An Owen White Autograph From Gerard

While cleaning up my stack of backlogged autographs, I found this 2024 Topps signed by former Wood Duck, Owen White.  The card was given to me by my.good buddy, Gerard.  I had sent one to White during Sprong Training, but it never came back.  Oh well.  Let's check his current career stats.

White (b. 1999) has played in the majors since 2023.  He has gotten into 5 games and is 0-1 with 4 strike outs and a 16.71 ERA.  That's a terribly small sample soze.  Let's hope he gets more chances to work on those stats.

Thanks for the card, Gerard!

A Couple 50-50s From Jesse

Still catching up, I missed a series at the Wood Ducks when I was away for the National.  The Fayetteville Woodpeckers were in town, and I hadn't gotten Chase Jaworsky when we saw the Peckers in Fayetteville a month prior.  I gave my extras to Jesse, along with my tickets, and he got Jaworsky for me.

Fayetteville was kind of rough this season, with very few guys with cards.  I finished everyone I had, so that was good, at least.

Fayetteville is about an hour/hour and a half away from the house, so I may try to go there a bit more now that the Wood Ducks are gone.  Let's hope they add some prospects, though.

Thanks for getting these cards signed for me, Jesse.

Cape Cod Returns From Aidan

While I'm still behind on posts, I have made some progress.  I got these cards back from my buddy, Aidan, after he got some autographs during the Cape Cod League season. 

The above 2007 Topps Rookie 52 turned out nicely.  I'm glad I had one of these, and it is now signed. 

I also had this 2010 Topps Heritage, which is also sharp.  Aidan also sent me this 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Cole Cook and a 2023 Panini Stars and Stripes Campbell Smithwick.

Thank you for the autos, Aidan!

Final 2024 50-50 Returns From Logan

My friend Logan in Wichita got ky signed cards back to me at the end of the season.  He definitely sent quality cards like the above 2023 Topps Pro Debut Tanner Schobel parallel.  Man that card looks great. 

Former Wood Duck AJ Alexy signed the Stadium Club Chrome; Link Hencs signed my Panini Select. 

Logan got a bunch of my Austin Beck cards signed before Beck retired.  It is a shame Beck has hung it up.  I'm glad I got a lot of these cards done and out of the prospects boxes.  The 2022 Pro Debut Diego Cartaya is nice, as well as the 2023 Topps Brendon Davis. Davis is a former Wood Duck, so it was nice getting one of his cards signed. 

These Yeiner Fernandez 2023 Bowmans are nice.  The Jose Leger is from a 2016 Columbia Fireflies team set that my brother Adam gave me.  There are also a couple Dalton Rushing and a few Kendall Williams.

Finally, here are: a 2020 Topps Pro Debut Kendall Williams, a 2019 Hickory team set Grant Wolfram, a Panini Select Aaron Zavala parallel and a 2022 Topps Heritage Minors Zavala showing him in a Wood Ducks uniform.

Thanks for helping me get these cards signed, Logan!

A Huge Autograph Haul From The National

Catching up on scans has been tough, and this post had a ton of scans that I needed to get through.

While at this year's National, Michael and I spent a ton of time (and a good bit of money) at the IP autos boxes.  There's a dealer at the show with stacks and stacks of 5,000-count boxes of in person (and I assume TTM) autos.  There are a lot of obscure autos in there, and Michael and I had a blast going through it.

Above are cards of Eugenio Velez, Heath Bell, Ryan Church, Kevin Young, Jeff Reboulet, Lou Frazier, Marc Barcelo and Ty Blach.  I like all of the cards showing the infield dirt for some reason. 

Michael and I also completed a card-for-card trade for autographed cards while we were recovering from a long day at the show. Unfortunately, those autos got mixed up with the ones I had purchased.   Here are autographs of David Segui, Bill Mueller and Akinori Iwamura.  The 2006 Topps card is signed by some unknown Oriole.

I'm pretty sure that this Miguel Rojas came from Michael. Regardless, this 2017 Topps looks pretty cool. I like the Marlins logo here.

Going through the boxes, I pulled every Nolan Reimold and Brandon Waring that I could find. It is always cool finding a Wofford card in the wild at a show.

This Doug Drabek was an upgrade to the personalized one that was in my 1987 Topps set. I will put the personalized one in the autograph album and this one with the set.

I also love finding signed Wood Duck, Kinston Indian and Carolina Mudcat cards in the wild.  I needed the above 2019 Topps Heritage Minors Diosbel Arias, so finding that one was great.  I also found a couple Steve Mintz autos, which was great.  There are also autos of Rick Prieto, Brian Anthony and Macier Izturis.

I found a lot of former Oriole farmlands in thr boxes.  Here are Rick Bauer, Brian Burres, a couple Feeddie Bynum, Howie Clark, Tommy Davis, Cesar Devarez, Eric DuBose and Brian Finch.  I remember all of these dudes.  Several are ones I wish I could have gotten in the past.

