Finally Knocked Bako Off My List

After years of searching for a Paul Bako signed Orioles card, I now have one in my collection. The signature won't win any awards for the caliber of sharpie used, nor penmanship, but at this point, I'm just thrilled to scratch Paul's name off of my list.

I had just profiled Paul as Oriole #797 back in December. I now have an Orioles signed 8x10 and a signed certified authentic Old Judge card of him for trade if anyone needs them.

It's always interesting to me which players I have had trouble with; there seems to be an eclectic combination of more recent players with just one, or maybe a few different Orioles cards, many of which were issued after the player had already left town, as well as some long-deceased types who are difficult because they haven't signed any autographs for many years. Once I knock a player off of my need list, I typically stop thinking about them, so this is probably the last you will hear about Paul around these parts.

Oriole #797- Paul Bako

Throughout the offseason, I'm going to count down Orioles players from more recent years all the way back to #1 in 1954, based on whose autographs I have yet to display on this site. Up today is Oriole #797 Paul Bako. (I got ahead of myself when I listed #790, Fernando Tatis, yesterday. Whoops!)

A month or so ago, I purchased a lot of signed Orioles 8x10s on ebay. I focused on players who either never had an Orioles card produced of them or that I still need a signed Orioles item of, and Paul falls into that latter group. The Orioles back-up catcher during the 2007 season was included in two late season card sets as an Oriole; Topps Update and Upper Deck Series 2. I've tried a few different avenues to get one of those cards signed but I haven't had any success, yet at least.

Paul was a big league catcher for 12 seasons from 1998-2009 and played for 11 different teams during his time in the Majors so could accurately be deemed a journeyman. He only played in more than 81 games three times during his career, in his 1996 rookie season with the Tigers, 2002 for the Brewers, and 2008 for the Reds. In true journeyman fashion, his time with the Orioles lasted only one season; he was behind the plate for 60 games for the O's in 2007.

Way back in March 2009, in only the 9th post I ever wrote, I featured Paul's autographed Old Judge card, along with a few other autographs. (Please forgive my writing style from those days, I was still trying to develop my voice.)  That card will remain in my collection, along with this 8x10, until I'm able to add his a signed copy of his Orioles card to my collection.

Beginning of the B's

Harold Baines (93-95, 97-99, 00)
So with the good news yesterday that he was elected to the O's HOF, it seems fitting that I start posting my "B" autographs today and that HB was leading off (even though he was always more of a middle of the order type hitter). Harold was on the O's during the some of the years that the team was still good, or at least competitive, so I associate him with some good memories. He seemed to always be hitting home runs or hitting in the clutch. I've hoped for years that the O's could find a base-coaching job for him but no luck so far.

Paul Bako (07)
The backup catcher for the 07 season, he was good defensively but not too hot with the stick.
And I don't know how obvious it is to see here, but this is one of those tiny Old Judge cards. I was never a fan of them since they tended to hide amongst my other cards. But I shouldn't hold that against Mr. Bako, he seemed like a good guy.


James Baldwin (05)
Wow, this is an ugly card. There is so much going on that it takes the focus away from the autograph. I think that the creator of Zubaz must have been working for Fleer in the late 90s, but hey, at least all of his information is listed on the front and we're reminded of his name and team twice. Great job Fleer!
Now that I got that out of the way, I do remember getting this signed by James when the White Sox were at Camden Yards sometime in the late 90s. He seemed cool enough, but I think that he was probably disappointed in me for choosing such a nauseating card for him to sign!


Kevin Bass (95)
So I know that I got this card signed at an O's game but I don't remember anything about the experience. Interestingly enough, the Orioles were the last team Baldwin & Bass played for in their careers. And that is quite a mustache in the picture, well done on that Kevin!


Tony Batista (01-03)
What exactly is signed on this card? I think that I have seen a few of his autographs and they all looked like this. Does he have a really long name? Is it an inscription? I have no idea.