Collecting Cleveland Indians Topps team sets from 1952-present, as well as post-war minor and major league autographs.
Tony Gwynn. I got this autograph while he was coaching at San Diego State University. I am very happy that it held up so well over the years, and while I have gotten a couple of other Gwynn autographs over the years, this is still one of my favorite ones.[…]
While Granny Hamner’s career in Cleveland was not much to talk about, it should not overshadow what was a fantastic 17-season career, the majority of it coming with the Phillies.
If you were to ask who my favorite active player is, it might very well end up being Joey Votto. This autograph that I got back TTM back in 2006 is high on the list of reasons why.
Pitcher Bucky Walters had a great career and was one of the premier pitchers of the early 1940s.
I was able to get this autograph while Sean Doolittle was pitching for the University of Virginia. He would be drafted the next season, but the Oakland Athletics, with the 41st overall pick.
Every year the Joe Bauman Home Run Award to given to the minor league player with the most runs. You could not find a better person to name the award after, since Bauman is the minor league single-season home runs.
First baseman Daric Barton was a huge prospect while in the minors. Taken 28th overall by the Cardinals in the 2003 draft, from 2005-2008 he was one of the Top 65 prospects in the game. When the Oakland traded Mark Mulder in 2004 to the Cardinals, Barton, along with Kiko[…]
Jeff Heath is one of the great underrated Cleveland Indians.
Joe Blanton had a very nice 13-season career. I will always remember him most as being part of those amazing mid-2000’s Oakland rotations that included the likes of Tim Hudson, Barry Zito, Mark Mulder, Dan Haren, Rich Harden, and Kirk Saarloos. I got this autograph right after he was drafted,[…]
Andy Fox was my go-to utility player when I was a young man playing MVP Baseball on my Nintendo 64. Not sure why I fell on him as my super-utility guy, but I did. He would almost end up getting a full season of at-bats since I would bring him in any chance the platoon splits would work.