Happy Birthday Tippy & Joe

Two former Orioles are celebrating birthdays today as Tippy Martinez turns 61 and Joe Orsulak hits 49.

 

Thanks to both of them for being nice enough to personalize cards for my collection!

Orioles Alumni Autographs

Germany, my second favorite World Cup team after the US, was just eliminated in their semi-final game against Spain so I'm not in the mood to write much.

Here are some autographs from the recent Alumni Signers at the MASN Booth on Eutaw Street prior to Monday and Thursday Orioles home games...

I've heard about this in the past but Tippy personally confirmed it to me. He really doesn't like signing cards that feature him with a mustache. He didn't say why, it just seems like he thinks that it makes him look silly I guess.

Doesn't look like Joe caught the ball...

Bordick was in town to help the team with infield skills.
Now if only someone could show up to position Adam Jones...

I was excited to get two cards from this old Keys set signed. Calvin commented about it being an old card while Joe didn't say much because of the heat. The signing booth gets awfully hot, especially for the older guys like Joe. The sun shines right in there and makes it pretty uncomfortable for the signers.

First Alumni Autographs of the Year

These guys were the first Orioles Alumni Series Signers of the year and appeared at the MASN tent on Eutaw Street on Monday April 12. I've already shown off the Rick Krivda orange uni autograph I got, so I won't re-post that one.


It's always nice to see Paul Blair, he is such a nice guy. He also had some sort of health scare over the winter, so it was great to see him at the Yard again.



Tippy made his second or third appearance.

And Boog made an appearance to advertise his BBQ stand, a little further down Eutaw Street. He didn't sit down but signed for those of us near the booth while he was there.

Monday's Orioles Alumni Autograph Series

Monday's game marked the return of the Orioles Alumni Autograph series to the MASN tent on Eutaw Street. The signings occur prior to every Monday and Thursday home game throughout the season. The alumni players normally sign from 5:30-6:30 and it's a great way to add some autographs of former O's to your collection. Two of the guys who signed at the tent last season, Mike Cuellar and Curt Motton, have passed away in the past year. Which is a good reminder that life can be short and the end can come unexpectedly, so it's probably a good idea to get these autographs while you still can. I hope that didn't come off as morbid, and I'm certainly not implying that death is around the corner for any of the signers!

Anyway, the three former O's who signed on Monday were Rick Krivda (who signed this orange uni card for me, suh-weet), Paul Blair and Tippy Martinez. Honestly, they were all good players, especially Blair and Tippy, but it was an uninspiring start to the alumni auto season. All of those guys signed last year and have been around at multiple O's events over the years. Selfishly, I have multiple autographs from all three of them and I was hoping for someone new to add to my collection.

Alumni Autograph Pictures & new TTMs in!

To start out, I want to mention that two players made their Orioles debut yesterday: Chad Moeller & Robert Andino. Add those two to the list of guys I don't have autographs from!

So here are the pictures of the players and autographs my girlfriend, Kalina, snagged for me at the game yesterday. While I have some Bumbry & Tippy autographs from over the years: it's pretty funny that Billy Hunter sent back my TTM on Monday when I had no idea he was scheduled to be at the Yard on Thursday!

Tippy, Bumbry & Hunter

From Kalina's first hand info, Mr. Hunter is a very nice guy and seemed pleasantly surprised to see the card she brought him to sign. Prior to seeing this card, I had no idea that Billy had been a base coach for the O's at one point!



This is a great card of Tippy, he normally was clean shaven but decided to rock a pretty sweet mustache in '86 or '87! He threw out the first pitch of the game after he was done signing.

And the always entertaining Al Bumbry, who later appeared on MASN's pre-game show!



I also got my 2nd recent Oriole TTM request back in this John Halama card. He has a pretty cool, loopy signature and signed within about 2 weeks.


And Mr. Mele was also kind enough to return my request. He signed in about a week and his signature seems to be pretty consistent with what it was when Topps used it for this original card back in the 50s.


Let's hope the O's can continue their winning ways by taking the series from the new AL East powerhouse Tampa Bay Rays this weekend. See you at the Yard!

Time for the Brooms & Alumni Autograph Series

Since the O's have a chance to sweep the Yanks for the first time in like 4 years, it's hard not to be excited today. The O's have won the first two games of the season the right way, with good starts from Guthrie & Koji and by mashing the ball off of CC and Wang. It would be excellent to start the season 3-0, especially to the detriment of the Yanks.

I've also been meaning to write about the newly implemented Orioles' Alumni Autograph Series which will bring over 20 former O's players out to the Yard to sign autographs throughout the season. This is a perfect year for this to start for me since it coincides with my refocused autograph project. While I have autographs from most of the guys that will be appearing, there are 4 or 5 that I have yet to add to my collection, so I'm pumped.
Two or three players will be at the MASN booth on Eutaw Street from 1.5 hours until 30 minutes prior to the first pitch during every Monday and Thursday home game. Today was the first appearance with Al Bumbry, Tippy Martinez & Billy Hunter signing; my awesome girlfriend was able to get them all for me while I was at work!

Here is the complete list of players that will be signing throughout the season:
(* indicates an auto I need)

Paul Blair
Al Bumbry
Ken Dixon
*Joe Durham
Ross Grimsley
Dick Hall
*Ron Hansen
Bill Hunter
Dave Johnson
Rick Krivda
*Calvin Maduro
Tippy Martinez
Scott McGregor
*John Miller
*Curt Motton
Tim Nordbrook
Joe Orsulak
Larry Sheets
John Stefero
Bill Swaggerty
*Jimmy Williams

So come out to the Yard and check out the past players. It should be a fun season!