2009 Long Island Ducks Schedule: John Pachot

Who is this? York Revolution catcher John Pachot
What is this? An autographed Long Island Ducks pocket schedule
Where'd I get it? Pachot signed it for me after Friday night's game between the Revolution and Newark Bears.
How much did it cost? It was free.

Why is this so special? Check out the cool "Quack to the Future" logo somebody came up with for Long Island's 10th Anniversary last year.

Pachot made his professional debut in 1993 at the age of 18 for the Gulf Coast League Expos. Since then, he's appeared in more than 1,300 games in the minor leagues and independent baseball.

Pachot went to spring training with the Mets in 2005 and played in 21 games for the Norfolk Tides that year before getting his release. He has played for an Atlantic League team every year since then: the Camden Riversharks in 2006, the Newark Bears in 2007 & 2008, the Long Island Ducks in 2009 and the York Revolution this year.

Pachot does not have a pretty autograph, but I think this is the most legible version I've ever gotten.

1984 Topps Nestle Bob Gibson

Who is this? Former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Bob Gibson
What is this? An autographed card from the Nestle's version of the 1984 Topps set.
Where'd I get it? Nearly two years ago, I wrote to Gibson and asked him to sign it. I got it back today.
How much did it cost? The card cost less than 50 cents.

Why is this so special? Robert Louis Gibson made it to the major leagues after beginning his career as an undrafted amateur free agent. In four seasons with the Brewers, he appeared in 97 games. He finished with a 12-18 record and a 4.24 ERA.

I needed a Gibson autograph for my collection because his 98th and final major league appearance came in 1987, when he was called upon to temporarily bolster a Mets pitching staff that had been ravaged by injuries and off-field issues. Gibson's New York Mets career lasted just one inning. He faced four batters, walking one and striking out two.

The card Gibson signed is somewhat unusual. In 1984, Topps produced a parallel set for Nestle to use for a sendaway promotion. The Nestle cards are identical to the regular Topps cards, except the Nestle logo replaces the Topps logo on the card front.

The Nestle cards were only distributed in 132-card uncut sheets, but many of the sheets were cut and sold as individual cards.

Gibson has a neat autograph, and he took care to sign the card so that he wouldn't write over his face. He also signed a 1988 CMC Rochester Red Wings card for me in more conventional fashion.

2007 Topps 52 J.A. Happ

Who is this? Houston Astros pitcher James Anthony Happ
What is this? An autographed card from the 2007 Topps 52 set.
Where'd I get it? Happ signed it for me before today's game between the Astros and the Mets at CitiField.
How much did it cost? I think the card came out of a pack.

Why is this so special? I actually managed to get a card signed at CitiField - it's something of an accomplishment, since there aren't all that many places in the park where you can reach a player to hand him a card.

Happ was selected in the third round of the 2004 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. He made his major league debut in 2007 and was part of the 2008 and 2009 playoff teams. Happ was chosen as the Sporting News Rookie of the Year in 2009 after finishing with a 12-4 record and 2.93 ERA.

This year, he was traded to Houston for Roy Oswalt. He is 4-2 with a 3.45 ERA in 9 starts.

Happ has an interesting autograph. The letters J.A. are clearly written, but I don't know what's going on with his last name.

2009 Trenton Thunder Wilkin de la Rosa

Who is this? Trenton Thunder pitcher Wilkin de la Rosa
What is this? An autographed card from last year's Trenton Thunder team set
Where'd I get it? de la Rosa signed it for me after a game in Trenton earlier this month.
How much did it cost? I believe the team set cost $10.


Why is this so special? Wilkin de la Rosa made the news yesterday because Major League Baseball is investigating him and New York Yankees pitcher Ivan Nova for allegedly injecting each other with vitamin B-12. While B-12 is not on Major League Baseball's list of banned substances, only licensed doctors are supposed to inject medication.

De la Rosa made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Yankees in 2007. He has pitched for the Trenton Thunder for the past two seasons. In 33 games (8 starts), he has a 2-4 record with a 5.00 ERA this season.

De la Rosa has an interesting autograph, but I really can't make out many of the letters. Here's another example, on this year's Trenton Thunder team set card.

