Featured autograph - Tony Oliva

I got this 1971 Topps card signed by the former MLB batting star when he made an appearance at the 2016 All-Star Fan Fest - I probably pulled the card from some card show vendor made vintage repack at least 10-12 years ago.

Featured autograph - Ryan Klesko

I first learned of Klesko as a top prospect with the Atlanta Braves in the early 1990s - the lumbering slugger with a big swing didn't have the all-world numbers like one-time Braves teammate Chipper Jones would have, but had a pretty good MLB career for himself.

Featured autograph - Orlando Cepeda

I don't think the Hall of Famer's autograph is rare, but he's old and you typically have to pay to get him to autograph something through a private signing perhaps - so while an outing to get someone's 'free autograph' at MLB All-Star Fan Fest isn't without its expenses, waiting time and other inconveniences, it's kind of a ritual to get something signed in-person as opposed to purchasing an autograph from a memorabilia dealer on eBay or something.

Featured autograph - Chris Cannizzaro

Cannizzaro was in rough shape but managed to sign autographs at MLB All-Star Fan Fest - he first San Diego Padres All-Star and was on both the Padres expansion team in 1969 and the New York Mets expansion team in 1962.

Featured autograph - Randy Ready

I got five cards [all MLB authenticated for what it's worth] signed by the former utility player and longtime coach at the MLB All-Star Fan Fest - Ready played in the middle of the junk wax era so even as a rank-and-file player, he had a lot of cards made.

Maybe my favorite card was this 1984 Topps Traded 'XRC' - I probably dated myself with 'XRC' reference but I think that's what you called the first cards of players included in late season update sets as opposed to just referring to them as rookie cards [that were supposed to come from a nationally distributed card set].

Topps used a cleaner, thinner card stock for the traded set - the backs are brighter as opposed regular 1984 Topps cards.

Featured autograph - Kevin Mitchell

I picked up the 1994 Topps Gold for my 'inking it up' mini-collection and go figure, ended up getting the card signed at the 2016 MLB All-Star Fan Fest - the focus of my 'image based' mini-collections is on the cards and I like the keep the cards unsigned because when a card is autographed, it usually obscures the image on the card.

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.

Featured autograph - Jesse Orosco

I've gotten his autograph in recent years, though I didn't see him this year until he made an MLB All-Star Fan Fest appearance - Orosco was a 24-year MLB veteran who appeared in a record 1252 games for 10 teams.

While a nomad after he left the organization - Orosco was a 2-time All-Star in his eight seasons with the New York Mets and closed out Game 7 of 1986 World Series.

$2 vendor 'pile of' repacks - Giants #2

The players with the most cards in this repack - J.T. Snow x5, Jeff Kent x4, Kevin Mitchell x4, Robby Thompson x4, Mike Aldrete x3, Bob Brenly x3, Bill Laskey x3, Tim Lincecum x3, Barry Zito x3, Rod Beck x2, Vida Blue x2, Matt Cain x2, Kelly Downs x2, Darrell Evans x2, Noah Lowry x2, Don Robinson x2, Jason Schmidt x2, Jose Uribe x2 and Randy Winn x2.

2000 Upper Deck Legends Jeff Kent #38
2001 Topps Chrome J.T. Snow Jr. #350

2007 Topps Turkey Red Barry Zito #41
1990 Topps Terry Kennedy #372
1990 Topps Ernie Riles #732
1983 Fleer Bill Laskey #264
1982 Donruss Darrell Evans #398 
2000 Fleer Ultra J.T. Snow #17
1981 Donruss Darrell Evans #192

1982 Donruss Vida Blue #4 - Diamond Kings
1981 Fleer Vida Blue #432 
2007 Upper Deck First Edition Dave Roberts #271
2005 Topps Nate Schierholtz #301
1989 Upper Deck Mike Aldrete #239
1989 Upper Deck Bob Brenly #479
1989 Upper Deck Bob Melvin #227
2000 Upper Deck Black Diamond J.T. Snow #74
1988 Donruss Mike Krukow #116
1988 Donruss Kelly Downs #145 - x2
1988 Donruss Bob Brenly #189
2011 Topps Heritage Jonathan Sanchez #71
2008 Topps Updates and Highlights Tim Lincecum #UH313
2008 Topps Updates and Highlights Brian Wilson #UH262
2008 Topps Updates and Highlights Jose Castillo #UH254
2008 Topps Finest Barry Zito #72
2008 Topps Allen and Ginter Randy Winn #161
2008 Topps Chrome Barry Zito #2
2009 Topps Heritage Matt Cain #410
2009 Topps Heritage Bengie Molina #421
2009 Topps Heritage Randy Winn #407
2009 Topps Heritage Ryan Garko #675
1988 Topps Giants Leaders #261
1991 Upper Deck Kevin Mitchell #247
1989 Donruss Jose Uribe #131
1989 Donruss Bob Brenly #453
1989 Donruss Don Robinson #571
1999 Topps Stadium Club Joe Carter #98
1999 Topps Stadium Club J.T. Snow Jr. #81
1987 Topps Robby Thompson #658
1987 Fleer Robby Thompson #285
1984 Donruss Bill Laskey #358
1984 Fleer Bill Laskey #376
1997 Topps Noah Lowry #158 - Red back

