Michael Rucker

I met him at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 2024.

Michael signed a 2017 Panini Elite Extra Edition card #152 (791/999).

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ruckemi01.shtml

Tyler Chatwood

I met him at a Minor League game at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida in 2023, when the Bradenton Marauders, whom he was on a rehab assignment with, came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

Tyler signed a 2018 Topps Heritage card #649.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/chatwty01.shtml

Jason Maxwell

I met him at the 18U National Team Trials series at Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex in Sarasota, Florida in 2021.

Jason signed a 1996 Fleer Excel card #140.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maxweja01.shtml

Justin Wilson

I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2021, when the New York Yankees came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Justin signed a 2018 Topps card #643.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wilsoju10.shtml

Jerome Williams

I met him at a Minor League game at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida in 2021, when the St. Lucie Mets, whom he was the pitching coach for, came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

Jerome signed a 2006 Upper Deck card #550.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/willije01.shtml

Jayson Peterson

In February of 2021, I decided to seek out an address for Jayson Peterson. I discovered that he owned a home improvement business, so I sent him my card and the following letter.

39 days later my card came back signed.

Jayson signed a 1994 Signature Rookies Draft Picks card #15.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=peters002jay

Craig Smajstrla

In February of 2021, I decided to seek out an address for Craig Smajstrla. I sent him my card and the following letter.

Eight days later my card came back signed.

Craig signed a 1991 Line Drive AAA Pre-Rookie card #205.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smajscr01.shtml

Mike Proly

In October of 2020, I decided to seek out an address for Mike Proly. My aunt used to work with him at his brother Pete's law firm. She told me that she would get me his autograph. I honestly don't remember if she ever got it for me. So, decades later, I decided to try on my own.

Eleven days later my card came back signed along with a nice note remembering my aunt.

Mike signed a 1984 Topps card #437.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/prolymi01.shtml

Taylor Davis

I met him at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2020, when the Baltimore Orioles came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Taylor signed a 2018 Topps Update card #US229.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/davista01.shtml

Blake Parker

I met him at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 2020.

Blake signed a 2014 Topps card #391.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/parkebl01.shtml

Heberto Andrade

I met him at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2019, when the Pittsburgh Pirates, whom he was a bullpen catcher for, came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Heberto signed a 1989 ProCards card #1759.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=andrad001jos

Will Ohman

I met him at the 2018 Florida State League Home Run Derby at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida in 2018. He was the pitching coach for the South team.

Will signed a 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars card #161.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ohmanwi01.shtml

Jeimer Candelario

I met him at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2018, when the Detroit Tigers came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Jeimer signed a 2016 Bowman Chrome Prospects card #BCP127.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/candeje01.shtml

Gary Jones

I met him at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 2018.

Gary signed a 1983 Quad-City Cubs Team Set card #3.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=jones-006gar

Andre Dawson

I met him at the Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame Induction at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida on February 10, 2018.

Andre signed an 8x10 photo.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dawsoan01.shtml

Jim Bullinger

I met him at the Tampa Bay Rays Fan Fest at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on February 10, 2018.

I met his brother, Kirk, 24 years earlier.

Jim signed a 1993 Topps Stadium Club card #118.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bulliji01.shtml

Jimmie Gardner

I met him at the 2017 Tampa Bay Legends & Celebrity All-Star Softball Classic on July 8, 2017, at the University of South Florida Baseball Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

When I handed Jimmie my card, he laughed and said, "I haven't seen this card in over 25 years." I thought he was joking and making light of how old the card was. It wasn't until I got home and started working on this page that you're reading now that I realized that he was dead serious.
In 1987, while playing for the Charleston Wheelers, a Cubs A-ball affiliate, two women were sexually assaulted in the city of Charleston, West Virginia. The attacker was described as a black male. Over 100 black men in the city were questioned, including Jimmie and his black teammates. Some were even fingerprinted.
Two years later, Jimmie was arrested for that crime along with a charge of burglary. In 1990 he was sentenced to 110 years in prison.
In 2016, after serving 27 years behind bars, DNA evidence, as well as proof of a corrupt forensic serologist, proved that Jimmie was innocent of all charges.
I thought I was just getting a minor leaguer's autograph that never reached the big leagues. Turns out, it became one of my favorite autographs in my collection. I just wish I had known his story before meeting him.

Jimmie signed a 1986 ProCards Geneva Cubs Team Set card.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gardne001jim

Ty Griffin

I met him at the 2017 Tampa Bay Legends & Celebrity All-Star Softball Classic on July 8, 2017, at the University of South Florida Baseball Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Ty signed a 1988 Topps Traded card #44T.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=griffi001tyr

Dennis Lewallyn

I met him at a Minor League game at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2017, when the Florida Fire Frogs, whom he was the pitching coach for, came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

Dennis signed a 2007 Tennessee Smokies Team Set card.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lewalde01.shtml

Donnie Murphy

I met him at a Minor League spring training game at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2017, when the Toronto Blue Jays, whom he was a hitting coach for, came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Donnie signed a 2014 Topps card #354.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/murphdo01.shtml