Dante Bichette

I met him at the Tampa Bay Rays Fan Fest at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on February 22, 2014.

Dante signed a 1992 Upper Deck card #378.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bicheda01.shtml

Ryne Sandberg

I met him at Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 2014.

12½ years after getting my last autograph by a baseball player (Russ Johnson), I returned to the Phillies complex, which had been renamed since my last visit, in hopes of getting Phillies manager and Hall of Fame member, Ryne Sandberg.

I had given up on the sport of baseball and collecting baseball cards for different reasons. One of them is that I had moved out of state, once again leaving Florida behind. However, autograph collecting didn't completely stop as I would continue getting music CDs signed.
It was my brother, Brian, who brought me back to collecting. He called me on the morning of February 15, 2014 to tell me he had just gotten Ryne Sandberg's autograph. I asked where, and he said at the complex. I had no idea he was going there and told him I would've met up with him had I known. He then asks if he can come over. He shows up, autographed picture in hand, and says, "Dan, look what I got. Do you have Ryne Sandberg's autograph?" Basically, rubbing it in my face. That night, hours after my brother had left, I made the decision that I was going to go to the complex the very next day and not tell my brother. First, I had to rummage through my closet in hopes I could find something for Ryne to sign. Ironically, I had the same exact photo as my brother.

I get to the complex early in the morning and see the players working out. Ryne was working with the catchers, rotating from field to field. Somehow, I get to a spot where I'm all by myself and Ryne is walking right toward me. I ask him for an autograph and he tells me he'll be right out as he walks into the locker room. A minute or so later, the door slightly opens and the security guard is called over. From where I'm standing, I can't see who the guard is talking to. The door closes and the guard says to me, "Ryne wants you to come in." He opens the door for me and there's the Phillies manager to greet me. I guess he didn't want to draw a crowd signing an autograph, so, that's why I got special treatment. It was a pretty awesome experience.

I immediately sent a text message to my brother.

To make this story even longer, I met Ryne's nephew, Jared Sandberg in 1999.

Ryne signed an 8x10 photo.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sandbry01.shtml

Russ Johnson

I met him at at the North Pinellas YMCA in Palm Harbor, Florida in 2001.
He was there as a part of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Community Outreach program.

Russ signed a 1994 Topps Stadium Club Draft Picks card #15.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsru01.shtml

Alex Sanchez

I met him at a Minor League spring training game at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2001, when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Alex signed a 1996 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Team Set card.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sanchal03.shtml

Victor Zambrano

I met him at a Minor League spring training game at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2001, when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Victor signed a 1996 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Team Set card.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/z/zambrvi01.shtml

Ron Wright

I met him at a Minor League spring training game at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2001, when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Ron signed a 1996 Fleer Excel card #135.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wrighro02.shtml

Paul Byrd

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 2001.

Paul signed a 1992 Upper Deck Minor League card #242.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/byrdpa01.shtml

Derrin Ebert

I met him at a Minor League spring training game at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2001, when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Derrin signed a 1996 Fleer Excel card #125.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/ebertde01.shtml

Chris Brock

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 2001.

Chris signed a 1994 Fleer Excel card #152.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brockch01.shtml

Chris Hatcher

I met him at a Minor League spring training game at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2001, when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Chris signed a 1993 Fleer Excel card #43.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hatchch01.shtml

Dallas Green

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 2001.

Dallas signed a 1978 TCMA card #0187.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/greenda02.shtml

George Bell

I met him at Englebert Complex, the Toronto Blue Jays spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida in 2001.

George signed a 1992 Topps Stadium Club card #525.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bellge02.shtml

Ken Landreaux

I met him at Englebert Complex, the Toronto Blue Jays spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida in 2001.