1992 Fleer Rod Beck #627

2005 Fleer Ricky Ledee #256
2005 Fleer Brett Tomko #22
2005 Fleer Jason Schmidt #178
2005 Fleer Jerome Williams #209
2005 Fleer Dustin Hermanson #280
1992 Fleer Rod Beck #627 - x2
1987 Donruss Robby Thompson #145
1986 Topps Traded Robby Thompson #113T
2009 Topps Heritage Freddy Sanchez #661
2009 Topps Heritage Travis Ishikawa #637
1981 Fleer John Montefusco #439
1991 Fleer Kevin Mitchell #267

1990 Score Kevin Mitchell #343
1989 Topps Jose Uribe #753
1989 Topps Joe Price #217
1989 Topps Kevin Mitchell #189
1989 Topps Mike Aldrete #158
2006 Bowman Heritage Jason Schmidt #97
2002 Donruss Jeff Kent #30
2000 Fleer Tradition Robb Nen #140
2000 Fleer Tradition Ellis Burks #108
2001 Upper Deck Vintage Kirk Reuter #259
2001 Upper Deck Vintage J.T. Snow #255
2001 Donruss Studio Andres Galarraga #141
2001 Fleer Authority Rich Aurilia #31
2001 Pacific Ryan Vogelsong #489
2001 Topps Fusion Jeff Kent #120
2001 Upper Deck Prospects Premieres Noah Lowry #41
2011 Topps Gypsy Queen Aubrey Huff #259
2011 Topps Gypsy Queen Tim Lincecum #84
2011 Topps Lineage Miguel Tejada #176
2011 Topps Lineage Tim Lincecum #135
2011 Topps Lineage Matt Cain #119
2011 Topps Heritage Bruce Bochy #322
2001 Donruss Studio Jeff Kent #42
1989 Topps Atlee Hammaker #572
1989 Topps Don Robinson #473
1989 Donruss Mike Aldrete #140
1989 Donruss Kirt Manwaring #494

1989 Donruss Francisco Melendez #611
1974 Topps Dave Kingman #610

$2 vendor 'pile of' repacks - Giants #1

This was the first of two Giants repacks I picked up - I think the reason I grabbed a couple of Giants ones was I wanted an assortment as different cards as possible, even if I didn't really collect the team represented.

The players with the most cards in this repack - Rich Aurilia x5, Matt Cain x4, Kevin Mitchell x4, Robby Thompson x3, Vida Blue x2, Jeff Kent x2, Mike LaCoss x2, Tim Lincecum x2, Noah Lowry x2, Willie McGee x2, Mike Remlinger x2, J.T. Snow x2, Jose Uribe x2, Omar Vizquel x2, Matt Williams x2 and Barry Zito x2.

2000 Upper Deck Black Diamond Rookie Edition Jeff Kent #66 - this is a 'retro uniform' card I can add to my mini-collection, but wasn't a card I'd immediately seek out, so I figured I might as well grab the random 'pile of' repack with this featured.

