

Bryson signed a 2019 Panini USA Baseball Stars & Stripes card #11.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stottbr01.shtml

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Carlos De La Cruz


I met him during the Philadelphia Phillies Florida Instructional League at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2019.

Carlos signed a 2019 Lakewood Blueclaws Team Set card #03.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=delacr007car

Monday, July 3, 2023

Dan Wheeler


I met him at the Youth Park in Pinellas Park, Florida in 2019. I was there to watch my nephew's baseball practice, and I had heard that Dan was one of the coaches.

Dan signed a 2009 O-Pee-Chee card #424.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wheelda01.shtml

Sunday, July 2, 2023

Justin Davis


I met him at the hotel he and the rest of Nashville SC were staying at in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2019 when they came to play the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Justin signed a 2017 Topps Major League Soccer card #136.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Davis_(soccer)

Saturday, July 1, 2023

Angel De Jesus


I met him at a Minor League game at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2019, when the Lakeland Flying Tigers came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

Angel signed a 2019 West Michigan Whitecaps Team Set card #07.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dejesan01.shtml