Featured autograph - Yunesky Maya

I picked up a 2011 Topps Allen and Ginter in-person signed card of Maya and it was kind of a no brainer - it was another $2.50 auto from a group of autograph cards detailed in this previous post.

I can go ahead and put my original set card in my collection of foreign born players and not worry about needing him to sign something specific - it's not like Maya was a major want, but it's one autograph set card out of the way from a player that might be tough to track down.

A Cuban defector who was a free agent bust with the Washington Nationals, Maya was pitching in the Atlanta Braves' system this year before being sold to a baseball team in Korea - I just want to say that he's already 32 years old and while he's probably not permanently going back to Cuba, he is on the pro baseball journeyman path.

Featured autograph - Evan Longoria

I don't go too crazy on trying to get something for the Tampa Bay Rays star third baseman to sign in-person that he is just going to scribble on - I can take his short sig on a set card when other collectors think they can get something better than Longoria's scribble on their specialty baseballs or photos when the Rays are in town to play the Angels.

Featured autograph - Peter Bourjos

Bourjos was buried by the Angels in 2012 making him wonder if he was going to be in the team's plans going forward - with his defensive skills [as a center fielder] and relative youth as a Major Leaguer, the Angels had to give Bourjos an opportunity to find a permanent role in the Angels outfield mix this season.

Through the first month of this season Bourjos has put up some nice stats on the board as a hitter, excelling at the top of the lineup - hopefully he can put up comparable numbers for the rest of the year, get his hits and get on-base in other ways.

Autograph request through the mail received: Jordan Zimmermann

Jordan Zimmermann c/o Washington Nationals - maybe an unheralded pitcher in a starting rotation that maybe the best in the National League in 2012, Zimmerman signed my 2011 Topps Allen and Ginter card in blue Sharpie and didn't return the other card I sent; this request took about a month.

Featured autograph - Howard Kendrick

I got this card signed in-person during the last Angels homestand - Kendrick has been a pretty good signer before Angels home games, though depending on the crowd lined up along the rail, he might not be able to sign for everyone.

The Angels are my team and it hurts to watch them go through this prolonged funk while that other Southern California team playing in Los Angeles is flourishing at the moment - it looks like one of the teams has the best player in baseball right now and his name isn't Albert Pujols...

Featured autograph - Mark Trumbo

I was able to get this 2011 Topps Allen and Ginter signed in-person by Angels first baseman Mark Trumbo recently - it maybe the best looking autograph I've gotten from him, though it is still sort of rushed, since he had to sign for a scrum of people.

The Angels get a catcher

The Angels traded for catcher Chris Iannetta and while he has shown spurts of offensive potential with the Colorado Rockies - the 28-year old catcher has sort of had an underwhelming Major League career and as a hitter hasn't done particularly well away from Coors Field during the past three years.

It is weird to go and talk about Mike Napoli as some kind of star, but he has sort of become one in Texas - I think the Angels are hoping Iannetta can mimic Napoli's success and sort of emerge as a catcher who knows what he is doing with the bat.

Going to the Rockies is Tyler Chatwood, who may have been rushed to the Major Leagues, in his first and only season with the Angels in 2011 - he has shown a 'live arm,' but is probably more of a project at this point, striking out only three more guys than he walked in a decidedly uneven rookie season.

Featured autograph - Torii Hunter

Torii Hunter has had a fine season despite a midseason slump dragging his overall numbers a little bit - it is tough to say whether or not the Angels will catch the Texas Rangers, though I hope Hunter finishes the 2011 season strong with the bat and the glove.

After their 'dud' game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday night - the Halos need a swift collective kick in the butt.

2011 Topps Allen and Ginter value pack recap x1

2011 Topps Allen and Ginter value pack [$4.99 each at Target x1]

Pack one

Top part
#118 Rafael Soriano
#254 Denard Span
#56 Scott Kazmir

#236 B.J. Upton - mini parallel [black?]
#111 Pablo Sandoval
#113 Miguel Montero

Bottom part
#242 Cheryl Burke
#3 Lou Holtz
#339 Miguel Tejada - SP
#HH 54 Joe Mauer - Hometown Heroes insert
#115 Shin-Soo Choo
#106 Jonathan Broxton

2011 Topps Allen and Ginter value pack recaps x2

2011 Topps Allen and Ginter value pack [$4.99 each at Target x2]

Pack one
Top part
#213 Xavier Nady
#152 Jordan Zimmerman
#80 Joey Votto

#164 Heather Mitts - mini parallel
#35 Adam Dunn
#291 Grady Sizemore

Bottom part

#24 Kristi Yamaguchi
#274 Stan Lee

#317 Brian Matusz - SP

#HH69 Yovani Gallardo - Hometown Heroes insert
#279 Brian Wilson
#61 Brian Roberts

Pack two

Top part
#171 John Lackey
#37 Fausto Carmona
#247 Yadier Molina

#PP 9 Thomas E. Dewey - mini / Portraits of Penultimacy
#142 Michael Young

#175 Jose Bautista

Bottom part
#228 Brandon Snyder
##81 Yonder Alonso
#177 Aaron Crow
#HH75 Carl Crawford - Hometown Heroes insert
#271 Chris Young
#258 Howie Kendrick