Category: Autographs

Steve Trout Private Signing

There was recently a Steve Trout private signing posted on Facebook. I don’t really need Trout on anything, but it was very affordable, so I sent a couple of cards.

Fun fact. Steve Trout once serenaded my wife. For the life of me I can’t remember the song. He was signing at a Sports Card Show in Chicago, and we were first in his line when he came out. He made some kind of comment about how lovely my wife was. Then he proceeded to sing her a love song. She was so embarrassed!

Oddly enough, that isn’t the only time a player sang to my wife in Chicago. We were at Picnic in the Park one year, and we were getting Brian Anderson’s autograph. She commented that he looked a lot like Michael Buble. All of the sudden he starts singing her a Michael Buble song!

Anyway, back to Trout. In retrospect, I should have included an 81 Topps for the signing, since I’m considering doing that team set. Oh well, next time!

Charlie Sheen Private Signing

Chris Rifon recently conducted a private signing with Charlie Sheen. The signing was pretty pricey, and I am no fan of Charlie Sheen, but I just couldn’t resist getting one of his Eight Men Out cards signed.

I would love to get John Cusack, D.B. Sweeney, David Strathairn and other cast members on their cards in the set. I found out that I missed a Sweeney signing, which bums me out. Hopefully there will be another!

Sases for Sox: Cliff Politte

Cliff Politte was one of the most underrated members of the 2005 World Series champs. You’d probably be shocked to find out that he had a higher bWAR (Baseball Reference Wins Above Replacement) than Jermaine Dye, A.J. Pierzynski, and Juan Uribe. He was the highest rated relief pitcher on the team, and the fifth highest in the American League.

Cliff has always been a great mail signer, so I don’t know why it took me this long to send to him. In any case, I’m super happy to knock these two cards off of my Upper Deck and 05 Topps World Series project wantlists. Thanks Mr. Politte!

Send Date: 2/8/21
Receive Date: 5/1/21
Total Days: 82
Items Sent: 2 cards
Items Received: 2 cards
Pen Used: Blue Sharpie

     

Atlee Hammaker Private Signing

Oh, what could have been. Atlee Hammaker had a phenomenal season in 1983 at the age of 25. He led the NL in ERA, ERA+, FIP, and WHIP. He was just as good in limited time in 1984. Unfortunately, the rest of his career was wrecked by injuries, and he never came close to reaching those heights again.

Hammaker pitched 7.2 innings over the 1994 and 1995 seasons for the Sox. Those were the last innings of his Major League career.

ER21 on SCN recently held a private signing with Hammaker. He doesn’t have any Major League cards in a White Sox uniform, so I sent in a minor league team set card.

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Omar Vizquel Private Signing

I sent a couple of cards to a recent Omar Vizquel private signing. I’ve never felt dirtier about participating in a private signing. I’m happy to have the autographs in my collection, but I hate the idea of putting money in that guy’s pocket. Oh well. At least his HOF chances have almost certainly gone out the window. His playing career certainly doesn’t deserve enshrinement, so that’s definitely a good thing. Anyway, here are the two cards I got signed!

A Couple New Luis Robert Autographs

I’ve been torn on whether or not to pick up a bunch of Luis Robert autographs. They aren’t cheap. He could conceivably go the way of somebody like Joe Borchard, which would mean I wasted a lot of money. Or he could go the way of Mike Trout, and I’ll regret not stocking up before his signed stuff sold for multiple hundreds of dollars, just for cards.

So I’ve picked up a few things, but haven’t gone overboard. Up til now, I had splurged on a bat and his Bowman and Bowman Chrome rookie cards. I decided to add a couple more items to the collection. First, a 2020 Gypsy Queen card.

I also picked up a mini helmet.

There are five more things I definitely want to pick up at some point. I’d like to add a refractor of some kind. I definitely can’t afford his rookie refractor, but any nice refractor would do. Of course, I want his 2020 A&G card. I’d also like a 16×20. The thing is, I don’t really like any of the shots that I’ve seen available. I have been holding out for a nicer photo. Lastly, I’d like to add a gold glove baseball, and a regular ROMLB.