2007 Topps Total, Dwayne Bowe

Who is this? Kansas City Chiefs All Pro wide receiver, Dwayne Bowe
What is this? An autograph card from the 2007 Topps Total set
Where'd I get it? At the Menards grand opening in Salina, Kansas yesterday
How much did it cost?The autograph was free, the card was a dollar.

Why is this so special? After a failed drug test and a bunch of dropped passes, Dwayne finally had a breakout year last season for the Chiefs. He set the Chiefs single season record for consecutive games with a touchdown with seven straight and for most touchdowns in a season with fifteen.

I am not a huge football fans by any means and I normally wouldn't have gone out of my way for this autograph. But, I just happened to be at the local card shop last week looking for some Gypsy Queen when the shop owner asked me if I was going to see Saberhagen this week. I had no idea what he was talking about, so he told me about the big Menards grand opening week schedule that includes autograph appearances from Bowe, Bret Saberhagen, and Christian Okoye. I didn't find any Gypsy Queen at the shop that day, but I did pick up two cards of Dwayne Bowe. I figured I would head over for the event just to get an idea of what it was going to be like for Saberhagen.

And, I am glad that I went since there was a much larger turnout than I anticipated. I got to the store about forty minutes before the signing began and I was amazed to see 200-300 people already there. Dwayne arrived promptly at the 6:00 scheduled start and I did not make it through the line until right before 7:30. Who know what it will be like for Saberhagen. For all I know, there could be fewer people there since the Royals aren't nearly as popular as the Chiefs are around here. But, I guess I will find out tomorrow.

I was watching a Chiefs game last year when they showed a clip of Dwayne. He said that he always wanted a bumper sticker that read "somewhere over the Dwayne Bowe". I couldn't help but laugh at that. I almost asked him to inscribe that on the card, but it looks like there wouldn't have been much room for that.

As for Bowe's signature, I have no idea what is going on with it. I can make out a "D" and his number and that is it.

Here is the other card that I got signed yesterday.

2001 Fleer Triple Crown Talmadge Nunnari

Who is this? Former Montreal Expos infielder Talmadge Nunnari 
What is this? An autographed 2001 Fleer Triple Crown card
Where'd I get it? I received it from Zach of Autographed Cards, who likely got it signed at some point last year at an American Association game.

 Why is this so special? I'm not completely sure, but given my inability to identify the set without searching online, I'd say this is the only 2001 Fleer Triple Crown card in my collection.

Nunnari was a first baseman who did a better job getting on base than hitting for power. In 8 minor league seasons, he hit a total of 30 home runs. Nunnari did earn a major league call up from the Montreal Expos in 2000. He had one hit in 12 at-bats, a single off of Florida Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett.

Nunnari last played in 2004, according to Baseball-Reference. Last season, he managed the Pensacola Pelicans in the American Association.

Almost a year ago, Nunnari shared some thoughts about baseball cards with Bo of Baseball Cards Come To Life.

I would never manage to decipher Nunnari's autograph.

2009 Bowman Johnny Giavotella

Who is this? Kansas City Royals prospect Johnny Giavotella
What is this? An autographed card from one of the 2009 Bowman sets
Where'd I get it? Zach of Autographed Cards fame sent it to me last year.

Why is this so special? Gavotella was a second round draft pick in 2008. The 22-year-old Louisiana native played for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in the AA Texas League last year, where he hit .322 / .395 /.460. He had nine home runs and 13 stolen bases in 20 attempts.

I'm not quite sure where Giavotella ranks in the Royals' long-term plans. He didn't make Baseball America's Top 10 Royals' prospects list, but he is the second baseman in their projected 2014 lineup.

After I got this card from Zach, I pulled another Giavotella autograph from my box of Topps Pro Debut Series II.

There's quite a bit of difference between what I presume is Giavotella's ballpark signature vs. his paid "sit down" one, but I'm glad I don't have to read either one.

2010 Wichita Wingnuts Jeff Christy

Who is this? Wichita Wingnuts catcher Jeff Christy
What is this? An autographed card from the 2010 Wichita Wingnuts team set
Where'd I get it? From Zach of Autographed Cards


Why is this so special? No offense to Mr. Christy, but this is a terrible card. It's a boring photo and you can't even see what he looks like. I don't think I've ever seen another card set using a photo like this, so it does deserve some points for uniqueness. :)

Christy was a 6th round draft pick who played exclusively in the Twins organization until last year. Though he made it as far as AAA, Christy was pretty much a backup player after his second season. It seems odd that a relatively high draft pick would not get a longer look, but he just didn't hit.

