1999 Just Minors Geoff Goetz

Who is this? former minor league pitcher Geoff Goetz
What is this? An autographed insert card from the 1999 Just Minors set
Where'd I get it? from a dealer's dollar box at the local card show
How much did it cost? $1

Why is this so special? Geoff Goetz was a Mets prospect in the late 1990s who was part of the trade that brought Mike Piazza to New York. At the end of his career, I got to see him pitch for the Nashua Pride in the Atlantic League.

He's got an interesting autograph - if you use your imagination, you can pick out most of the letters of his name.

1999 Capital City Bombers Nick Maness

 
Who is this? Lancaster Barnstormers pitcher Nick Maness
 
What is this? An autographed card from the 1999 Capital City Bombers team set
 
Where'd I get it? I got it signed before last night's game between the Lancaster Barnstormers and Newark Bears in Newark
 
How much did it cost? I don't remember
 
Why is this so special? Maness was a one-time Mets prospect, selected in the 10th round of the 1997 draft. He made it as far as AAA Norfolk in 2002, and appears in several major league card sets from 2001 on serial numbered "rookie" cards.

I found and bought this minor league team set card back in 2005, when Maness played for the Newark Bears in the Atlantic League. I'm not sure if I got it out of a bargain bin or if I found it online while searching for Atlantic League players' cards, but I've had it for a long time. I never managed to get it signed that year, or in 2006 when Maness again played for the Bears.

I can't find any records for Maness after the 2006 season, and I assumed that he retired. But this year, he showed up on the Lancaster Barnstormers' roster -- after their first trip to Newark this season. Last night, I was finally able to get the card signed - and Maness has a nice looking autograph. Of course, I now have the sinking feeling that there's an unsigned Nick Maness card in my 2006 Bears team set that will continue to haunt me. ;)

While talking to Maness last night, we learned that his brother Dwight -- also a former Mets farmhand and Atlantic League alumni -- has retired from baseball and is playing competitive softball instead.