National Free Signer - Kevin Mitchell

There was only one free signer at the National that I had interest in getting on a ball.  I found this 1990 official All Star ball for a good price on Ebay and figured I would get Kevin Mitchell to sign it.  His line was pretty long, like all of the others, but this one was worth it.

Mitchell inscribed his uniform number and 89 NL MVP on the ball.  He was surprised that I wanted it on the side panel below the All Star logo, asking me a couple times "don't you want it on the Sweet Spot?"  I wanted the logo to show with the auto, and it looks good, I think.

Mitchell (b. 1962) played in the majors from 1984, 1986 to 1994 and 1996 to 1998 for the Mets, Padres, Giants, Mariners, Reds, Red Sox, Indians and A's.  He had 1,173 hits, 234 home runs and a .284 career average.  He was an All Star in 1989 and 1990.  In his 1989 MVP season, he his 47 homers with 125 RBIs and a .291 batting average.  Mitchell won the World Series with the Mets in 1986.  He appeared on the 2004 Hall of Fame ballot and received 0.4% of the vote.