Unpossible Autograph Friday- Dick Williams

Hall of Famer Dick Williams passed away yesterday from a brain aneurysm, he was 82. His death continues the depressing streak of former Orioles' passing away; Dick is the third former O to die this month, joining Jim Northrup and Ted Gray on the other side.

While Dick was elected to the Hall for his 21 season managerial career during which he became the only manager to take three different teams to the World Series (winning two as the skipper of the A's), he also played in the Majors for thirteen seasons before he took to managing. He spent parts of five seasons as a member of the O's in the late fifties and early sixties.

Dick was one of the guests at an Orioles Alumni Signing back in the summer of 2009 and easily one of the most entertaining guys who have ever been lined up to appear. You can't see it because the Orioles handlers kept reminding him to keep it hidden, but Dick was drinking a Heineken Light during the signing. He sure seemed to have a "devil may care" attitude and was going to do his own thing. At the time, I had just been to the Hall of Fame and mentioned to Dick that I saw his plaque and that it looked good. Dick said something like "I thought so too", and seemed to be geniuinely happy to have been inducted. This was probably the most interaction I've had with a former Oriole who has since passed away.

RIP Dick.

A Few More Orioles Alumni Autos & a SCN trade

Here are a few autographs that somehow slipped through the cracks when I last posted about my O's Alumni autographs with a bonus SCN trade if you make it to the end of the post!


HOFer Dick Williams has definitely been the highlight of the year. Also, from what I hear he normally charges like $35 an auto so getting it for free was awesome.

1960 AL ROY Ron Hansen has also been a nice addition to the collection.

Fruit Loops! Yes, people brought boxes of the cereal for him to sign. Baltimore doesn't forget.

I have too many Krivda autos, does anybody want or need any?

Bob Bailor 1975-76

This auto came to me in a SportsCollectors.Net trade with user cook4888. Even though it's not on an Orioles card, I didn't have Bob's auto so I was happy.

Bob only played in 14 games for the Birds over the '75 & '76 seasons, so there isn't much to say about his time in Baltimore. He was blocked by a few players you might have heard of; Brooks, the Blade, and Bobby Grich. Understandably, Bob wasn't going to displace any of those guys.

He was a utility player (as you can see by the card broadly listing his position as "infield-outfield"), and stuck around the Majors for 11 seasons. As the Blue Jays first selection in the 1976 expansion draft, Bob made his way into the Jays' record books by hitting the first leadoff HR in team history.

Bobby B. was also regarded as being very tough to strike out, as evidenced by him only whiffing 164 times in 3206 plate appearances: Bob only struck out in 5% of his at-bats! I think he could teach a thing or two to the Mark Reynolds and Ryan Howards of the world who seem to strike out 75% of the time.

After his playing career was over, Bob became a Minor League manager in the Blue Jays system and eventually was a coach on the Blue Jays from 92-95, earning World Series rings in '92 & '93.

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!