A Few Upgrades

I've spent this past week in Sarasota, spending time with my family, watching some Orioles Spring Training games, and getting as many autographs as humanly possible. So I'll make this quick.

I've recently been able to add a couple personalized upgrades to my collection via some Chris Potter signings. Chris is based in the Baltimore area and consistently sets up signings with a number of former Orioles players, which has allowed me to get some players who don't typically sign TTM to add my name to their signature.

Most recently, former pitchers Dick Drago and Roger Nelson personalized their Orioles Crown cards for me.

Also, one of my fellow Orioles autograph collectors and frequent trade partner, Russell, hooked me up with his custom Wally Westlake Orioles card in a trade. It's certainly an upgrade over Wally's "Orioles" Crown card that pictures him in a Pirates uniform and goes to show that the producers of that set could have done a better job picturing all of the players in O's uniforms if they had done some more digging. But it did come out in 1991, before we had the luxury of the internet, so I'll give them that.

Spider Celebrates A Birthday

Today is Roger Nelson's 67th birthday, so I figured that it was a good time to feature my autograph of the one-time Oriole.

 

He pitched in the Majors for parts of nine seasons from 1967-74 & '76 for the White Sox, Orioles, Royals and Reds. He spent part of the 1968 season with the Orioles after being included (essentially as a throw-in) in the trade that sent Little Luis Aparicio to South Side of Chi-Town. The expansion Royals plucked Roger from the Orioles as their first pick in the 1969 expansion draft and he went on to spend the majority of his MLB career with the Royals. 

One of the interesting things I read about Roger is that he earned the nickname "Spider" while playing high school basketball. He was so adept at stealing the ball that some people thought he played like he had a few extra arms. Also, one of the major reason's that he was able to develop into a Major League pitcher was thanks to his father, who built him a pitcher's mound in the backyard of their home and continued to move home plate further away as Roger grew up.

I got this card signed through a private signing on SCN last year.  Roger doesn't  seem to sign at all otherwise, so I was very happy to get his only actual Orioles card signed. His '68 Topps card is officially an Orioles card, but Nelson is clearly wearing a White Sox uniform in the picture on the card. The Sox logos have been airbrushed out, but this Crown card is his only card that shows him in an Orioles uniform.

As far as his signature goes, his first name is pretty legible but you can't see much more than the N-e-l of his last name, and that's if you know what you're looking for.

Former Orioles Private Signings

For you fellow autograph collectors, specifically those of you who are into Orioles autographs, there are a few private signings with former O's that I came across on SportsCollectors.Net that you will probably be interested in. I'm sure that some of you are already aware of these and have sent your items in, but I hope this might help at least someone out there.

As a disclaimer-I have never dealt with either of the signing organizers before, so I can't vouch that it will be an easy transaction. I sent Crown cards in to both signings, so if you choose to do the same, at least we will be in the same boat. Let's hope for the best!

SCN user SIGNATURES is holding a signing with Roger Nelson who is a 0% TTM signer.
Roger has 2 O's cards; this 1968 Topps Rookie card (which I don't own so I borrowed this image from another website) and his Crown card. I don't know whose uni Roger is wearing on this card but it doesn't look like it was black and orange. I sent in a Crown card for this signing.


Here is all of the information on that signing. I don't think you need to be on SCN to participate, but I would email them just to check.

Our Reds, Royals, Orioles, White Sox 8X10 $14.00
Our M.L. Baseball 30.00
Your Baseball 20.00
Your Card 8.00
Your Flat 10.00
Your Bulky Item 20.00
Inscriptions $5.00

Ordering instructions: Your SASE or returned shipping is fine. All other items add $6.00 for small items and $10.00 for bulky items. All items must be received by June 5th.

Send all payments to:

ALL STAR CARDS AND COLLECTIBLES
4290 SOUTH UNIVERSITY DRIVE
DAVIE,FL 33328
Phone: 954 577-0247
CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

Email: Signatures4u@aol.com
or allstarjef@aol.com

SCN user 4192HITS is hosting a card show and has Tommy Harper lined up as a guest. Tommy is a 7% TTM signer, which to me pretty much is like a 0% chance I would ever get my card back if I sent it directly to him.

Tommy has two O's card, this '77 Topps, which I do own but still borrowed this scan from another site due to laziness, and his Crown card. I again chose the Crown card to send in for the signing since the '77 Topps has the facsimile autograph already on it.


Here's the information for that signing...again I would check if you need to be on SCN to participate in this one, but I doubt it since he has his own website.

Tommy Harper will be an autograph guest from 10:30 to 12:30 at my big sports card show on Sunday, June 20 at the Holiday Inn in Mansfiled, Massachusetts. Mail order autograph on your card $9 for 1, $7 each additional plus SASE. Mail order autograph on your any other item, $11 plus return shipping, no charge for an inscription. For all the details, go to www.cardboardpromotions.com &, as necessary, click on "mail order autographs".

Good luck everyone, I hope that helps someone out!