2009 TriSTAR Prospects Plus Seth Schwindenhammer

Who is this? Red Sox Minor League Outfielder Seth Schwindenhammer
What is this? An autograph card from 2009 TriSTAR Prospects Plus
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed by Seth at the 2011 New York-Penn League All-State Game in Lowell, MA in August.
How much did it cost? I got it when I bought a set of 2009 TriSTAR Prospects Plus.

Why is this so special? If he ever reaches the Major Leagues, Seth Schwindenhammer (15 letters) will break Jarrod Saltalamacchia's (14 letters) record for the longest last-name in the history of Major League Baseball. Fortunately for Salty, that record seems safe for at least a few years.

Seth Schwindenhammer was drafted in the Fifth-round of the 2009 MLB Draft out of Limestone Community High School (IL) and given a $140,000 signing bonus. Since then, he has spent his first three professional seasons playing in the rookie Gulf Coast and New York-Penn Leagues.

Seth's best season came in 2011, when he hit .213 with 9 homeruns for the Lowell Spinners, the Red Sox Short-Season affiliate. For that, he earned a spot on the New York-Penn League's American League All-Star team.

And while his statistics may not stand out, his last name has made quite a "name" for itself. In fact, Seth Schwindenhammer was a candidate in Milb.com's 2010 and 2011 Minors Moniker Maddness, a competition that allowed fans to choose their favorite player name in Minor League Baseball.

1988 Topps Rich Gedman

Who is this? Former Boston Red Sox Catcher Rich Gedman.
What is this? An autograph card from 1988 Topps.
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed by Rich at the 2011 New York-Penn League All-Star game where Rich was the American League Batting Coach.
How much did it cost? I found this card and two other Gedman's in a shoebox a few minutes before I left to go to the All-Star game. I assume that I basically paid nothing for the cards.

Why is this so special? Rich Gedman played for the Boston Red Sox from 1980 until 1990 before ending his career with the Houston Astros (1990-1991) and St. Louis Cardinals (1991-1992).

A two-time American League All-Star (1985, 1986), Gedman caught two of the most historic games in the history of the Boston Red Sox organization. First, Gedman caught the first nine-innings of the Longest Game in the History Professional Baseball, the 33 inning battle between the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings that began April 18, continued into April 19, and was completed on June 23, 1981 at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, RI. Other participants in the Longest Game included Cal Ripken, Jr. and Wade Boggs.

In addition, Gedman was the Red Sox Catcher in Game Six of the 1986 World Series, where a "Wild Pitch" by Bob Stanley (that many considered an error by Gedman) and a ball hit through Bill Buckner's legs were the difference that allowed the Mets to win the game and go on to win the World Series.

Gedman's career included an additional bizarre twist in 1987, when he, along with ten other free agents (including Tim Raines and Andre Dawson), failed to reach an agreement with their teams by a January 8th deadline and were thus not allowed to re-sign until May 1.

After retiring from baseball at the age of 34, Gedman has spent some time coaching and managing. Gedman made his return to organized baseball in 2011 when he took over as the Lowell (MA) Spinners (Red Sox Short Season NYPL A-Ball Affiliate) batting coach.

Gedman was very nice about signing the three cards that I had and his signature looks very nice.

2009 UD SP Authentic Josh Reddick

Who is this? Oakland Athletics' Outfielder Josh Reddick.
What is this? An autograph card from 2009 UD SP Authentic
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed by Josh Reddick after a Pawtucket Red Sox game in 2010.
How much did it cost? A dollar or two.

Why is this so special? Josh Reddick, drafted by Boston in the Seventeenth-Round of the 2006 MLB Draft out of Middle Georgia College, was one of the Red Sox Top Prospects since 2008 before making his Major League debut in 2009. Since then, he has split his time between Boston and Triple-A Pawtucket, filling-in for an oft-injured Boston squad of JD Drew, Mike Cameron, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Carl Crawford.

Yesterday, Josh Reddick was one of the key pieces in the trade that sent closer Andrew Bailey to Boston from Oakland. Now an Athletic, Josh looks well-positioned to win a starting job in Oakland and reach his Major League potential.

During his time with Pawtucket, Josh was a good signer, especially in 2010. A "Good Ol' Boy" from Georgia, he used to sometimes vacuum his muscle car with a dust-buster while smoking a cigarette before games. I wish him all the best in Oakland and hope that he has a long and successful career.

