Tuesday, November 30, 2010

1993 Topps Bob MacDonald



Who is this? Former Toronto Blue Jays reliever Bob MacDonald
What is this? An autographed card from the 1993 Topps set
Where'd I get it? I wrote to MacDonald at the beginning of November and asked him to sign a few cards for me. I got them back the day after Thanksgiving.
How much did it cost? Not much, beyond the postage.

Why is this so special? MacDonald was born in New Jersey and attended Rutgers University. He spent parts of six seasons in the majors in the 1990s. Though he pitched primarily for the Blue Jays, MacDonald also played for the Mets, Yankees and Tigers. According to his Wikipedia page, MacDonald now manages a semi-pro slow pitch softball team.

MacDonald has a decent signature that would likely be quite nice on a larger item... it seems a bit cramped on the baseball cards he signed for me. Here are the other two:


Monday, November 29, 2010

2009 MultiAd Sports Greenville Drive Bob Kipper



Who is this? Portland Sea Dogs pitching coach Bob Kipper
What is this? An autographed card from the 2009 Greenville Drive team set
Where'd I get it? I wrote to Kipper and asked him to sign a few cards earlier this month. A little over a week later, I got them back.
How much did it cost? Nothing, except postage.


Why is this so special? Bob Kipper was a major league pitcher for 8 seasons between 1985 and 1992 with the California Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates and Minnesota Twins. He began his career as a starter, but moved to the bullpen in 1988.

Kipper had a lifetime 27-37 record with a 4.34 ERA in 271 major league games. He finished his career in 1994 in the Mets' farm system. After retiring as a player, Kipper became a coach in the Red Sox system.

Kipper's autograph is quick and difficult to read, but you can make out more than just his initials. This is the first 2009 Greenville Drive card I've posted, and the first one that I've gotten signed. The set seems perfect for autographs, with a light background and nice portrait shots for most of the players and coaches.

Here are two other cards that he signed for me:




Last week's most-viewed posts were:

  1. Star Driver Autograph Board signed by Masahiko Minami
  2. 1991 Bowman Ever Magallanes
  3. Autographed photo of James Marsters as Spike and Juliet Landau as Drusilla
  4. 2010 Trenton Thunder Edwar Gonzalez
  5. Autographed photo of Camden Toy and Doug Jones as The Gentlemen

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

1991 Bowman Ever Magallanes





Who is this? Birmingham Barons manager Ever Magallanes
What is this? An autographed card from the 1991 Bowman set
Where'd I get it? From Zach of Autographed Cards, who probably got it signed at the Rickwood Classic this summer.


Why is this so special? Magallanes' major league career was of the "blink and you missed it" variety. He appeared in two games as a defensive replacement for the 1991 Cleveland Indians and one more as a pinch hitter. He did not get a hit in either of his major league at-bats, but he did reach base on a walk in his major league debut.

Magallanes' playing career lasted much longer - 19 years - with the majority of that time spent in his native Mexico. After retiring, Magallanes started a new career as a minor league manager with the Arizona League Angels in 2006. He is currently managing the Birmingham Barons, the White Sox' AA affiliate that briefly gained national attention when Michael Jordan tried to start a professional baseball career there in the mid-90s.

For a former player with a long name, Magallanes has a surprisingly neat autograph. Thanks for the card, Zach!

Since everyone will be busy with Thanksgiving, football and holiday shopping plans this weekend, this is going to be my last post on Auto-Matic for the People until Monday. Have a great holiday weekend everybody & be sure to take a moment to remember the things that you are thankful for.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

2009 Tacoma Rainiers Erick Monzon



Who is this? Long Island Ducks infielder Erick Monzon
What is this? An autographed card from the 2009 Tacoma Rainiers team set
Where'd I get it? I got the card signed before a Newark Bears game this summer
How much did it cost? The card was a gift from a friend who visited the Tacoma Rainiers ballpark in 2009.


Why is this so special? Erick Monzon was drafted out of high school by the Texas Rangers in 1999, but he  did not sign. Instead, he went to the University of Tampa and signed with the Seattle Mariners as an undrafted free agent.

Monzon played at every level in the Mariners' system from 2004-2009, but it seems as though he was regarded more as a utility infielder who could provide roster depth than a real prospect. This season, spent with the Long Island Ducks, was the first time he played in 100 games for one team and only the second time he played that many in one season.

