Tuesday, December 29, 2009

2008 Long Island Ducks Jay Gibbons

Who is this? Jay Gibbons, a former outfielder with the Baltimore Orioles

What is this? An autographed card from the 2008 Long Island Ducks team set

Where'd I get it? I got it signed before a Newark Bears game this year

How much did it cost? The teams set was around $8

Why is this so special? Jay Gibbons had a solid major league career, with over 100 home runs and more than 700 hits in seven seasons as an Oriole. Gibbons was named in the Mitchell Report, and hasn't played a game in the majors since.

Last year, he spent a month with the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League before getting picked up by the Brewers. He did well in AAA for Milwaukee, but he didn't earn a call-up. This year, he was back in the Atlantic League playing for the Newark Bears. He struggled and went home before the All-Star break. Gibbons played winter ball in Venezuela and earned the attention of the Dodgers.

Gibbons seemed like a fairly humble guy. I would like to see him get another shot in the big leagues, but I don't really expect it to happen.

Jay Gibbons does not have the neatest autograph in the world -- I can't really read anything past the letter "J" -- but I give him credit for being a willing signer. Many of his 2009 Newark Bears teammates with less major league service time were not nearly as accommodating.

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