2008 Topps Finest Rookie Autograph Lance Broadway

Who is this? Lance Broadway, a pitcher for the New York Mets (formerly of the Chicago White Sox)

What is this? An autograph card from the 2008 Topps Finest set

Where'd I get it? eBay

How much did it cost? 99 cents, plus shipping

Why is this so special? Lance Broadway has a perfect name for a baseball player in New York... now he just has to do something worthy of attention. He was a late season call-up for the Mets this year, but he didn't really distinguish himself in 8 relief appearances (0-0, 6.75).

The Mets acquired Broadway from the Chicago White Sox for catcher Ramon Castro in May. Broadway didn't do all that much to distinguish himself in the American League, either. His career record with the White Sox (2-2, 5.13) was compiled during 19 games over three seasons.

Broadway is just 26, so there's still time for him to improve. But he'd better start making an impression soon.

Lance Broadway has a neat, clear autograph... but that is one interesting "B" in his last name.

2000 Topps Traded Autographs Tony Pena Jr.

Who is this? Tony Pena Jr., a former shortstop for the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals

What is this? An autographed card from the 2000 Topps Traded Autographs insert set

Where'd I get it? This is yet another baseball card show purchase

How much did it cost? $1

Why is this so special? Tony Pena Jr. is the son of former catcher and former Kansas City Royals manager Tony Pena. He reached the majors in 2006 with the Atlanta Braves, but he was traded to Kansas City before the 2007 season.

He was the Royals starting shortstop in 2007, batting .267 with 2 home runs and 47 RBI. Those numbers probably would have been good enough in the 1970s, but not now. And the next year, he did worse - just .169 in 95 games. Pena's struggles at the plate continued this year; he hit .098 in 40 games in 2009, primarily as a defensive replacement.

But he's still trying. He went back to the minors and is trying to make it as a pitcher now.

Tony Pena Jr.'s autograph looks like it was definitely influenced by his father's.

1997-98 Fleer Million Dollar Moments Bobby Richardson

Who is this? Bobby Richardson, a former second baseman for the New York Yankees

What is this? An autographed card from the 1997-98 Fleer Million Dollar Moments insert set

Where'd I get it? I wrote to Bobby Richardson in June and asked him to sign it. He sent it back earlier this month

How much did it cost? The card was 33 cents at the local card shop. Postage was 88 cents.

Why is this so special? Bobby Richardson is a three-time World Series champion with the New York Yankees. As this card commemorates, he caught Willie McCovey's line drive to end the 1962 World Series, preserving the win for the Yankees and giving them their 20th title.

Like many older players, Richardson appears to take pride in his autograph and has a very readable signature. I like how he included his uniform number on the card.

Fleer ran a contest between 1997 and 1998. If you collected all 50 cards in the Million Dollar Moments set you could win $1 million. The first 45 cards were easily obtainable, but the final five were short prints to determine the contest prizes. Fleer also issued a full 50-card redemption set. I wonder if anyone claimed the top prize.

1996 Leaf Signature Series Scott Stahoviak

Who is this? Scott Stahoviak, a former Minnesota Twins first baseman

What is this? An autographed card from the 1996 Leaf Signature Series

Where'd I get it? This is the final 1996 Leaf Signature Series card I bought at this month's baseball card show.

How much did it cost? $1

Why is this so special? Stahoviak was the Minnesota Twins' first-round draft pick in 1991. He reached the majors in 1993 for a cup of coffee, but he didn't see extended playing time until 1995. He's something of an oddity - a first baseman who hit lefty but threw righty.

Stahoviak appeared in 344 games over five seasons, hitting .256 with 27 home runs and 119 RBI.

He is a member of the Hall of Fame ... the Carmel Catholic High School Sports Hall of Fame, that is.

Stahoviak has a fairly average autograph... it's not terrible, but it's not easy to read, either. (Not that my signature would look so great after signing a few thousand cards.)

1996 Leaf Signature Series Mike Potts

Who is this? Mike Potts, a former pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers

What is this? An autographed card from the 1996 Leaf Signature Series

Where'd I get it? This is another purchase from last weekend's baseball card show.

How much did it cost? $1

Why is this so special? Mike Potts was a relief pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1996. His Major League career lasted just 24 games; he finished with a lifetime 1-2 record and 7.15 ERA.

According to his Wikipedia entry, Potts went into law enforcement after his baseball career ended.

Interestingly, Potts appears to have signed the card "Mich__l P_tts"

1996 Leaf Signature Series Chris Haney

Who is this? Chris Haney, a former pitcher with the Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox

What is this? An autographed card from the 1996 Leaf Signature Series

Where'd I get it? This is another purchase from last weekend's card show

How much did it cost? $1

Why is this so special? Chris Haney is the son of former catcher Larry Haney and cousin of former infielder (and Mets coach) Mike Cubbage. He spent parts of 8 seasons in the majors, compiling a 38-52 lifetime record with a 5.07 ERA.

His most notable "accomplishment" is being the pitcher who gave up Wade Boggs' 3000th hit.

The grey KC hat really made the card stand out. I'm not sure how long it lasted, but I hope it wasn't much longer than the white "ice cream man" cap that the Mets experimented with in the 1990s. The letters "MIK" are a tribute to owner Muriel Irene Kauffman, who died during the 1995 season.

Chris Haney has a fairly simplified autograph, but I guess I can't blame him since he had to sign a few thousand of these cards.

1996 Leaf Signature Series Sandy Martinez

Who is this? Sandy Martinez, a former catcher with the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins, Montreal Expos, Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox

What is this? An autographed card from the 1996 Leaf Signature Series

Where'd I get it? I bought it at a baseball card show last weekend

How much did it cost? $1

Why is this so special? Sandy Martinez played in the majors for parts of 8 seasons, but he only got into 218 games. Still, that's 218 games more than most everybody else.

In 2006, he was invited to spring training by the New York Mets, but he never got the call. He spent the season in AAA with Norfolk, where I got to see him play in a couple of games.

Martinez has a neat autograph, but there is no way I'd ever connect it with the name "Sandy Martinez." I think I'd have an easier time reading it as "Ariel Prieto."