Here are eight more cards that Josh signed for me during his time in Pawtucket.

2009 TriSTAR Obak Junichi Tazawa

Who is this? Boston Red Sox Pitcher Junichi Tazawa.
What is this? An autograph card from 2009 TriSTAR Obak.
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed by Junichi Tazawa at the 2010 Pawtucket Red Sox Hot Stove Party.
How much did it cost? I paid about a dollar for the card in 2009.

Why is this so special? Junichi Tazawa was a bit of a sensation in the Red Sox Minor League system in 2009. Before coming to America, Tazawa had only played in Japanese Industrial League, pitching for Nippon Oil, and made unprecedented request, at the age of 23, that he not be drafted in Japan, but instead become an international free agent. According to multiple sources, Tazawa turned down bigger contracts to have the opportunity to play for the Boston Red Sox.

Debuting with Double-A Portland, Tazawa exceeded all expectations, winning 9 of his 18 starts, striking out 88 batters to only 26 walks, and posting a 2.57 ERA. Those numbers were so impressive that he earned a spot on both the 2009 Eastern League All-Star Team and the 2009 Futures Game World Team. In fact, Tazawa was scheduled to start the Futures game, but ended-up being scratched after a rain-delay. Soon after, Tazawa earned a promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket and then made his Major League Debut with Boston on August 7, 2009.

Unfortunately, Tazawa was forced to miss all of 2010 and the start of the 2011 season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery. Luckily, after struggling to recover his form early in 2011, Tazawa climbed the organizational ladder again, rising from High-A Salem, to Double-A Portland, to Triple-A Pawtucket, and back to Boston, appearing in three big-league games late in the season.

Junichi has been a good signer since coming to the United States and is unique in his willingness to sign both his Japanese and American signatures. I really like that I have his 2009 TriSTAR Obak card signed in both American and Japanese.

2008 UD Goudey Bobby Doerr

Who is this? Red Sox Hall of Fame Second Baseman Bobby Doerr.
What is this? An autograph card from 2008 Upper Deck Goudey.
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed through the mail from Mr. Doerr last week.
How much did it cost? I got this card when I bought a set of 2008 Upper Deck Goudey for cheap last spring.

Why is this so special? How many Hall of Famers sign through the mail for free and return signed cards in less than a week? My guess: just Bobby Doerr.

Bobby Doerr spent his entire career with the Red Sox, playing from 1937 to 1951, although he missed the 1945 season when serving in the Army during World War II. He made his Major League debut when he was only 19 years-old and played on Red Sox teams alongside Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, Dom DiMaggio, Joe Cronin, and Johnny Pesky.

Ted Williams called Doerr, who was a nine-time All-Star, "the silent captain of the Red Sox" and he was regarded as one of the best defensive Second Basemen of his generation. In fact, in 1948, Doerr set an American League record by successfully fielding 414 balls without making an error.

Doerr was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986 and his number 1 was retired by the Boston Red Sox on May 21, 1988.

Below are four more cards that Mr. Doerr has signed for me through the mail over the last two years.

2011 Bowman Topps 100 Ryan Lavarnway

Who is this? Boston Red Sox Catcher/Slugger Ryan Lavarnway.
What is this? An autograph card from 2010 Bowman Topps 100 insert set.
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed by Ryan when he was a member of the Pawtucket Red Sox in July 2011.
How much did it cost? I think I paid 25 cents or so for it at a card show last spring. Oddly, I have seen far fewer of Lavarnway's Topps 100 cards than just about any other card. I am not sure if it is a secret short-print or someone is hoarding them, but I just don't see as many of them as I expect to.

Why is this so special? Ryan Lavarnway might be the best slugger to come out of the Red Sox farm system in a generation. A sixth-round pick out of Yale in 2008, Ryan has quickly risen through the ranks, smashing Minor League pitching at every stop.

Ryan hit 21 homeruns with the Greenville Drive in 2009; 22 homeruns with the Salem Red Sox and Portland SeaDogs in 2010; and 32 homeruns with the Portland SeaDogs and Pawtucket Red Sox in 2011, before making his Major League debut with Boston, where he smashed two more.

But, while his bat has been impressive, the lingering question with Lavarnway has been: where he will play defensively? Originally an outfielder in college, Lavarnway moved behind the plate at Yale to boost his draft stock. And, although his catching skills have improved since joining the organization, many scouts still doubt that he will ever be more than a below-average catcher, defensively.

