2007 Upper Deck First Edition Travis Chick

Who is this? former Seattle Mariners pitcher Travis Chick

What is this? An autographed card from the 2007 Upper Deck First Edition set


Where'd I get it? Chick signed it for met at a game between the Camden Riversharks and Newark Bears earlier this year.


How much did it cost? I'm not sure; I have no idea where I got the card.

Why is this so special? Travis Chick was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 14th round of the 2002 draft. He was traded three times before he reached the majors - once for Joe Randa and later for Eddy Guardado.

Chick appeared in three games for the 2006 Seattle Mariners as a September call-up, but I doubt they have many fond memories of him out there. Chick allowed seven runs on seven hits and 10 walks in just five innings.

Since then, Chick has played in the minors for three different organizations. He found his way into independent league baseball in 2010, when he was the Camden Riversharks' opening day starter. On April 22, he pitched five innings and allowed three runs on four hits and three walks in five innings. He surrendered Paddy Matera's first (and, to date, only) professional home run in his final inning of work that night.

Chick has a 5-4 record with a 4.40 ERA in 14 games with Camden. He was placed on the inactive list last month.

Chick does not have a pretty autograph, but you can read it.

2008 Upper Deck First Edition Josh Hamilton

Who is this? Josh Hamilton, a Texas Rangers outfielder

What is this? An autograph card from the 2008 Upper Deck First Edition set

Where'd I get it? I wrote to Hamilton at the Texas Rangers' spring training facility in February and asked him to sign my card. I got it back in the mail yesterday.

How much did it cost? The card came out of a pack, and postage was 84 cents.

Why is this so special? Josh Hamilton was the feel-good story of 2008.

Hamilton was the number one overall pick in the 1999 amateur draft, but his minor league career was derailed by drug and alcohol problems. He was out of baseball for nearly three seasons.

Hamilton found God and cleaned up his act, and he finally made his big league debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2007. He hit 19 home runs in part-time duty, but was traded to the Texas Rangers for pitcher Edinson Volquez that off-season.

With the Rangers, Hamilton had an All-Star season in 2008. In the All-Star Game's Home Run Derby, Hamilton hit 35 total home runs. He finished the season with a .304 batting average, 32 home runs and an American League-leading 130 RBI.

Josh Hamilton's autograph is distinctive, but not very legible. Though to be honest, with the number of autograph requests he must get I'm grateful that he signs at all.