Who is this? Ariel Prieto, a former Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitcher
What is this? An autograph card from the 1996 Leaf Signature Series
Where'd I get it? I bought it at a baseball card show last weekend
How much did it cost? $1
Why is this so special? Ariel Prieto earned his fame with the Cuban National Team. He was widely expected to be the first overall pick in the 1995 amateur draft, but he lasted until the Oakland Athletics took him with the number five pick. He made his Major League debut later that year.
In six seasons, Prieto compiled a 15-24 record with a 4.85 lifetime ERA. This season, he was a coach for the A's Arizona League team.
The card comes from the 1996 Leaf Signature Series, the first major release to guarantee an autograph in every pack.
Prieto has a neat, careful signature, but I think I'd have a hard time deciphering his handwriting.
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