2007 Topps Noah Lowry #158 - Red back

2000 Bowman Mike Glendening #54

2005 Fleer Ricky Ledee #256 

2005 Fleer Brett Tomko #22

2005 Fleer A.J. Pierzynski #290

2005 Fleer Marquis Grissom #91

2005 Fleer Dustin Hermanson #280

1992 Donruss Mike Felder #182

1992 Donruss Willie McGee #60

1992 Score Dave Anderson #167

1992 Score Willie McGee #112

1992 Score Mark Leonard #499

1992 Topps Kirt Manwaring #726

1992 Upper Deck Robby Thompson #286

1992 Upper Deck Paul McClellan #563

1992 Upper Deck Mike Remlinger #585

1992 Upper Deck John Patterson #778

1988 Score Bob Melvin #477

1988 Score Mike LaCoss #465

1988 Score Dave Henderson #228

1988 Score Jose Uribe #165

1988 Score Bob Brenly #134

1988 Score Kelly Downs #27

2000 Bowman Freddy Sanchez #51

2008 Upper Deck Spectrum Omar Vizquel #83

2008 Upper Deck Goudey Matt Cain #160

2009 Bowman Barry Zito #77

2008 Topps Noah Lowry #523

2008 Topps Bruce Bochy #598

2008 Topps Aaron Rowand #655

2008 Topps Heritage Jose Castillo #552

2008 Topps Heritage Fred Lewis #364

2008 Topps Heritage Matt Cain #182

2002 Upper Deck Honor Roll Rich Aurilia #2 - x2

2002 Upper Deck Honor Roll Rich Aurilia #51

2002 Fleer Benito Santiago #251

2002 Upper Deck Ovation Jeff Kent #46

2008 Upper Deck Dave Roberts #119

2008 Upper Deck Rich Aurilia #636

2008 Upper Deck Ray Durham #640

2008 Upper Deck Masterpieces Tim Lincecum #80

2008 Upper Deck Opening Day Barry Zito #2

2011 Topps Heritage Giants team card #226

2009 Topps Rich Aurilia #69

2009 Topps Jonathan Sanchez #53

2009 Topps Omar Vizquel #2

2009 Upper Deck Goudey Michael Young #191 - obviously not a Giant but these are repacks so who knows what card (s) I might find besides the general stated contents.

2009 Upper Deck Goudey Matt Cain #171

1997 Pacific Crown Collection Bill Mueller #446

1997 Pacific Crown Collection Robby Thompson #448

1997 Pacific Crown Collection Matt Williams #450

1991 Line Drive Andres Santana #393

1991 Line Drive Jim Wilson #397

1991 Line Drive Alan Bannister / Larry Hardy #400

1999 Topps Opening Day J.T. Snow Jr. #74

1999 Fleer Mystique Ellis Burks #60

1999 Upper Deck Black Diamond J.T. Snow #74

1990 Fleer Craig Lefferts #60

1990 Fleer Randy McCament #64

1990 Fleer Donnell Nixon #66

1982 Topps Jeffrey Leonard #47

1984 Fleer Darrell Evans #372

1982 Donruss Darrell Evans #398

1982 Donruss Vida Blue #4 - Diamond Kings

1981 Fleer Vida Blue #432

1988 Donruss Kirt Manwaring #39 

1988 Donruss Scott Garrelts #80

1988 Donruss Kevin Mitchell #66

1989 Score Kevin Mitchell #39

1988 Donruss Kevin Mitchell #66

2011 Topps Update Series Tim Lincecum #US58

2011 Topps Update Series Carlos Beltran #US305

2007 Topps Matt Cain #187

1991 Fleer Mike LaCoss #264

1991 Bowman Matt Williams #618

1991 Bowman Kevin Rogers #638

1991 Bowman Mike Remlinger #227

1991 Bowman Bill Bathe #234

1991 Bowman Kevin Bass #240

1989 Upper Deck Rick Reuschel #194

1989 Upper Deck Jose Uribe #181

1989 Upper Deck Rob Thompson #172

1989 Upper Deck Kevin Mitchell #163

1992 Donruss Will Clark #214

$2 vendor 'pile of' repacks - Angels

One of the vendors at MLB Fan Fest was selling team repacks and while I want to stay away from repacks because I 'generate' my own 'repack content' through the loose cards that come into my collection - for a couple of bucks, I like going through various assortments of cards even if it's junk wax era [gasp] and/or cards that have been obscured through the years.

It seemed like only A's? / Dodgers $3 / Angels / Padres $$ / Giants were represented - I grabbed an Angels and a couple of Giants ones to see what type of mix I could get [even if it's just one team represented per repack, I figure there might be some cards of interest].

The players with the most cards in this repack - Troy Glaus x9, Tim Salmon x4, Garret Anderson x3, Torii Hunter x3, Francisco Rodriguez x3, Joe Saunders x3, Jered Weaver x3, Darin Erstad x2, Chone Figgins x2, John Lackey x2, Troy Percival x2 and Luis Sanchez x2.

