2006 Upper Deck, Matt Belisle

#576 Matt Belisle

Here is a card that I got signed at Kauffman Stadium in 2010. I went to The K that day for the 1985 World Series softball game and I got there before the gates opened in the hopes that I could get some autos from the old-timers when they arrived at the park. Unfortunately, all of the old-timers arrived in a bus and didn't sign at all outside of the park. But, I did get lucky enough to get a few of the Rockies players when they arrived and Matt was nice enough to sign both cards that I had of him.

I took a couple of friends with me that day and one was a really good friend that is never able to get out to the ballpark. He had always heard of my autographing exploits and was looking forward to see me in action. So, we got to the main gate and he pulled up a seat on one of the limestone blocks outside of the park and opened a beer. Minutes later, a cab pulled up and it was time for me to get to work.

One of the things I hate about 'graphing outside of the park is identifying the players without their uniform on. It is hard enough to do it when they are warming up in jackets and it is a whole different ballgame when they are in their street clothes.

Anyways, a guy got out of the cab and I had no clue who he was. Luckily, there was a nice crowd outside of the park that day and someone pointed out that the guy was Joe Beimel. So I walked up to him as he was signing some things and I handed him my cards to sign. He took one look at them and handed them back to me and said "that's not me". I didn't have any cards of Joe and, in the heat of the moment, I got Joe Beimel and Matt Belisle mixed up and I handed him my Belisle cards.

To this day, whenever I am around my friend and the conversation turns to baseball or autographs, he always pulls out the story of the first time he saw me try to get an autograph. It is a little embarrassing for me, but he sure gets a good chuckle out of it.

2006 Upper Deck, Bruce Chen

#525 Bruce Chen

This is one of the first Bruce Chen autographs that I ever got. I got this card signed in June of 2009 in Des Moines, Iowa while Bruce was a member of the Omaha Royals. The O-Royals played a doubleheader that day and Bruce pitched a complete game shutout in the second game that night. It was only a seven inning complete game because of minor league doubleheader rules, but a shutout is still a shutout.

Most of the cards that I got signed that day were autographed between games of the doubleheader. Two of the exceptions, though, were the two cards that Bruce signed for me. Since he was pitching the second game, he did not sign between games, but I was lucky enough to get him outside of the ballpark after the game. I was actually kind of surprised that Bruce signed because his wife and kid were waiting outside of the park for him. Nevertheless, Bruce still signed for everyone. He only signed 2/3 for me. But, under those circumstances, I was really amazed that he even signed at all.

Bruce has been a consistent presence for the Royals pitching staff since the end of that season. His 12-8 record and 3.77 ERA last season was even good enough for him to be named the Royals Pitcher of the Year. He has had a rocky 2012, though, as his ERA is currently at 5.68 while his record is 7-9.

2006 Upper Deck, Lance Cormier

#522 Lance Cormier

Here is the third and final Lance Cormier card that I got signed at a Royals game in 2010. Lance was playing for the Rays at the time and he was nice enough to stop and sign all three cards for me. The first card I posted of him can be seen here and the second one here.

When I posted the last card of Lance last season, he had just been designated for assignment. That appears to have been the end of his career as I cannot find any stats of him for this season. He finished his career having pitched for the Diamondbacks, Braves, Orioles, Rays, and Dodgers and he was 24-28 with 3 saves and a 5.03 ERA.

I am pretty sure I mentioned this on the last two cards I posted of him, but I really like Lance's signature. Out of the three cards he signed for me, though, this one is my favorite. I like how his autograph kind of blends in with the blue line on the tomahawk on his chest. If one did not know any better, it might be thought that that was part of his signature.

2006 Upper Deck, Wilson Betemit

#520 Wilson Betemit

Here is the second Wilson Betemit card that I have posted on this blog. I posted the first one almost two years ago and it can be seen here.

This is one of the first Betemit cards that I got signed and I got the autograph in late June 2010. Wilson was with the Royals at the time and the day I got this card signed was the last time I 'graphed the Royals parking lot before the game. That was also the only time that I made the trek up to Kansas City just just to 'graph the lot without going to a game.

