Category: Autographs

Bo Jackson Jerseys

It’s possible that there has never been a more larger than life athlete than peak Bo Jackson. Maybe Babe Ruth? Even Michael Jordan seemed more human than Bo did.

Bo was a truly great football player. He played parts of four seasons, and put up some great per game numbers in three of those four seasons. One Bo football stat I love is this: In three of his four seasons, Bo had the single longest run of the season. In such a short career, he had runs of 92, 91, and 88 yards. No other player in the history of the NFL has three runs that long.

He was much more raw on the baseball diamond. It sometimes felt like he was learning how to play baseball in the big leagues, which is nuts. But look at his OPS+. From 1986 to 1990, his OPS+ went 67 – 94 – 108 – 124 – 142. He improved every single year. From 1988 to 1990, his plate discipline got better every year. Were it not for the hip injury, there is a chance Bo could have been a truly great baseball player.

I’ve been wanting to pick up some premium Bo Jackson items for a very long time. I worked some overtime at work, so I finally bit the bullet. I picked up a white Raiders jersey and a black White Sox jersey from Fanatics. I had a pretty good coupon code that brought them into my price range. Both jerseys are Mitchell & Ness authentics.

I hope to get them framed together as a sort of Yin and Yang piece. Something like the image below:

Once these bad boys get framed up, this will be one of the center pieces of my collection.



Steve Sax Private Signing

I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I am a big Steve Sax fan. Why am I a Sax fan? It’s certainly not because of the terrible 69 OPS+ he put up during two bad years with the Sox. It’s also not because of his charming personality, as he’s never been a super friendly guy to fans.

It all comes down to my mother. I grew up with a single mom in Southern California. My mom was a huge Dodgers fan. More specifically, she was a big Steve Sax fan. But she never referred to him as Steve Sax. He was always “Sexy Saxy”.

Let me be very clear. His “sexiness” has nothing to do with my fandom. My mom loved him, so I loved him. Later in life, I’d come to realize that Sax was overrated as a player. But that did nothing to dim my Sax fandom. And so, here I am, probably the only person alive that is a fan of both Sax and the Sox.

Steve Sax was one of many players attending the HOF Classic game in Cooperstown, NY this year. Jamie Blye conducted a private signing with a few of the players, including Sax. So I sent him a few items to get signed.

A couple of items didn’t turn out perfectly. One ball and one card are kind of smudged. But the most important item, the bat, turned out perfectly!

   

   

   

   



Cespedes & Colas Baseballs

Somebody on Facebook posted that they had a couple of Oscar Colas baseballs available for a decent price. I think the White Sox have five prospects with a legit chance to be a star. Colson Montgomery, Bryan Ramos, Lenyn Sosa, Norge Vera, and Colas. So I was very interested in a Colas ball. When I reached out, he mentioned that he also had Yoelqui Cespedes balls available. You’ll notice that I didn’t have Cespedes listed in that group above. He is kind of old for AA, and yet he is striking out too much, and not walking enough. The power is solid, but nothing special. I think he’ll probably make the bigs, but only as a regular for a few years while the team (the Sox or otherwise) hopes he’ll break out. Still, he is a name prospect, and the price was right, so I picked up a Cespedes ball as well.

   

Luis Robert Private Signing

The folks at Sid’s Graphs and Bergie’s Sports Card Dugout held the first ever public signing with budding White Sox superstar Luis Robert on Monday. I’m starting to think these signings are a Jinx for Robert. Last season, he got hurt right before his private signing, and the same thing happened again this year. Luckily, this year’s injury seems to be minor.

I sent in 6 items this time. Two jerseys and 4 cards. Everything turned out pretty well. I’m slightly disappointed in how the home white jersey turned out. It isn’t terrible, but the pen didn’t perform 100% perfectly. Oh well, what can you do?

I’m holding out hope that Luis can stay healthy and join the ranks of the very best players in baseball. I’m a bit worried that we might now have our own Byron Buxton. In any case, I’m thrilled to have these new items!

   

   

Joe Crede Private Signing

Five Tool Signings just did a very reasonably priced TTM signing with 2005 World Series Champion Joe Crede. I got a bunch of stuff done at a private signing in 2021, so I didn’t need anything done. I desperately tried to get my hands on a pristine 2008 All-Star baseball, but had no luck. Every time I ordered one on eBay, it ended up being covered in spots. So I just got some cool cards signed. I’ll never pass up a signing with a legit Sox player at this price.

One of my cards didn’t make it back. The guys at FTS are looking into it. I have no doubt they’ll make it right.

       

   

   

   

John Kruk Private Signing

Todd Schafer (Under the Radar Sports Promotions) recently had a private signing with former Phillies star (and brief Sox player) John Kruk. There have been a lot of signings recently, so funds are getting a bit (more than a bit really, lol) tight. So I just got two cards done. One rookie, and one cool refractor. Todd does signings with Kruk pretty regularly, so I’ll try to get a few more things done at the next one.

       

Bobby Jenks & Luis Vizcaino

Macey225 over at SCN was taking items for the Chicago Sports Spectacular in March. There were a few Sox guys there, but the autograph fees were pretty high, so only sent in a couple of things. I sent in a Bobby Jenks rookie refractor and a Luis Vizcaino Topps World Series card. I’m kind of disappointed with how the Jenks turned out. He signed it pretty small, with a thin pen, and right on the Angels logo. But that’s just how things go sometimes!