Custom: Trevor Hoffman - 1973 Topps

Why Trevor Hoffman? He might just be the best closer of all-time.

Why not an 08 Topps card? I wanted to try something new and came up with this design that's reminiscent of the 1973 Topps football set.

# BAL10 - Adam Loewen - Team Set

This one came to us from Ryan ( Great Orioles Autograph Project ). At first it appears to be a regular Adam Loewen signed 08 Topps card but if you turn it over you'll notice that it is numbered differently. That's right. This card is from the 14-card Baltimore Orioles team set. Thanks, Ryan!

# BAL10 - Adam Loewen ( team set )

# 23 - Chin-Lung Hu

Chin-Lung Hu is currently on the roster of the Albuquerque Isotopes. He's been around for awhile now and I'm not really sure if he's going to make it. According to his Wikipedia article he's only 26 years old so I guess he does have some time. It just seems like we're pretty far removed from when he was named the MVP of the Futures Game in 2007. We received his 08 Topps card back signed from a 50/50 on SportsGraphing.com.

# 23 - Ching-Lung Hu

Progress: 289/990

# 222 - Mark Grudzielanek

Blog reader Dan has helped me out with a few cards in the past and he's come through again. Earlier this month he was over at Progressive Field and snagged a signed 08 Topps card of infielder, Mark Grudzielanek for us.

Thanks, Dan!

# 222 - Mark Grudzielanek

Progress: 288/990

# UH 195 - Chris Carter

Here's another card that Dan from SweetSpotGraphs.com helped us get signed. Chris Carter signed this card in Buffalo right before he was called up to the Mets.

# UH 195 - Chris Carter

Progress: 287/990

# UH 283 - Alex Cintron

Here goes another card that Dan from SweetSpotGraphs.com helped us get signed. Former Diamondbacks infielder, Alex Cintron is currently with the Mets AAA team.

# UH 283 - Alex Cintron

Progress: 286/990

Custom: Elvis Andrus - 2008 Topps

Why Elvis Andrus? He's putting up All-Star numbers in 2010.

Elvis Andrus seems to be the next Venezuelan born All-Star shortstop following legends like Luis Aparicio and Omar Vizquel. This year he is hitting .312 with 30 runs scored and 17 stolen bases. If he continues to put up numbers like this, there's a pretty good chance he will be playing in Anaheim this July.

# 19 - Elvis Andrus ( custom )

# UH 103 - Chris Burke

I'm proud to announce another signed 08 Topps card of a former Diamondbacks player. My friend, Dan from SweetSpotGraphs.com, sent us this signed card of Chris Burke. Always great to add signed 08 Topps card for our set but it's even better when it's a D-Back.

# UH 103 - Chris Burke

Progress: 285/990

# 251 - Dan Johnson

After spending last year playing for the Yokohama BayStars in Japan, Dan Johnson is back in the United States. The former Oakland A's first baseman signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays and is assigned to their Triple A team.

My friend, Dan from SweetSpotGraphs.com, sent this card over with a few others that he got signed for us this year. Thanks, Dan!

# 251 - Dan Johnson

Progress: 284/990

# 483 - Mike Jacobs

After spending some time with the Florida Marlins and Kansas City Royals, Mike Jacobs is back with the New York Mets. Mike made his MLB debut with the Mets back in 2005. Mike is currently playing for the Mets AAA team, the Buffalo Bisons.

My friend, Dan from SweetSpotGraphs.com, is a Mets fan and lives near Buffalo. He sent this card over with a few others that he got signed for us this year. Thanks, Dan!

# 483 - Mike Jacobs

Progress: 283/990

# UH 222 - Dave Borkowski

Dave Borkowski managed to put together a Major League career that stretched over 10 seasons without me every even hearing of him. He pitched for three organizations ( Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros ) and won 13 games. Dave retired after the 2008 season and is now the pitching coach for the Greeneville Astros.

I'm glad Ryan from The Great Orioles Autograph Project sent this signed card over the other day. I might have had difficulty tracking Dave down.

# UH 222 - Dave Borkowski

Progress: 282/990

# 167 - Jason Hirsh

A few years back Jason Hirsh was going to be the next big thing in Texas when he was with the Houston Astros organization. He was named Texas League Pitcher of the Year in 05 and Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year Award in 06. He suffered from a few injuries since then but is now with the Yankees and trying to make it back to the big leagues.

A friend on SweetSpotGraphs.com saw Jason at a recent Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees game and got his 08 Topps card signed for us.

# 167 - Jason Hirsch

Progress: 281/990

# 642 - Mark Kotsay

I really didn't expect to get this one back. I had written a letter to Mark Kotsay c/o the Red Sox the day before he was traded to the White Sox. I probably should have known better to send out TTM requests right before the trade deadline but I didn't.

