I’ve been collecting cards for a long time. I didn’t really get into collecting autographed cards until 1988 or so. At the time I was living in Palm Springs, CA and the Angels would spend a month in Palm Springs. I remember Bob Boone playing catch with sons Brett and Aaron.
I picked up autographing again in the early 2000’s with my friend Mig. We would search Ebay for cards of the players playing in Salem/Keizer. We then graduated to buying team sets and getting those signed by players. We normally make it to the ballpark early to get autographs and too talk to players.
An autographed card for me is kind of like a business card. It means the player took time out of his busy day to chat with me. Some of my greatest memories of working in baseball (Being A Clubhouse Attendant) come from the time with the players. It’s nice to get the big stars to sign but for me it’s all about having the guys who play a season or two.
I’m not sure how many I have (never counted them). 95% of the signed cards that I have, I got personally. I buy very few autographed cards. If I don’t have a card of a player I don’t get an autograph. I don’t use blank or index cards. On a special occasion I will have a player sign a baseball or photo.
The past few years I have gotten doubles signed so that I can pass those on to kids to start their collections. I will trade them on occasion with friends.
People ask me all the time if I have a favorite. I guess I really don’t but I love the cards of guys like Matt Scales. Matt is a police Capt. in McMinnville and spent a season with the Lethbridge Mounties.
Others would be Cooper Brannon. Cooper pitched with the Eugene Emeralds and is a Marine. Cooper had part of his hand blown off by a grenade. A few others are the Myers brothers. Corey played in the Diamondbacks organization and his brother Casey spent time with the A’s. Casey at one point knew every 3 letter word used in Scrabble.
My favorite balls that I have are my signed Dale Murphy ball (acquired in a trade) and my Pete Rose ball. I usually carry a bag full of cards for each team and if I know a roving instructor or scout will be around. I also have an assortment of balls that I get from the stadium and 5 or 6 sharpies. I will use black and blue sharpies. Sometimes I will use balls to trade for cards that I don’t have.
So, if you catch me at a game ask me if I have extra cards. I’m always up to give a few away.