Showing posts with label Jimmy Williams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jimmy Williams. Show all posts

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Orioles Coaches Collection

At times, I almost forget that I am still trying to add a few Orioles' coaches autographs to wrap up my managers & coaches collection. That mini-collection has never been a top priority for me, but I have been able to acquire signatures of all of the managers in O's history, as well as all of the coaches but two. I'm still also looking for a few upgrades as well.  Here is my need list as things currently stand and what I'm looking for:
Carlos Bernhardt- Any autograph
Minnie Mendoza- 1981 Miami Orioles, 1988 French Bray
Tom Oliver- 1954 Topps coach card
Ralph Rowe- 1984 Orioles postcard
Ray Scarborough- Any autograph


The various autographs in my coaches collection really run the gambit visually, much more than my Orioles player collection which is probably 90% cards, and as many Orioles cards as possible. However, it's pretty rare that coaches are included on cards, so I will gladly snag anything that's signed.

I would say about 50% of my coaches collection features autographs on team postcards, which is typically the only item produced of the coaches that picture them in an Orioles uniform.





A few index cards reside in my collection as well, but notice these are mostly guys that I am on the lookout to upgrade.

Jimmie Adair

Minnie Mendoza
 Tom Oliver

Ralph Rowe


There are also a few random major release sets that included coaches, but that largely seems to be a thing of the past.




While some others were featured on cards in an oddball release over the years. These are both French Bray cards from two different years.




Some of the guys were also coaches in the Orioles minor league system, so I have signed cards of them from the team sets issued by the various minor league affiliates.





To be continued...

Friday, August 14, 2009

Catching up on O's Alumni Signings in time for tonight's 1989 "Why Not" alumni signing

I know that I have somewhat dropped the ball on showcasing my Orioles Alumni pictures and autographs. So today I am going to cover the most recent signings that I failed to blog about.

As a refresher, the Orioles have been holding these signings at every Monday & Thursday home game this season in the MASN tent on Eutaw St. Between two & four former Orioles and coaches show up for an hour, between 1.5 and 30 minutes till first pitch, to sign for fans. It has been awesome and a major boon to my project over the course of the season. Without further delay...


Monday July 27-Ross Grimsley, Gary Roenicke, John Habyan & Ken Gerhart

Gary Roenicke Ross Grimsley

Ross was a very nice guy. He smiled at most of the fans and was joking around with people. Gary showed up late and definitely acted like a former ballplayer. In my brief encounter with him, he seemed a little full of himself.


Ken Gerhart John Habyan

Ken was a nice guy, and joked with Kalina that he was going to charge her for signing with a blue sharpie. John seemed cool, but a little quiet. I feel like Ken looks the same as he does on the 20 year old cards I was having him sign while I wouldn't have recognized John at all.


Thursday July 30-Larry Sheets, Jimmy Williams (1B coach from 81-89) & Bill Swaggerty

Larry Sheets Jimmy Williams Bill Swaggerty

Since this was a day game, Kalina was in charge, and I wasn't at this signing. But I have met Sheets and Swaggerty before and they were both nice. I keep trying to type Sheetz as opposed to Sheets. Maybe I'm hungry, I don't know.


Monday August 10- Dick Williams, Joe Durham & Billy Hunter

Dick Williams Joe Durham Billy Hunter

Joe & Billy have done this other times this season, and Billy is especially nice. I felt bad for these older guys since this was a very hot day.

Getting HOFer Dick Williams to one of these signings was a big deal. He normally charges something like $35 per auto so I was pumped to get my card signed for free.


Dick was just elected to the HOF last year; but for his time as a manager which wasn't with the Orioles, but he was on the O's during his playing days. Since I just visited the Hall, I said something like "I was just at the HOF and got to see your plaque. I thought it looked pretty good." To which Dick replied "So did I." Funny stuff. I also found it humorous that Dick was drinking a Heineken Light during the signing. (It's not pictured above because he was hiding it under the table.)



Tonight is a 1989 O's mini-reunion signing, with Mickey Tettleton, Mike Devereaux, Dave Schmidt & Dave Johnson all signing on Eutaw St. I hope to see you there!