2010 Trenton Thunder Cory Arbiso

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

Why is this so special? If Austin Krum's card that I posted on Wednesday is the coolest card in this year's Trenton Thunder set, Cory Arbiso's just might be the worst. Just what's going on with his right arm? I can't be completely positive that it's not just a weird photo angle, but it looks like there were some odd photo editing issues there.

Arbiso was selected in the 22nd round of the 2008 draft by the New York Yankees. He made his debut with the Staten Island Yankees in 2008, and in his three professional seasons he has played at least one game at every level of the farm system.

Arbiso works as a swingman, pitching in the rotation and out of the bullpen.That generally means the organization doesn't consider you a true prospect, but who knows? Arbiso is 24 and is having a decent year in Trenton. He has a 5-2 record with a 3.42 ERA in 29 games (8 starts).

Arbiso's autograph would be devilish to use in a "Spot the Sig" style contest. It almost looks like his last name starts with the letter "C" the way he signed my card.

1958 Topps Bob Malkmus

Who is this? Former Washington Senators infielder Bob Malkmus
What is this? An autographed card from the 1958 Topps set
Where'd I get it? I wrote to Malkmus on Monday and asked him to sign it; I got it back today. (It helps that we live in the same county)
How much did it cost? The card was a throw-in when I bought a $5 1970s Tom Seaver card at this month's local card show.

Why is this so special? This is one of the oldest baseball cards that I own, and it is the oldest one I have signed by a former player that I've actually met.

Malkmus played in parts of 6 seasons, for the Milwaukee Braves, Washington Senators and Philadelphia Phillies. He hit .215 with 8 home runs and 46 RBI in 268 major league games. One of those eight homers was given up by Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn.

Malkmus currently works as a part-time scout for the Cleveland Indians. He can sometimes be found at Atlantic League baseball games.

Like most former ballplayers of his generation, Malkmus seems to take pride in his penmanship. He also inscribed one of the more famous verses from the Bible, John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [King James Version]

2010 Trenton Thunder Austin Krum

Who is this? Trenton Thunder outfielder Austin Krum
What is this? An autographed card from the 2010 Trenton Thunder team set
Where'd I get it? Krum signed it for me before a Trenton Thunder game earlier this month.
How much did it cost? The team sets sell for $10.

Why is this so special? This is the coolest card in the Trenton Thunder team set this year. Krum is attempting to make a diving catch, which is much more interesting than the more standard shots of hitters at bat or pitchers throwing.

The Yankees selected Krum in the 9th round of the 2007 draft. Although he has never shown a lot of skill at the plate, Krum has steadily moved through the Yankees farm system. This year, he is batting .235 with five home runs and 38 RBI in 108 games for Trenton.

Krum has a neat-looking -- if mostly illegible -- autograph.

2010 Newark Bears Daryle Ward Pocket Schedule

Who is this? Newark Bears first baseman Daryle Ward
What is this? An autographed pocket schedule
Where'd I get it? Ward signed if for me before a Bears game last week.
How much did it cost? It was free.


Why is this so special? For the second year in a row, the Newark Bears didn't produce a baseball card set due to lack of a sponsor. This pocket schedule is as close as we're going to get to an officially-sanctioned card of a Newark Bears player this year.

Ward is .283 with 14 home runs and 74 RBI in 102 games for the Bears this season. He leads the team in homers and RBI.

In an 11-year major league career, Ward played for six different teams. He spent the most time with the Houston Astros. He has a lifetime .263 average with 90 home runs and 373 RBI in 948 games.

Daryle Ward may have the nicest autograph of any active player that I've asked this season.

2008 TriStar Projections Kirk Nieuwenhuis

Who is this? Buffalo Bisons outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis
What is this? An autographed card from the 2008 TriStar Projections set
Where'd I get it? Nieuwenhuis signed it after a game between the Binghamton Mets and Trenton Thunder earlier this year, before he was promoted.
How much did it cost? I got the card out of a discounted blaster box.

Why is this so special? I caught the Buffalo Bisons game on SNY tonight, so I thought it would be fun to post a card of somebody that played in the game. Kirk (I'm going to go with his first name because I'm not very good at spelling his last name yet) went 1-for-5 with a double and an RBI tonight.

