2026 National Free Signer - Geovany Soto

Geovany Soto was the next free signer at this year's National. I had sent most of his cards to Max over the years, but was still able to find a couple to take with me to the show. The above 2010 Topps Heritage was one of them. This is such a good looking card and I'm glad I got it signed. 

I worked out a deal with the vendor I had been talking to all show; I took a bunch of his Soto cards and some wild card vouchers and went through the line for him so he wouldn't have to leave his booth. We split the cards, so I ended up with several extras.

I also got the other card I brought from home (this 2017 Topps) signed. Since I already had one in the album, I got this one done in red paint pen.

Soto (b. 1983) played in the majors from 2005 to 2017 for the Cubs, Rangers, A's, White Sox and Angels. He had 619 hits, 108 home runs and a .245 batting average. He was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2008. He was also an All Star that season and finished 13th in the NL MVP race.

Cubs Convention and Christmas From Max

Finding folks who "get me" as far as collecting goes can be tough at times.  One person who really does, is my good friend, Max.  Like me, he enjoys getting stuff signed, and our continued partnership has resulted in me passing off a ton of cards to him; with him returning several back to me signed, so I can add them to the autograph albums.  Max has been a tremendous help in getting my boxes condensed down every season.  I always enjoy his messages asking me for cards of lists of current and former players.  It keeps stuff cycling out of the boxes, and keeps me from being crushed under an avalanche of junk wax era stuff.  Recently, Max sent me the attendance list for this year's Cubs Convention.  I searched my boxes and came up with two large packages (and almost had a third, before we ran out of time) of cards for the event.  Additionally, Max took one of my ROMLBs that I have and got newly minted Hall of Famer, Pat Hughes, on a ball for my Hall of Fame collection.

Max took a lot of cards that I had tried to get signed via 50/50s this summer.  So, it was easy to go through the Box of Shame and try one more time to get a few of the guys that my 50/50 partners may have missed.  Owen Caissie was one of them.  I had held onto the above Panini Prizm for a while, hoping that I would see Caissie via Myrtle Beach.  I think I got this at a card show during COVID.

I pulled several Ray Burris cards (and found even more this week while going through my boxes I just got in from Conrad in Columbia).  I was glad to get some of these random Topps cards signed.

Max has gotten me Bob Dernier a few times before, so I wasn't sure which of these that I already had.  They'll all go into the album together, with the rest of this 2023 Cubs Convention stack.

I thought I would have had a lot more Carlos Marmol cards, but I didn't find nearly as many of them as I would have thought.  I did find a lot of Ryan Sweeney, so it was nice to move those out of the boxes.

Max hit some of the random Cubs team cards I sent; these two were signed by Jon Lieber.  Even though I will put these in the album with each other, they are labeled on the back with sticky notes, so I don't forget who signed them.

I had gotten Lieber TTM in the past, so I need to check and see what cards I already have.  I was glad to see the two older Bowmans in the stack; they are 2006 and 2007 Bowman.

I had tried Reed Johnson TTM, but never got my cards back.  It was nice to be able to pull these out of the TTM leftovers pile and get them out.  I wish the ones I had sent him would have come back, as well.  Still, these are nice.

I was really happy to get the 2005 Donruss Champions card back signed.  This product was one of the first I purchased when I got back into collecting back in 2005.  I don't have many of them left, and even fewer in my autograph album.

Mike Fontenot was another guy who I had gotten TTM in the past, but I had gotten a 2002 Topps Traded Chrome; so these should be new to the albums.  I believe Max had gotten me a Geovany Soto or two in years past, but I think these three are ones I don't already have.

Max sent me a Christmas gift back in December, as well.  Unfortunately, I had no way to coordinate my needs list with my friends who were helping me build the set, so I got doubles of Tim Flannery and Jeff Hamilton.  The Flannery is in blue, so I will upgrade the set with this one, and the other will go in the regular autograph album with the Hamilton that Max sent.

Thank you doesn't say enough for how much Max helps me with the collection.  We are pushing 10 years of knowing each other (next year, I think), and I am very happy that we have been able to keep this thing going.  He is an awesome guy, and it has been really cool watching him grow up.  He has always been one of the best friends that I made during collecting and graphing.  I can't wait til the National this summer in Chicago, when I can see him in person, again.  As always, thank you so much for the cards and the Christmas gift, Max.  Also, thanks for making it so easy to cut these deals, I know there is a mutual give and take with me providing cards and you providing signatures, and it is really appreciated on my end.  Thank you, buddy!

By the way, Hughes is Hall of Famer #168 in my collection.  I haven't added a broadcaster in a while (and I have one that I still haven't posted, or counted.  I need to get on that...).

A Bunch of Autos From Max

My good friend, Max, just sent me a nice stack of IP autos that he had gotten done recently.  I contributed some of the cards to his efforts, so it was nice to see some of them come back signed.  I like the above 2007 Topps CoSigners of Joe Crede.  I may have to send it off to Tadahito Iguchi, as well, and complete the card.

Max tossed in a couple minor league cards that I know I didn't contribute.  It will be cool to add them to the autograph album, for sure.

I was especially glad to move the several 2000 Topps Crede rookies and the 2007 Allen & Ginters that I had.  Some of that stuff can be hard to move, to when I get a chance to, I jump on it.

Here are a few more guys that Max added.  I'm pretty sure I didn't provide the 2013 Topps Geovany Soto, but if I had, then good, because I have a ton of 2013 Topps and I definitely am happy to thin out that box.

I know I sent Max some Rafael Furcal cards, so it is very likely the 2006 Topps, 2010 Topps and 2013 Topps came from me.  I like the minor league card, as well, because I wouldn't have had this one in my collection at all, if not for Max.

These two Jose Contreras cards appear to have gotten smudged a bit.  No worries, they still will have a good home in my album with the rest of the cards.

Finally, here are a couple Carl Everett cards.  I'm not sure if I sent any of Everett to Max in the past, but I have a ton of 1991 Bowman and don't often get much of a chance to move any.

Thank you so much for the signed cards, Max!  I look forward to the next list of names you send me so I can move some stuff out of my boxes again.

Christmas Gift From Michael

Slowly, I am catching up on posts for Christmas, at least.  I know I have said that the last few posts, but I do feel like I am on the home stretch for the Christmas stuff that I received.  One of the biggest packages I got was from my friend, Michael.  He filled up a box with autographed stuff, and a few other items.

He gave me signed baseballs of Orioles 2016 #1 draft pick, Cody Sedlock, former pitcher Jason Berken, former O's coach, Jim Presley and also a balled Michael signed himself.  He also included an 8 x 10 of former closer Chris Ray, and an Orioles giveaway hat.

Michael also gave me this really nice bat that he signed and inscribed using a gold paint pen (I think it is a paint pen; it looks bolder than a sharpie).  The bat is really nice (and really heavy).  Had Michael not signed and inscribed it, I would be tempted to take a few swings with it in the batting cages.  Its a really sweet bat!

Finally, Michael sent along four signed baseball cards.  The Geovany Soto 2009 Topps is only the second 2009 Topps I have in the collection.  I have a ton of 1981 Topps, but you can never go wrong with adding a Hall of Famer.  Michael also has a relationship with Orioles prospect, Adrian Marin, so he was able to get the two bottom cards signed for me.

Thank you so much for the awesome gift(s), Michael!  You always go above and beyond, and it is definitely appreciated!