Brian Anderson

I met him at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2014.

He was the color commentator for the Rays. On this day he was broadcasting from the centerfield concourse.

I was fortunate to be shown on TV standing behind him during the broadcast.

Brian signed a 1993 Classic Four Sport Draft Picks card #307.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/anderbr02.shtml

Omar Vizquel

I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2014, when the Detroit Tigers, whom he was the first base coach for, came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Omar signed a 1992 Upper Deck card #401.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vizquom01.shtml

Phil Regan

I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the St. Lucie Mets, whom he was the pitching coach for, came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

I saw Phil walking out of the stadium and an autograph seeker walking with him but noticed Phil wasn't stopping. When I caught up with him, I heard Phil telling the guy that he doesn't like that people turn around and sell autographs on eBay. I interrupted their conversation and asked if he'd do personalizations. He said he had no problem doing those and I told him my name as he reached for my card. Phil then asked me, "have you been on eBay?" I replied, "yes, I bought that card on there." He said, "have you seen autographs on there?" Again, I said yes and immediately added "but I don't sell autographs." He smiled and said, "that's what they all say." I agreed with him. I'd like to think that I'm the only one who actually told him the truth when telling him that. Maybe he'll see this site and remember me. As for the other guy, I didn't stick around to see if he ever got his card signed. As I was walking away, I heard Phil say to him that he'd sign and then asked for his name and the guy said, "well, you see..." and that's all I heard.

Phil signed a 1965 Topps card #191.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reganph01.shtml

L.J. Mazzilli

I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the St. Lucie Mets came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

I met his father, Lee, in 1997.

L.J. signed a 2014 Topps Pro Debut card #19.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mazzil000lj-

Gavin Cecchini

I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the St. Lucie Mets came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

Gavin signed a 2014 Topps Pro Debut card #15.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cecchga02.shtml

Juan Nieves

I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2014, when the Boston Red Sox, whom he was the pitching coach for, came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.

Juan signed a 1990 Upper Deck card #648.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nieveju01.shtml

Joe Szekely

I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the Charlotte Stone Crabs, whom he was the hitting coach for, came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

As I'm sitting next to the Stone Crabs dugout, Jim Hoff recognizes me and comes over to say hi. He asks whose card I have and I showed him as I pronounced the name "Joe Zeek-lee." Jim then pronounces it correctly and says, "ah, Joe Zeck-lee." I was so glad he corrected me. I hate mispronouncing people's names. It helped so much when I was finally able to call for Mr. Szekely after the game.

Joe signed a 1990 CMC card #337.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=szekel001jos

Jeremy Hellickson

I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the Charlotte Stone Crabs, whom he was on a rehab assignment with, came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

Jeremy signed a 2014 Topps card #202.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hellije01.shtml

Roger LaFrancois

I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the Palm Beach Cardinals, whom he was the hitting coach for, came to play the Clearwater Threshers.
I didn't have an extra card of him and actually broke my complete 1983 Topps set just to get his signature.

Roger signed a 1983 Topps card #344.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lafraro01.shtml

Dann Bilardello

I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the Palm Beach Cardinals, whom he was managing, came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

Dann signed a 1987 Topps card #577.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bilarda01.shtml

Dante Bichette, Jr.

I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the Tampa Yankees came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

I met his father, Dante, just 4 months earlier.

Dante signed a 2013 Topps Heritage Minor League card #134.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=bichet000dan

Al Pedrique

I met him at a Minor League game at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in 2014, when the Tampa Yankees, whom he was managing, came to play the Clearwater Threshers.

It had been 14 years since the last time I got an autograph (Rich Monteleone) at a Minor League game. Ironically, it was these same 2 teams that I saw play, though, the Clearwater Phillies have since become the Clearwater Threshers and they left Jack Russell Memorial Stadium at the conclusion of the 2003 season.

Al signed a 1990 ProCards card #149.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pedrial01.shtml

Orestes Destrade

I met him at a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2014.
He was the Rays TV postgame host.

Orestes signed a 1991 BBM card #214.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/destror01.shtml

Wayne Kirby

I met him at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2014, when the Baltimore Orioles, whom he was the first base coach for, came to play the Tampa Bay Rays.
This was the first baseball card I ever got signed at a Major League game.

Wayne signed a 1990 ProCards card #80.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kirbywa01.shtml

Andy McGaffigan

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

Andy signed a 1990 Upper Deck card #597.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcgafan01.shtml

Mike Devereaux

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

Mike signed a 1988 Fleer card #512.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/devermi01.shtml

Reggie Jefferson

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

Reggie signed a 1991 Leaf card #514.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jeffere01.shtml

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