The Mets made Kirk a third round selection in the 2008 draft. He began his pro career in Brooklyn that year, moving up to St. Lucie in 2009 and starting 2010 in Binghamton. A few weeks ago, Kirk got promoted to AAA Buffalo, though he's struggled a bit there. Through 13 games, he was hitting .235 (12-for-59) with one home run and 9 RBI.

Kirk is generally thought to have passed Fernando Martinez as the Mets' best outfield prospect, but there isn't likely to be an opening in New York before the 2012 season.

As you might expect, Kirk has an abbreviated version of his name that he signs for autograph seekers.

It even varies a little from card to card, as you can see on the 2009 TriStar Projections card that I got signed on the same day.

2010 Bowman Topps 100 Austin Romine

Who is this? Trenton Thunder catcher Austin Romine
What is this? An autographed card from Topps 100 insert in this year's Bowman set.
Where'd I get it? Romine signed it before last Sunday's Trenton Thunder game.
How much did it cost? I spent $1 for the card, the curse of living in the New York metro area.

Why is this so special? Romine was ranked as the 2nd best prospect in the Yankees' farm system and the 86th best in all of baseball by Baseball America at the beginning of the 2010 season.

Despite the hype (and the daily demand of autograph seekers), he seemed like a pleasant enough kid. Since he had the day off on Sunday, he spent 5-10 minutes signing autographs along the stands by the dugout. I don't think he stopped before everybody got one.

In 101 games, Romine is batting .266 with 8 home runs and 58 RBI. If he played any other position, I don't think those numbers would have anybody excited. But he is a catcher, and from the one game I saw him play in the field he looked like a pretty good one.

Romine has a very angular, compressed autograph. It's perfect for baseball cards, but I think he should probably work on it a little more before he starts signing sweetspot baseballs for Steiner. :)

Here's Romine's 2010 Trenton Thunder team set card, which I also got signed last Sunday.

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.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Dalton (Eric Saiet)

Who is this? Actor Eric Saiet, portraying the vampire Dalton in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
What is this? An autographed card from the short-lived Buffy the Vampire Slayer collectible card game, produced by Score.
Where'd I get it? I wrote to Saiet's agent and asked for an autograph a couple of years ago; I got it back today.
How much did it cost? Postage, basically - the card was a duplicate pulled from a pack.

Why is this so special? Buffy the Vampire Slayer was one of my favorite television shows. A few years ago, I decided to try to find addresses and mail out some extra cards to collect autographs from the guest cast members. I didn't have a lot of luck with the initial attempt, so I didn't continue the project.

In January 2009, I was cleaning out my desk and I found the letter I had written to Saiet. I'd never gotten around to mailing it. I figured I'd attach a couple more cents' postage and see what would happen. Today, I got my card back, signed, along with a short note apologizing for the delay. If he only knew. :)

Saiet is a character actor who has appeared in a number of prime-time shows, ranging from the various Law & Order series, to ER and WB classics like Felicity and Roswell. One of his first credited roles was in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Saiet played the bookish vampire Dalton in two second-season episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He fell victim to a nasty demon called the Judge, who could burn the humanity out of people, because he retained just a little too much human feeling.

Thankfully, Saiet has a clear, legible signature -- otherwise I would have been left to research exactly who's autograph I had gotten. :)

2007 Las Vegas 51s Octavio Martinez

Who is this? Lancaster Barnstormers catcher Octavio Martinez
What is this? An autographed card from the 2007 Las Vegas Stars team set
Where'd I get it? Martinez signed it for me before last nights game between the Barnstormers and the Bears in Newark.
How much did it cost? $1 from an eBay dealer I found while seeking the missing cards in my 2010 New Britain Rock Cats team set (I still need one more, and I don't know who it is.)


Why is this so special? Martinez was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 10th round of the 1999 draft after being named the Western State Conference Player of the Year. He was the 2000 Appalachian League Player of the Year, hitting .387 for the Bluefield Orioles.

Martinez's hitting success did not continue when he moved on to full-season leagues, and he quickly settled into a backup role. During a nine-year minor league career, Martinez spent time in the Orioles, Pirates and Dodgers organizations.

For the past three years, he has played independent ball. In 2008, he played for Long Beach in the Golden League. Last year, he played for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the Atlantic League. This season, he's a member of the Lancaster Barnstormers.


