Late Year Spring Training Successes

Came home a week and a half ago for Thanksgiving break and found some returns from Spring Training!

Former #1 pick Mark Appel signed 1/1 in 224 days c/o Astros Spring Training.

Another Astros high end prospect and former Minooka High School star Mike Foltynewicz signed 1/1 in 243 days c/o Astros Spring Training. 

Former White Sox and current Arizona Diamondbacks closer Addison Reed signed 2/2 in 273 days c/o Diamondbacks Spring Training. 

Rockies high end prospect Jonathan Gray signed 1/1 in 299 days c/o Rockies Spring Training. 

Indians 5th overall pick in 2013 Clint Frazier signed 1/1 in 285 days c/o Indians Spring Training .

Oswaldo Arcia, Matt Barnes, Christian Colon, and Chris Owings

Minnesota Twins OF Oswaldo Arcia signed 1/1 in 158 days c/o Twins Spring Training.

Red Sox prospect Matt Barnes signed 1/1 in 155 days c/o Red Sox Spring Training.

Recent Royals call up Christian Colon signed 1/1 in 139 days c/o Royals Spring Training.

Diamondbacks prospect Chris Owings signed 1/1 in 162 days c/o Diamondbacks Spring Training.

Max Fried

Padres 2012 first round pick Max Fried signed 1/1 in 72 days c/o Padres Spring Training.  Great get by a promising LHP.

Tyler Ladendorf

Oakland A's prospect Tyler Ladendorf signed 1/1 in 48 days c/o Oakland A's Spring Training.  Ladendorf was originally traded to the A's in 2009 from the Minnesota Twins for Orlando Cabrera.  Billy Beane definitely saw some upside in him by landing him for a decent major league shortstop at one point.

C.J. Edwards, Jorge Soler, and Matt Harrison

One of the Cubs top prospects C.J. Edwards signed 1/1 in 50 days c/o Cubs Spring Training.  Edwards is said to have been the best player in the deal that sent Matt Garza to his brief stay in Texas last season.  Definitely a nice return from a future star.

Another Cub top prospect Jorge Soler signed 1/1 in 46 days c/o Cubs Spring Training.  Hopefully Soler and Edwards could both be stars.  That would be a nice return day wouldn't it be?

Rangers pitcher Matt Harrison signed 1/1 in 48 days c/o Rangers Spring Training.  As a left handed pitcher myself, it's nice to see a return from a decent lefty.  

   

Pierce Johnson and Alex Wimmers

Sorry for the lack of posts.  I've been busy with school lately and am now vacationing on Spring Break in Tampa.  Anyways, I've gotten a couple of returns since my last post.

Chicago Cubs prospect Pierce Johnson signed a 2012 Bowman Draft Picks in 32 days c/o Cubs Spring Training.

I got another return from last year's Spring Training as former Ohio State star Alex Wimmers signed a 2010 Bowman Draft Prospects.  I wrote about how I attend the University of Illinois, and he inscribed, "Go Big Ten!" on the card.  Definitely a nice little touch.  Wimmers also included a signed 2011 Topps Pro Debut.  This was all in 397 days c/o Twins Spring Training.  Nice to see a return back that I thought was long gone!

Multiple Successes

Been a little busy lately and haven't had a chance to post, but I've gotten 5 successes from Friday until today.  4 out of the 5 are members of the White Sox or are top prospects for them.  One of those was offseason acquisition Matt Davidson, as he signed a 2011 Topps Pro Debut in 20 days c/o White Sox Spring Training.  The Sox also got Adam Eaton from Arizona, and he signed a 2013 Topps in 21 days c/o White Sox Spring Training.  2012 1st round pick Courtney Hawkins signed a 2013 Bowman Top 100 Prospects in 17 days c/o White Sox Spring Training.  Also, current reliever Andre Rienzo signed a Topps Heritage in 25 days c/o White Sox Spring Training.  Lastly, and not a member of the White Sox, but Colby Lewis signed a 2011 Allen and Ginter in 25 days c/o Rangers Spring Training.  

Dustin Ackley

Dustin Ackley signed and personalized a 2011 Topps Update in 21 days c/o Mariners Spring Training.  Ackley turned in a stellar career at the University of North Carolina and I loved watching him in the College World Series.  Hopefully he can have a big 2014 season and live up to the expectations that were expected of him when the Mariners took him with the #2 pick in the draft.

Neal Cotts and Albert Almora

On Friday, I received a signed card from Neal Cotts.  Cotts signed a 2004 Bazooka in 17 days c/o Rangers Spring Training.  This now puts me at 8/25 for my 2005 Chicago White Sox project.  

On Saturday, I got a fantastic return as Chicago Cubs elite prospect Albert Almora signed a 2010 Bowman Drafts Prospect in 16 days c/o Cubs Spring Training.  I was so upset to see that the signature smeared a little bit but nonetheless, a great return.  

Greg Billo

Royals prospect Greg Billo signed a 2012 Bowman Prospects Purple in 14 days c/o Royals Spring Training.  Like Billo, I'm a fan of a lot of the local Chicago area products that end up getting drafted.  Billo is from the southern suburbs and graduated from Sandburg High School.  Hopefully a strong 2014 season can progress him through the minor league levels.

Alex Meyer

My first Spring Training success came in today as Minnesota Twins #3 prospect Alex Meyer signed a 2013 Bowman Prospects card in 13 days c/o Twins Spring Training.  Nice to get that first ST success; especially from a good, young pitcher with a bright career ahead of him.

Jim Bunning

Hall of Fame pitcher and ex United States Senator (R-KY) Jim Bunning signed a 2005 SP Legendary Cuts, a 2007 Topps Heritage Flashback, and a 2013 Allen & Ginter in 15 days c/o Home.  I really admire someone that could accomplish so much in two completely different fields; baseball and politics.  Definitely a nice success.

Wade Boggs

Got a nice quick one in today as Wade Boggs signed a 1987 Topps and a 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen in 13 days c/o Home.  A nice success from the Hall of Famer!

Dustin Hermanson

Dustin Hermanson signed a 2005 Topps in 19 days c/o Home.  I'm real excited for this return as Hermanson was a key asset to the '05 White Sox.  This also helps with that 2005 White Sox project.  I'm now at 7/25, so still a lot of work left to do.

Bill Mueller

2003 AL Batting Champion and current Chicago Cubs hitting coach Bill Mueller signed a 2004 Bowman in 17 days c/o Home.

5 Cards

Got off to a good start today on the 2005 Chicago White Sox collection as 5 cards came in.  

Juan Uribe signed a 2004 Bazooka.

Jose Contreras signed a 2006 Topps Opening Day.

Tadahito Iguchi signed a 2005 Topps.

Aaron Rowand signed a 2005 Topps.

Willie Harris signed a 2005 Topps. 

Welcome!

Welcome to my new website that displays my entire autograph collection!  I will continuously post whenever I receive an autograph through either TTM or in person.  I have uploaded my entire collection and you can click on the tabs above, and then on a name to see an image of each one.  I do plan on sending out some TTM requests come Spring Training, so the amount of posts may be at a minimum until then.  Otherwise, I hope you enjoy my collection and I hope that I can share my passion with you!