Featured autograph - Kenny Lofton

My last in-person encounter with the longtime outfielder was being denied an autograph after a Texas Rangers pre Opening Day workout at Angel Stadium in 2007 - because of this lingering memory, he isn’t necessarily ‘one of my guys,’ but I’ve got to give credit where it is due.

Lofton was a weapon as a leadoff hitter and even though he dropped off the Hall of Fame ballot - as one of the best center fielders of his era, he has a case for induction that maybe realized through the veteran's committee.

Past his supposed prime, it's weird Lofton bounced around so many teams - but he was able to stick around and be a productive offensive player until he was 40.

I didn’t think he had too many certified autographs and the ones listed had inflated prices for anyone who might have actually wanted them - it looks Panini had him sign a bunch of stickers to affix into their unlicensed baseball cards and new Lofton certified autograph cards have trickled out.

Featured autograph - Kevin Brown

I ran into a long time collector who was selling some extra autograph cards and in his portfolio book, I spotted a Kevin Brown signed card - I saw the autograph was on a 2004 Topps Cracker Jack, so I relented to pick it up for $5.

I've been trying to get cards from the 2004 Topps Cracker Jack set signed in-person / through the mail for the past 10 years - as is, there are holes in the set I'll probably will never fill, but it's nice to add another random card to what I have signed already.

The Brown is signed in black but I'll take what I can get since in his day, Brown was surly in-person and not someone who would sign in-person most of the time - I know I got a signed card TTM either in 1997 or 1998 and got him once in-person back when he played with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Featured autograph - Jose Abreu

After getting skunked in trying to get something signed by Abreu in-person, I relented to pick up a signed bat - even though he’s probably not a future Hall of Famer, he has some real juice in his bat and the talent is legit.

More than likely, he will put up big power numbers in the next few years - but as a 27-year old rookie, he’s likely as good as he is going to be and he's not going to put up real significant lifetime stats.

Because of how the hype machine works in professional sports, Abreu could put up a fine season in 2015, but basically be obscured by younger and brighter rising stars - not get to get too dramatic, but because he is one large human, he is more likely to suffer injuries that may hinder his playing career.

All things considered, the guy was a Cuban superstar, not some minor league journeyman bouncing around in various stops - he is set for life, even if he doesn't build upon what looks like a great first year.

Unfortunately unless otherwise noted, when it comes to signing autographs - I see him another grumpy foreign born player who doesn’t speak English but is ‘big time’ now.

I didn't realize how brutal he would be in-person and he’s not going to get easier - a schlub like me isn't going to get him to sign a bat, even if I immerse myself in Rosetta Stone lessons for a year.

The bat comes from a card shop in Chicago that had a signing with him and is PSA/DNA certified - admittedly, it’s a typical Rawlings Big Stick [engraved with his name] as opposed to anything close to something he’d actually use on the field.

Featured autograph - Roberto Alomar

I picked up this single-signed baseball of Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar at the end of last year through Mill Creek Sports - the ball came with a Tristar COA and a Tristar hologram was affixed to the ball.

I thought the ball was nice and clean though it's kind of disappointing to see the hologram is blemished as seen in the pictures - it doesn't affect the way I could display the ball and I didn't bothering complaining, but I always know there is something imperfect about this purchase.