2009 TriSTAR Obak Pedro Alvarez

Who is this? Pittsburgh Pirates' Third Basemen Pedro Alvarez
What is this? An autograph card from 2009 TriSTAR Obak
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed by Pedro Alvarez when he was a member of the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians playing against the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2010.
How much did it cost? I got this card when I bought a set of 2009 TriSTAR Obak in the Spring of 2010.

Why is this so special? When I got this card signed, Pedro was one of the best prospects in Minor League Baseball. Alvarez was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 14th-round of the 2005 MLB Draft, but chose to attend Vanderbilt and was later drafted in the First-round (Second-overall) by the Pirates in the 2008 MLB Draft.

After a solid-if unspectacular- Major League debut in 2010, Alvarez had a disappointing sophomore campaign, hitting .191 with a .561 OPS in 74 games.

Fortunately, each new season brings hopes of better things. And that hope is essential to Pirates' fans, whose historic futility needs no exaggeration. If the Pirates are going to turn things around, they are going to be counting on Alvarez to help make it happen.

Alvarez was nice enough to also sign this 2008 TriSTAR Prospects Plus card for me.

2010 Topps Neil Walker

Who is this? Pittsburgh Pirates Second Baseman Neil Walker.
What is this? An autograph card from 2010 Topps Series 1.
Where'd I get it? I got this card signed by Neil when he was a member of the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians before a game against the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2010.
How much did it cost? I got the card when I bought the 2010 Topps Series 1 set.

Why is this so special? Neil Walker had a tremendous 2010 season that earned him a place on both Baseball America's and Topps Major League All-Rookie teams. He has been solid at the plate and in the field and is a major reason why the Pittsburgh Pirates have regained respectability.

In addition, this is one of the best 2010 Topps cards that I have gotten signed thus far in my quest to get as many cards from the set signed as possible. To see my 2010 Topps Autograph Project, click here.

2009 Upper Deck Sean Burnett

Who is this? Washington Nationals reliever Sean Burnett
What is this? An autographed 2009 Upper Deck card
Where'd I get it? I wrote to him this spring and asked him to sign it.
How much did it cost? I got the unsigned card out of a $1.99 pack.

Why is this so special? Sean Burnett was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 19th overall pick in the 2000 draft. He made his major league debut with Pittsburgh in 2004 and finished the season with a 5-5 record in 13 starts.

Burnett missed the entire 2005 season due to injury and spent the next two years trying to get back to the majors. In 2008, Burnett appeared in 58 games out of the Pirates' bullpen. In 2009, Pittsburgh traded Burnett and Nyjer Morgan to the Washington Nationals for Joel Hanrahan and Lastings Milledge.

In Washington, Burnett has enjoyed a measure of success as a lefty specialist. He was unlucky enough to finish last season with a 1-7 record despite having a 2.14 ERA, a 189 enhanced ERA+ and averaging a strikeout per inning.

Burnett's autograph isn't pretty - it looks like a bunch of overlapping ovals.

2011 Topps Neil Walker

Who is this? Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Neil Walker
What is this? An autograph 2011 Topps card
Where'd I get it? I got the unsigned card out of a pack from Target & I mailed to to Walker at Pirates spring training camp to see if he'd sign it. I got it back earlier this week.
How much did it cost? Around $1, counting postage.

Why is this so special? I do believe that this is the first 2011 card I've gotten signed.

The Pittsburgh Pirates made Walker the 11th overall pick in the 2004 draft. A highly-regarded prospect, Walker rose through the Pittsburgh farm system and made his major league debut in September 2009. Last season, manager John Russell gave him a chance to play second base after Akinori Iwamura struggled.

Walker responded with a strong rookie season, batting .296 with 12 home runs and 66 RBI in 426 at-bats. That was good enough to finish fifth in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting.

Though it is difficult to see because he signing in black on a partly-dark background, Walker's signature is somewhat legible.

1978 Topps Jim Rooker

Who is this? former Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Jim Rooker
What is this? An autographed card from the 1978 Topps set
Where'd I get it? Nick from Baseball Happenings got it signed for me last year.


Why is this so special? Rooker had a solid 13-year major league career with the Tigers, Royals and Pirates, but I never saw him play since he retired after the 1980 season. His lifetime record was 103-109 and he won a World Series ring with the 1979 Pirates.

I remember Jim Rooker because of a comment he made during a broadcast of a Pittsburgh Pirates game in 1989. The Pirates put up 10 runs in the first inning of a game against the Phillies, and Rooker said on air, "If we lose this game, I’ll walk home." Sure enough, the Phillies staged a comeback and won 15-11.

