More TTMs sent & a few additions

So I sent out a batch of TTM requests last night that are targeting vintage Orioles players. The first group I mailed are Billy Hunter, Duane Pillette, Don Lenhardt, Bob Hale, Sam Mele, Bob Turley and Hal Brown; all played for the Orioles in the 50s and/or 60s. I hope that they enjoy hearing from a fan of one of the teams they played on. I am way too young to have ever seen them play but still obviously need their signatures for my project.

I received a Bob Kuzava autograph in the mail that I had purchased on Beckett last week. It's a 04 Bowman Heritage Signs of Glory certified auto and I was pretty excited when it came. I hope to scan in a picture of it tonight to show it off. Apparently only 55 of these were signed by Bob so I'm happy that I was able to snag one of them.

Also, I had somehow not included the Jeff Ballard auto and a Shawn Boskie autograph on an Oriole Park card when I posted my last total so I am now up to 36.4%! That's 314 down, 549 to go...

Bring on the B's

Jeff Ballard (87-91)
Somehow I overlooked Jeff in my previous "B" post so I apologize. He had an amazing year for the 89 "why not?" Orioles, getting nearly 50% of his career wins in that single season.


Rick Bauer (01-05)
He was an OK reliever for the O's for a few years, but has never had too much success in the bigs. He was trying to make the 2009 Blue Jays when I saw him pitch this spring, but got cut within the past week.


Jose Bautista (1 of 2 that have played for the O's) (88-91)
I can't say I have much to say about Jose. It looks like he has a pretty sweet hairstyle in the picture? He was a 1987 Rule V pick by the O's from the Mets? I'm clearly struggling for something worthwhile to say here...


Steve Bechler (02) d.03
For a guy that only appeared in 3 games for the Orioles, Steve has a special spot in my heart. I can't say that I remember him pitching for the team, but I do recall what happened in spring training 2003; Steve passed away. His death was ultimately found to be due to the weight-loss supplement Ephedra and he was only 22, leaving behind a wife and young child. His death led to increased scrutiny regarding Ephedra, and eventually caused the drug to be pulled from stores, possibly saving others from Steve's fate. I think that he is the youngest Oriole player to pass away and the only one to die on the playing field. RIP Steve.



Erik Bedard (02, 04-07)
During Erik's time in Baltimore he had a rocky relationship with the media (avoiding them like the plague so the fans never got to know him well) but he was a fairly successful pitcher on the field. I think that he would have had a good shot at the 07 AL Cy Young if he hadn't been hurt for the entire month of September, and as I recall it, he almost led the league in strikeouts anyway.
AND-because of his great 2007, Andy MacPhail was able to fleece the Mariners in one of the greatest Oriole trades ever. Bedard, and his awful 2008, for Adam "CF'er of the future" Jones, George "Peril" Sherrill, Chris Tillman (if you don't know the name yet, you will once he starts piling up the Cy Youngs), Kam Mickolio and Tony Butler.