Ryan's immediate future is likely to be determined by two factors: Will the Red Sox offer up the cash to re-sign David Ortiz this off-season? And how long will Jason Varitek continue to play with the Red Sox? If either of them depart, Ryan could find himself with Boston on Opening Day 2012.

Ryan has a very nice and consistent signature, which shows works well on this card. He is usually a better-than-average signer before and after games, and definately worth trying to get if he returns to Triple-A to begin the 2012 season.

2007 Topps Allen and Ginter's Mini Rich Hill

Who is this? Boston Red Sox pitcher Rich Hill.
What is this? An autograph mini card from 2007 Topps Allen and Ginter's.
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed by Rich earlier this season when he was a member of the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox.
How much did it cost? Not much. I found this card in a nickel or dime box at my local card show in Mansfield, MA.

Why is this so special? Rich Hill is one of the nicest players that I have had the pleasure to meet since I began collecting baseball autographs three years ago. Born in Boston, MA, Hill attended Milton High School before attending the University of Michigan. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the second round of the 2002 draft and made his Major League debut with the Cubs in 2005.

Now 31 years old, Hill has played parts of seven seasons in the Major Leagues with the Cubs, Orioles, and Red Sox. His best seasons came in 2007 as a member of the Cubs when he finished eighth in the NL with 8.446 strikeouts per 9 innings and a WHIP of 1.195. Unfortunately, Hill struggled in 2009, forcing his return to the Minors.

Hill appeared to have turned things around with the Red Sox out of the bullpen in 2010 and 2011, not allowing a single run in 12 innings pitched while striking out 15 batters. However, just as things appeared to be getting better, Hill was found to have an elbow injury that required season-ending Tommy John Surgery early in the 2011season.

Hopefully Hill will recover quickly and be back to the Boston bullpen in 2012.

2007 Allen & Ginter's Black Border Mini Jarrod Saltalamacchia

Who is this? Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
What is this? An autographed black bordered mini card from 2007 Topps Allen & Ginters.
Where'd I get it? Jarrod signed this card for me before a game last year when he was playing for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox.
How much did it cost? I got the card for 15 cents at my local card show last July. I bought it because I love mini cards and I buy every short-printed mini card that I can find for less than 25 cents.

The buy was made even better when the Red Sox acquired Saltalamacchia about a week or so later and he was assigned to the Paw Sox.

Why is this so special? If he only had one at bat in his entire career, Jarrod would still have a special place in baseball history by holding the record for the longest last name in the history of MLB with 14 letters. Fortunately for Salty and the Red Sox, he has really put things together this year and is a major reason why the Red Sox are in first place in the American League East as they go into September.

The card looks great, and autographs always look fantastic on Allen & Ginter's. Jarrod was very friendly and a great signer when he was in Pawtucket last season and I hope that he continues to find success with Boston.

2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars Garin Cecchini

Who is this? Red Sox Third Base Prospect Garin Cecchini.
What is this? An autograph card from 2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars.
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed by Garin before the New York-Penn League Short-Season A-League All-Star Game in Lowell, MA on Tuesday.
How much did it cost? I bought this card for about ten cents a year ago.

Why is this so special? Garin was the Red Sox fourth-round pick in 2010 and he received a $1.31 million signing bonus to lure him away from attending LSU. A former member of the Team USA 18U squad, Cecchini lead the team in doubles and slugging percentage during the Pan Am Junior Championships, besting teammates Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.

Garin made his professional debut this season for the Red Sox Short-Season Affiliate Lowell Spinners. In 32 games, Cecchini batted .298 with 3 HR, 12 2B, 23 RBI, 12 SB, and an .898 OPS, impressive enough to earn a spot on the NYPL American League All-Star Team. Unfortunately, Garin injured his forearm on July 23 and is likely to miss the rest of the season. Nonetheless, even in his limited time, Cecchini demonstrated the above-average tools that made him a Top 10 Prospect for the Red Sox before the 2011 season and he should begin next season with the Low-A Greenville Drive.

Garin signed a total of six cards for me. Knowing that he is religious and that he used religious themes for his 2009 Upper Deck Team USA Inscriptions cards, I asked him to include a bible verse on some of the cards. He signed my 2011 Bowman card with Psalm 83:18 (That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.), telling me that he has that verse on his glove.

I had heard rumors that Garin was a tough sign, but he was very friendly and talkative with fans.