Christy batted .289 with 1 home run and 39 RBI in 84 games with the Wingnuts last year. That raised his career average to .215.

He's got a fairly legible autograph, but for some reason he made his last name pretty small.

2010 Wichita Wingnuts Gabe Medina

Who is this? Wichita Wingnuts pitcher Gabe Medina
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? This is another signed card from the Wichita Wingnuts team set that Zach sent me a few weeks ago. I really like the classic vest style uniform that Medina is wearing, but I'm glad I don't have to decipher his autograph. I'd be thinking it was signed y someone whose last name began with the letter "C."

Medina, a native of Venezuela, had a 5-7 record in 20 starts for the Wingnuts this year, his second season with Wichita. Medina also pitched very briefly for the Camden Riversharks in 2010, though I didn't realize this until now.

The New York Yankees selected Medina in the 15th round of the 2006 draft, but in three seasons he never advanced past the South Atlantic League. Here's another card that shows him in his Yankees garb, also courtesy of Zach.

2003 Donruss Franklin Perez

Who is this? Kansas City T-Bones pitcher Franklin Perez
What is this? An autographed card from the 2003 Donruss set... I think. Was "The Rookies" a designation on regular cards, or is this a separate set?
Where'd I get it? From Zach at Autographed Cards, who probably got it signed at a T-Bones game.


Why is this so special? Perez spent 7 seasons in affiliated minor league ball, primarily in the Phillies organization. He never made it to the majors, but did get as far as AAA. In 2008, he had a fairly unimpressive season for the Bridgeport Bluefish in the Atlantic League, earning a 6-3 record with a 5.25 ERA as a starter and a reliever.

In 2009, Perez played for half of the teams in the Atlantic League - the Bluefish again, the Camden Riversharks, the Long Island Ducks and the Newark Bears. He was somewhat effective for the Riversharks, earning 6 saves in 27 appearances. The less said about his time with the other teams, the better.

This year, Perez had 6 saves and a sparkling 0.87 ERA in 11 games for the T-Bones.

Perez has an interesting autograph that would likely cause confusion for anyone trying to identify it on a generic item.

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.

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.

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.

2008 Bowman Chrome Clint Robinson

Who is this? Northwest Arkansas Naturals first baseman Clint Robinson
What is this? An autographed card from the 2008 Bowman Chrome set
Where'd I get it? From Zach, who probably got it signed at a Kansas City Royals fanfest event or a minor league game.


Why is this so special? The Royals selected Robinson in the 25th round of the 2007 draft. He has progressed through the Kansas City farm system and had a solid year in AA in 2010, hitting 29 home runs for the Naturals and finishing with a 1.035 OPS.

Aside from the angle, Robinson's autograph looks just like the facsimile signature on the card.

2005 Topps Brandon Sing

Who is this? Sioux Falls Pheasants outfielder Brandon Sing
What is this? An autographed card from the 2005 Topps set
Where'd I get it? From Zach, who likely got it signed at an American Association game this summer.


Why is this so special? Brandon Sing was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 20th round of the 1999 draft. He advanced through the minor leagues, and hit enough home runs in 2004 to convince Topps to include him in their 2005 set. But he never made it past AAA and was out of affiliated baseball by 2008.

Last year, Sing played for the Bridgeport Bluefish. I saw them play more than a dozen times, including three trips to Bridgeport, but I don't think I ever got him to sign a card for my collection. He hit .305 with 23 home runs and 94 RBI last year.

Sing did not return to Bridgeport this year, instead opting to play for the Sioux Falls Pheasants in 2010. His autograph is about as legible as most modern ballplayers.

1989 Star Andy Tomberlin

Who is this? Birmingham Barons hitting coach Andy Tomberlin
What is this? An autographed card from from the 1989 Star minor league set
Where'd I get it? From Zach. I think he got it signed at the Rickwood Classic this summer.


Why is this so special? Andy Tomberlin had an interesting career. Signed as an undrafted free agent in 1985, Tomberlin began his pro career as a pitcher. He apparently had control issues, so the Braves decided to turn him into an outfielder in 1988.

Tomberlin didn't get his first shot at the majors until 1993, after he left the Braves organization. He got into 27 games for the Pirates that year. In 1994, he played in 17 games for Boston. In 1995, it was 46 games for Oakland. In 1996 and 1997, Tomberlin played a total of 69 games for the Mets. Then in 1998, he played in 32 games for Detroit.

