2006 Topps 52 Rookies Tim Hamulack

Who is this? Lancaster Barnstormers relief pitcher Tim Hamulack
What is this? An autographed card from one of the Topps 52 Rookies sets... I think it's from the 2006 one.  Where'd I get it? Hamulack signed it for me before a Newark Bears game last year.
How much did it cost? If it's a 2006 card, I probably spent a quarter for it. If it's from 2007, I probably got it out of a pack.


Why is this so special? Hamulack, a 32nd round draft pick, spent nine seasons in the minor leagues with 5 different organizations before finally making his major league debut with the Mets in 2005. During that off-season, he was included in a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers that brought Duaner Sanchez to New York.

Hamulack got most of his major league experience with the Dodgers in 2006, appearing in 33 games. Since then, Hamulack has pitched for minor league or independent league teams. Last season, he was 6-5 with 11 saves and a 2.35 ERA for the Lancaster Barnstormers in the Atlantic League. I'm not sure where (or if) Hamulack will be playing in 2011.

Hamulack's ballpark autograph doesn't differ much from the facsimile signature on the card.

2007 Topps 52 Andrew Miller

Who is this? Boston Red Sox reliever Andrew Miller
What is this? An autographed card from the 2007 Topps 52 set
Where'd I get it? I bought it from a SportsGraphing.com forum member
How much did it cost? $2


Why is this so special? This is another card from the 2007 Topps 52 set that I am kinda (but not really) working on trying to get signed.

At one point, Miller was a really big prospect. The Tigers made him the 6th overall pick in the 2006 draft. In 2007, Miller went to the Marlins as a key part of the Miguel Cabrera trade. This off-season, the Marlins traded Miller to Boston,

Unfortunately, he's never enjoyed a lot of success in the majors. Last year, in 9 appearances Miller was 1-5 with an 8.54 ERA for Florida.  He's running out of chances to prove that he belongs in the major leagues - if he gets a chance with the Red Sox, it will be in the bullpen. And Miller's not really suited to being a situational lefty - for his career, lefty batters hit .267 with a .404 on-base percentage and a .415 slugging average against him.

Miller's autograph is unusual, but it's fairly consistent with the facsimile one on the card.

2007 Topps 52 Hunter Pence

Who is this? Houston Astros outfielder Hunter Pence
What is this? An autographed card from the 2007 Topps 52 set
Where'd I get it? I purchased it from Anthony of Mike Pelfrey Collectibles when he decided to sell his collection last year.


Why is this so special? In 2008, I decided that I would try to collect a signed baseball card set. I chose the 2007 Topps 52 set because it had a classic design, was relatively small and only included players who were entering their second year of major league service. Even that proved to be too difficult... I haven't worked on the project actively since 2008, but I still pick up cards from it when I get the chance.

Pence made his major league debut in 2007 and finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year balloting to Ryan Braun and Troy Tulowitzki. He's been a regular in the Astros lineup ever since and was named to the All-Star team in 2009.

Pence has a surprisingly legible autograph for a modern player.