Wilson is playing for the Orioles this year and, through 89 games, he is hitting .254 with 12 home runs and 35 RBI.

While Wilson was a Royal, he seemed like a decent signer. I got him by the Royals parking lot on at least two different occasions and I even got him a week after being traded to Detriot last summer. I'm not sure how his signing habits have been this year, but I am sure that Ryan, from the Great Orioles Autograph Project, will let us know after the season.

2006 Upper Deck, Walter Young

#55 Walter Young

Here is a card that was given to me by Rod, from Padrographs, about three and a half years ago. When I received this card, this was the lone signed 2006 Upper Deck card in my collection. Since then, my collection of autographed '06 Upper Deck cards has grown a bit and, thanks to my sporadic posting, I should have enough cards from the set to get me by over the next month. I really should post more often since I have acquired a lot of older signed cards that I am looking forward to posting. I just need to make the time.

If I am not mistaken, Walter Young has to have been the largest individual to ever play in the Major Leagues. His Baseball Almanac page lists him at 6'5" and 315 pounds. He played in 14 games with the Orioles in 2005 and that was the extent of his Major League career. In his brief cup of coffee, he hit .303 with a double and a home run. The dinger came off of R.A. Dickey.

I like how this card lists Walter as a Padre even though he is clearly wearing an Orioles pullover. That is one thing I liked about Upper Deck- they didn't bother with all of the crazy photoshopping that Topps is known for. You know Topps has gotten carried away when they start photoshopping cards just to put a team's new logo into the picture.

All Star Game Contest Winner

I am back from the All Star game and I had a great time. Unfortunately, I didn't do as well in the autograph department as I had hoped. But, what can you do? I came home with only 29 autographed cards and that was well short of my goal of 50. 24 of the 29 cards were signed at Fanfest while the other five were landed by my dad at the Futures Game. He 'graphed the World side for me and got two guys to sign while I 'graphed the USA side and came up empty-handed. I did a lot better than that at the last Futures Game I attended in St. Louis. I also sold my Derby tickets at the Futures Game, so I missed out on that event. By the time the actual All Star Game came around, I wasn't able to get down to field level because I had an upper deck ticket. So, again, I came up empty-handed. But, 29 signed cards is better than none, so it wasn't a complete wash. Besides, I got cards signed by Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers, Juan Marichal, Tony Gwynn, Fergie Jenkins, and Gaylord Perry. Plus, I added four more cards to my '81 Donruss collection and I got balls signed by Dennis Eckersly and Frank Thomas.

The winner of the contest is Skroeker, who guessed 26. I do not have your address, so email it to me at zman40 at hotmail dot com and I will get your program mailed out to you on Monday. Brian, I will get your 8x10s out to you that day as well.

Thanks to all that played along and I appreciate all of the lofty expectations put on me.

Lastly, I want to thank my dad. Without his help, I would have been lucky to land a dozen autographs. Thanks, Dad!!

All Star Game Contest

Sorry I haven't posted on here in a bit, but I have been busy with work and getting ready for the All Star Game. So, to make up for my lack of posts, I am going to hold another contest here.

This one is really simple. All you have to do to win this contest is guess how many autographed cards that I will get in Kansas City over the All Star break. To clarify, the break starts tomorrow when I attend Fanfest and it will also include the Futures Game, the Home Run Derby (unless I sell my tickets- interested???), the All Star Game, and possibly two more Fanfest days. Whoever guesses the closest will win this-

This is an official program for the All Star Game that I received in the mail yesterday. Sorry the picture is so blurry, but I didn't feel like scanning it.

So, to enter, just pick a number and do not pick one already chosen by another person. Also, in case of a tie, pick a team. If there is a tie, the tie-breaker will be how many cards I got signed by the team you chose. If I got more cards signed by the team you picked than the team picked by the other person, you will win the program. I may also throw in some extra signed cards from the weekend, as well.

Just to clarify, this is not the Price is Right. You can guess over and still be the closest and win. And, Brian, I have not forgot about you. I still have your 8x10s and I swear that I will get them out to you sometime. Sorry it has taken me so long.

The deadline to enter is Tuesday night at 7 PM, central. Good luck!