After the season, Rooker followed through on his promise and walked over 300 miles while raising money for charity.

I'm glad I don't have to decipher Rooker's signature.

1972 Topps Fred Cambria

Who is this? Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Fred Cambria
What is this? An autographed card from the 1972 Topps set
Where'd I get it? Nick from Baseball Happenings got it signed for me last month.


Why is this so special? When I was younger, I didn't really like the 1972 Topps set. It never seemed to fit with the other old Topps cards. Lately, though, I've started to appreciate its odd charm so I've been trying to get 1972 Topps cards signed when I can.

Fred Cambria was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1969 draft. By a coincidence, he happens to be from Cambria Heights, N.Y.

According to Baseball Reference, Cambira threw a perfect game in the minor leagues in 1969. The next year, he got his chance to pitch in the majors. He made 5 late season starts for the Pirates, finishing the year with a 1-2 record and a 3.51 ERA.

Arm troubles hampered his career... though Cambria pitched in the minor leagues into 1973, he never appeared in another major league game. At 25, he was out of baseball.

Cambria has a clear, legible signature. I wish he had opted to sign over his name instead of his face, though.

This is my last post of the week, so I want to take a moment to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I'll be back on Monday with some more autographed baseball cards to show you during the final week of 2010.

2004 Topps Total Brian Boehringer

Who is this? Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Brian Boehringer
What is this? An autographed card from the 2004 Topps Total set
Where'd I get it? I wrote to Boehringer earlier this month and asked him to sign it. I got it back on Monday.
How much did it cost? Postage, basically.


Why is this so special? Brian Boehringer spent time in the Atlantic League in 2006 and 2007, winding down his professional career as a member of the Bridgeport Bluefish. I never had any luck getting anything signed. In 2006, he got picked up by an affiliated team before I ever saw the Bluefish. If I recall correctly, he spent most of 2007 on the DL - he only appeared in 5 games. And in independent baseball, teams rarely pay hotel bills for players on the DL to travel.

Boehringer made his major league debut with the Yankees in 1995. A year later, he was pitching in the World Series. In 1997, Boehringer was selected in the expansion draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but he never played for them - he was traded to San Diego that same day.

In 1998, Boehringer got to pitch in another World Series... but this time he ended up on the wrong side. He would go back to the Yankees briefly in 2001, but they traded him to the Giants midway through the year. Boehringer finished his major league career with the Pirates.

In a 10-year career that spanned from 1995-2004, Boehringer appeared in 356 regular season major league games. He was never a star, but he was a useful contributor out of the bullpen.

For a player with a long name, Boehringer has a decent autograph. Here's a 2004 Fleer Tradition card that he signed and personalized for me.

2000 Fleer Tradition Chris Stynes

Who is this? Former major leaguer Chris Stynes
What is this? An autographed card from the 2000 Fleer Tradition set
Where'd I get it? I wrote to Stynes and asked him to sign it.
How much did it cost? postage, basically

Why is this so special? Chris Stynes may not be a household name, but he did have a good major league career. In ten seasons from 1995-2004, he played for the Royals, Reds, Red Sox, Cubs, Rockies and Pirates. He retired with a .275 career average, 51 home runs and 265 RBI.

Stynes also has one neat record - in 1996, he stole second, third and home in the same inning during a game between the Royals and Mariners.

Stynes has a clear, easy-to-read autograph. Here are a few other cards:

2009 MultiAd Sports Greenville Drive Bob Kipper

Who is this? Portland Sea Dogs pitching coach Bob Kipper
What is this? An autographed card from the 2009 Greenville Drive team set
Where'd I get it? I wrote to Kipper and asked him to sign a few cards earlier this month. A little over a week later, I got them back.
How much did it cost? Nothing, except postage.


Why is this so special? Bob Kipper was a major league pitcher for 8 seasons between 1985 and 1992 with the California Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates and Minnesota Twins. He began his career as a starter, but moved to the bullpen in 1988.

Kipper had a lifetime 27-37 record with a 4.34 ERA in 271 major league games. He finished his career in 1994 in the Mets' farm system. After retiring as a player, Kipper became a coach in the Red Sox system.

Kipper's autograph is quick and difficult to read, but you can make out more than just his initials. This is the first 2009 Greenville Drive card I've posted, and the first one that I've gotten signed. The set seems perfect for autographs, with a light background and nice portrait shots for most of the players and coaches.