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter Justin Masterson

Who is this? Cleveland Indians starting Pitcher Justin Masterson.
What is this? An autograph card from 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter.
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed through the mail by Justin in August of 2009, right after he was traded from the Red Sox to the Indians.
How much did it cost? I paid 50 cents for the card, plus postage.

Why is this so special? This is the first card that I ever got signed through the mail and kicked-off my Justin Masterson super-collection. Justin is/was (I havn't sent him anything since Sping Training and he has had a monster year in 2011) a great signer through the mail and seems like a very decent and down-to-earth king of person.

The A&G cards look fantastic signed and this autograph helped start my hobby of getting cards signed through the mail.

2010 Topps Pro Debut Miles Head

Who is this? Red Sox minor league First Baseman Miles Head.
What is this? An autograph card from 2010 Topps Pro Debut.
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed by Miles before the 2010 Futures at Fenway Game between the New York-Penn League Lowell Spinners (Boston) and the Jamestown Jammers (Florida).
How much did it cost? About 25 cents.

Why is this so special? If Miles never made it to the pros, he would still be noteworthy for being one of the best Little League baseball players of his generation. In fact, as a 12 year-old, Miles hit 75 homeruns and later won the Triple Crown at the Continental Amateur Baseball Association World Series as a 14 year-old.

Unfortunately, Miles dominance did not continue in High School and he slipped to the Boston Red Sox in the 26th round of the 2009 draft. After a moderately successful 2010 season, Miles has shattered all expectations in 2011. Playing for the Single-A Greenville Drive and Salem Red Sox, Miles has hit 17 homeruns with a .954 OPS in his first 85 games and was elected to the South Atlantic League All-Star Game.

Now, things are looking up for Miles as he continues to slug his way through the minors. If he keeps up his performance for the rest of the year, it will be difficult for scouts and prospectors to ignore this 20 year-old as he charts his path towards Fenway Park.

2008 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects Chrome Kyle Weiland

Who is this? Boston Red Sox pitcher Kyle Weiland.
What is this? An autograph card from 2008 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects Chrome.
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed by Kyle before a Pawtucket Red Sox game in June.
How much did it cost? I bought the card for 10 cents at a local card show.

Why is this so special? Kyle Weiland made his Major League debut this past Sunday (7/10/2011) against the Baltimore Orioles, but things did not go as planned. In fact, Kyle became the first player to be ejected from his Major League debut since 2008 when he hit Vladimir Guerrero in the fifth inning. Overall, Weiland's debut was a mixed bag. He pitched 3+ scoreless innings, but was tagged for six runs in the second inning.

Hopefully Weiland's debut will just be a minor bump on the road to a long and successful Major League career. Pitching for AAA Pawtucket this year, Kyle has been an International League leader in strikeouts and threw an eight-inning one-hitter against the Rochester Red Wings on June 29th.

Kyle has been a great signer all year. In addition to the 2008 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects Chrome card, Kyle also signed this 2008 TriSTAR Prospects Plus Boston Top Pick Pitchers card. I already had Stephen Fife, a pitcher for Boston's AA Portland Sea Dogs, sign the card and I only need Bryan Price, now in the Indians' organization, to finish-off the card.

2007 Topps Co-Signers Andrew Miller

Who is this? Red Sox pitcher Andrew Miller.
What is this? An autograph rookie card from 2007 Topps Co-Signers, card #100 in the set.
Where'd I get it? I got it before a Pawtucket Red Sox game at McCoy Stadium in May.
How much did it cost? I got it from a 10 cent box at my local card show at the Mansfield Holiday Inn in March.

Why is this so special? Andrew Miller played for the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox from April to mid-June of this season after being acquired from the Florida Marlins in a trade for LHP Dustin Richardson in the offseason. Miller was selected six overall in the 2006 draft by the Detroit Tiger's out of the University of North Carolina, where he won Baseball America's College Player of the Year Award as a Junior and became the first player drafted in 2006 to make it to the Majors when he made his debut on 8/30/2006 against the New York Yankees. Unfortunately, so far in his career, Miller has been unable to find the form that made him such a dominant pitcher in college and has posted mediocre numbers.

To most fans, Miller is best remembered for being traded to the Marlins as part of the Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera deal in December of 2007. However, since being traded to the Red Sox, Miller has had better control of his pitches and has recently been added to the Red Sox rotation and won his first game as a member of the Red Sox today, June 26, 2011.