Between 1985 and 2000, Tomberlin played in nearly 1000 minor league games. He stayed in baseball following his retirement, working as a scout and minor league coach.

Tomberlin's signature is somewhat recognizable, but it wouldn't earn him a very good penmanship grade. (Do they still teach that subject in grade school? Somehow I doubt it.)

1992 Donruss Ced Landrum

Who is this? Joliet Jackhammers hitting coach Ced Landrum
What is this? An autographed card from the 1992 Donruss set
Where'd I get it? Zach sent it to me. I imagine he got it signed at a Northern League game.


Why is this so special? Ced Landrum was not a high round draft pick. In fact, he never got drafted at all. He signed with the Chicago Cubs as an amateur free agent in 1985 and worked his way through the minors, making his big league debut in 1991.

Landrum hit .233 / .313 / .279 in 99 plate appearances for the Cubs, yet he stole 27 bases in those 56 games. A spring training injury cost Landrum the first part of the 1992 season. By July, the Cubs decided to trade him to Milwaukee for infielder Jeff Kunkel.

Milwaukee cut Landrum loose at the end of the season, and he signed with Minnesota. Before the end of April 1993, Landrum was a free agent again. This time, the Mets signed him and gave him his second shot in the majors. Primarily as a pinch-hitter, Landrum was 5-for-19 in 22 games.

Landrum was out of baseball in 1994, but he decided to give it one more shot as a replacement player during the 1995 lockout. To learn more about Ced Landrum, check out Steve's post at The Greatest 21 Days.

Landrum has a nice, legible autograph. I like the photo choice by Donruss - Landrum's most notable success came on the basepaths, so it's fitting to have a shot of him sliding into base.

2007 Bowman Heritage Jim Fasano

Who is this? Kansas City T-Bones outfielder Jim Fasano
What is this? An autographed card from the 2007 Bowman Heritage set
Where'd I get it? This is another one of the cards Zach sent me earlier this summer. I imagine that he got it signed at a Northern League game.

Why is this so special? I wasn't familiar with Fasano until I looked him up on the internet. I was a little disappointed to learn that he is not related to former major league backup catcher Sal Fasano. On the plus side, Jim Fasano is a New Jersey native, though he now resides in Pennsylvania during the off-season.

Fasano was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 9th round of the 2004 draft. He spent four seasons in their farm system, reaching AA in his final season of affiliated baseball.

In 2008, Fasano joined the Kansas City T-Bones in the Northern League. He was named the Most Outstanding Player in the playoffs that year. He has played there for the past three seasons. He hit .319 with 20 home runs and 78 RBI this year.

I'm glad I don't have to play "Spot the Signature" with this one - I see a "G," an "l," and an "f" -- none which would help me identify it.

2007 Bowman Heritage Gregory Porter

Who is this? Southern Maryland Blue Crabs outfielder Gregory Porter
What is this? An autographed card from the 2007 Bowman Heritage set
Where'd I get it? Zach sent it to me. I'd guess that he got it signed at an American Association game.


Why is this so special? When Zach sent me this card, I'd never heard of Porter or seen him play. That changed earlier this month. The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs picked up Porter for the Atlantic League playoffs, and I got to see him make his Atlantic League debut. Porter went 2-for-4 and drove in the winning run.

Porter was a 45th round draft pick in 2001, so it's a little surprising that Porter made it onto nationally-released baseball cards. He did have a good year in 2006 for the Arkansas Travelers: .298 with 20 home runs and 71 RBI. In addition to the Angels, Porter played in the farm systems of the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals.

For the past two season, Porter has played independent baseball. In 2009, he was a Wichita Wingnut. This year, he was a Grand Prairie AirHog. (I love minor league team nicknames.) He hit .383 with 19 home runs and 83 RBI before coming over to the Blue Crabs.

Porter has a completely illegible autograph.

2008 Bowman Anthony Capra

Who is this? Midland Rockhounds pitcher Anthony Capra
What is this? An autographed card from the 2008 Bowman set
Where'd I get it? Zach included it in a package he mailed to me earlier this month.


Why is this so special? After I finished scanning a bunch of cards today, I decided to post Capra's card because I looked him up to find out if he's related to former Mets and Braves pitcher Buzz Capra. I can't conclusively say, but it looks like he's not.

Anthony Capra was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 4th round of the 2008 draft. He started his career with Kane County in the Midwest League that year, and he's made it as far as AA Midland in the Texas League this year.

Capra's 2010 numbers don't seem all that impressive - he's 6-11 with a 4.31 ERA in 24 starts - so I would expect to see Capra open next season in AA again.

