2008 Long Island Ducks Alay Soler

Who is this? Alay Soler, a former pitcher for the New York Mets

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 in 2008

How much did it cost? The team set was about $8

Why is this so special? Everyone who is tired of 2008 Long Island Ducks cards will be pleased to note that this is the final one that I plan to post.

Alay Soler defected from Cuba in 2003 and signed a contract with the New York Mets the following year. Visa issues kept him from starting his U.S. career until 2006, but he went from single-A to the majors in one season. Soler's Mets career was largely forgettable, except for a two-hit complete game shutout against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Mets released Soler in spring training in 2007, and he went on to play in a couple other minor league systems before signing with the Ducks during the 2008 season. He announced his retirement from baseball in 2008, but resurfaced to pitch for the Newark Bears last season.

Soler has a neat signature, clearly signing "A Soler". The number 38 on the bottom right is his uniform number with the Ducks, but I'm not sure what the significance of 6/27 is.