2001 UD Tour Time Sergio Garcia

Who is this? PGA and European Tour Golfer Sergio Garcia.
What is this? An autograph card from 2001 Upper Deck Tour Time.
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed at the 2006 Deutsche Bank Championship in Norton, MA.
How much did it cost? About 25 cents.

Why is this so special? A member of the PGA Tour since 1999, it is hard to believe that Sergio is still only 31 years-old. (He turns 32 on Monday 1/9/2012) Since turning pro, Garcia has earned over $28 million and won seven PGA Tour events, including the 2001 and 2004 Buick Classics, and the 2008 Players Championship. During that time he has also been one of the most dominant players on the European Tour.

Garcia was a phenom as a teen, becoming the youngest golfer to ever participate in the Ryder Cup as a 19 year-old in 1999. His early success and advanced skills made many think that he would be the biggest threat to Tiger Woods' dominance on tour, but he has often fallen short of expecations.

For a short time in 2011, Garcia actually walked away from golf. Fortunately, after some time away from the links, Garcia returned and has begun to remind fans why he was considered one of the best golfers in the world.

Sergio was nice enough to sign this card for me during a practice round at the Deutsche Bank Championship. He had just completed some practice on the putting green and was headed to the First Hole to tee-off and I was the only fan there at the time.

2001 Upper Deck Golf Stewart Cink

Who is this? PGA Tour Golfer Stewart Cink.
What is this? An autograph card from 2001 Upper Deck Golf.
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed by Stewart Cink after the second round at the Deutsche Bank Championship in 2007, when he did not make the cut.
How much did it cost? I paid about 10 cents for it at a local card shop along with a dozen or so other golf cards before the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Why is this so special? The Deutsche Bank Championship is played at the Tournament Players Club of Boston in Norton, MA near where I grew up and even closer to where I now live. I used to go to a practice round and one official round of the Deutsche Bank Championship with my Uncle and cousin over Labor Day weekend. Stewart Cink's autograph is special because, despite not making the cut at the 2007 Deutsche Bank, he won the 2009 British Open Championship and has won over $30 million in career PGA tour earnings. I like the way that the 2001 Upper Deck Golf cards look and the autograph fits nicely on the card.

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.

2001 Fleer Futures Fernando Seguignol

Who is this? Orix Buffaloes first baseman Fernando Seguignol
 
What is this? An autographed card from the 2001 Fleer Futures set... I'm not sure if this was an insert, subset or part of a regular set.
 
Where'd I get it? Seguignol signed it for me before a Newark Bears game earlier this year.
 
How much did it cost? Around a quarter?
 
Why is this so special? Fernando Seguignol began his professional career with the New York Yankees organization in 1993, when I was still a junior in high school. He was later traded to the Montreal Expos for John Wetteland.

Seguignol made his major league debut in 1998, at the age of 23. In parts of four seasons with the Expos, he batted .251 with 17 home runs and 40 RBI in 173 games. Seguignol went to Japan in 2002 and played for the Orix Blue Wave.

In 2003, he returned to the States and signed with the Yankees again. This time, he actually got to play in the Bronx - he appeared in five games as a September callup. But in 2004, he went back to Japan to play for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.

There, he became a star, hitting .306 with 44 home runs and 108 RBI and winning the Best Nine Award at designated hitter. Seguignol stayed with the Fighters until 2008, and he still holds NPB switch-hitting records.

Earlier this season, Seguignol played for the Newark Bears before getting signed by the Buffaloes.

Seguignol's autograph is artistic, but it's not very legible. It's not very noticeable in the scan, but there is a glittery effect in the silver border of the card - I can't remember ever seeing that in another set.

2001 Bowman Heritage Antonio Alfonseca

Who is this? Bridgeport Bluefish pitcher Antonio Alfonseca
 
What is this? An autographed card from the 2001 Bowman Heritage set
 
Where'd I get it? I got it signed before a game between the Bridgeport Bluefish and Newark Bears earlier this year.
 
How much did it cost? I probably spent about 50 cents for the card.

Why is this so special? Antonio Alfonseca spent 11 seasons in the major leagues. He won a World Series ring with the 1997 Florida Marlins, and he led the National League in saves in 2000. He also pitched in the post-season for the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.

Alfonseca may be best known for having six fingers on each hand. He's also quite a character; if he's not getting ready to come into the game, you're quite likely to see him dancing around in the dugout to the music being played in between innings.

Alfonseca may not have the prettiest handwriting, but he takes care signing his name.

2001 Bowman Heritage John-Ford Griffin

Who is this? Newark Bears outfielder John-Ford Griffin
 
What is this? An autographed card from the 2001 Bowman Heritage set
 
Where'd I get it? I got it signed before a Newark Bears game earlier this year.
 
