2004 Topps Total Pete Laforest

Who is this? Quebec Capitales catcher/infielder Pete Laforest
What is this? An autographed card from the 2004 Topps Total set
Where'd I get it? Laforest signed it for me before last night's game between the Capitales and the Newark Bears
How much did it cost? I got it out of a pack in 2004.

Why is this so special? If I didn't lose track of anything, this is the sixth item I've gotten signed for my own collection at a Can-Am League game this year. Most of the guys playing in the league just do not have cards.

Technically, this is not a Pete Laforest card. Sure, it's got his name on the front and his stats on the back - but the guy in the picture is current Camden Riversharks catcher Toby Hall. Not being a big Devil Rays fan, I didn't notice. Fortunately, Laforest was a good sport about it - I imagine he's been asked to sign the card hundreds of times since it came out. Still, it felt a bit awkward.

Laforest played in a handful of games for the Devil Rays in 2003 and 2005, as well as brief stints with Philadelphia and San Diego in 2007. He has 29 major league hits - including 2 home runs - in 68 games.

Laforest was a 2004 Olympian, representing Canada. He also played for his home country in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

There are a lot of overlapping loops in Laforest's autograph. I wonder if it would be less compressed on a larger item.

2007 Topps Total, Dwayne Bowe

Who is this? Kansas City Chiefs All Pro wide receiver, Dwayne Bowe
What is this? An autograph card from the 2007 Topps Total set
Where'd I get it? At the Menards grand opening in Salina, Kansas yesterday
How much did it cost?The autograph was free, the card was a dollar.

Why is this so special? After a failed drug test and a bunch of dropped passes, Dwayne finally had a breakout year last season for the Chiefs. He set the Chiefs single season record for consecutive games with a touchdown with seven straight and for most touchdowns in a season with fifteen.

I am not a huge football fans by any means and I normally wouldn't have gone out of my way for this autograph. But, I just happened to be at the local card shop last week looking for some Gypsy Queen when the shop owner asked me if I was going to see Saberhagen this week. I had no idea what he was talking about, so he told me about the big Menards grand opening week schedule that includes autograph appearances from Bowe, Bret Saberhagen, and Christian Okoye. I didn't find any Gypsy Queen at the shop that day, but I did pick up two cards of Dwayne Bowe. I figured I would head over for the event just to get an idea of what it was going to be like for Saberhagen.

And, I am glad that I went since there was a much larger turnout than I anticipated. I got to the store about forty minutes before the signing began and I was amazed to see 200-300 people already there. Dwayne arrived promptly at the 6:00 scheduled start and I did not make it through the line until right before 7:30. Who know what it will be like for Saberhagen. For all I know, there could be fewer people there since the Royals aren't nearly as popular as the Chiefs are around here. But, I guess I will find out tomorrow.

I was watching a Chiefs game last year when they showed a clip of Dwayne. He said that he always wanted a bumper sticker that read "somewhere over the Dwayne Bowe". I couldn't help but laugh at that. I almost asked him to inscribe that on the card, but it looks like there wouldn't have been much room for that.

As for Bowe's signature, I have no idea what is going on with it. I can make out a "D" and his number and that is it.

Here is the other card that I got signed yesterday.

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.

2003 Topps Total Hiram Bocachica

Who is this? Bridgeport Bluefish utility player Hiram Bocachica
What is this? An autographed card from the 2003 Topps Total set
Where'd I get it? Bocachica signed it for me at a Newark Bears game last year.
How much did it cost? I got the card out of a pack in 2003


Why is this so special? This was one of the last baseball cards I got signed in person in 2010.

Bocachica has been playing professional baseball since 1994. He spent parts of 8 seasons in the major leagues and two more in Japan. In 2008, Bocachica hit 20 home runs for the Saitama Seibu Lions and helped them to win the Japan Series.

Last year, he split the season between Bridgeport in the Atlantic League and the Broncos de Reynosa in Mexico. For the Bluefish, he batted .282 with 8 home runs and 32 RBI in 69 games.

Bocachica appears to have just signed his last name on my card, though I can't read his writing well enough to be sure. In 2008, dayf posted a card that Bocachica signed during his first year as a pro... you can tell that his signature changed a lot since then.

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:

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.

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.

2004 Topps Total Jorge Julio

 Who is this? Former Baltimore Orioles closer Jorge Julio

What is this? An autographed card from the 2004 Topps Total set

Where'd I get it? I got it signed before Sunday's exhibition game between the Newark Bears and Bridgeport Bluefish

How much did it cost? The card came out of a Topps Total pack purchased in 2004.

Why is this so special? For three years, Jorge Julio was the closer for the Baltimore Orioles. In 2003, he saved a career high 36 games and he has a total of 99 saves to his credit over a nine year major league career.

Julio has pitched for 8 different major league teams, most recently the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009. This season, he'll start the year pitching out of the bullpen for the Bridgeport Bluefish in the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

I've never managed to figure out Julio's signature, but he does take time to sign it carefully.