I'm not sure where Zach got the card signed, but I think it's neat that Capra's signature is almost a perfect match for the facsimile on the card. That rarely happens, since the cards use contract signatures and players generally develop a quicker "autograph version" for use at the ballpark.

2006 Topps 52 Reggie Abercrombie

Who is this? Sioux Falls Pheasants outfielder Reggie Abercrombie

What is this? An autographed card from the 2006 Topps 52 set

Where'd I get it? Zach sent it to me; I believe he got it signed at a game between the Pheasants and the Wichita Wingnuts earlier this year.


Why is this so special? Well, it's always cool when people decide to send you cards. :)

Abercrombie was selected in the 23rd round of the 1999 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he didn't make it to the major leagues until 2006 with the Florida Marlins. The Mets and Marlins play each other quite a bit during spring training, so I saw Abercrombie a lot. He had a nice spring that year, and I thought he'd be a star.

The Marlins seemed to think enough of Abercrombie to give him a shot. Unfortunately, Abercrombie hadn't quite mastered the art of hitting even though he did show occasional flashes of skill. (This is perhaps why I'm not really a prospector.) He played one more year with the Marlins, and spent part of 2008 with the Astros.

Abercrombie is now playing in the independent American Association, where he is hitting .338 with 20 home runs, 82 RBI and 34 stolen bases.

For a guy with a long name, Abercrombie has a pretty decent autograph.

1992-93 Pro Set, Brett Hull

Who is this? One of the newest members to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Brett Hull

What is this? An autograph card from the 1992-93 Pro Set set

Where'd I get it? Through the mail in the early '90s

How much did it cost? Got the card in a pack plus a couple of 25 or 26 cent stamps

Why is this so special? It's Brett Hull, who was inducted into the Hall today.

Brett has 741 goals for his career, which is third all-time. He was an 8-time All Star with the Blues and Stars. He scored 50 goals in 50 games twice and is one of two players to do it more than once (some guy named Gretzky is the other). He had 33 hat tricks in his career and he led the league in scoring three times. He had more playoff power play goals than anyone else. He is the only player to score 50 goals in college, the minors, and the NHL. Plus, he has his name on Lord Stanley's Cup twice.

Basically, Brett Hull was one of the premier hockey players of his generation.

1993 Topps Dana Stubblefield

Who is this? Former 49er, Dana Stubblefield.

What is this? An autograph card from the 1993 Topps set, number 64.

Where'd I get it? At a free autograph signing around 1994.

How much did it cost? Whatever a pack of '93 Topps cards cost.

Why is this so special? This card is special because it is featured on Auto-Matic for the People. All of us (including me) have been slacking of late (we are probably too busy buying up all of the new '09 baseball cards). So, I figured that I should post something.

As for this card, I got it signed at one of the local car dealerships in 1994. Luckily, one of my neighborhood friends heard about it on the radio and we were able to snag a ride over there to get some signatures. I got this card signed (it was the only one I had of him) and I got a 1994 University of Kansas schedule-poster signed. The signing was free.

Stubblefield had a great rookie season in 1993. He notched 10.5 sacks that year and was the Defensive Rookie of the Year. His sacks steadily dropped for the next three seasons. Then, in 1997, he had a 15 sack season. He was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year Award. He then went to Washington via free agency. In his three years there, he never had more than 3 sacks. He played three more seasons in San Francisco and Oakland but could not rekindle his old glory.

His name came up in the BALCO investigations and he is currently serving a two-year probation. He also appeared in the movie "Reindeer Games".

I hate the photo on this card. He was a first round draft pick and I would have preferred a photo of him playing in college. Instead we get a training camp photo of him warming up in shorts, without shoulder pads on, and with his last name on the front of his helmet so all of the coaches will know who he is.

1990 Topps Troy Aikmen

Who is this? Hall of Fame quarterback, Troy Aikman

What is this? An autograph card from the 1990 Topps set, card number 482.

Where'd I get it? I got it signed through the mail in the early '90s.

How much did it cost? The price of a pack and two stamps.

Why is this so special? I got this card signed in either 1990 or '91 when the Cowboys were still building up to their dynasty status. I had no idea at the time that I got an autograph from a future Hall of Famer. Not only is this card signed by the legendary Cowboy, but it is also personalized to me. I think that this was the second card that was personalized to me through the mail.

Aikman was a six time Pro Bowler, was Super Bowl XXVII MVP, and he lead the 'Boys to three straight Super Bowl victories. In 2006, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. These days, he does commentating for games on Fox