A big thank you to the Red Sox for forwarding Mark's mail to him in Chicago and another thank you to Mr. Kotsay himself for signing a card for our set!

# 642 - Mark Kotsay

Progress: 280/990

Custom: Nolan Ryan - 2008 Topps

Why Nolan Ryan? Dallas Braden's perfect game last Sunday got me thinking about no hitters. Thinking about no hitters led me to think about Nolan Ryan.

# 18 - Nolan Ryan ( custom )

# 10 - Miguel Cabrera

This is definitely one of the best cards I've gotten signed TTM in awhile. With a small donation to the Detroit Tigers Foundation, All-Star Miguel Cabrera signed a card for our set.

This is the second Miguel Cabrera autograph we have in our collection. The first was signed back in 2001 when he was playing with the Kane County Cougars. My family and I had gone on vacation to Chicago and I talked my mom and grandma into taking me out to Kane County to see a Cougars game. At the time #1 Draft Pick Adrian Gonzalez was playing for them and I thought it would be a good chance to get his autograph.

Unknown to me, the day we went was an autograph day. The team had all of the players sitting at four tables arranged on the field. You had to wait in line and were able to go to one table where four or five players were sitting. I had bought a team set in the gift shop so I did have cards for most of them but I was really only interested in Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez's table was first. I asked the usher if we could go to that table since I had come all the way from Arizona just to see him. He told me no and that I had to go to the last table. That wasn't what I wanted to hear.

On my way to the last table, I had to walk right past the first table where Adrian was sitting with no line. I handed him my cards and as he was signing the first, the usher approached me and told me I had to proceed to the final table. Okay, that was fine. I had gotten the autograph I wanted.

I made my way to the final table and pulled out my team set cards of the guys there. I hadn't really heard of any of them before but the first player was some eighteen year old kid from Venezuela. So basically the usher almost forced me to get an autograph of Miguel Cabrera. Wherever you are Kane County usher, I thank you!


# 10 - Miguel Cabrera

Progress: 279/990

# UH 141 - Michael Aubrey

The other day Ryan from The Great Orioles Autograph Project sent over a few signed 08 Topps cards of Baltimore Orioles players.

One of the cards Ryan sent was of Michael Aubrey. Michael is currently with the Orioles AAA team, the Norfolk Tides.

# UH 141 - Michael Aubrey

Progress: 278/990

# 264 - Byung-Hyun Kim

I was pretty excited to get this card back signed from a TTM request. Byung-Hyun Kim was a big part of the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks team that won the World Series. He was also won a World Series with the Red Sox in 2004.

# 264 - Byung-Hyun Kim

Progress: 277/990

# 269 - James Loney

Dodgers star, James Loney must have been catching up on his mail during the offseason. We received our 08 Topps card back signed just before Spring Training started.

James is one of several good, young players to come through the Dodgers system. With others like Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers should be a force to reckon with in the NL West for the foreseeable future.

# 269 - James Loney

Progress: 276/990

# 51 - Brian Burres

It's kind of hard to believe that baseball card companies still have trouble putting a photo of the correct player on the front of their baseball card. In 2008, Topps mistakenly chose a photo of Brian Burres for Erik Bedard's card.

When we sent a request to Brain during Spring Training we sent his regular card as well as Erik's. He graciously signed the card featuring his photo and an incorrect name. I've actually seen Erik Bedard sign this card too so we'll have to work on getting him to sign it as well.

Despite the error, this is another great addition to our set.

# 51 - Erik Bedard

Progress: 275/900

# 608 - Brian Burres

Got back another Spring Training request. Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, Brian Burres signed his card from Series 2 of the 08 Topps set.

# 608 - Brian Burres

Progress: 274/990

Box Break: 2007 Tristar Prospects Plus # 2

Last week I won a contest over at 30-Year Old Cardboard. The prize was two 2007 Tristar Prospect Plus blasters. Here's what I got in the second box:

Pack One:
Nick Schmidt
Adrian Cardenas
Brad Suttle - Green 33/50
Brandon Hamilton
Jarrod Parker
Brian Rike

Pack Two:
Corey Brown
Neil Ramirez
Clayton Kershaw - Protential
Bubba Bell
David Kopp
Jonathan Bachanov

Pack Three:
Corey Luebke
David Mailman
Anthony Rizzo
Josh Vitters
Andrew Cumberland
Duke Welker

Pack Four:
Ben Revere
Todd Frazier
Joe Mather
Eddie Kunz - Auto
Kyle Lotzkar
Josh Smoker