For the Ducks, Monzon hit .267 with a .731 OPS.He hit 11 home runs ans stole 17 bases.

Monzon's autograph is interesting... while it is pretty complicated, it is not very legible.

Monday, November 22, 2010

2010 Trenton Thunder Edwar Gonzalez



Who is this? Trenton Thunder outfielder Edwar Gonzalez  
What is this? An autographed card from the 2010 Trenton Thunder team set
Where'd I get it? Gonzalez signed it for me at a Trenton Thunder game this summer
How much did it cost? The team set was $10.

Why is this so special? Edwar Gonzalez is a nine-year minor league veteran. He began his pro career in 2002 with the Gulf Coast League Yankees at the age of 19. He advanced through the farm system, first arriving at Trenton in 2008.

In a part-time role in 2010, Gonzalez hit .235 with a .707 OPS in 74 games. He had 6 home runs and 35 RBI. For the first time in his career, Gonzalez played at the AAA level ... four games with the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

He is currently a minor league free agent, so his time in the Yankees' system has likely reached an end. He could catch on with another organization, but I think independent ball is in his future if Gonzalez wants to play in 2011.

Gonzalez has an autograph that would drive collectors nuts if they were trying to identify it on a team-signed baseball - I would swear that it belongs to somebody with the initials "L.L."

Site Stats Fun
Our most-viewed posts last week were:
  1. 2010 Wichita Wingnuts Brandon Mathes
  2. 2010 Wichita Wingnuts Brian Rose
  3. 1972 Topps Dock Ellis "In Action"
  4. Star Driver Autograph Board signed by Masahiko Minami
  5. 2006 Fleer Greats of the Game Don Newcombe
GCRL's post from February 2009, john wooden - through the mail success, is still the all-time most popular since Blogger started keeping track of stats, but the Star Driver autograph board is rapidly closing in.

Friday, November 19, 2010

1998 Skybox Thunder Edgardo Alfonzo



Who is this? Former New York Mets infielder Edgardo Alfonzo
What is this? An autographed card from the 1998 Skybox Thunder set
Where'd I get it? Alfonzo signed it before a Newark Bears game this summer
How much did it cost? A quarter?

Why is this so special? Edgardo Alfonzo remains one of the best players in Mets history. He ranks among the top ten career leaders in team history in most offensive categories. Alfonzo won a Silver Slugger in 1999 and was an All-Star in 2000.

After leaving the Mets, he had some decent seasons in San Francisco and brief stops with the Angels and Blue Jays. He left Major League Baseball with over 1500 hits, 146 home runs and 744 RBI over a 12 year career.

Over the past few years, he's played in Mexico and Japan, as well as independent league baseball in the U.S. After a disappointing 2010 season where Alfonzo hit .154 (12-for-78) in 26 games for the Newark Bears, I wonder if he's finally ready to retire.

Alfonzo's signature has remained fairly consistent throughout his career, but I've never quite figured out why he compresses his last name together the way he does.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

2006 Fleer Greats of the Game Don Newcombe



Who is this? former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Don Newcombe
What is this? An autographed insert card from the 2006 Fleer Greats of the Game set
Where'd I get it? I purchased it from a dealer at a local card show.
How much did it cost? Not sure... between $10 & $15.

Why is this so special? Newcombe grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey and went to school not far from where I work. He still lives in the Garden State.

Newcombe pitched for the Negro League's Newark Eagles before signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He made his major league debut in 1949, winning the National League Rookie of the Year award and getting selected to the All-Star team. He would go to three more All-Star Games and win the National League MVP and Cy Young Awards in 1956 when he went 27-7.

Newcombe spent two seasons in the military during the Korean War. He left Major League Baseball with a 149-90 career record, a lifetime 3.56 ERA, 1129 strikeouts. He also had a .271 career batting average and 15 home runs. Newcombe pitched one season in Japan with the Chunichi Dragons before retiring in 1962.

Newcombe has a beautiful autograph, and Fleer designed a great card to showcase it.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

1972 Topps Dock Ellis "In Action"



Who is this? Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis
What is this? An autographed card from the 1972 Topps set
Where'd I get it? In a trade with Dion, of Dion's IP Autos Only


Why is this so special? Dock Ellis is one of the more colorful characters in baseball history.

He threw a no-hitter in 1970 and later claimed that he was under the influence of LSD at the time.