Ken signed a 1988 Topps card #23.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/landrke01.shtml

David Bleazard

Years before I had this autograph website, I had my own site, which was all about me and my interests. A complete, alphabetical text list of my autographs was also on that site, as well as my contact information (e-mail address and instant messenger usernames).
In the spring of 2001, I'm at my computer and I get an instant message from a random person that says, "you don't have my autograph." Not knowing who this person was, I asked for his name. He then tells me he's David Bleazard, a Minor League pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. I told him that I was planning on going to the complex the upcoming weekend and would have a card for him to sign. Truthfully, I never had a card of David but I knew a guy who sold Minor League baseball cards, so I quickly ordered one and had it delivered to me just in time for me to meet David that weekend.

David signed a 1999 Dunedin Blue Jays Team Set card #6.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=bleaza001dav

Geoff Geary

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 2001.

Geoff signed a 1999 Clearwater Phillies Team Set card #15.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gearyge01.shtml

Joel Adamson

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 2001.

Joel signed a 1992 Classic Best card #74.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/adamsjo02.shtml

John Morris

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 2001.

John signed a 1987 Fleer card #U-83.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morrijo07.shtml

Edwin Hurtado

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 2001.

Edwin signed a 1993 Fleer Pro Cards card #3969.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hurtaed01.shtml

Eddie Pearson

I met him at Carpenter Complex, the Philadelphia Phillies spring training facility in Clearwater, Florida in 2001.

Eddie signed a 1994 Upper Deck Minor League card #128.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=pearso001edd

Jeff Berman

Years before I had this autograph website, I had my own personal site, which was all about me and my interests. A complete, alphabetical text list of my autographs was on that site.

Sometime in 2000, Jeff found my site and sent me an e-mail telling me that he used to play for the Ohio Valley Redcoats, an independent baseball team in the Frontier League. He offered to send me an autographed baseball card of himself. So, I gave him my address and a few days later the card arrived.

Jeff signed a 1998 Ohio Valley Redcoats Team Set card.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=berman001jef

Rich Monteleone

I met him at a Minor League game at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 2000, when the Tampa Yankees, whom he was the pitching coach for, came to play the Clearwater Phillies.

Rich signed a 1992 Leaf card #352.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/monteri01.shtml

Tom Nieto

I met him at a Minor League game at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 2000, when the Tampa Yankees, whom he was managing, came to play the Clearwater Phillies.

Tom signed a 1987 Fleer card #U-88.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nietoto01.shtml

Tony Perezchica

I met him at a Minor League game at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 2000, when the Tampa Yankees, whom he was the hitting coach for, came to play the Clearwater Phillies.

Tony signed a 1992 Topps Stadium Club card #454.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/perezto02.shtml

Joey Cora

I met him at a Minor League game at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 2000, when the Daytona Cubs, whom he was the hitting coach for, came to play the Clearwater Phillies.

Joey signed a 1993 Upper Deck card #742.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/corajo01.shtml

Miguel Suriel

I met him at a Minor League game at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 1999, when the St. Petersburg Devil Rays came to play the Clearwater Phillies.

Miguel signed a 1996 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Team Set card.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=suriel001mig

Matt Treanor

I met him at a Minor League game at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida in 2000, when the Brevard County Manatees came to play the Clearwater Phillies.

Matt signed a 1994 Signature Rookies Draft Picks card #77.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/treanma01.shtml

Pete Gas

I met him before a WWF show at the Ice Palace in Tampa, Florida in 2000.

Pete signed a 1999 WWF Comic Images SmackDown! card #52.

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

Ryan Jackson

I met him at a Minor League spring training game at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2000, when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Ryan signed a 1996 Fleer Excel card #162.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jacksry01.shtml

Trevor Enders

I met him at a Minor League spring training game at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2000, when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Trevor signed a 1996 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Team Set card.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/endertr01.shtml

Ozzie Timmons

I met him at a Minor League spring training game at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, Florida in 2000, when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays came to play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Ozzie signed a 1994 Upper Deck Minor League card #180.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/timmooz01.shtml