1987 Fleer, John Stefero/Kevin Seitzer

#652 John Stefero/Kevin Seitzer

First off, I want to say that I got a ton of help on getting these two signatures on this card. I actually did not get either one of them. But, before I get into that, I want to get into the card itself.

Growing up in Kansas during the summer of 1987, this was the card to have. Kevin was having a great rookie season that was overshadowed by Mark McGwire's monster rookie season. Kevin hit .323 with 85 RBI (a career high), but finished second to McGwire's 49 home runs in the Rookie of the Year vote. Nonetheless, this card booked in the $5 to $6 dollar range by the time 1988 came around. I didn't have the card, so I bought it at the card show that Danny Tartabull was at. I paid book value for it, even though it wouldn't have graded an 8 by today's standards. But, I wanted the card. I even bought a few packs of '87 Fleer from the same dealer and, of course, I got this card in one of the packs. So, I ended up with two of these cards before that day was over.

Obviously, neither player completely lived up to the hype. Kevin certainly had a decent Major League career that lasted twelve seasons. John, on the other hand, only played in parts of three seasons in the Majors. I'm sure that this card is practically worthless today, but I found a way to breath new life into it.

Earlier this season, Ryan, of the Great Orioles Autograph Project, mentioned some of the former players that would be signing during the season at the Orioles alumni signings at certain games at Camden Yards. One of the names on the list was John Stefero. I got in touch with him and he was more than willing to try to get this card signed for me. He ended up getting it signed in less than a month and had it back to me in June.

The card then sat in my binder, half signed, until last Saturday. I went to the Royals game that day and took a bunch of Angels cards and this lone Royal card. Kevin is the Royals batting coach. I was mainly interested in getting some Angel autographs, but I decided to take this card with me just in case. When I got to the ballpark, the Royals were still taking BP. I thought about going over to that side of the field, but the Angel side was quickly filling up and I was in the prime spot for getting cards signed (plus, I didn't want to miss out on Mickey Hatcher). About that time, my Dad met up with me. I asked him if he would go over and try to get it signed. He said that he would and I had to double-check to make sure he knew which one Seitzer was. He pointed him out and then headed over to the Royals dugout. My dad doesn't mind getting autographs while he is standing in line, but he hates doing it at games by himself. It just doesn't fit his personality. So I figured that he had a one in three chance of actually coming through for me.

He went on his way and I kept trying to get some Angel autographs. Bobby Abreu signed a few things and I was lucky enough to get a couple cards signed by him. By the time Abreu quit signing, I looked over to the Royals dugout and I saw my card being handed back to my dad from the dugout. I knew that he had got it signed and I was pretty happy. First it was an '81 Donruss card, then Bobby Abreu, and now the completion of this card.

When my dad finally made it back to the visiting dugout, he was pretty proud of himself. He thought that he was going to surprise me with the autograph, but he didn't know that I saw him get it signed. I don't know how many times that I told him how impressed I was with him that night, but he never tired of telling me his story.

So, here is his side.

"The Royals were coming off of the field and I followed Kevin the whole way. When he came down the dugout steps, I said his name (kevin). He kept walking, so I said it again (KEVIN). Still nothing, so I said it one more time (KEVIN!!!!) He heard me that time and came over to me. I asked for his autograph and he said sure."

I asked my dad if he said anything about the other autograph already on the card and he said "no, he apparently didn't notice it".

Obviously, it is great to have these two signatures on a cool card from my youth. Thank you Ryan and thank you Dad!

1987 Donruss, Alvin Davis

#75 Alvin Davis

Here is another card from the Troll. I think that this will be the last one from him until I get up to cards from 1995 or '96. I would have guessed that this was a Spring Training autograph. But, after the comment that he left on the Phil Bradley autograph, I am willing to bet that this signature was obtained at the card show in New Britain, Connecticut. The show had an odd group of ballplayers there- three Mariners (Bradley, Davis, and Spike Owen) and Jim Bouton and Don Mincher. Sounds like it would have been a cool show to have attended.

As for Alvin Davis, I remember him because of a card in this set. It wasn't this card; it was his Diamond King card. 1987 was the first year that I collected Donruss and I really loved the Rated Rookie cards and the Diamond Kings. I figured that the DKs were of the guys that had the best season the year before. It wasn't until they came up with the MVP subset that I realized that that was not the case.