2003 Topps Total Todd Jones

Who is this? Todd Jones, a retired relief pitcher

What is this? An autographed card from the 2003 Topps Total set

Where'd I get it? I wrote to Jones around New Year's and asked him to sign it; I got it back in the mail today.

How much did it cost? Less than $1

Why is this so special? Even though Todd Jones was rarely thought of as one of the best closers in baseball, he managed to record over 300 saves during his 16-year career. He was an All-Star in 2000 for the Detroit Tigers, when he led the American League with 42 saves.

Jones also has the distinction of being the last player to throw a pitch at Tiger Stadium, according to his Wikipedia article. Since 2002, Jones has been a columnist for The Sporting News.

Todd Jones has a quick autograph, but if you use your imagination you can almost make out his initials.

2004 Topps Total Bobby Brownlie

Who is this? Bobby Brownlie, the Chicago Cubs first-round draft pick in 2002

What is this? An autographed card from the 2004 Topps Total set

Where'd I get it? I'm not sure, but I think I got this signed through the mail when Brownlie played for the Iowa Cubs in 2005.

How much did it cost? The card came out of a pack, so just the postage.

Why is this so special? Chicago Cubs fans -- if they remember Brownlie at all -- will just think he was a draft pick that didn't pan out (7 future major leaguers, including Matt Cain, Joe Blanton, Jeff Francoeur and Mark Teahen were selected after Brownlie.)

In central New Jersey, it's a different story. In Brownlie was a star for Edison High School, and he went on to Rutgers where he continued to dominate. He was the MVP of the 2000 Big East Tournament and earned the cover of Baseball America's 2002 college preview issue.

Twice he's played for the Newark Bears, and both times he was able to use the opportunity to get signed by a AAA team. Maybe he'll still get a chance to pitch in the majors.

Brownlie's autograph is distinct, with two strong B's, though a few of the other letters are missing.

Brownlie's autograph may be the last one I post to the blog for a little while. For the past three months, I've shown an autograph nearly every day. I think I'm out of cards that I haven't posted somewhere, and a few of the ones I've used in January have already been seen on my personal blog.

When I get new autographs, I will continue to post them here if they're not Mets cards. There shouldn't be a multi-month gap between posts again, but I can't keep the post-a-day schedule any longer.

2004 Topps Total Brian Reith

Who is this? Brian Reith, a former pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds

What is this? An autograph card from the 2004 Topps Total set

Where'd I get it? I got the card signed in person at a Somerset Patriots game in 2007

How much did it cost? The card came out of a pack and the autograph was free.

Why is this so special? Brian Reith was originally drafted by the New York Yankees, but he came to the Reds in the Denny Neagle trade in 2000. Reith reached the majors in 2001, starting 8 games for the Reds. He was 0-7. He returned to the big leagues in 2003 as a reliever for the Reds.


In 2007, Reith found himself in independent baseball, pitching for the Somerset Patriots. He pitched well in seven starts, earning the chance for a bigger paycheck in Taiwan. He came back in 2008, beginning the season in the rotation but moving to the bullpen to become the closer later in the year.

Reith did well enough to earn a minor league contract from the Brewers, but he apparently was cut during spring training. The only stats listed for 2009 are from six games with Quintana Roo in the Mexican League.

Reith has a nice autograph, very legible for a quick at-the-ballpark signature.

2003 Topps Total Luke Allen

Who is this? Luke Allen, a former outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies

What is this? An autographed card from the 2003 Topps Total set

Where'd I get it? I got it signed in person at a Somerset Patriots game in 2007.

How much did it cost? The card most likely came from a pack; the autograph was free.

Why is this so special? Luke Allen beat the odds. He was not a high-round draft pick. He wasn't drafted at all. He was just an amateur free agent with nothing invested in him.
Allen worked his way up through the Dodgers farm system and finally made his major league debut in 2002. His Dodger career included just six games, but he did get one hit -- a double.

That off-season, the Dodgers traded Allen to the Colorado Rockies for his future teammate on the Somerset Patriots, Jason Romano. Allen would get another two major league at-bats with the Rockies in 2003, but he'd never play in the majors again.

The Rockies released him at the end of the season. He played five different minor league organizations, two American independent leagues and Mexican baseball before ending his career after the 2008 season.


In 30 games with the Somerset Patriots in 2007, Allen hit .260 with five home runs and 9 RBI. He also managed to talk Sparky Lyle into letting him pitch in one of the last home games of the season.

If I recall correctly, he came into the game with a decent, but not huge lead. I think he retired the first two batters to face him. I know he got one strikeout. But once the hitters had seen his stuff, they began to hit him. He walked a batter and gave up a pair of hits, so Lyle had to take him out of the game before the inning was over. Allen was charged with two runs, although only one was earned.

Luke Allen has a unique autograph. The only letter that I recognize is the "A" in his last name, but his autograph is instantly recognizable if you are familiar with it.