This autographed card is so special because Andrew Miller is a true Major Leaguer, even when he was in the Minors. While many players with his skills and background avoid fans at Minor League ballparks, Miller was always very kind: signing autographs, taking pictures, and talking to fans. I hope that he remains in Boston and finds the success that has eluded him for too long, and will have his autographed cards as a reminder of what a nice guy he was in Pawtucket.

1988 Star Co. Sam Horn

Who is this? Former Boston Red Sox slugger Sam Horn
What is this? An autographed card from an 11-card set produced by Star. Co. in 1988.
Where'd I get it? Bought from a local card show dealer
How much did it cost? 50 cents (you can get your own full set for $32.95 on eBay if you want; I just have the signed checklist card.)


Why is this so special? Sam Horn was once a highly-regarded prospect. He hit 14 home runs in 158 at-bats for the 1987 Red Sox as a rookie. He never lived up to the expectations fueled by that early success, but he did play in the majors for parts of 8 seasons and went on to play in Taiwan.

Horn currently works for the New England Sports Network as a baseball analyst.

Horn's autograph is clear and easy to read, but the signatures on the Star Co. cards look very different from the other Sam Horn autographs I've seen on the internet.

Signed 8x10 Wade Boggs photo

Who is this? Hall of Famer Wade Boggs
What is this? An autographed 8x10 photo from from a set of five 1988 American League Award Winners  Where'd I get it? Boggs signed it at an autograph show in Secaucus on Saturday
How much did it cost? $65


Why is this so special? What can you say about Wade Boggs that hasn't already been hundreds of times. He was one of the best hitters in baseball history, and one of the top three I ever saw play. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005 with 91.9% of the vote.

Boggs was a 12-time All-Star, a 2-time Gold Glove winner and a 5-time American League batting champion. For three years - 1986 to 1988 - Boggs led baseball in Wins Above Replacement as calculated by Baseball Reference. For his career, ranks 27th among all position players with an 89.0 WAR score.

I found this photo among some odds and ends from my junior high school collecting days last month, so I decided to get it signed even though it put me a bit above my planned budget for the autograph show. Boggs has an ok signature, though it could be a little neater. He was adding the Hall of Fame inscription to everything he signed at the show.

2004 Fleer Greats of the Game: Bobby Doerr

Who is this? Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr
What is this? An autographed card from the 2004 Fleer Greats of the Game set
Where'd I get it? I wrote to Doerr earlier this month and asked him to sign it; I got it back about a week and a half later.
How much did it cost? I got the unsigned card for a dime.

Why is this so special? I believe that Bobby Doerr is the last Hall of Fame player who regularly signs through the mail without requiring a donation or fee. He is currently the oldest living Hall of Fame player.

Doerr was a 9-time All-Star and was a star defensive player at second base. He had over 2000 hits, over 1000 RBI and over 200 home runs in a 14-year career. Doerr ranks 187th in baseball history among position players for career Wins Above Replacement, as calculated by Baseball Reference. Doerr also served in the military in 1945.

For a 92-year-old, Doerr still has nice handwriting. He included his Hall of Fame induction year without being asked.

2003 Playoff Piece of the Game Autographs Casey Fossum

Who is this? former Boston Red Sox prospect Casey Fossum
What is this? An autograph card from the 2003 Playoff Piece of the Game set
Where'd I get it? Purchased from CheckOutMyCards.com
How much did it cost? $3

Why is this so special? I don't have too many cards that have an autograph and a relic - in this case, a scrap of fabric from a game-worn jersey.

Casey Fossum, a New Jersey native, was once a top prospect in the Boston Red Sox system. He made his major league debut in 2001, just his third season of professional baseball. Fossum enjoyed modest success with the Red Sox, but left the team in the winter of 2003 as a key component of the trade that brought Curt Schilling to Boston from Arizona.

After one season with the Diamonbacks, when Fossum lost a career-high 15 games, Arizona traded him to Tampa Bay. He lasted two seasons with the Devil Rays, then it was on to Detroit in 2008. Fossum appeared in three games with the New York Mets in 2009 - I was there for what may turn out to be his final big league appearance.

This season, Fossum pitched for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan, where he finished the season with a 2-5 record and a 5.72 ERA. Fossum was more effective at the minor league level, but he will not be back with the Tigers next year.

Fossum's autograph leaves a lot to be desired, especially since it was signed as part of a paid session.