This next batch is Jeff Fiorentino x 2, Pedro Florimon, Mike Fontenot, Riley Hornback, Caleb Joseph, Dave Johnson, Jim Johnson and Eugene Kingsale.  A couple of them (Fontenot, Mike Johnson and Joseph) are guys i had gotten before either in person or TTM.

Here are: another Kingsale, a couple Adam Loewen, Val Majewski, Kevin Millwood, Ntema Ndungidi, Ryan Ouellette, Hayden Penn and Keith Reed.  I remember the organization being really high on Penn, but he didn't work out.  Much like a lot of these guys, sadly.  Adding the 2010 Topps Heritage of NCs own Kevin Millwood was also a bonus.

These are: Keith Reed, Matt Riley x 3, Ed Rogers, Luke Scott, Nate Spears, John Stephens and Mamon Tucker.  Stephens was the Orioles minor league pitcher of the year twice, but still didn't do much at the Major League level.  He got into 12 games in 2002, to a 6+ ERA.  He is from Australia, so I don't think I'd ever get a chance to get him TTM.

The last of the Orioles cards are a couple more Mamon Tucker, a 2017 Heritage Gabriel Ynoa and a 1994 Donruss Greg Zaun.  That Ynoa is a cool addition of a guy I forgot was an Oriole.

Now, I get into cards that junped out at me in the autograph boxes and/or the deal with Michael.  Here are: Ladies Alvarez, who I wish I had gotten when I was in Oklahoma City a couple years ago; Phillippe Aumont, Paul Bako, Grant Balfour, Skeeter Barnes, Jason Bay, Rob Bellior and Joe Biagini.

Next are: Cousin Hank Blalock (right, P. A.?), Brainer Bonaci, Julio Borbon, Dusty Brown, Brian Burgamy on a sweet Topps 206, Freddie Bynum, Eric Chavez (not the A's guy) and Ozzie Chavez.

More: Scott Coolbaugh, Callix Crabbe, Will Craig, Rajai Davis, Rick Dempsey (with a 1988 WS Champs inscription; this was from Michael), Chris Denorfia and Justin Duchscherererer.

Here are: Darnell Evans, Josh Fogg, Ray Fosse, Kyle Funkhouser, Esteban German, Fredi Gonzalez, Goose Gossage, KeBryan Hayes and Luis Hernandez.

These are: Ramon Hernandez, Teoscar Hernandez, Richard Hidalgo, Justin Huber, Tyrell Jenkins, two Blaze Jordan, Steve Johnson and Mitch Keller.

Above are: Jon Knott, Ramon Laureano, Wl Ledezma, Matt Lindstrom, Zach Lee, Jordan Lyles, Dillon Maples, Robert Machado and Pratt Maynard.

I got excited when I saw the 2002 Topps Mauer.  Except it was Jake Mauer, not Joe.  That would have been too good to be true, obviously.  The rest are: Kevin Mench, Danny Mendick, Colby Miller, Luke Montz, two Manny Mota, Tomas Nido and Randy Nieman on a 1986 Topps Tiffany.

Next are: John Olerud, Gene Pentz, Felix Pie, Brooks Pounders, Wilfredo Rodriguez, Jojo Romero, Josh Sharpless, Kyle Sleeth and Mallex Smith.

I'm pretty sure I got the above Blake Snell from Michael.  Probably the Dillon Tate, too.  There are also Erick Threets, Jason Tyner, Jordan Weems, Jimy Williams, Matt Williams, Peanut Williams and Vance Worley.  I know i sent TTM to Worley, but the card(s) haven't come back yet.

Whew, finally, here is a 2017 Topps Heritage Minors TJ Zeuch.  I got Zeuch last year, but didnt get the Heritage done, so I was glad to add this one to the album. 

That was a ton of cards.  I'm glad I finally got off of my butt and got them all scanned and filed into the autograph album. 

Thanks for looking through the boxes with me, Michael, and also thanks for the trade.

Max With the Last of the 2024 50-50 Returns

Catching up came be tough when you've got a lot going on and a lot to do in the coming weeks.  I made time today to scan a ton of cards so I could pre-load some blog posts that should carry me through Thanksgiving. 

One of the most important batches of cards that needed to be scammed was the final box of signed stuff that Max took care of this past season.  He really helped me out with moving cards out of my boxes.  He also hooked me up with some great autos, like the above 2022 Topps Heritage Andrew McCutchen.  I haven't been able to get Cutch TTM or IP, so this was an awesome addition to the autograph album. 

Max sent me thhis 2023 2023 Topps White Sox team set carx signed by Pedro Grifol.  It appears that Max got Grifol pretty close to the time he was let go by the White Sox.  I loved Max's note on the penny sleeve.  I kept it on the card in the album. 

I was glad to finally get this 2015 Bowman Chrome mini shimmer of Kyle Freeland signed.  I kept coming across it in the boxes; it is nice to fi ally have it locked in place in the autograph album. 

