2004 Topps Total Scott Spiezio

Who is this? former Seattle Mariners infielder Scott Spiezio
What is this? An autographed 2004 Topps Total card
Where'd I get it? Spiezio signed it before a Newark Bears game last year.
How much did it cost? I got it out of a pack.


Why is this so special? Spiezio had a 12 year major league career, earning World Series rings with the Anaheim Angels in 2002 and St. Louis Cardinals in 2006.

Last season, he appeared in 52 games for the Newark Bears in the independent Atlantic League, batting .279 with 3 home runs and 35 RBIs.

Spiezio has an ... interesting ... ballpark autograph.

2005 Topps Total Scott Spiezio

Who is this? Former Seattle Mariners infielder Scott Spiezio
 
What is this? An autographed card from the 2005 Topps Total set
 
Where'd I get it? Spiezio signed it for me after warmups at a Newark Bears game earlier this year.
 
How much did it cost? The card came out of a pack.
 
Why is this so special? Scott Spiezio, son of former major leaguer Ed Spiezio, spent parts of 12 seasons in the big leagues. He has 996 hits, 119 home runs, 549 RBI and two World Series rings.

In 2005, Spiezio's second with the Mariners, he appeared in just 29 games. He was 3-for-47, though one of those hits was a solo home run.

Spiezio began the 2010 season with the Newark Bears, but is no longer listed on the roster. It's possible that he has decided to retire from baseball.

Of the four cards Spiezio signed for me this year, this is the most rushed signature.

2004 Upper Deck Team USA Scott Spiezio

Who is this? Newark Bears infielder Scott Spiezio
 
What is this? An autographed card from Upper Deck's 2004 Team USA 25th Anniversary set
 
Where'd I get it? Spiezio signed it for me before a Newark Bears game earlier this year.
 
How much did it cost? I traded a duplicate card with another autograph collector at the ballpark
 
Why is this so special? Scott Spiezio spent 12 seasons in the major leagues and won two World Series rings, with the 2002 Angels and the 2006 Cardinals. He is the son of former major leaguer Ed Spiezio.

I've never seen another picture of Spiezio without his silly beard, so this card amuses me. Although it smeared a little, Spiezio's signature here looks a lot nicer than the one on the card I posted yesterday.

2003 Fleer Tradition Scott Speizio

Who is this? Newark Bears infielder Scott Spiezio

What is this? An autographed card from the 2003 Fleer Tradition set

Where'd I get it? Spiezio signed it for me before a Bears game earlier this year.

How much did it cost? I got the card out of a pack.

Why is this so special? Scott Spiezio spent 12 seasons in the major leagues and won two World Series rings, with the 2002 Angels and the 2006 Cardinals. He is the son of former major leaguer Ed Spiezio.

If I could bring back one discontinued baseball card set, I'd revive Topps Total. It was perfect for autograph collectors because of the number of different players included and the lack of glossy coating on the cards. But if I could bring back a second discontinued set, Fleer Tradition would be the one I'd choose. It appealed to me more than the Topps Heritage sets, maybe because the cards weren't direct copies of a previous design (except in 2003). Or maybe it was because the pack prices were more affordable. I'm not really sure.

Spiezio's autograph looks like a scribble on this card, unfortunately.