2019 Topps Now Taylor Cole / Felix Pena #503

To keep up bit-by-bit with this collecting thing, I had to go grab a couple of copies of this card because it was nice for Angels to come together with a combined no-hitter in the tribute game for Tyler Skaggs - it would have been nice if at least the back photo was of the players coming back to throw their #45 Skaggs jerseys on the mound as a nod, but it might have been in bad taste [to 'sell' that image on a card so soon].

Besides the occasional online purchase [as shown] to scratch the itch - I've felt my dog days are here and I'm kind of disinterested at the moment.

Part of what I do has been trying to supplement the strictly card collecting part with some in-person graphing - but the opportunities haven't been as obvious, things have tightened up and I've got to suck things up as my graphing buddy has been MIA.

I’ll get back to things at some point, and even it is a struggle at the moment - but I don't know if I can do things as a collector if I don't get to go out and see some players and try to get their autographs.

It maybe the hot weather and being holed up inside my house - but I feel like these have been the times where I don’t want to mess with my cards so much.

Maybe my brain turns into mush and I don’t do anything while still lurking on other collector's blogs, social media and forums - I feel like I’m always on the fringe from where everyone else is at the moment and can’t entertain the idea of falling into whatever else interested in.

Clayton Kershaw no-hitter

Since I have the Dodgers' TV station and someone is paying for it, I tuned in to watch snippets of the Dodgers game - I like how Kershaw showed some emotion after the final out was recorded, being congratulated by his teammates and eventually his wife.

During the game, the broadcast showed a graphic of the Dodgers' no-hit pitchers and I liked when Vin Scully said - we are here to broadcast the game, not be superstitious.

Jered Weaver - no-no

I was hoping to make out to Angel Stadium for Wednesday night's game, hoping if Jered Weaver pitched well, maybe he'd sign autographs after the game - I think tickets were less than a buck on StubHub through early Wednesday.

I guess I picked the wrong day not to go to an Angels game - with Weaver throwing a no-hitter against the hapless Minnesota Twins and really just reaffirming himself as the Halos ace.

Congratulations Ervin Santana - no hit pitcher

The only time I thought about Ervin Santana before learning he threw a no-hitter was when I was at All-You-Can-Eat Japanese restaurant by the mall in Orange, California - I was headed to the restroom and among the pictures posted along the wall of patrons who have been to the restaurant, was a picture of Santana with one of the 'chefs.'

'Hey, that's Ervin Santana,' I said to myself.

I thought while Santana is not quite up there with Jered Weaver and Dan Haren, he's been pretty good when he is locked in - he has a nice and smooth pitching delivery and through the up-and-downs he's had, he has actually had a solid career record as an Angel.

When getting back to the table, I wondered if he had pitched today - I think the Angel game was at 9:30 a.m. and I wondered if I'd catch a replay later on.

I had no idea he pitched quite a game in Cleveland - I was flipping around radio stations and one of the local sports ones mentioned they were about to interview Angels catcher Bobby Wilson once the Angels got into Detroit for their next series, because the big story of the day was Santana's no-hit feat [despite allowing one unearned run in a 3-1 win].

Featured autograph - Ubaldo Jimenez

Ubaldo Jimenez doesn't have much of an autograph - but I don't think his penmanship isn't much of a concern for Colorado Rockies fans who were treated to watch him throw the organization's first no-hitter.

These are no secrets, but on his good days, it seems Jimenez seems like he has no-hit stuff - he is also a big and strong guy who doesn't seem to get gassed as he gets into the later innings of a baseball game.

Featured autograph - Nolan Ryan

One of the lures in collecting in-person autographs is what I consider - going after the 'big game.'

You can only put in so much time collecting the rank-and-file guys and even some of the stars - sometimes you need something to keep you motivated besides seeing and getting certain players/team personnel.

Depending on access and number of people who want the same thing as you do, trying to get anyone in particular can be nearly impossible - however, you are always hoping you get lucky.

During my 2009 spring training trip, I was hoping to get this living legend to sign for me at a Texas Rangers/Kansas City Royals game in Surprise - I didn't even focus on the players leaving the game in-between innings, since I was so focused on Nolan Ryan.

"I'll forget everyone else for Nolan," I heard one guy say to his buddy who was at the same game I was - it is too bad they didn't wait for him, since the buddy thought it wasn't Ryan whom he saw. I only told the buddy where Ryan sat, behind the Rangers' coaches.

When Ryan signed after the game - I was pretty excited at the opportunity to be able to approach him for an autograph. The ushers at the game made sure a certain number of people were to approach. I bought the 8x10 photo either on Ebay or at a card show four years ago, hoping to get it signed by mailing it to Ryan's foundation.

It was a Steiner Capture the Moment 8x10 matte photo - which shows Ryan pitching in his first no-hitter against the Kansas City Royals on May 15, 1973.

It is safe to say - the 8x10 became the crown jewel of my 2009 Cactus League spring training trip.