Martinez had a little fun with me last night. When I called him over, I showed him the card and his initial reaction was "I don't sign that photo." I've run across enough players and coaches that really do refuse to sign certain cards for various reasons, so I took him at his word.

Fortunately, he was just joking and signed the card for me. I can't really make out the signature, but it looks like he included his Las Vegas uniform number at the end.

The Las Vegas 51s have my favorites team name and logo. Years ago, I ordered a bobblehead of the mascot, Cosmo and a keychain with the team's alien head logo even though I've never seen them play a game.

2002 Fleer Tradition Eric Munson

Who is this? Newark Bears third baseman Eric Munson
What is this? An autographed card from the 2002 Fleer Tradition set
Where'd I get it? Munson signed it after a game in Newark earlier this month.
How much did it cost? I got the card out of a pack.


Why is this so special? Eric Munson was the third overall selection in the 1999 draft. He was chosen ahead of Barry Zito, Ben Sheets and Brian Roberts, among others.

Munson appeared in 361 games over a nine year major league career with Detroit, Houston, Tampa Bay and Oakland. In 2004, he hit a home run 457 feet over the center field fence at Comerica Park, the longest home run ever hit there to that point.

Munson had been playing with the AAA Portland Beavers in the Pacific Coast League until July. He is hitting .206 with 4 home runs and 7 RBI in 17 games for the Bears.

Munson does not like to sign autographs before the game and made us wait around until afterwards to get our cards signed. Even though he made the last out that spoiled a ninth-inning rally, he kept his promise to sign autographs.

Here is the 2005 Fleer card that he also signed that day.

Munson has a loopy signature, but it hasn't changed much from the one printed on his 2005 card.

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.

1994 Signature Rookies Draft Picks Doug Jennings

Who is this? former Oakland Athletics outfielder Doug Jennings

What is this? An autographed card from the 1994 Signature Rookies Draft Picks set

Where'd I get it? A baseball card show dealer's dollar box

How much did it cost? $1

Why is this so special? I remember Doug Jennings best from the final days of his career, when he was a player/coach for the Long Island Ducks in 2005. He is actually one of the best players in the independent league team's history, probably not a mark that he ever wanted to achieve.

Jennings seems an odd choice for a draft pick set from 1994; he was a second round pick by the California Angels in the 1984 draft. By the time this card came out, Jennings had finished his entire 189-game major league career - though I'm sure he didn't realize it.

Before he hung up his spikes, Jennings played in over 1600 minor league and independent league games. He also spent three years in Japan playing for the Orix Blue Wave. It might not have been the career that Jennings dreamed of when he signed his first pro contract, but it wasn't a bad one.

Jennings had a fairly legible signature in 1994, though if I recall correctly it was looking a bit sloppier towards the end of his career.

2010 New Hampshire Fisher Cats Bob Tarpey and Brian Pike

 

Who is this? Bob Tarpey, athletic trainer and Brian Pike, strength coach, for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats

What is this? Autographed cards from the 2010 New Hampshire Fisher Cats team set

Where'd I get it? They signed the cards at a game in Trenton earlier this year.

How much did it cost? Team set was $13 shipped.

Why is this so special? I really wouldn't mind if teams stopped including their trainers and strength coaches in minor league baseball card sets. When the cards are there, I try to get them signed -- it's fun to see what kind of reaction I get when I ask.

Both Tarpey and Pike were good sports. Pike was the last person off the field before the game between the Fisher Cats and Trenton Thunder. It took a couple tries to get his attention, but he came over and signed my card. He has one of the more legible autographs of the folks in that set.

I approached Tarpey after the game, as he was making another trip back into the stadium to bring out more equipment to load on the team bus. He seemed amused that someone was asking for his autograph, but he signed the card without any objections. I guess he doesn't get that much practice, because the placement of the signature is not exactly ideal.

For those who collected signed minor league cards, I'm curious - what do you do with the cards of the trainer, strength coach & mascots? I can't be the only one who tries to get them signed, can I? (I do draw the line at mascots - asking them for autographs is too weird for me.)

