Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Derek Jeter


I met him at a Minor League game at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1994, when the Tampa Yankees came to play the Clearwater Phillies.

Derek signed a 1994 Upper Deck Minor League card #185.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jeterde01.shtml

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Lonell Roberts

I met him at a Minor League Dunedin Blue Jays game at Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida in 1994.

Lonell signed a 1991 Classic Best card #99.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=robert001lon

Monday, May 12, 2014

Jose Silva

I met him at a Minor League Dunedin Blue Jays game at Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida in 1994.

Jose signed a 1994 Upper Deck Minor League card #50.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/silvajo01.shtml

Sunday, May 11, 2014

D.J. Boston


I met him at a Minor League Dunedin Blue Jays game at Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida in 1994.

Just a few weeks prior I had gotten his brother, Daryl's autograph at the same stadium.

D.J. signed a 1994 Upper Deck Minor League card #120.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=boston001don

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Ralph "Rocket" Wheeler


I met him at a Minor League Dunedin Blue Jays game at Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida in 1994, when he was the hitting coach for the Dunedin Blue Jays.

Rocket signed a 1990 CMC card #676.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=wheele001ral

Friday, May 9, 2014

Mike Awesome

I met him before an ECW show at the Coliseum in St. Petersburg, Florida on January 27, 2000.

Mike signed a page out of an issue of World of Wrestling magazine.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Ray Lankford

During the final week of the 1994 spring training season, I won a radio contest on The Ron & Ron Show. The prize was a round trip flight to Cincinnati, Ohio to see the opening game of the 1994 baseball season between the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds.
The cool thing about seeing the Cardinals play was that I had just seen them 2 days prior in a spring training game, so as I was collecting autographs, I was telling them that I would be in Cincinnati to see them again.
Ironically, the hotel I was staying in was directly across the street from where the Cardinals were staying. It was great wandering around and having Cardinals players recognizing me and congratulating me on winning the radio contest.
Tom Urbani, a pitcher for the Cardinals, offered me his complimentary tickets in case the tickets I won weren't good enough. I ended up taking him up on his offer as the seats I had were in centerfield, his were behind home plate.
I wasn't planning on getting any autographs but there were still some players I had never gotten. The hotel had a gift shop and was selling Cardinals team sets, so I bought one along with a new Sharpie.
I met Ray outside the hotel.

Ray signed a 1993 Topps card #386.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lankfra01.shtml

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Jose Oquendo

During the final week of the 1994 spring training season, I won a radio contest on The Ron & Ron Show. The prize was a round trip flight to Cincinnati, Ohio to see the opening game of the 1994 baseball season between the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds.
The cool thing about seeing the Cardinals play was that I had just seen them 2 days prior in a spring training game, so as I was collecting autographs, I was telling them that I would be in Cincinnati to see them again.
Ironically, the hotel I was staying in was directly across the street from where the Cardinals were staying. It was great wandering around and having Cardinals players recognizing me and congratulating me on winning the radio contest.
Tom Urbani, a pitcher for the Cardinals, offered me his complimentary tickets in case the tickets I won weren't good enough. I ended up taking him up on his offer as the seats I had were in centerfield, his were behind home plate.
I wasn't planning on getting any autographs but there were still some players I had never gotten. The hotel had a gift shop and was selling Cardinals team sets, so I bought one along with a new Sharpie.
I met Jose in the lobby of the hotel.

Jose signed a 1993 Topps card #535.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/oquenjo01.shtml

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Geronimo Peña

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1994, when the St. Louis Cardinals came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Geronimo signed a 1992 Topps Stadium Club card #466.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/penage01.shtml

Monday, May 5, 2014

Gerald Perry

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1994, when the St. Louis Cardinals came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Gerald signed a 1992 Topps Stadium Club card #338.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/perryge01.shtml

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Joe Torre

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1994, when the St. Louis Cardinals, whom he was managing, came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Joe signed a 1993 Ted Williams card #93.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/torrejo01.shtml

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Rheal Cormier

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1994, when the St. Louis Cardinals came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Rheal signed a 1992 Topps Stadium Club card #506.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cormirh01.shtml

Friday, May 2, 2014

Ozzie Smith

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1994, when the St. Louis Cardinals came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Ozzie signed the cover of the February 1992 issue of Beckett Baseball Card Monthly.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithoz01.shtml

Thursday, May 1, 2014

John Cerutti


I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1994, as he was heading to the broadcast booth to call a spring training game between the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies.

