#168 John Olerud
I got this card signed through the mail sometime in the early '90s while John was still with the Blue Jays. Back then, my dad had met a salesman at work that was from Canada. Dad talked him into bringing some stamps back for me the next time that he came to town. With those, I could write to Blue Jays and Expos, as well as Canadian hockey clubs, and use the Canadian stamp on the self-addressed stamped envelope. In this case with Olerud, I did just that. However, when the card came back (after the season was over), it was mailed from Washington. So I wasted a Canadian stamp.
I don't think that I really need to introduce John Olerud. But, I will point out one cool fact about him. He played his first minor league game in his 17th season of professional ball.
I also have a ball signed by him that I got at a game in KC while he was playing for the Mariners.
He actually did play in the minors later? That's too bad. I know there are very few guys who ever were able to avoid the minors entirely. Dave Winfield was one, I think, or at least during the early part of his career like Olerud.
ReplyDeleteGreat story about the stamps. That was cool of your dad to do that.
Great looking card and autograph, too. I love the shiny jacket with the collar of fabric as well as the batting helmet.