2009 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Eric Crozier

Who is this? Southern Maryland Blue Crabs first baseman Eric Crozier
 
What is this? An autographed card from the 2009 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs team set
 
Where'd I get it? Crozier signed it for me at a game in Newark earlier this year.
 
How much did it cost? I believe the team set was around $6.

Why is this so special? Crozier appeared in 14 games for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2004, despite being a 41st round draft pick in 2000. (Though I'm not sure if the low draft standing was because of a talent evaluation or signability concerns...)

He was once traded for another Atlantic League first baseman, Josh Phelps, back when both still had prospect status.

I never saw Crozier play in the majors, but he has been a gentleman during his time in the Atlantic League -- he spent two seasons with the Lancaster Barnstormers before joining the Blue Crabs in 2008.

Like Jim Ed Warden, Crozier had been signed by an affiliated team by the time the Blue Crabs card set came out last year. The team chose to recognize that on the front of the card, which was a nice touch.

Crozier has an interesting, stylized signature. I can't quite figure out what the loop at the bottom represents, though.

2009 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Jim Ed Warden

Who is this? Southern Maryland Blue Crabs pitcher Jim Ed Warden
 
What is this? An autographed card from the 2009 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs team set
 
Where'd I get it? Warden signed it for me at a game in Newark earlier this year.
 
How much did it cost? I think the team set was around $6.
 
Why is this so special? Jim Ed Warden was a sixth round draft choice of the the Cleveland Indians in 2001. He progressed through the Cleveland system, making it to AAA Buffalo in 2007. He played in the Washington Nationals system in 2008, but was looking for a job in 2009.

Warden found himself closing games for Butch Hobson's Southern Maryland Blue Crabs at the start of the year, but he did well enough that the Mets signed him during the summer. He pitched for Binghamton and Buffalo, and put up some nice numbers. The Mets didn't offer him a job this year, so Warden is back with the Blue Crabs and hoping for another shot.

Now 31, Warden will have a harder time convincing a major league organization to give him that chance... but it would be nice if he gets it.

Warden has one of the more unusual autographs I've seen. "Jim Ed" is written carefully, but his last name is rushed and a bit of a challenge to decipher.

2009 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Kenny Rayborn

Who is this? Southern Maryland Blue Crabs pitcher Kenny Rayborn

What is this? An autographed card from last year's Southern Maryland Blue Crabs team set

Where'd I get it? I got it signed before the game between the Blue Crabs and the Newark Bears on Memorial Day

How much did it cost? I think I spent around $8 for the team set.

Why is this so special? Rayborn, now 35, has been pitching professionally since 1997. According to Baseball Reference, he has a lifetime 61-34 record in 198 games through the 2009 season. Last night, I watched him earn his third victory of the season against the Bears.

I own a fair number of minor league and independent league cards, but you rarely see players pictured in their road grays. It's just easier to have the team's photographer take all the shots at home.

The Blue Crabs ended up getting a few photos from the Newark Bears' photographer to use in their card set last year. Since Newark did not produce their own cards in 2009, these are the only ones that picture the redecorated Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

Rayborn's signature isn't the greatest, but he didn't have a lot of time to sign before the game started.