Tomorrow, I am heading to Baltimore to visit a buddy for a week. I'm hoping to take in a Wilmington Blue Rocks playoff game tomorrow if the weather cooperates. Then I will go to an O's game on Tuesday and hopefully meet up with Ryan of the Great Orioles Autograph Project. It should be a good time and I hope to have internet access and still put out a post a day.

1987 Donruss, Kevin McReynolds

#14 Kevin McReynolds

Amazingly, this is an autographed Padres card that did not come from Rod, of Padrographs. I can hardly believe it myself. This card actually came from the Collective Troll. This is the second Diamond King card that he sent me and this one is of a player that even spent a couple of seasons as a Royal.

In fact, Kevin was part of the deal that sent Bret Saberhagen to the Mets. It was him, Gregg Jefferies, and Keith Miller for Saberhagen and Bill Pecota. At the time, it was probably considered the worst deal in Royals history. Kevin only spent two seasons in KC, Jefferies was traded away after one year, and Miller spent most of his time in Omaha. But at the same time, Saberhagen started having arm troubles. While he did pitch for eight more seasons, he also missed two because of injury and pitched in less than ten games in two others.

So, looking back, the Royals traded Saberhagan at the right time.

I am going to guess that this card was signed during Spring Training. But, I could be wrong.

1986 Topps, Floyd Youmans

#732 Floyd Youmans

I got this card signed last month when I went to the Kansas City T-Bones game. Floyd was the pitching coach for the visiting Joliet Jackhammers.

At Community America Ballpark, the locker rooms are in right field. That makes it easier for me since I can catch both teams heading for the field from the same spot (as opposed to moving from dugout to dugout). The locker rooms open up on the concourse and the players head down the berm seating area to the field. I was set up at the bottom of the berm that day so I would have more time to identify the players as they came down.

Floyd was the first person to come down that I had cards of. It seemed like he spotted me at the halfway point of the berm and he watched me the rest of the way down. It was kind of strange. It's like he was thinking "there's one of them". But, when he finally got to the bottom, I went up to him and asked for his autograph. He seemed real nice and signed both of my cards and one that I had from Paul of Paul's Random Stuff.

1986 Topps, Rollie Fingers

#185 Rollie Fingers

Here is the second Fingers card that I got signed in Omaha. Just like with the first one, I picked this card up as a Brewers team set at the card shop across the street. I think it cost me $5 for this set, so I ended up spending $12 for two mid '80s Rollie Fingers cards.

Incidentally, I wrote to Rollie Fingers in the spring. I got my card back unsigned with a note saying that he charges $10 for an autograph. So, I guess I did alright getting two cards signed for $12. I just wish I would have known about him in advance so I could have got my '81 Donruss card signed. Oh well, I may send him the card and $10 one of these days.

1986 Donruss Rookies, Steve Lombardozzi

#18 Steve Lombardozzi

Here is another card from the Troll. This one features the former Twins light-hitting second baseman, Steve Lombardozzi. Steve spent parts of four seasons in Minnesota before being dealt to Houston. While with the Astros, Steve only played 23 games over two seasons while spending most of the time in the minors.

Steve was a .233 career hitter. But, in the 1987 World Series, he was the man. He was 7-17 in 6 games with a double and a home run with 3 runs and 4 RBI. Plus, he didn't have any errors in the field. It's too bad he couldn't carry that run into the next season.

The autograph on this card looks like some of the signatures that I have on some newer cards that are unprepped. After a second look at it, I was surprised to see that the card actually is glossy. The regular '86 set wasn't and neither is the '87 set. Was this the first set of cards to have gloss on them?

1981 Donruss, Mickey Hatcher

#526 Mickey Hatcher

I got this card signed yesterday in Kansas City. The Angels were in town to take on Zack Grienke and the Royals. Mickey is the batting coach for the Angels.

Before BP started, I asked Mickey if he would sign. He said that he was busy and he went over the the BP balls and took them over to the mound. After that, he came over to me and signed my card. I only took this card of him with me just in case he was only a one card signer. But he apparently wasn't because he was about to sign the other card that I had on the page of another coach. He caught it before he signed and handed my book back to me and I thanked him. I wish I would have taken one more card of him as a Twin, but at least I got my '81 Donruss card signed.

I took one other '81 Donruss card with me to the game (I should have taken one of Paul Splittorff, but I didn't even think about it). It was of Alfredo Griffin and he didn't sign at all.

'81 Donruss Tracker: 27/100