2009 Somerset Patriots Ryan Basner

Who is this? York Revolution pitcher Ryan Basner

What is this? An autographed card from the 2009 Somerset Patriots team set

Where'd I get it? Basner signed it for me before a game between the Revolution and Newark Bears earlier this year.

How much did it cost? My Dad picked up the team set when he went to a Somerset game last year and gave it to me.

Why is this so special? This is the only signed card that I have from the 2009 Somerset team set, though Basner's autograph is not particularly legible.

Basner was a 7th round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2003. He was primarily a reliever in their farm system, and he made it all the way to AAA Richmond in 2008. He did not have an especially good season, so he found himself in independent baseball last year. He was part of an Atlantic League championship team with the Somerset Patriots last year, but this season Basner is pitching for the York Revolution.

2000 Upper Deck Pros and Prospects Future Forces Matt Riley

Who is this? former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Matt Riley

What is this? An autographed insert card from 2000 Upper Deck Pros and Prospects

Where'd I get it? Riley signed it for me after a game between the York Revolution and Newark Bears earlier this year.

 How much did it cost? About 50 cents.

Why is this so special? Riley was a third-round selection by the Baltimore Orioles in 1997. He dominated the minor leagues and made his major league debut in 1999. For two years, he was ranked as the best prospect in the Orioles' farm system.

Then came Tommy John surgery, and Riley had to battle back. He returned to the majors in 2003 for a while, long enough to earn his first major league victory. He had a longer opportunity in 2004, but struggled. In 2005, Baltimore traded Riley to the Texas Rangers for another future Atlantic Leaguer, infielder Ramon Nivar. Later that year, Riley had a second Tommy John operation. During his comeback, he required a third surgery.

This season, Riley pitched for the York Revolution in the independent Atlantic League. He was working out of the bullpen during the series when I got this card signed. He came in to the game in the seventh inning, with his team down 7-5 and runners on first and third with nobody out. Riley got two ground outs before surrendering a game-tying single to Daryle Ward. He struck out Carl Everett to end the inning, and he was done for the evening. The Revolution came back to win the game 8-7 in the ninth inning.

What surprised me was that Riley stayed in the dugout until the end of the game - pitchers generally head for the locker room once they come out of the game, and they rarely return to the field. It surprised me more that he was willing to stop and sign my card after the game. I wouldn't want to decipher his autograph, but his handwriting doesn't seem bad for a left-hander.

Riley was placed on the inactive list at the end of July. It's possible that his baseball career is coming to an end.

1994 Signature Rookes Draft Picks Doug Million

Who is this? former minor league pitcher Doug Million


What is this? An autographed card from the 1994 Signature Rookies Draft Picks set

Where'd I get it? The dollar box of a dealer at the local card show

How much did it cost? $1


Why is this so special? I had never heard of Doug Million before I saw this card, but I had to get it because of his name. The Colorado Rockies made Million the 7th overall selection in the 1994 draft. According to Wikipedia, he won the Gatorade High School Baseball Player of the Year Award in 1994.

Million played in the minor leagues for four seasons, advancing as far as AA New Haven. In 1997, he died after suffering an asthma attack. Now I'm depressed - nobody should die that young.

2010 Topps National Chicle Drew Stubbs

Who is this? Cincinnati Reds outfielder Drew Stubbs

What is this? An autographed card insert card from the 2010 Topps National Chicle set

Where'd I get it? At the local card show

How much did it cost? $5.

Why is this so special? Drew Stubbs was the 8th overall selection in the 2006 draft. He advanced quickly through the minor leagues, earning various All-Star honors along the way. Last year, he made his major league debut and hit game-winning homer in only his second big league game.

This season, Stubbs has gotten the majority of the playing time in center field for the Cincinnati Reds. Offensively, his year has been feast or famine - he's hitting .235 with 14 home runs and 53 RBI and 113 strikeouts in 357 at-bats.

On July 5, I went to CitiField to see the Reds play the Mets. I'd been doing some odds and ends in the city before heading over to the ballpark, and I got there a bit early. I spotted a couple of late-arriving ballplayers getting stopped for autographs outside the park, and it turned out to be Stubbs and Paul Janish. I didn't bring anything to get signed, and I didn't really recognize either player until I asked one of the collectors who they had gotten.