How much did it cost? Not sure - I probably spent about 50 cents for the card.
 
Why is this so special? John-Ford Griffin was the first round draft pick of the New York Yankees in 2001. The next year, he was included in a complicated three-team deal that sent Jeremy Bonderman to Detroit and brought Jeff Weaver to the Yankees. Griffin spent less that a year in Oakland's system before being traded to Toronto for Jason Perry.

Griffin finally reached the majors for a cup of coffee in 2005, and got another brief shot in 2007. Since then, he's played in the minors for the Dodgers and the Cubs. This year, he's a Newark Bear. In 44 games, he's hit .260 with 4 home runs and 20 RBI.

Griffin's signature is a bit of a muddle, but if you try I think you can at least pick out his initials.

2001 Upper Deck Victory Toshihisa Nishi

Who is this? Lancaster Barnstormers second baseman Toshihisa Nishi
 
What is this? An autographed card from the 2001 Upper Deck Victory set

Where'd I get it? I got it signed before a doubleheader between the Lancaster Barnstormers and Newark Bears last month
 
How much did it cost? The card cost $2.50.

Why is this so special? I wrote about Toshihisa Nishi last week, when I posted the other card he signed for me. In 12 games for Lancaster this season, Nishi is hitting .163 (7-for-43) with a double, a home run and 10 strikeouts. I guess he probably won't be getting signed by an affiliated team anytime soon, which is a little bit sad.

You can't really tell from the scans, but the Japanese Upper Deck Victory cards are a bit unusual. They're just a tiny bit smaller than a standard baseball card and they have rounded corners.

I really can't read Nishi's signature, but I think he did a better job of rendering his name in the Roman alphabet than I could do writing mine in Katakana. I just wish he'd left his uniform number off, or written number 8 like he is clearly wearing on the card.

2001 Upper Deck Legends of New York Carl Erskine

Who is this? Carl Erskine, a former pitcher for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers

What is this? An autographed card from the 2001 Upper Deck Legends of New York set, #2

Where'd I get it? I wrote to Carl Erskine earlier this month and asked him to sign it; I got it back yesterday.

How much did it cost? The card was free. (I got it from the same dealer who sold me all of the Leaf Signature Series cards I've been posting this month.) Postage was 88 cents.

Why is this so special? Carl Erskine was a major league pitcher for 12 seasons. He had a lifetime 122-78 record with a 4.00 ERA. He threw two no-hitters and appeared in 11 World Series games. For a time, he held the record for strikeouts in a World Series game with his 14 strikeout performance in game 3 of the 1953 World Series.

Erskine authored two books about his playing days: "What I Learned From Jackie Robinson: A Teammate's Reflections On and Off the Field" and "Carl Erskine's Tales from the Dodgers Dugout: Extra Innings"

I'm not sure how much fanmail Erskine still receives (SportsCollectors.Net has logged 26 autograph requests in the past two months), but I'm amazed that he seems to take the time to carefully sign everything that people send to him. I'm happy to have an autograph from one of the great names of New York National League baseball.

2001 Topps Rafael Furcal

Who is this? DODGERS shortstop Rafael Furcal.

What is this? An autograph card from 2001 Topps, card number GAA-RF.

Where'd I get it? Probably an auction.

How much did it cost? Too much.

Why is this not so special? RAFAEL FURCAL IS A FINK.

Take yer stupid hurt back and yer stupid agents and your stupid DUIs and go back to LA ya bum! Kelly Johnson's a better second baseman anyway! Yunel Escobar's a WAY better shortstop! You better hope you're back on the DL on July 31st when you come back to Turner Field or you'll hear a chorus of drunk rednecks booing lustily! BOOOOOOOOOO! You're dead to me Fookie! No, wait. I have sympathy for the dead. I have respect. I HAVE NONE OF THAT FOR YOU. you, you, turncoat... backstabber... dasher of hopes and dreams... you.... you...

YOU ARE J.D. DREW TO ME.

Whew! I feel better now.

2001 SP Authentic Chirography Gold Pat Burrell 1/5

Who is this? Pat Burrell, free agent LF, formerly of the Philadelphia Phillies

What is this? An autograph card from 2001 SP Authentic, card number G-PB

Where'd I get it? eBay

How much did it cost? Considering I bought it in 2001-2002, a lot more than it's worth now.

Why is this so special? In my previous posts, I have displayed some of the autographs that I have personally pulled. But this card is the centerpiece of my entire collection. It's not the card that really hooked me into collecting. No, that's the 1994 Lenny Dykstra Topps card. This card is one of 34 Pat Burrell autographs and 732 Pat Burrell cards I own. Until recently, this was the lowest numbered Burrell card I owned.

