Featured autograph - Chien-Ming Wang

The 36-year old pitcher picked up his first MLB win since 2013 and there is a MLB human interest story here - about a professional baseball player from Taiwan who once starred for the New York Yankees through the mid 2000s before getting hurt and losing his way.

After bouncing around the minors for the past 6 years, it was a surprise Wang made the Kansas City Royals Opening Day roster in 2016 - maybe Wang finds his late career calling as a MLB relief pitcher, who maybe stretched out as a fill-in starter, if he continues to put together solid outings to build trust.

Chien-Ming Wang

I wouldn't have picked up the card of the former Yankees' pitcher but I like the replica New York Yankees game ticket [picturing Derek Jeter] built into the die-cut window - even though it is a 2003 Fleer Authentix card, it was part of the Rookie Updates insert from the 2003 Fleer Rookies & Greats set and is serial #'d 1044/1250.

Wang had a pretty good run in parts of five seasons with the Yankees back in the day, but it seems like injuries and ineffectiveness derailed his promising career - he's bounced around and it is fascinating how pitchers who've shown they can have success in the major leagues, can find themselves down and out sooner than expected.

Despite Wang's inability to have the same success like he did early in his MLB career, he is still plugging away - after opting out with his minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds, he has signed with the Chicago White Sox.

Autograph requests through the mail received: Chien-Ming Wang and Dustin Ackley

Chien-Ming Wang c/o Washington Nationals [spring training] - signed my two cards in blue ink in about three weeks. Wang's autograph seems to have drastically changed over the years and while I think he learn to sign a 'Western' style autograph, I'm sure the ones I got in the mail years ago looked more like his certified autographs from four or five years ago.

Dustin Ackley c/o Seattle Mariners [spring training] - the top prospect personalized and signed my two cards in blue ink in about two weeks or so.

Assuming Ackley will be a second baseman when he reaches the Major Leagues for the first time this upcoming season - I think his offensive numbers will mimic those of a healthy Brian Roberts.

Featured autograph - Mike Mussina

Mike Mussina returned the cards I sent to him signed in blue Sharpie in about two weeks - the first card was a dual player card I first sent to Chien-Ming Wang during last year's spring training. I like dual signed cards, but not when I cannot immediately complete the pair.

I was holding onto this card for much of the year, wondering when I would send it to Mussina - I figured I can send something to him anytime.

While Mussina has generally been considered a 'face' or 'role model' type, he seems like he doesn't always like the attention given to him - to his credit, after all the last 15 years or so, he has dutifully signed everything through the mail with nearly the same, consistent autograph. To the best of my knowledge, he hasn't changed his signing habits or suddenly stopped for whatever reason.

Ever since he entered the league, Mussina has been considered a 'star' and his career numbers are impressive - while there is a lot of discussions on forums and blogs about his Hall of Fame credentials, maybe he fall just falls short of election to the Hall of Fame because he wasn't able to win 300 games and/or win at least one championship after signing with the New York Yankees.