2012 Topps Update Series Mark Trumbo #US10
2003 Topps Garret Anderson #600
2003 Topps Brendan Donnelly #535
2003 Topps Darin Erstad #515
1984 Topps Luis Sanchez #258
1984 Topps Juan Beniquez #53
2009 Bowman Howie Kendrick #151
2009 Bowman Chone Figgins #168
2002 Topps Gallery Tim Salmon #102
2002 Topps Gallery Troy Percival #84
2002 Upper Deck Troy Glaus #51
2002 Upper Deck Diamond Collection Troy Glaus #1
2002 Donruss John Lackey #4
1997 Leaf Eddie Murray #124

2002 Fleer Ultra Garret Anderson #16
2002 Topps Traded Brian Hunter #T8 - not an Angels card but these are repacks so who knows what card (s) I might find besides the general stated contents.
2002 Fleer Tradition Troy Glaus #189
2002 Fleer Tradition Benji Gil #102
2002 Fleer Tradition Jarrod Washburn #327
2002 Bowman Chrome Troy Glaus #58
2002 Upper Deck Honor Roll Troy Glaus #83
2002 Upper Deck Honor Roll Troy Glaus #81
2009 Topps Heritage Chone Figgins #382
1999 Topps Gallery Troy Glaus #98
1999 Topps Gallery Darin Erstad #17
1999 Bowman Scott Schoeneweis #150
2003 Fleer Platinum Troy Percival #170
2003 Fleer Focus Jersey Ed. Tim Salmon #6
2003 Fleer Mystique Troy Glaus #20
2002 Donruss Troy Glaus #147
2002 Donruss Garret Anderson #54
1983 Topps Bobby Grich #790
1983 Topps Bruce Kison #712
1983 Topps Tommy John #735
1983 Fleer Home Run Threats #640 - feat. Oglivie and Jackson
1983 Fleer Luis Sanchez #100
1983 Fleer Fred Lynn #97

1996 Topps D-III Tim Salmon #16
2009 Topps Chrome Joe Saunders #85
2009 Topps 206 Erick Aybar #2
2009 Topps 206 Joe Saunders #283
2009 Topps Allen and Ginter Jered Weaver #134
2009 Updates and Highlights Torii Hunter #UH325
2011 Topps Lineage Vernon Wells #128

2004 Upper Deck Timeless Teams Dan Ford #164
2004 Fleer Ultra David Eckstein #169
2004 Playoff Prestige Jose Guillen #135
2004 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites Mickey Rivers #18
2009 Topps Heritage Juan Rivera #615
2009 Topps Heritage John Lackey #268
2009 Topps Heritage Torii Hunter #307
2007 Topps 52 Nathan Haynes #19
2010 Topps Heritage Joe Saunders #412
2010 Topps Heritage Scott Kazmir #384
2010 Topps Heritage Brian Fuentes #263
2007 Topps Turkey Red Francisco Rodriguez #111
2007 Topps Turkey Red Gary Matthews #114
2007 Topps Updates and Highlights Francisco Rodriguez #UH234
2007 Topps Updates and Highlights Scot Shields #UH132
2007 Topps Updates and Highlights Reggie Willits #UH134
2006 Upper Deck Artifacts Francisco Rodriguez #43
1988 Donruss Gus Polidor #356
1988 Donruss Gary Lucas #579
1991 Upper Deck Scott Lewis #594
1992 Donruss Triple Play Lance Parrish #169
1988 O-Pee-Chee Mark McLemore #162
1988 Score Brian Downing #44
1991 Score Luis Polonia #587
1996 Score Gary DiSarcina #64
1996 Score Tony Phillips #165

1989 Swell Dean Chance #89
1989 Donruss Greg Minton #490
1989 Donruss Wally Joyner #BC-21 - MVP insert
1989 Donruss Terry Clark #607
1989 Donruss Willie Fraser #567
1993 Donruss Junior Felix #197
1993 Donruss Chuck Finley #225
1993 Upper Deck Rene Gonzalez #188

1993 Upper Deck Tim Salmon #25
1993 Donruss Lee Stevens #65
1993 Donruss Chad Curtis #93
2012 Topps Chrome Jered Weaver #52
2011 Bowman Platinum Torii Hunter #45
2011 Bowman Platinum Jered Weaver #56
1993 Pacific Nolan Ryan Angels' Number 30 Retired #242

Mike Trout All-Star Topps Now

Mike Trout is the brightest superstar in Major League Baseball, so most of his premium cards are in high demand - so I don't feel completely out of the loop as far as collecting the guy [on the team I collect], I'm looking out for any 'oddball type' cards like this one I picked up for $5 from the Topps booth at MLB All-Star Fan Fest.

A card like this one may not be autographed or serial #'d to a particular number - but Trout is the biggest baseball star in the planet and everyone wants a little piece of him, so when I can, I want to grab cards like these.