Knocking a Few Players Off

Of my need list, of course. At this point in my Orioles autograph collection, I think it registers as a minor miracle (in my warped view of life anyway) anytime that I'm able to scratch another name off of my list. The fact that I've been able to knock two of my needs off in recent weeks is truly remarkable. I now am searching for just 21 upgrades to "complete" my collection, including two players who were included in the 2012 Topps Update set that I'm hoping to have taken care of before the season starts.

I wrote about Luis back in November, and at that time, I had a signed copy of one of his Padres cards in my collection. I have been searching for a signed copy of this Orioles Crown card, the only card that pictures him as an "Oriole" (were there seriously no pictures of him wearing an Orioles uniform?!?). Luckily, I was able to get in on a signing with him on SportsCollectors.Net recently, and was even able to get my card personalized, just how I like it. Although, I can't make out his inscription, and am pretty sure it's in Spanish, which makes this card a very unique member of my collection. 

Ah, Ronny Paulino, who seemed so opposed to signing autographs last season. (He was one of the very few players who have ever shut me down in a one on one situation at the stadium, made even more confusing as all he seemed to be doing was sauntering down the foul line.) And the reports I got from a few friends from AAA Norfolk (where he spent a large chunk of the season) didn't indicate that he possibly ever picked up a pen all season long. When I saw that Topps was including him in the '12 Update set, I wasn't pleased, and doubted that I would ever be able to get one signed. Luckily, one of the graphers who works in the Dominican during the off-season sold off a few of these on ebay and I happily snatched one up. At least it's in my collection now, and he is pictured rocking the orange uni to boot.

Upgrading Rich Coggins

For a number of years, it was pretty hard to track down an autograph of Rich Coggins. That is, until the past year and a half or so during which Rich has completed a few private signings, so is signature is more widely available if not still somewhat hard to find. 

Well, I was lucky enough to get in on one of the private signings and get my card signed and personalized by the man who came in 6th place in the 1973 Rookie of the Year voting during his time with the O's. All told, Rich played three seasons in Baltimore during his five year MLB career.

The interesting part about the signed & personalized Orioles Crown card above is that it is considered to be Rich's "good signature". I mean, I know that my signature is nothing to write home about, but when that's considered your good signature, what does the bad one look like?

This is what the bad one looks like, and is what the Crown card replaced in my collection. So if anyone out there needs a bad signature of Rich, I've got one available.

The Final Countdown- Heathcliff Slocumb

I'm at the point in my collection, needing only twenty-three upgrades and any autograph of three other players, where it's a cause for celebration (for me, at least) anytime I can knock a name off my list. Since I'm currently out of unpossible autographs (signatures of deceased Orioles) to feature every Friday, I'm going to start posting any autographs that I acquire from my shrinking need list. 

Up today is Heathcliff Slocumb, who I wrote about back in June as part of one of my Orioles season debuts posts. Since that time, I came across a private signing with him that was being held through a private promoter on SportsCollectors.Net. You see, Heathcliff is one of those tricky players who had just a single Orioles card produced of him, late in his career. Many recent players largely stop signing once they retire and some avoid charity events as well, which make getting their autographs a tall task. If you want just any autograph of Heathcliff, many signed cards from his time as a member of the Cubs and Phillies are available online, but when you are trying to find a signed copy of a specific card, you're typically going to be out of luck. Fortunately, this signing helped me to knock off a tough name from my need list and I was able to get the card personalized to boot, so I'm pretty thrilled to add this to my collection.

But I do have to point out that his signature is quite a bit more abbreviated than this in-person autograph he signed for me back in 1993 or '94. It's possibly due to the small white space and personalization on the O's card, but it's hard to say.

Andy Van Slyke Private Signing

Recently, a fellow autograph collector on Sportscollectors.net hosted a signing with Andy at a golf tournament and I was very happy to knock him off of my need list. If you're an autograph collector and you've never checked out SCN, you are missing out. They don't pay me anything to say this, but it's my favorite site for researching TTM information, trading with fellow collectors, and learning about private signings that are being held around the country. So click the link, and then come back to finish reading my post!

Anyway, Andy is only about a 1% TTM signer and never returned the request I sent him in April 2009, so I don't think that one will ever come back. At the time I sent it, Andy was in his fourth season as the Detroit Tigers first base coach. I also tried to get his autograph when the Tigers were in Baltimore for a series during that season, but even though Andy was standing next to the left field wall at one point during batting practice, he didn't sign for me, or anyone else. 

I was a big fan of the Pirates growing up, which I know isn't very common for older O's fans who experienced the Orioles heart-breaking World Series losses to the Bucs in 1971 & '77, but that was before my time, and since Sid Bream was from my hometown of Carlisle, PA, I was a Pirates fan back then.  Besides Sid, Andy was one of my favorite players on the the team and I still have a cracked bat of Andy's that I bought at a Pittsburgh collectors store back in the day.

Andy played in the Major Leagues for 13 season with the Cardinals, Pirates, Orioles & Phillies and is best remembered for his 1988-93 seasons during which Andy was a three time All-Star, five time Gold Glove winner, three time MVP vote getter, and two time Silver Slugger. He also had one of the most powerful arms in all of baseball, and supposedly could reach 100 mph from the mound during batting practice. 

His time in Baltimore was very short; he only played in 17 games at the start of the '95 season before being traded to the Phillies, but he was a big enough star that there are four or five cards that depict him in a Orioles uniform. And now his autograph is a part of my collection, after all of those years, I'd say it's about time.

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!

Chris Potter Private Signing Pays Off

Since I run an ad-free blog, I normally don't go out of my way to pimp any commercial websites. But I recently participated in a private signing through Chris Potter Sports and I was very pleased with the experience, so I wanted to share it here.

Chris started his business this year and operates out of a Baltimore suburb, so I feel a slight connection to him because of that. He seems like a nice guy and he has been very helpful and responsive every time that I have been in touch with him. I know that you are always taking a chance when you send some money in an envelope with your card. You have to hope that the player or signing coordinator is honest and will deliver what you paid for. And Chris came through for me with this card...

I nearly missed the deadline for his Tommy Davis signing but luckily got my card to Chris the day before he was leaving for the signing. I had the card back in just over a week from when I sent it to him and he didn't cash my check until the card had been signed, so those are some of the reasons why I feel confident that Chris will responsibly handle anything sent his way. He lists all of this signings on the website I linked above as well as on SCN under the username Rip8cp1.

Chris also has very reasonable prices. I was able to get my own Tommy Davis card signed for the same price as many ebay buy-it-now prices. I prefer being able to chose the card that is signed and I hadn't seen this '76 Topps signed for some time and it was the card that I wanted him to sign. It worked out perfectly.

So go check out Chris Potter Sports. He has a few big name signings coming up.