Of the two players, Edwards was still living and I thought to take a chance and send him the card to be signed - it took about a week for Edwards to respond with my card signed.
He also added three smaller photo prints and returned my letter with a couple of responses to what I'd written him - when I can do it and have success, I like when I am able to send to old school players on their vintage cards.
Even though I might lose a couple of cards [regardless of all the success reported over the years] due to uncertain times, I mail a request towards the end of spring training - I wanted to see if I can get some fresh ink off a current Angels player I look to watch close out ballgames throughout the 2021 season.
I thought one-time big leaguer Wes Helms was his son, but it turns out only his nephew - I can add this autograph card to my bloodlines collection, though the more likely fit is in my award winners collection.
Even though this old-school Sports Illustrated magazine showed Rod Carew on the Twins and not the Angels - I bought the copy on eBay to have it signed by Carew at the local card show back in 2007.
I put away the magazine for good and never thought about getting Foster’s autograph until I saw he was doing these spring training autograph signings with Fergie Jenkins - in recent years, maybe Foster has been a white whale of sorts, since he has shown up where it may not have been convenient for me to go.
I was able to go the Cactus League for a couple of weekends this past spring and on my last day, I saw a Facebook post by Jenkins' foundation that they were going to be signing at the Texas Rangers game in Surprise - regardless of whether I got any actual active players, one of my priorities was getting Foster.
I saw the Fergie Jenkins booths as I finally got in through the left field gates after going through security / a metal detector - Jenkins’ table was between Foster on his left and Byron Browne, a former Cubs player, who I knew because he participated in a kids camp in Peoria 11 years ago.
During the start of the game, I made my way to the Jenkins booth [Rollie Fingers was actually signing on the concourse, behind home plate, so it seemed like he getting most of the foot traffic] to get things over with - I looked over the price list posted on the tables [Jenkins was $30 and Browne was $20 maybe for the flat / balls] and Foster was the only one that the basic price was dependent on what you had.
I dug out my magazine and asked how much it would cost to sign - hoping it wouldn't be like $30 or $40.
"$20," Foster said.
As I handed him my magazine and my Sharpie - I gave my money to the handler next to him.
Foster suggested a spot where to sign my magazine and I pointed at a different place - he signed where I wanted and shook his hand after he was done.
I thought about taking a picture of him signing my item or maybe a photo op but it was nighttime and I was a little harried - to worry about anything but getting ink on my SI and leaving for a 5-hour trip back home.
I don't remember the particulars, except I got this card signed at the Arizona Fall League back in 2009 - I knew I had gotten Cozart's autograph at some point, so I had to look for it in an old archive of signed cards.
While Angels lost speedy outfielder Cameron Maybin to the Astros - picking up Upton gives the Angels the middle of the order bat to complement Mike Trout.
Phillips should give the Angels a boost at second base for the last month of the season - he's simply an immediate upgrade over the likes of Kaleb Cowart and Cliff Pennington, still putting up the solid, dependable batting numbers with some athleticism left after playing in 16 seasons in the big leagues.
I kind of remember Schourek as a young pitcher with the New York Mets, then won 18 games with the Cincinnati Reds in 1995 - Schourek had an 11 year playing career, but never did replicate that one breakout season for the Reds.
On the other hand, an autograph signed in a controlled, organized situation - can make a 5-cent card with a unique picture stand out a little more than a similar, unsigned card.
Sprague Sr. is 70 years old and I wanted my loose 1972 Topps card inked up before I put it away in my 'bloodlines' mini-collection - his son [Ed Sprague Jr.] was an 11-year MLB veteran who was a 'junk wax guy' back in 1990s.
However, he only ended up signing one of my cards and not one [I had a couple] was a 2004 Upper Deck 25th Anniversary USA card for my set - maybe I should have jumped on him the moment I saw him, but I wanted to let my friend get him first in case it was just some random middle aged guy I only thought was Bell.
I felt like Bell did me kind of dirty since I expected him to sign multiples - I probably had a few more chances to get him at the game I was at, but I was bummed out.
All the perceived digs from presumably the old school way of baseball thinking wouldn't mean a thing if votto was hitting 40 home runs and driving in 130 runs a year - I don't see a problem with Votto's somewhat passive approach at the plate, but for the contract he is being paid as franchise player, he might not be a guy capable of carrying a team on his back when he is content to take a walk.
Maybe he can't do it in a practical sense and/or his body maybe breaking down - but a little aggressiveness and swing for the fences mentality probably wouldn't hurt Votto's production, even if his on-base percentage slips just a little.
Devin Mesoraco c/o Cincinnati Reds [spring training] - the Reds rookie catcher signed my two cards, including a 2011 Topps Heritage 'setter.' I sent the request on 2/22/12 and my SASE with my cards signed snuck into my mailbox probably two or three days ago, on 8/15.
Billy Hamilton of the Bakersfield Blaze signed my 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League card last Sunday - in about two seasons, he has stolen about 200 bases.
I can't really explain the impact of Hamilton's base stealing feats, so perhaps this article from the Hardball Times - may put things into some context as far as the value of stolen bases and what Hamilton has accomplished so far.
Barry Larkin - I got the autograph card signed through the mail 'via venue' c/o the Atlanta Braves during the 2000 All-Star break.
Yasmani Grandal just maybe the best catching prospect in the minor leagues - he still has a ways to go before reaching the Major Leagues, but he is probably going to get there sooner than later despite the Reds' catching depth with Ramon Hernandez and Ryan Hanigan in the Major Leagues and fellow catching prospect Devin Mesoraco playing in AAA.
Bakersfield Blaze outfielder Josh Fellhauer doesn't actually appear on this 2010 Topps Heritage Cincinnati Reds team card - but he does currently play for the California League affiliate of the Reds, so I got him to sign the card earlier in the year.
As much as I'd like to have actual player cards for guys I'm getting autographs of - sometimes stocking up on team cards or something fairly generic [but not something 'blank' because professional baseball players don't like to sign those] is something I need to do, so I can something signed when I couldn't find and/or pick up a card of a particular player in time.
I don't know what to say about Ryan Wagner, a college relief ace whose professional career came up quite short of expectations - he never developed into closer material and whileh he played in parts of five years in the Major Leagues, his last full season was in 2005 when he posted a 6.11 ERA in 42 games.
BUST