Here are two other cards that he signed for me:

Last week's most-viewed posts were:

1. Star Driver Autograph Board signed by Masahiko Minami
2. 1991 Bowman Ever Magallanes
3. Autographed photo of James Marsters as Spike and Juliet Landau as Drusilla
4. 2010 Trenton Thunder Edwar Gonzalez
5. Autographed photo of Camden Toy and Doug Jones as The Gentlemen

1972 Topps Dock Ellis "In Action"

Who is this? Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis
What is this? An autographed card from the 1972 Topps set
Where'd I get it? In a trade with Dion, of Dion's IP Autos Only


Why is this so special? Dock Ellis is one of the more colorful characters in baseball history.

He threw a no-hitter in 1970 and later claimed that he was under the influence of LSD at the time.

In 1974, he was pulled from a start against the Reds after five batters. He hit Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Dan Driessen to start the game. Tony Perez managed to dodge four balls out of the strikezone, and Danny Murtaugh pulled him after Ellis threw errant pitches to Johnny Bench. Ellis later said that he was trying to send a message to the Reds in response to some comments made during spring training.

Ellis retired from baseball with a 138-119 record in 345 games. He was an All-Star in 1971, a year that he won 19 games. Ellis won the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1976 when he went 17-8 for the Yankees.

Somebody cast a vote for Ellis to enter the Hall of Fame in 1985. He definitely belongs in baseball's Hall of Characters. Ellis died in 2008 while awaiting a liver transplant.

Dock Ellis' signature is not very pretty, but it is fairly legible.

1970 Topps Al Oliver

Who is this? Former Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Al Oliver
What is this? An autographed card from the 1970 Topps set
Where'd I get it? I bought it from Anthony when he was selling off his collection.
How much did it cost? Around $2.

Why is this so special? Al Oliver was a 7-time All-Star and finished his 18-year career with a .303 lifetime average. He retired with 2743 hits, 1189 runs scored, and 1326 RBI. According to his Wikipedia page, Oliver hit the last home run at Forbes Field and the first home run at Three Rivers Stadium.

Oliver's autograph is neat and clear, a welcome contrast from the autographs of many modern players.

2005 Topps Total Daryle Ward

Who is this? Former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Daryle Ward

What is this? An autographed card from the 2005 Topps Total set

Where'd I get it? I got it signed before a Newark Bears game earlier this year

How much did it cost? The card came out of a pack of Topps Total, purchased in 2005. I really don't remember how much they went for.

Why is this so special? Ward spent parts of 11 seasons in the majors and currently has 90 big league home runs. He spent two seasons in Pittsburgh, 2004 and 2005. During that time, he hit for the cycle -- becoming part of the only father-son tandem to accomplish the feat.

He also was the first player to hit a home run completely out of PNC Park in Pittsburgh and into the Allegheny River, though he was not playing for the Pirates at the time.

Ward has one of the best-looking autographs I've gotten this year.

(Don't forget to enter the Auto-Matic for the People contest if you haven't already.)

2004 Topps Total Daryle Ward

Who is this? Former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Daryle Ward
 
What is this? An autographed card from the 2004 Topps Total set
 
Where'd I get it? I got it signed before a game between the Newark Bears and York Revolution on Sunday
 
How much did it cost? The card came out of a pack of Topps Total, purchased in 2004. I really don't remember how much they went for.
 
Why is this so special? Ward spent parts of 11 seasons in the majors and currently has 90 big league home runs. He spent two seasons in Pittsburgh, 2004 and 2005. During that time, he hit for the cycle -- becoming part of the only father-son tandem to accomplish the feat.

He also was the first player to hit a home run completely out of PNC Park in Pittsburgh and into the Allegheny River, though he was not playing for the Pirates at the time.

Ward has an amazing autograph, especially for a current player.

2009 Topps Jesse Chavez

Who is this? Atlanta Braves reliever Jesse Chavez
 
What is this? An autographed card from the 2009 Topps set
 
Where'd I get it? I wrote to Chavez around Opening Day and asked him to sign it. I got it back last week.
 
How much did it cost? Around $1 for the card and postage
 
Why is this so special? Chavez had a decent rookie season for the Pittsburgh Pirates last year, though he did surrender an alarming 11 home runs in 67.1 innings. During the winter, he was traded twice. Pittsburgh sent him to Tampa Bay in the Akinori Iwamura trade, and the Rays dealt Chavez to Atlanta in the Rafael Soriano deal.

Chavez's signature is very scribbly, but I can make out the "J" and I think I see a "C."