In 1974, he was pulled from a start against the Reds after five batters. He hit Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Dan Driessen to start the game. Tony Perez managed to dodge four balls out of the strikezone, and Danny Murtaugh pulled him after Ellis threw errant pitches to Johnny Bench. Ellis later said that he was trying to send a message to the Reds in response to some comments made during spring training.

Ellis retired from baseball with a 138-119 record in 345 games. He was an All-Star in 1971, a year that he won 19 games. Ellis won the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1976 when he went 17-8 for the Yankees.

Somebody cast a vote for Ellis to enter the Hall of Fame in 1985. He definitely belongs in baseball's Hall of Characters. Ellis died in 2008 while awaiting a liver transplant.

Dock Ellis' signature is not very pretty, but it is fairly legible.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

2010 Wichita Wingnuts Brian Rose

Who is this? Wichita Wingnuts bench coach Brian Rose
What is this? An autographed card from the 2010 Wichita Wingnuts team set
Where'd I get it? from Zach at Autographed Cards

Why is this so special? Here's another card from the Wichita Wingnuts 2010 team set, one of the few night photos that was used. I don't recall too many instances where the bench coach got into an on-field argument with an umpire, so I'm guessing that Rose was handling base coaching duties or filling in for the manager when this shot was taken.

There are three Brian Roses that played professional baseball: a pitcher who spent time with the Boston Red Sox in the 1990s, another pitcher who played in the Colorado and Cincinnati systems in the mid-90s (thanks Night Owl) and a catcher drafted by the Arizona Diamonbacks in 2003. The Wichita coach never played professional baseball, though he does have extensive experience in baseball instruction. Rose is also a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, according to his bio on the Wingnuts' website.

It looks as though Rose added the number 6 to his autograph, which is puzzling -- he wore number 2 with Wichita.

Monday, November 15, 2010

2010 Wichita Wingnuts Brandon Mathes



Who is this? Wichita Wingnuts pitcher Brandon Mathes
What is this? An autographed card from the 2010 Wichita Wingnuts team set
Where'd I get it? From Zach  


Why is this so special? Last week, I received an unexpected package from Zach at Autographed Cards. It contained a 2010 Wichita Wingnuts team set, with about half of the cards signed. This was a great surprise, and I want to thank Zach for sending it.

The Wingnuts team set is one of the more unique ones I've seen. I'd have to go back to the early 80s to find cards printed on thinner stock, but the photography is generally better than I've seen in some of the Atlantic League sets that I buy. There are some really odd shots, but I'll leave that for when we come to them. (Whenever that is - I'm working through my folder of card scans, but there are still 100 more left to post.)

Mathes made his professional debut with the Joliet Jackhammers in the Northern League last year. He made one start, but it didn't go well. This year, he pitched for Wichita in the American Association. He was 2-2 with a 4.35 ERA in 33 games, mostly out of the bullpen.

Mathes signature is a bit unusual, with the letters very close together and overlapping to some extent.

Friday, November 12, 2010

2010 Trenton Thunder D.J. Mitchell



Who is this? Trenton Thunder pitcher D.J. Mitchell
What is this? An autographed card from the 2010 Trenton Thunder team set
Where'd I get it? Mitchell signed it for me after a Trenton Thunder game this summer
How much did it cost? The team set was $10.


Why is this so special? Mitchell, a 10th round draft pick in 2008, was one of the better-regarded prospects on the Trenton Thunder team this year. He had an 11-4 record with a 4.06 ERA in 23 games before earning a promotion to AA.

I'm not sure if this was a quick version because he was rushed, or if this is Mitchell's normal autograph. It's not especially pretty, either way.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

2003 Bowman Derell McCall



Who is this? Camden Riversharks pitcher Derell McCall
What is this? An autographed card from the 2003 Bowman set
Where'd I get it? McCall signed it for me at a Newark Bears game this year.
How much did it cost? Around a quarter
Why is this so special? The Oakland Athletics made Derell McCall the 300th pick in the 2000 draft. He remained in their farm system until 2004, never making it above A-ball.

After spending parts of three seasons playing in independent leagues, McCall got another chance in the Marlins system. He stayed there until this season, pitching as high as AA.

This year, McCall split the season between the Camden Riversharks and the York Revolution. I'm not sure which team he was playing for when I got him to sign this card.

