2010 Topps Daniel Hudson

Who is this? Arizona Diamondbacks Pitcher Daniel Hudson.
What is this? An autograph card from 2010 Topps Series 1.
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed by Daniel after a game against the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2010 when he was pitching for the White Sox Triple-A Affiliate, the Charlotte Knights.
How much did it cost? I got this card when I bought 2010 Topps Series 1 for about $23.00.

Why is this so special? Daniel Hudson is one of the best young pitchers in baseball. Over the course of his first three season in the Majors, Hudson has a record of 25-15 over 49 starts with a 3.19 ERA, with 267 strikeouts and only 86 walks. Not bad for a fifth-round pick out of Old Dominion.

And, not only is Daniel a rising star on the mound, he is also a very good signer. Not only was he very nice when I met him after a Paw Sox game (after security had turned off all of the lights and there were a few collectors asking him to sign in pitch black), but he has also signed cards through-the-mail for both my wife and me.

Daniel personalized the cards for both of us, something that I think is cool, and even wrote a note on the cardboard piece that I include in every return envelope to protect my cards.

1995 Signature Rookies Old Judge Jimmy Hurst

Who is this? Former Detroit Tigers outfielder Jimmy Hurst
What is this? An autographed insert card from the 1995 Signature Rookies Old Judge set
Where'd I get it? The discount box of a card dealer at the local card show
How much did it cost? 50 cents

Why is this so special? Jimmy Hurst spent 17 seasons as a pro baseball player. A 12th round draft choice in 1990, Hurst eventually made it to the major leagues for 13 games with the Detroit Tigers in 1997. He got three hits, including a home run off New York Yankees All-Star David Wells.

Hurst played home games in at least four countries during his career - the United States, Canada, Mexico and Japan. He was a star in the Atlantic League in the later stages of his playing career. He suited up for the Newark Bears, Nashua Pride and Atlantic City Surf. For the 2002 Atlantic League Champion Bears, he hit .341 with 35 home runs and 100 RBI.

Hurst's autograph is a little sloppy, but that could be forgiven considering the relatively small size of the card and the number he had to sign.

1994 Flair Darrin Jackson

Who is this? Chicago White Sox broadcaster Darrin Jackson
What is this? An autographed card from the 1994 Flair set
Where'd I get it? I purchased it from a dealer at an autograph show earlier this month.
How much did it cost? $4

Why is this so special? Jackson was a major league outfielder for 12 seasons, playing for seven different teams including the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox and New York Mets. He was known as a good defensive outfielder, but offense wasn't his strong suit. Jackson's best season was 1991 when he hit .262 with 21 home runs and 49 RBI for the Padres.

In addition to his time in major league baseball, Jackson played for the Seibu Lions in Japan in 1995 and 1996. After he retired, Jackson became a television broadcaster for the White Sox. Since 2009, he's worked on the radio side.

Jackson's autograph is very legible for a recent player.

1992 Donruss Ced Landrum

Who is this? Joliet Jackhammers hitting coach Ced Landrum
What is this? An autographed card from the 1992 Donruss set
Where'd I get it? Zach sent it to me. I imagine he got it signed at a Northern League game.


Why is this so special? Ced Landrum was not a high round draft pick. In fact, he never got drafted at all. He signed with the Chicago Cubs as an amateur free agent in 1985 and worked his way through the minors, making his big league debut in 1991.

Landrum hit .233 / .313 / .279 in 99 plate appearances for the Cubs, yet he stole 27 bases in those 56 games. A spring training injury cost Landrum the first part of the 1992 season. By July, the Cubs decided to trade him to Milwaukee for infielder Jeff Kunkel.

Milwaukee cut Landrum loose at the end of the season, and he signed with Minnesota. Before the end of April 1993, Landrum was a free agent again. This time, the Mets signed him and gave him his second shot in the majors. Primarily as a pinch-hitter, Landrum was 5-for-19 in 22 games.

Landrum was out of baseball in 1994, but he decided to give it one more shot as a replacement player during the 1995 lockout. To learn more about Ced Landrum, check out Steve's post at The Greatest 21 Days.

Landrum has a nice, legible autograph. I like the photo choice by Donruss - Landrum's most notable success came on the basepaths, so it's fitting to have a shot of him sliding into base.

2010 Topps Daniel Hudson

Who is this? Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson
What is this? An autographed card from the 2010 Topps set
Where'd I get it? I wrote to Hudson last month and got this card back about two weeks later
How much did it cost? Around a dollar, mostly for postage.


Why is this so special? Until Aug. 1, I'd never really paid any attention to Daniel Hudson. He was the Chicago White Sox 5th round pick in 2008, and one year later he was making his major league debut -- maybe I should have.

Hudson came to the National League in a deadline deal that sent Edwin Jackson from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the White Sox. I saw Hudson make his Arizona debut on Aug. 1 when I went to the Mets Hall of Fame induction day game. He pitched well and got the win. He also got his first major league hit - a single off reliever Elmer Dessens that drove in a pair of runs.

In 7 games, Hudson has a 4-1 record and a 1.99 ERA for the Diamondbacks.

Hudson has a fairly clear autograph, and was nice enough to personalize the card to me.

1987 Fleer Steve Lyons

Who is this? Steve Lyons, a 1980s utility player who spent most of his career with the Chicago White Sox

What is this? An autographed card from the 1987 Fleer set

Where'd I get it? I wrote to Lyons and asked him to sign it last month; I got it back last week

How much did it cost? About a dollar for the card and postage

Why is this so special? Lyons spent nine years in the major leagues, but he's best remembered for one play -- when he unbuckled his pants to get the dirt out while standing on first base.




I also remember a This Week in Baseball feature that highlighted his versatility -- he once played every position in an exhibition game. After Lyons ended his playing career, he became a broadcaster.

I think it's neat that Lyons included his nickname "Psycho" when he signed the card. I don't know how he came by that nickname, and I'm not quite sure that I want to. :)

2002 Upper Deck Jeremy Reed

Who is this? Jeremy Reed, an outfielder in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system

What is this? An autographed card from the 2002 Upper Deck set

Where'd I get it? From a blog reader

How much did it cost? Around $2

Why is this so special? Jeremy Reed was once a highly regarded prospect in the Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners farm systems. He never quite lived up to those expectations, but he has been a productive reserve outfielder.

Reed spent last season with the Mets, but even with all their injuries Jerry Manuel never gave him a chance to start on a regular basis. He hit .278 as a pinch hitter for the Mets in 2009,

Reed has a very angular signature, but it requires some imagination to make out any letters.

2008 Topps Finest Rookie Autograph Lance Broadway

Who is this? Lance Broadway, a pitcher for the New York Mets (formerly of the Chicago White Sox)

What is this? An autograph card from the 2008 Topps Finest set

Where'd I get it? eBay

How much did it cost? 99 cents, plus shipping

Why is this so special? Lance Broadway has a perfect name for a baseball player in New York... now he just has to do something worthy of attention. He was a late season call-up for the Mets this year, but he didn't really distinguish himself in 8 relief appearances (0-0, 6.75).

The Mets acquired Broadway from the Chicago White Sox for catcher Ramon Castro in May. Broadway didn't do all that much to distinguish himself in the American League, either. His career record with the White Sox (2-2, 5.13) was compiled during 19 games over three seasons.

Broadway is just 26, so there's still time for him to improve. But he'd better start making an impression soon.

Lance Broadway has a neat, clear autograph... but that is one interesting "B" in his last name.