(Though I suppose I should have been able to pick out Stubbs, since he'd been on the sports highlights for hitting three homers in a game against the Cubs on July 4.) Still, I thought it was cool that they'd stop to sign autographs when they were probably fairly close to being late for batting practice.

Stubbs' signature is surprisingly neat, considering how many he probably had to sign for Topps.

2007 Upper Deck First Edition Travis Chick

Who is this? former Seattle Mariners pitcher Travis Chick

What is this? An autographed card from the 2007 Upper Deck First Edition set


Where'd I get it? Chick signed it for met at a game between the Camden Riversharks and Newark Bears earlier this year.


How much did it cost? I'm not sure; I have no idea where I got the card.

Why is this so special? Travis Chick was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 14th round of the 2002 draft. He was traded three times before he reached the majors - once for Joe Randa and later for Eddy Guardado.

Chick appeared in three games for the 2006 Seattle Mariners as a September call-up, but I doubt they have many fond memories of him out there. Chick allowed seven runs on seven hits and 10 walks in just five innings.

Since then, Chick has played in the minors for three different organizations. He found his way into independent league baseball in 2010, when he was the Camden Riversharks' opening day starter. On April 22, he pitched five innings and allowed three runs on four hits and three walks in five innings. He surrendered Paddy Matera's first (and, to date, only) professional home run in his final inning of work that night.

Chick has a 5-4 record with a 4.40 ERA in 14 games with Camden. He was placed on the inactive list last month.

Chick does not have a pretty autograph, but you can read it.

2010 Bowman Eric Niesen

Who is this? Binghamton Mets pitcher Eric Niesen

What is this? An autographed card from the 2008 St. Lucie Mets team set

Where'd I get it? Niesen signed it for me after a game in Trenton earlier this year.

How much did it cost? A quarter

Why is this so special? Niesen, yet another Mets farmhand, was a third round draft selection in 2007. Although he's never put up eye-popping stats, Niesen has progressed steadily through the farm system. Until this year, he's worked exclusively as a starting pitcher.


Fortunately for us all, this is the final Eric Niesen autograph I have to post. Unfortunately, it's the ugliest of the three because the signature bubbled a bit.

2008 St. Lucie Mets Eric Niesen

Who is this? Binghamton Mets pitcher Eric Niesen

What is this? An autographed card from the 2008 St. Lucie Mets team set

Where'd I get it? Niesen signed it for me after a game in Trenton earlier this year.

How much did it cost? The team set cost around $10

Why is this so special? Niesen, yet another Mets farmhand, was a third round draft selection in 2007. Although he's never put up eye-popping stats, Niesen has progressed steadily through the farm system. Until this year, he's worked exclusively as a starting pitcher.

Niesen's signature is very odd, but slightly more legible than the one on the card I posted Friday. I can make out the "E" clearly.

2009 Portland Beavers Will Venable

Who is this? San Diego Padres outfielder Will Venable

What is this? An autographed card from the 2009 Portland Beavers team set

Where'd I get it? My friend Bart went to a Portland Beavers game last year during his vacation. He gave me some cards, including this one.

Why is this so special? Venable, son of former major league outfielder Max Venable, was a seventh round draft pick of the San Diego Padres in 2005. He advanced through the minor league system. In 2007, he hit for the cycle as a member of the AA San Antonio Missions.

Venable made his major league debut in 2008. This year, in a part-time role, he is batting .233 with 10 home runs and 39 RBIs through 84 games.

The signature on this card is very light, but it's fairly recognizable. Venable has taken liberties with his autograph to allow him to sign more quickly.

2008 TriStar Projections Eric Niesen

Who is this? Binghamton Mets pitcher Eric Niesen

What is this? An autographed card from the 2008 TriStar Projections set


Where'd I get it? Niesen signed it for me after a game in Trenton earlier this year.

How much did it cost? About a quarter.


Why is this so special? Niesen, yet another Mets farmhand, was a third round draft selection in 2007. Although he's never put up eye-popping stats, Niesen has progressed steadily through the farm system. Until this year, he's worked exclusively as a starting pitcher.

I'd guess his best shot of reaching the majors is as a situational lefty, though I have no idea if he's actually effective against left-handed batters. (Then again, that's never mattered much to Jerry Manuel)

Niesen's signature is very angular ... and almost illegible.