1997 Leaf Signature Series Mike Stanton

Who is this? Mike Stanton, a former relief pitcher

What is this? An autographed card from the 1997 Leaf Signature Series

Where'd I get it? At the card show last weekend.

How much did it cost? $2. The guy I bought this from had some more Leaf Signature Series cards, but you'll be spared another run of obscure 1990s ballplayers like I had in November. After buying the Johan Santana card I posted Monday, I didn't have a lot of cash left.

Why is this so special? Mike Stanton spent 19 years in the majors, and he appeared in 1,178 games. At various points in his career, he was a setup man, a closer and a lefty specialist. He even started one game for the Yankees in 1999.

Stanton appeared in six World Series and won three rings. He made the All-Star team once, in 2001. Most will remember Stanton as a Yankee or a Brave, since those were the two teams where he enjoyed the most success. He also pitched for the Red Sox, the Rangers, the Mets, the Nationals, the Giants and the Reds.

Stanton's autograph is a little sloppy on this card, but it's pretty cool. You can almost make out all the letters in his name, and he's got a neat way of connecting the "S" and "t" in his last name.

1995 Fleer All Rookies Frank Rodriguez

Who is this? Frank Rodriguez, a former pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds

What is this? An autographed card from the 1995 Fleer All-Rookies set

Where'd I get it? I got the card signed before a Newark Bears game in 2008

How much did it cost? Less than a quarter

Why is this so special? Frank Rodriguez had a great collegiate career, earning the Dick Howser Trophy and leading the Howard Junior College (Big Spring, Texas) to the National Junior College World Series Championship in 1991 .

The Boston Red Sox drafted Rodriguez as a shortstop in 1990, but he didn't sign until the next year. They turned him back into a pitcher in 1992, and he made his major league debut in 1995. The Red Sox traded Rodriguez to Minnesota for Rick Aguilera.

In Minnesota, Rodriguez spent most of his time in the starting rotation. He did not enjoy much success. His career big league record is 29-39, with a 5.33 lifetime ERA.

Rodriguez did not play professional baseball in North America between 2002 and 2007, but he attempted a comeback with the Newark Bears in 2008 at the age of 35. It didn't quite work out, and Rodriguez retired again.

Rodriguez has an interesting abbreviated autograph: F_k R_d_z

In 1995, Fleer produced a nine-card All-Rookies set that could be obtained by mailing in a redemption card found in packs. I bought the complete send-away set for a quarter at a local card show.

I actually saw five of the nine players included in the set in Atlantic League action between 2005 and 2008. Unfortunately, I didn't get the card set until 2008 so I was only able to get two signed.

M1 Edgardo Alfonzo (2006 Bridgeport Bluefish, 2007-08 Long Island Ducks)
M2 Jason Bates
M3 Brian Boehringer (2006-07 Bridgeport Bluefish)
M4 Darren Bragg (2005 Nashua Pride)
M5 Brad Clontz (2005 Somerset Patriots)
M6 Jim Dougherty
M7 Todd Hollandsworth
M8 Rudy Pemberton
M9 Frank Rodriguez (2008 Newark Bears)

1981 Topps Butch Hobson

Who is this? Butch Hobson, a former third baseman for the Boston Red Sox, California Angels and New York Yankees and former manager for the Boston Red Sox

What is this? An autograph card from the 1981 Topps set

Where'd I get it? I got it signed at a Somerset Patriots game in 2008

How much did it cost? The card was probably a quarter; the autograph was free

Why is this so special? Butch Hobson played in the major leagues from 1975-1982, finishing his career with a .248 lifetime average, 98 home runs and 347 RBI. He managed the Red Sox from 1992-1994, winning 207 games and losing 232.

Hobson managed the Nashua Pride in the Atlantic League and Can-Am League from 2000-2007, with a record of 508-456. He won a championship in his first season, and he won a division title in the Pride's final year in the Atlantic League in 2005.

In 2008, Hobson became the first manager for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs and was recognized as the Atlantic League's Manager of the Year. This year, he took his team to the Atlantic League Championship Series, though they lost to the Somerset Patriots.

Hobson remains one of the most accessible and fan-friendly managers in the Atlantic League, even after all his years in independent baseball. I've never seen him turn down an autograph seeker, and he usually tries to make sure that polite children who ask for baseballs get them, at least on the road.

Hobson has a pretty nice autograph, though this looks like it was a somewhat rushed version.