As long as I can remember, I've been a Phillies team collector. I've always had a favorite player or two on the team who earned my collecting focus. First Lenny Dykstra and Darren Daulton, then Rico Brogna (OK, the late 1990s Phillies stunk), and from 2000-2008, Pat Burrell. Today marked the end of Pat Burrell the Phillie. For the next three years Raul Ibanez will man left field for the Phillies. Nevermind that he's another left-handed bat behind Chase Utley and Ryan Howard or that he's roughly four years older than Burrell. I can't even consider those rational thoughts right now. Pat Burrell's gone!

Burrell's rise to the majors came in 2000, immediately replacing Brogna at first base and as my favorite player after Brogna suffered a broken arm. He broke out in 2002, hitting 37 home runs and 116 RBIs. The 37 home runs were the most by a Phillie since Schmidt hit 37 in 1986. He seemed like the second coming of Michael Jack Schmidt at the time. After that year Burrell was rewarded with a six year contract. In 2003 he hit .209 with 21 HRs and quickly became the subject of Philadelphia's famous ire. Burrell never quite lived up to the promise of that 2002 season, but he settled into a fairly steady and consistent pace year in and year out. He balanced dreadful slumps with torrid hitting streaks to reach the same numbers every year. I think the arrival of Jim Thome and then Ryan Howard took the pressure off Burrell and he became, once again, quite the fan favorite.

From those majestic home runs off Mets closers (especially "The Rat" Billy Wagner) to the lead-off double in the 7th inning of Game 5 that, by a cruel twist of fate, was hit to the deepest part of Citizen's Bank Park to leading the parade down Broad Street, thanks for the memories Pat.

This auto is a pretty standard Burrell issue PBll. It's recognizable, at least to me, and unique. I enjoy the slightly darker background on the gold version as opposed to the stark white of the base autograph. I love the picture. It's an admiration of a job well done on another ball smoked into the left field seats. The only thing I dislike about this card is that he is wearing number 33, which he wore in 2000. Ron Gant departed Philly after the 2000 season and Burrell took his number 5 and his spot in left field.

I look forward to collecting Burrell cards in a new uniform, as long as that uniform is not orange and blue. The move to a new team could mean more cards for Burrell. He's been pretty much the forgotten man in Philly as far as cards go, largely because most smaller sets don't get past the big four of Hamels, Howard, Utley, and Rollins. If he moves to the Reds or Giants (two of the teams he's been linked to), he would possibly make it into some of those smaller sets. As for me, I think I'm going to move onto one or two of the Phillies best prospects, like Lou Marson and Michael Taylor.

corey koskie has a message

Who is this? former twins third baseman corey koskie

What is this? A 2001 topps base card signed by koskie

Where'd I get it? this was a through the mail success (took about a year, though)

How much did it cost? i think i got the card in a hobby pack, so i'm going to say about $0.20 plus a couple of stamps

Why is this so special? my son was born in 2000. i took him to his first game on july 1, 2001 - tigers vs. twins at the metrodome. we got there a little late (hey, i'm from southern california), and the twins were already at bat in the bottom of the first. the first batter we saw was corey koskie, who promptly hit a home run.

i have to admit that, even prior to the game, i felt a certain kinship to koskie, a manitoban, as my parents are both canadian. afterwards, i thought it would be nice to have a koskie memento from the game, and so i mailed a couple of cards to him at the metrodome. about a year later, he returned both cards. they were both signed, with an extra notation - matt 11:28-30.

the autograph itself is not so nice, in fact, the scripture notation is clearer on both cards. this is due, in part, to the cards i chose - there is a darkness to the background that makes the pen difficult to see.

corey had his best season that year, going 20/20 with over 100 rbi. after a few more years with the twins, he went on to play for the blue jays and the brewers before suffering a concussion in 2006 on a freak play. he hasn't played since, which is too bad. the last time i saw him was at twinsfest last year - not as a former player signing autographs, but as a father with his kids enjoying the activities on the field of the metrodome.

i have to admit, i still haven't looked up the scripture. sorry corey.

Bowman Russ Jacobson

Who is this? Phillies catcher Russ Jacobson.

What is this? An autograph card from 2001 Bowman, card number BA-RJ.

Where'd I get it? I think it was out of a pack.

How much did it cost? Three bucks maybe?