John signed a 1990 Upper Deck card #116.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cerutjo01.shtml

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Eric Davis

I met him at Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida in 1994, when the Detroit Tigers came to play the Toronto Blue Jays in a spring training game.

Eric signed a 1990 Upper Deck card #116.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/daviser01.shtml

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Travis Fryman


I met him at Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida in 1994, when the Detroit Tigers came to play the Toronto Blue Jays in a spring training game.

Travis signed a 1993 Upper Deck card #364.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/frymatr01.shtml

Monday, April 28, 2014

John Doherty


I met him at Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida in 1994, when the Detroit Tigers came to play the Toronto Blue Jays in a spring training game.

John signed a 1992 Fleer Ultra card #360.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/doherjo02.shtml

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Storm Davis

I met him at Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida in 1994, when the Detroit Tigers came to play the Toronto Blue Jays in a spring training game.

Storm signed a 1992 Upper Deck card #499.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/davisst02.shtml

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Chris Gomez

I met him at Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida in 1994, when the Detroit Tigers came to play the Toronto Blue Jays in a spring training game.

Chris signed a 1992 Classic Draft Picks card #62.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gomezch02.shtml

Friday, April 25, 2014

Sam McDowell

I met him at a celebrity golf tournament at Lansbrook Golf Course in Palm Harbor, Florida.

Sam signed an 8x10 photo.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcdowsa01.shtml

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Larry Herndon

I met him at Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida in 1994, when the Detroit Tigers, whom he was the hitting coach for, came to play the Toronto Blue Jays in a spring training game.

Larry signed a 1989 Score card #279.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/herndla01.shtml

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Brad Pennington

I met him at Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida in 1994, when the Baltimore Orioles came to play the Toronto Blue Jays in a spring training game.

Brad signed a 1993 Bowman card #661.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pennibr01.shtml

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Rich Gedman


I met him at Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida in 1994, when the Baltimore Orioles, whom he was the first base coach for, came to play the Toronto Blue Jays in a spring training game.

Rich signed a 1992 Fleer Ultra card #566.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gedmari01.shtml

Monday, April 21, 2014

Davey Lopes

I met him at Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida in 1994, when the Baltimore Orioles, whom he was the first base coach for, came to play the Toronto Blue Jays in a spring training game.

Davey signed a 1988 Topps card #226.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lopesda01.shtml

Sunday, April 20, 2014

David Howard

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1994, when the Kansas City Royals came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

David signed a 1992 Upper Deck card #216.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/howarda02.shtml

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Mike MacFarlane

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1994, when the Kansas City Royals came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Mike signed a 1990 Upper Deck card #307.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/macfami01.shtml

Friday, April 18, 2014

DJ Spinbad

On May 27, 2011, DJ Spinbad performed at Green Iguana in Tampa, Florida. I met him after his set.
Less than a year later, on April 22, 2012, Spinbad came back to the area, this time performing at Shephard's Beach Resort in Clearwater, Florida. Once again, my brother, Brian and I went to go see him.

DJ Spinbad signed the front cover of the 80's Fresh Mix CD.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Nelson Santovenia

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1994, when the Kansas City Royals came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Nelson signed a 1990 Upper Deck card #432.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/santone01.shtml

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Jose Lind

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1994, when the Kansas City Royals came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.
During the game, my brother, Brian and I were both thirsty. Unfortunately, we were a dollar short to afford a Coke. Jose overheard us and pulled a dollar out of his pocket and offered it to us. We declined but he wouldn't take no for an answer, he said "I'm going to throw this dollar over the fence, if you want it, pick it up, if not, leave it for someone else." Sure enough, he tossed it over and our thirst that day was quenched.
Chico, if you're reading this, e-mail me your address or give me your PayPal info and I'll pay you back.

Jose signed a 1993 Upper Deck card #309.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lindjo01.shtml

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Brian McRae

I met him at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1994, when the Kansas City Royals came to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training game.

Brian signed a 1991 Fleer Ultra card #152.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcraebr01.shtml