1992 Score No-Hit Club Dennis Martinez

Who is this? former Montreal Expos pitcher Dennis Martinez
What is this? An autographed card from the 1992 Score set
Where'd I get it? I purchased it from a Sportsgraphing.com forum member late last year.
How much did it cost? around $3


Why is this so special? "El Presidente" was the first player from Nicaragua to reach the major leagues. During his 23-year career, Martinez won 245 games - with more than 100 victories in each league. He struck out over 2,000 batters and he was a 4-time All-Star. This card commemorates Martinez's perfect game against the Dodgers in 1991 -- one of 7 no-hitters thrown in major league baseball that year.

Martinez has worked as a spring training instructor for the Baltimore Orioles and a minor league coach in the Cardinals organization since retiring. He has an interesting autograph - I've never seen another person write the letter "M" like that.

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

1989 Score Danny Cox

Who is this? Lancaster Barnstormers pitching coach Danny Cox
 
What is this? An autograph card from the 1989 Score set
 
Where'd I get it? Cox signed it for me after a game between the Barnstormers and Bears in Newark last week
 
How much did it cost? Not much.

Why is this so special? Danny Cox spent 11 years in the majors, retiring with a 74-75 lifetime record. He pitched in three World Series - 1985 and 1987 for the Cardinals and 1993 for the Blue Jays

After he retired, Cox managed the Gateway Grizzlies in the Frontier League for three seasons. He is currently the pitching coach for the Lancaster Barnstormers in the Atlantic League.

Score had one of the better card designs of 1989, but as I remember it included a lot of photos like this. Cox's card uses an action shot that would be decent, except for the little fact that a shadow obscures most of his face. Still, it looks better signed -- and it will most likely be the last card I ask Cox to sign this year.

1988 Score Mookie Wilson

Who is this? Mets outfielder Mookie Wilson.

What is this? An autographed 1988 Score card, number 474.

Where'd I get it? In a large autographed lot off of Yahoo.

How much did it cost? About a buck.

Why is this so special? MOOKIE!!!