Why is this so special? Not much to say about this one... Russ was a third round pick out of Miami, but never really went anywhere. The last I can find of Russ in baseball is a couple of games in Triple-A back in 2004. Catchers are hard to draft. If a catcher is all field, no hit, they might stick as a backup if their defense is spectacular. If they don't have the skills behind the plate, they have to move him somewhere else where the defense won't kill the team. Even if the kid has it all together and can field his position, hit lights out and call a good game, one collision at the plate can derail a career. I'm not sure why Russ didn't make it, or why he was out of baseball in 2005. He doesn't look like he's having a whole lot of fun on this card though. Frustration is evident in the signature too, it starts off with a strong Russ then trails off in a squiggle. It shows how hard things are for these draft picks, 1500 players are selected in the draft every year, looking to earn a spot on their team's 40-man roster. Once they finally reach the point where they are valuable enough to the franchise to protect on the roster, then they have to fight to get on the active roster. Just making the team for a cup of coffee is the result of lots of work developing their skills, attracting the attention of management, getting in the position to be called up and continuing to produce in the minors until there's an injury or need on the major league roster. It's insanely tough to make the show and many times it just doesn't happen for a player no matter how good they look on draft day.

2001 Topps Fusion Rocco Baldelli

Who is this? Devil Rays outfielder Rocco Baldelli.

What is this? An autograph card from 2001 Topps Fusion, card number FA31.

Where'd I get it? Out of a pack I got from Target.

How much did it cost? 3 or 4 bucks, I don't remember how much those packs cost.

Why is this so special? Topps Fusion was a gimmicky product from 2001 that had cards from 4 or 5 different brands in the same pack. I think it was Topps Gold, Gallery, Stadium Club and something else. The cards weren't from the regular sets, this was a completely new set with cards that were kind of based on each set from that year. It was a stupid idea and was quickly forgotten. I still bought a few packs though and out of one of them was this autograph card. I didn't know who the hell Rocco was but it was a nice looking card of a prospect who had an easily recognizable name. I was happy when Rocco turned out to be a legit prospect and disappointed when he turned out to be made of glass. In the 06-07 baseball offseason, the Braves blog on AJC.com was buzzing all winter with rumors that Rocco would get traded to the Braves. It was some crazy package of Chuck James, Yunel Escobar, Jarrod Saltalamaccia and some one else if I remember correctly. Never happened, obviously. Thank God. If Rocco can stay healthy, he could do some real damage for the Rays. In the meantime at least I have a nice autograph on an obscure but good looking card.

2001 Bowman Pedro Liriano

Who is this? Mariners second baseman Pedro Liriano.

What is this? An autograph card from 2001 Bowman, card BA-PL.

Where'd I get it? Out of a pack.

How much did it cost? Three bucks.

Why is this so special? Out of all the Bowman packs I bought in 2001, I didn't get a single Albert Pujols, but I did get this card. It was difficult to find information on this guy, there was a relief pitcher with the same name who pitched for Milwaukee and Philadelphia that kept interfering with my Google searches. The blurb on the back that Pedro hit .400 in the Arizona Fall League eventually helped me to track him down. After a great year for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2001, He didn't play at all in '02 and only played 43 more games in the minors. I don't know if he got injured or played in an independent league or what, he just sort of fell of the face of the earth. It's a shame too, he's got a really unique signature. The P is especially ornate for a baseball player's autograph, although I'm not sure what the PC- means at the end of the sig.

2001 Royal Rookies Ron Paulino

Who is this? Pirates catcher Ronny Paulino.

What is this? An autograph card from 2001 Royal Rookies, card #24. The card is serial numbered 3025/5950

Where'd I get it? In a large lot off autographs I won in an auction.

How much did it cost? Less than a buck.

Why is this so special? When I first got this card, Ron Paulino was nowhere on the prospect radar as far as I could tell. I filed it away as just another prospect auto that wouldn't pan out. Ron is now the Pirates' starting catcher. It just goes to show you have to be patient with these prospect autos. I can see why prospecting is so popular, it's a nice feeling when you look through your stuff and find a card like this of a minor leaguer who really made it. Ronny turns 27 this year and has the Pirates' catching job all to himself so he's definitely on my Fantasy league sleeper list for 2008. The signature on this card is simply spectacular. Ronny signed it so neatly right up the side of the border. I've never seen anyone else sign quite like that and I just love it.

2001 Royal Rookies Jake Peavy

Who is this? Padres pitcher Jake Peavy.

What is this? An autograph card from 2001 Royal Rookies High Yield, card HY-05. The card is serial numbered 123/3995.

Where'd I get it? In a large autograph lot bought in an auction a few years back.

How much did it cost? The price for the lot was under a dollar a card.

Why is this so special? This is one of the cards that inspired this blog. Jake won the Cy Young award last year and I was surprised to find I had one of his autograph cards. I got this in a Yahoo auction lot a few years ago, in 2002 or 2003 probably. Somebody was blowing out a lot of autographs cheap and I picked up a lot of over 75 for about 50 bucks. There was a lot of junk in there, but also some gems like this. Sometimes you just get lucky. The card isn't that great looking and it's really hard to see the autograph on top of the dark shirt. It's an auto of a Cy Young winner though and it's serial numbered to boot so I didn't do too badly at all.