A Return to Regular Blogging?

I don't generally pay too much attention to how often I post here; I generally try to write with some sort of regularity and will write about Orioles autographs when there is something to say. But something jumped out at me looking back at the month of April. I wrote 18 posts, which is more than I've written in any specific month going all the way back to August 2012, and it's nearly a third of the posts I wrote during the entire 2013 calendar year. There was a time last year where it really seemed to me that the blog was slowly dying.

For whatever reason, the start of the 2014 Orioles season has reinvigorated my desire to write about the Orioles and their autographs. Part of it has been the ease of writing the debut posts, which seem to pretty much write themselves, but I've also gotten into the walk-up songs again, and even looked into the player's status on Twitter. So things are really rolling along here at the GOAP. Will I keep up this pace all year? I'd have to say it's unlikely based on recent history, but at least I'm on track to post ten-ish times each month. And that ain't bad.

To celebrate my "return", here are a bunch of upgrades that I've been able to acquire recently. And it seems only appropriate to show off my dad's Old Man Cards, since they have certainly contributed to my continued passion for my collection!

I've written about all of these players in the past, so click the links on their names if you want to read about them and their histories with the O's!

Greg Aquino

Brian Bass 

Fernando Cabrera

Scott Feldman

Jake Fox

Sean Henn

Michael Morse

Omar Quintanilla

Clay Rapada

Josh Stinson

Delmon Young- big thanks goes out to my Spring Training Orioles autograph collecting buddy, Alan, for getting this one personalized for me after I flew back North

Aquino & Cabrera

At the beginning of the season I worked out a trade with a fellow SCN user who graphs the AAA International League.  He would try to get me Greg Aquino & Fernando Cabrera's autographs and I would send him a few bucks for his trouble.  Neither of them have any Orioles cards, so these 2008 Norfolk Tides cards are the closest thing to an O's card that I can get.  Recently, I was able to trade for an Aquino signed Orioles postcard, but I will probably keep both autographs in my collection.

Greg started the 2008 season with the Orioles and sported a 12.54 ERA in 9 games before he was designated for assignment.  He cleared waivers and spent the remainder of the season with the Tides. 

Overall, he's had a six season MLB career and has also pitched for the Diamondbacks, Brewers and Indians.  He is currently with the Charlotte Knights, the AAA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

I've been trying to get this card signed by Fernando for years now.  I went to a Rays-Orioles game in Tampa in late 2008 and he was signing for fans at the time, but it was before I received my '08 Tides set, so I had him sign an Orioles team card.  Eventually, I was able to trade for his autograph on an Indians card, but I was still holding out hope that I could one day get this card signed.  Well, my SCN trade partner came through and I finally have the autographed card I've been chasing for 2 years. 

Fernando pitched in 22 games for the O's in 2008 and went 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA.  He's also pitched for the Indians and Red Sox over 7 seasons in the big leagues, and is currently pitching for the Sawx AAA affiliate, the Pawtucket Red Sox.

New Guys on the Block

Recently, I worked out a trade with two new autograph collecting bloggers and I wanted to share my experiences with both of them since they are both great guys and excellent trade partners. I couldn't scan all of the cards and postcards they sent me because that would've taken a long time but here are some of my favorites.

First up, Dion from Dion's IP Autos only and I started talking a trade about a month ago. We actually made the trade a few weeks back but you know how my posting schedule goes. 2 weeks late isn't bad. I'll probably be posting about 2010 Allen & Ginter in September...

Dion had a number of autographs that I needed for my collection including a few former Orioles who have passed away...

Pat Kelly (and it's on an orange uni postcard to boot!)

Former Orioles player and manager, Johnny Oates

Dion also had a few cards that I needed...

Jarvis doesn't have any O's cards so this works for my collection

I had a Keys autograph of Sendy but never got an O's card signed, until now.

I have a signed ball and 8x10 of Chad Brad, but didn't have the signed postcard.
Now if I could just find a signed Orioles card of his...

Thanks so much for all the great autographs Dion!


The other new blogger who reached out to me is Austin, who just started the Orioles Autograph Project. He sent me a bunch of autographs, but the one that really helped out my collection was Greg Aquino.

Greg doesn't have any Orioles cards, so this postcard is as good as it's going to get with Greg. Thanks for the great trade Austin.

Check out Dion's & Austin's blogs if you have a minute. They are both awesome trade partners!

Getting Back to the Collection

Greg Aquino 2008

I got this card in a trade with a SCN user since Greg doesn't seem to sign TTM and he doesn't have any O's cards. I do have one Tides card of him but am wary of sending it off to a random Minor League team that Greg might currently be playing for, so maybe one day I can get it signed.

Greg had a short and not exactly sweet stint with the Orioles in 2008. He was acquired after being placed on waivers by the Brewers after the 2007 season and was claimed by the O's on December 14, 2007.

He pitched in relief for the Orioles in the third game of the 2008 campaign; it was a rocky start to his O's career as he gave up two runs on three hits, including a home run while only getting one out. That pretty well sums up Greg's time with the Birds.

He appeared in five more games before being designated for assignment on April 29, but since he cleared waivers the Orioles sent him to Norfolk. He spent the next two months with the Tides before the Birds brought him back up to fill a roster spot. Three more appearances were all the O's needed to see before sending Greg on a trip around their Minor League system that featured stops in Aberdeen, Delmarva, Frederick and Bowie. That was it for Greg and the Orioles; they granted him free agency on 9/28/08.

He signed with the Indians for the 2009 season and pitched in 10 games for them and was better than he had been with the Orioles but was recently again granted free agency.