McCall has a fairly unique signature, but it's still pretty similar to the facsimile one on the card. It appears that he included a cross next to his name.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

2004 Upper Deck Vintage Denny Stark



Who is this? Bridgeport Bluefish pitcher Denny Stark
What is this? An autographed card from the 2004 Upper Deck Vintage set
Where'd I get it? Stark signed it for me at a Newark Bears game this year.
How much did it cost? I probably got it out of a pack; I used to buy at least one blaster of any non-glossy finish set.

Why is this so special? Denny Stark was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 4th round of the 1996 draft. He pitched in the major leagues for both the Mariners and the Colorado Rockies. As recently as 2009, he appeared in a game with the Mariners.

In 73 major league appearances, including 42 starts, Stark has a 15-14 record and a 5.81 ERA. This year for Bridgeport, Stark had an 8-4 record with a 4.68 ERA in 37 games (17 starts).

For a modern player, he has a fairly decent autograph.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Dee Baker as Captain Rex



Who is this? Actor Dee Bradley Baker
What is this? An autographed 2008 Topps Star Wars Clone Wars sticker
Where'd I get it? I wrote to Baker through his agent and asked him to sign it. It took almost two years, but I got it back last month.
How much did it cost? The sticker came out of a $2 pack bought at Target
Why is this so special? I hate to admit it, but I find the Clone Wars cartoon almost more entertaining than the modern Star Wars film trilogy.

Baker, a veteran voice actor, plays Anakin's clone Captain Rex, Obi-Wan's clone Captain Cody and all of the other clone troopers in the show. He's played roles in shows as diverse as American Dad, Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Ben 10.

He's got a surprisingly legible autograph. Here is a sticker of the clone troopers that he signed for me.

Monday, November 8, 2010

2010 New Hampshire Fisher Cats Darin Mastroianni



Who is this? New Hampshire Fisher Cats outfielder Darin Mastroianni
What is this? An autographed card from the 2010 New Hampshire Fisher Cats team set
Where'd I get it? Mastroianni signed it for me at a Trenton Thunder game this year.
How much did it cost? The team set was around $10.


Why is this so special? The Blue Jays selected Mastroianni in the 17th round of the 2007 draft. He spent his second season in New Hampshire in 2010, batting .301 / .390 / .398 in 132 games. Mastroianni has limited power, but good speed - he stole 46 bases in 56 attempts.

Mastroianni doesn't have the prettiest autograph, but to be fair I'd probably look for ways to shorten my signature too if my name was that long.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

2009 York Revolution Daryl Harang



Who is this? former York Revolution pitcher Daryl Harang
What is this? An autographed card from the 2009 York Revolution team set
Where'd I get it? He signed it for me before a Newark Bears game this year.
How much did it cost? The team set was under $10.

Why is this so special? Daryl Harang, younger brother of Cincinnati Reds starter Aaron Harang, was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 23rd round of the 2004 draft. He worked primarily as a reliever and made it as far as AA New Hampshire in 2008.

Harang joined the York Revolution in 2009 and became a starting pitcher for the first time since college. He finished the season with a 10-12 record and a 4.08 ERA on a team with a 53-87 record.

In 2010, Harang split the season between the Long Island Ducks and two affiliated teams in the Reds' organization: the Lynchburg Hillcats and the Carolina Mudcats. He didn't post particularly good numbers in any of those stops.

Harang's autograph looks completely different from his brother's.

Friday, November 5, 2010

1988 Pacific Legends Clem Labine

Clem-Labine

Who is this? Former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Clem Labine

What is this? An autographed card from the 1988 Pacific Legends set

Where'd I get it? At a baseball card show last month.

How much did it cost? $8

Why is this so special? Labine, a World War II veteran, spent 13 years in the major leagues as a relief pitcher for the Brooklyn & Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets.

A two-time All-Star, Labine was part of two of the most famous teams in New York baseball history – the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers and the 1962 New York Mets.

The ‘55 Dodgers are famed for winning the team’s only World Series in Brooklyn, while the ‘62 Mets are known as the worst team in modern baseball history.

Labine also won World Series titles with the 1959 Los Angeles Dodgers and 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates.

Labine’s ornate signature is neat, but a little more difficult to read than many ballplayers of his generation.

