Collecting Cleveland Indians Topps team sets from 1952-present, as well as post-war minor and major league autographs.
Abel Duarte was signed as international free agent by Yankees in October 2013 out of the Dominican Republic. 2018 was the first season where he spent any real time in affiliate ball. And it was a very decent showing. In Low-A he pitched 23.2 innings in relief, allowing only 20 hits[…]
Matt LaPorta was a really well thought of prospect with the Brewers. He was drafted 7th overall in the 2007 Draft, and in 2008 was rated the #23 prospect in baseball. His mix of power, speed and contact skills made him one of the best prospects in the game. Then[…]
J.B. Wendelken was drafted by the Red Sox in the 13th round of the 2012 draft out of Middle Georgia College. He has been part of two trades since then. In 2012 he was part of a three-team, six-player trade that saw him sent to the White Sox (the Red Sox[…]
Daniel Mengden as drafted by the Astros in the 4th round of the 2014 draft out of Texas A&M. He came to the A’s in the July 2015 Scott Kazmir deal. Mengden was never a flashy prospect, but his instincts and ability to throw strikes meant that he projected to be[…]
There are not many players that I was more excited to see the majors than Jason Heyward. After being the 14th overall pick of the Braves in 2007 he moved quickly through the minors. By 2009 he was considered by many to be the #1 prospect in all of baseball.[…]
When this card came out in 2012 it was one of the more popular cards in the set. And with good reason! By the end of 2012, Andrew McCutchen was already a two-time All-Star, Silver Slugger and Gold Glove winner. He ended the 2012 season 3rd in MVP voting. And[…]
Albert Pujols is a first ballot Hall of Famer: 2001 Rookie of the Year Ten All-Star selections Six Silver Sluggers Two Gold Gloves 2003 batting title Three-time National League MVP Two time World Champion 633 career home runs–which is good for 6th all-time. Just the amount of black ink here…is impressive:[…]
I absolutely loved Jason Stokes when he was coming up. I was able to get him once through the mail, though the card he signed did not turn out. He is–in my experience–impossible through the mail now. Why did I like him? He was a huge prospect. For seven seasons[…]
I was really happy to add this autograph to my collection this week– it’s one less guy that I have to stress out about getting this coming season. Richie Palacios is one of the Indians better prospects. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2018 draft out of Towson[…]
Barry Bonds was a very good baseball player. Maybe one of the best ever. So good that I imagine if he was not such a dick during his playing days people might be willing to overlook his PED use and he would already be in the Hall of Fame. Looks[…]