2009 TriSTAR Obak Pedro Alvarez

Who is this? Pittsburgh Pirates' Third Basemen Pedro Alvarez
What is this? An autograph card from 2009 TriSTAR Obak
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed by Pedro Alvarez when he was a member of the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians playing against the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2010.
How much did it cost? I got this card when I bought a set of 2009 TriSTAR Obak in the Spring of 2010.

Why is this so special? When I got this card signed, Pedro was one of the best prospects in Minor League Baseball. Alvarez was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 14th-round of the 2005 MLB Draft, but chose to attend Vanderbilt and was later drafted in the First-round (Second-overall) by the Pirates in the 2008 MLB Draft.

After a solid-if unspectacular- Major League debut in 2010, Alvarez had a disappointing sophomore campaign, hitting .191 with a .561 OPS in 74 games.

Fortunately, each new season brings hopes of better things. And that hope is essential to Pirates' fans, whose historic futility needs no exaggeration. If the Pirates are going to turn things around, they are going to be counting on Alvarez to help make it happen.

Alvarez was nice enough to also sign this 2008 TriSTAR Prospects Plus card for me.

2008 TriSTAR Prospects Plus Ray Kruml and Addison Maruszak

Who are these guys? New York Yankees Minor Leaguers Ray Kruml and Addison Maruszak.
What is this? An autograph card from 2008 TriSTAR Prospects Plus.
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed by Addison in July and Ray in August when they were playing for the Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees against the Pawtucket Red Sox.
How much did it cost? I got this card when I bought two sets of 2008 TriSTAR Prospects Plus a few years ago.

Why is this so special? Neither Kruml nor Maruszak are top prospects, but both took the time to sign this card, which means that, regardless of whether or not either of them ever make it to the Bronx or become big-leaguers, both will always have a place in my autograph collection.

All too often, fans and autograph collectors are focused on chasing the "big fish," allowing players like Ray Kruml and Addison Maruszak to pass their entire careers barely noticed playing in half-empty ballparks across America. I like the inclusion of Kruml, a 2008 11th round-pick out of the University of Southern Alabama, and Maruszak, a 2008 17th round-pick out of the University of South Florida, in sets like TriSTAR Prospects Plus and Donruss Elite Extra Edition not just because they provide me something to get signed, but also because they memorialize their baseball careers on cardboard for all-time.

Ray Kruml was also nice enough to sign two copies of his 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Edition and two copies of his 2008 TriSTAR Prospects Plus card for me.

I thank Ray and Addison for signing my cards, and I wish they both long and successful careers in the future.