2010 Topps Pro Debut Reese Havens

Who is this? Binghamton Mets second baseman Reese Havens

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


Where'd I get it? Havens signed it for be before a game in Trenton earlier this year.

How much did it cost? $1.

Why is this so special? Havens is a highly-regarded prospect in the Mets farm system who has missed most of this season due to injury. The former first round draft pick spent last season in St. Lucie, where he hit  .247 with 14 home runs and 52 RBI in 97 games.

I'm not sure which signature is sloppier - this one, or the one on the card I posted earlier this week.

2010 Bowman Scott Shaw

Who is this? Binghamton Mets pitcher Scott Shaw


What is this? An autographed card from the 2010 Bowman set

Where'd I get it? Shaw signed it for me after a game in Trenton earlier this year.

How much did it cost? Fifty cents?  


Why is this so special? Scott Shaw was the Mets 13th round selection in the 2008 draft. He had a good season for Brooklyn that year, but his stats haven't really stood out since then. He has advanced through the system and is currently on the Binghamton Mets roster.

He has a fairly artistic autograph, which is a pretty good match for the facsimile signature on his card.

2008 St. Lucie Mets Emary Frederick

Who is this? Rockford Riverhawks pitcher Emary Frederick

What is this? An autographed card from the 2008 St. Lucie Mets team set


Where'd I get it? Frederick signed it for me before a game in Trenton when he was playing for the Binghamton Mets earlier this year.

How much did it cost? I spent around $10 for the team set.

Why is this so special? Frederick appears to have been an undrafted free agent when he joined the Mets organization in 2007 at the age of 23. Aside from an impressive K/BB ratio in 2008, nothing really jumps out in his stat line. So I guess it shouldn't be a huge shock that Frederick got caught up in a numbers situation and was released last month, but I didn't realize it had happened until I went looking up his stats for this post.

Frederick is now playing independent ball in the Northern League. I find it interesting that he credits his former Binghamton Mets' teammate Derrick Ellison for steering him towards the Northern League. Ellison also played in the Atlantic League, but I can certainly think of a few reasons that a pitcher might not want to steer a teammate there.

Frederick has an interesting signature, but the letter "E" is the only part that I find easy to make out.

2008 TriStar Prospects Plus Reese Havens

Who is this? Binghamton Mets second baseman Reese Havens

What is this? An autographed card from the 2008 TriStar Prospects Plus set

Where'd I get it? Havens signed it for me before a game in Trenton earlier this year.


How much did it cost? I got it out of a clearance blaster.

Why is this so special? Havens, a first round draft pick of the New York Mets in 2008, could eventually take over as the team's second baseman if he can figure out how to stay on the field and develop his skills.

Havens has only appeared in 32 games in 2010, playing at both St. Lucie and Binghamton. In limited playing time, he's hitting .312 with 9 home runs and 19 RBI.

Havens was born between games two and three of the 1986 World Series. I'm feeling a bit old now. I'm not sure that I can decipher any of the letters in his autograph, but I appreciate him being kind enough to sign.

2008 St. Lucie Mets Tim Teufel

Who is this? Binghamton Mets manager Tim Teufel

What is this? An autographed card from the 2008 St. Lucie Mets team set

Where'd I get it? Teufel signed it for me after a game in Trenton earlier this year.

How much did it cost? The set was around $10.

Why is this so special? Teufel was a member of the 1986 World Champion and 1988 NL East Champion New York Mets teams. I was really looking forward to meeting him when I heard that he'd be managing the Binghamton Mets team this year.

The first time they came to Trenton, he missed most of the series to attend a graduation. On their second trip, the game I had a ticket for was John Maine's rehab start, so there were tons of extra people around before the game and I couldn't get anywhere near him to ask for an autograph. Then during the game, we got hit with a rainstorm... it didn't seem like it was meant to be. Just as the game was ending, the sun poke through the clouds and the rain let up completely by the time I was out of the ballpark. So I decided to hang around after the game. Teufel was the last one of of the ballpark, but he signed autographs for all of the dozen or so fans who waited for him. He may not have the prettiest autograph, but I definitely appreciated it.