Max always helps me move these random team cards.  They always come in handy while graphing, whe. You run into guys who either don't have cards or you weren't able to find any in a pinch.  He got me: Jeff Bannister x 3, Brody Basso, Cam Boozer, Henry Blanco, Bob Carpenter and Ryan Borucki.

This batch of cards consists of: Darnell Coles, Hunter Gaddis, Willie Harris, Porter Hodge, Marcus Jensen and Chris Johnson x 3.

This next batch: Chris Johnson, Don Kelly x 3, Torey Lovullo x 2 and Tyson Miller x 2.

Here are Carlos Narvaez, Mickel Otanez, Max Schuemann, Derek Shelton, Cade Smith and Caleb Thielbar.

Finally, this Yankees card is signed by Luke Weaver.

These landscape-oriented cards are of Jorge Lopez, Torey Lovullo, Joe Ryan and Will Venable.  I was crossing my fingers that Max could help me out with the Joe Ryan.  That is such a cool card, I would have hated for it to stay in the Bowman box missing ink.

These are Spencer Arrighetti, Javier Assad, Brandon Bielak, Daz Cameron x 3 and Willi Castro x 2.  A couple team set cards got taken care of, which was good.  I don't know if I ever would have gotten a chance to get the Arrighetti signed.  Getting those Daz Cameron cards really helped me clear out some room in the Box Of Shame because I had those left over from when he was with Norfolk last season.

The next cards are: Travis Chapman, Enyel De Los Santos x 2, Ezequiel Duran, Damion Easley x 4 and Carlos Febles.  Check out De Los Santos's autograph. It is a pretty nice one, especially on that 2019 Bowman Heritage.  I also got some Febles done that I had left over from when he was a coach with the Red Sox.

Here are some more: Carlos Febles x 2, Kyle Finnegan, Jake Fraley, Kevin Frandsen, David Fry, Ryan Goins, Brad Goldberg and Jon Gray.  Even more Febles got signed, which pretty much wipes me out of his stuff (other than one I found tonight while looking for something else).

This batch: Mark Gubicza x 2, Ricky Gutierrez x 2, Willie Harris, Nico Hoerner, Jeff Huson, Tim Hyers and Jimmy Jones.  The Ricky Gutierrez 1995 Topps are cool cards.  I happened to have the base and the Cyberstats parallel.  I also had the Willie Harros for a long time, since he came through Kinston as a coach for Myrtle Beach in 2017.  The card got buried in a box following that season, and I was able to locate it and get it out to Max.

Even more: Jimmy Jones, Jakob Junis, Andrew Knapp, Justin Lawrence, Korey Lee, Luke Little, Jorge Lopez and Nicky Lopex x 2.  A lot of these came out of a box that I had kept aside of guys who I thought I'd see in Kinston (like the Korey Lee, Luke Little, or the 2018 Heritage Minors Nicky Lopez).  I was glad to ckear stuff out of that box.

These cards are of Luke Maile, Nick Martinez, Sam Moll, Eli Morgan, Jerry Narron x 2, Tomas Nido, James Paxton and Mitchell Parker.  I've gotten Narron in person, finally, but had several cards left over.  He's not the easiest to graph, so these getting done was great.  I had the Tomas Nido left over from when I saw Syracuse last year and missed Nido.  I had bought the card with the hope of getting him IP, but he wouldn't stop.  With Max's help, the Bowman Hi Tek is now signed.

These cards are of Bo Porter, Mike Redmond, John Schneider, Jon Singleton, Josh Staumont x 2, Tyler Stephenson and Ross Stripling x 2.  The 2016 Freddie Freeman signed by Bo Porter was a cool touch by Max.  I doubt I'll be able to get Freeman, but you never know.

Here are: Ross Stripling, Brent Suter, Jayce Tingler, Ezequiel Tovar, Ildemaro Vargas x 2, Will Venable, Jeff Ware and Ron Washington.  Obviously, I have Washington in my 1987 set, so this one goes in my regular autograph album.   I'm also surprised that I didn't already have that 1992 Topps Jeff Ware signed already.

This final batch is of Ron Washington, Alika Williams x 2 and Jacob Wilson x 3.  My buddy Josh probably would love these Jacob Wilsons, since he's a huge Jack Wilson fan.  I'm pretty sure I sent him a few unsigned Wilsons. 

This Jacob Young 2024 Topps retail blue parallel looks pretty nice.  I had forgotten I pulled this one.

Finally, this Tanner Banks 2022 Topps update wraps up the stuff Max sent.  I need to look at trying to get Bennett Sousa to sign his side of the card at some point.

It took me longer than I wanted, but I finally get everything Max sent scanned and uploaded.  I hate that it took me so long, but life gets in the way sometimes.  I look forward to the next lists that Max sends me.  Let's hope some of the names come out of the Box Of Shame or maybe a few from what Max calls the Death Pile; the pile of stuff that gets sent back unsigned.  I keep all of those separated with the hope that either of us gets a second chance at these guys.

Thanks so much for hooking me up, as always, Max!