Labine passed away in 2007 at the age of 80.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

2007 Charleston River Dogs Chris Malec

Chris-Malec

Who is this? Camden Riversharks infielder Chris Malec

What is this? An autographed card from the 2007 Charleston River Dogs team set

Where'd I get it? Malec signed it at a Newark Bears game this summer

How much did it cost? $1


Why is this so special? The New York Yankees selected Malec out of UC-Santa Barbara in the 16th round of the 2005 draft. He played in their farm system for five seasons, making it all the way to AAA.

I met Malec when he played for the Trenton Thunder in 2009, and he seemed like a nice guy who appreciated the fans. That carried over when he joined the Camden Riversharks in the independent Atlantic League this season.

In 135 games for Camden, Malec hit .270 / .375 / .396, with seven home runs and six stolen bases. He was hit by pitches a remarkable 18 times.

I am impressed by Malec’s careful, tiny signature. I also like the cute logo on the River Dogs card.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

2010 Topps Pro Debut Charlie Blackmon

Charlie-Blackmon

Who is this? Tulsa Drillers outfielder Charlie Blackmon

What is this? An autographed insert card from the 2010 Topps Pro Debut set

Where'd I get it? I pulled it out of a pack of Topps Pro Debut Series II cards

How much did it cost? I got the box, with 24 packs, for $33.

Why is this so special?

Charlie Blackmon leads off the game with a single off Hiroki Kuroda during a May 27 California League game between the Modesto Nuts and Inland Empire 66ers.

The Colorado Rockies drafted Blackmon out of Georgia Tech in the second round of the 2008 draft. Scouts believe that he has five-tool potential and could play any of the three outfield positions.

He hit .290 / .360 / .484 in 86 games for Tulsa, with 11 home runs and 19 stolen bases.

Blackmon’s signature looks very cramped… I wonder if it normally looks like that or if he was concerned about fitting it on the Topps sticker.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

2008 Topps Cameron Maybin

Cameron-Maybin

Who is this? Florida Marlins outfielder Cameron Maybin

What is this? An autographed card from the 2008 Topps set

Where'd I get it? I purchased it from Anthony when he was clearing out his card collection this summer

How much did it cost? Around $2

Why is this so special? Cameron Maybin was one of the best-regarded prospects heading into the 2005 draft. The Detroit Tigers selected him with the 10th overall pick, and eventually signed him to a contract with a $2.65 million bonus.

He made his major league debut in 2007, after two seasons in the minor leagues. He hit his first major league home run off Roger Clemens on Aug. 18.

That winter, Maybin was traded to the Florida Marlins as a key component in an 8-player deal that brought Miguel Cabrera to Detroit.

Maybin spent most of the 2008 season in the minor leagues, but made a splash in his September callup. He set a Marlins record by reaching base in ten consecutive at-bats over his first three games.

After being giving the Opening Day center field start in 2009, Maybin handed it right back by not hitting enough to stay in the lineup. He returned in September, but it was still a disappointing season.

In 2010, Maybin was the Opening Day center fielder again, but he lost his starting job by early June and was sent to the minors before the month was out. He missed some time with injuries, but returned to the major league starting lineup before the end of the season.

Maybin may never live up to the star potential that scouts saw when he was in high school, but it’s far too soon to give up on a 23-year-old.

Maybin’s signature on this card is interesting… his first name is written neatly, but it seems like he ran out of room for his last name.

Monday, November 1, 2010

1988 Pacific Legends Bobby Shantz

Bobby-Shantz

Who is this? Former New York Yankees pitcher Bobby Shantz

What is this? An autographed card from the 1988 Pacific Legends set

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

How much did it cost? $3

Why is this so special? Bobby Shantz was born in Pottstown, Pa. – the same town where my father grew up.

Shantz spent 16 seasons in the major leagues, from 1949-1964. His lifetime record is 119-99, with a 3.38 ERA.

In 1952, he went 24-7 with a 2.48 ERA. In 33 starts, Shantz pitched a remarkable 27 complete games. He won the AL Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award and the American League MVP. Amazingly, another pitcher – Allie Reynolds – was the runner-up. Mickey Mantle was the only position player to win a first place vote.

Shantz also won 8 Gold Gloves and was a three-time All-Star.

Shantz seems to enjoy signing autographs through the mail – he generally responds to requests sent to his Ambler, Pa. home in about a week. Unlike many modern ballplayers, you can even read his signature. Smile