Pack Five:
Jonathan Arencibia
Rick Porcello
Michael Main
Kyle Lotzkar - Auto
Ching Lung Ho
Jake Smolinski

Pack Six:
John Mayberry
Aaron Poreda
Justin Jackson
Carlos Gonzalez - Protential
Charlie Culberson
Ryan Pope

Pack Seven:
Brock Huntzinger
Clayton Mortensen
Travis Snider
Jose Tabata
Fernando Martinez - Protential
James Adkins

Box Break: 2007 Tristar Prospects Plus # 1

Last week I won a contest over at 30-Year Old Cardboard. The prize was two 2007 Tristar Prospect Plus blasters. Here's what I got in the first box:

Pack One:
Wes Roemer
Peter Koema
Eddie Kunz
Austin Romine
Carmen Angelini
Daniel Duffy

Pack Two:
Jake Arrieta
Casey Crosby
Billy Rowell - Protential
Blake Bleavan
Phillipe Aumont
Ross Detwiler

Pack Three:
Pedro Beato
Tommy Hunter
Yung Chi Chen - Protential
Beau Mills
Ed Easley
Jeff Larish

Pack Four:
Josh Donaldson
William Middlebrooks
Matt Mangini
Travis D'Arnaud
Josh Vitters
Andrew Cumberland

Pack Five:
Brett Cecil
Mike Moustakas
Kellen Kulbacki - Auto
Chris Withrow
Madison Bumgarner
Sam Runion

Pack Six:
Ching Lung Lo
Greg Reynolds
Carlos Carrasco - Protential
Grant Desme
Jason Heyward
Trystan Magnuson

Pack Seven:
Charlie Culberson
Jake Smolinski
Todd Frazier - Auto
Andrew Brackman
Daniel Moskos
Max Scherzer

Custom: Dallas Braden - 2008 Topps

Why Dallas Braden? He threw a perfect game today!

Yah I already posted my card of Brooks Robinson for Custom Card Sunday but Dallas Braden's performance today made me sit back down at the computer this evening and fire up my Photoshop.

I noticed that Braden was heading towards history when the game was in the 7th inning. I quickly pulled out my headphones and listened to the rest of the game on MLB At Bat with Gameday Audio.

I thought the whole Alex Rodriguez stepping on Braden's mound this from a few days ago was pretty funny. So... hey A-Rod... I'm pretty sure everyone knows who Dallas Braden is now...

# 17 - Dallas Braden ( custom )

Custom: Brooks Robinson - 2008 Topps

Why Brooks Robinson? He's one of my dad's favorite players.

I like making these custom cards for retired players more than current guys so I went with someone my dad enjoyed when he was a kid. My dad and I have both had the pleasure of meeting this Hall of Famer on two seperate occassions over the past few years. Very nice guy.

# 16 - Brooks Robinson ( custom )

Another 08 Topps Collector

I found another autograph collector on SportsGraphing.com who is working on the 2008 Topps set. Tikitomoka is primarily a basketball collector so he's doing the 220 card NBA set with a little MLB and NFL on the side.

He has a Photobucket set up to show off his collection. Check it out here.

I don't do a whole lot with basketball autographs but I was really impressed with some of the signature's that Tikitomoka has been able to get. In his collection are over one hundred signed basketball cards including established superstars like Carmelo Anthony...

He also has up and coming stars like Kevin Durant...

He even has signed 08 Topps cards from NBA legends like Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkins. I didn't even realize the basketball set had retired players. Definitely going to have to pick up a few of these...

I was really impressed with the way all of the cards that were signed in silver paint pen. Especially the Topps Chromes. I will definitely have to try this myself.

Progress: 125/220

Awesome stuff!

# UH 318 - Kyle Farnsworth

On SportsGraphing.com they have these things called "graph cash auctions." Basically you gain graph cash by posting things and every once in a while someone will offer up a signed card they don't want in an auction for the graph cash.

That's how I picked up this signed 08 Topps Kyle Farnsworth card. Cost me a grand total of 750 graph cash. I would have to say it was fake money well spent.

# UH 318 - Kyle Farnsworth

Progress: 273/990

# UH 277 - John Rheinecker

I remember when John Rheinecker was going to be the next superstar pitcher in Oakland. After putting up big numbers in 2002, it looked like it wouldn't be long before Rheinecker was joining the big three (Zito, Mulder, Hudson) in the A's rotation.

Well that never happened. Rheinecker was traded to the Texas Rangers before ever making his Major League debut. He has had some health problems since and hasn't played since 2007.

John was always extremely nice when we saw him during his time with the A's. He may not be the best known card in our 08 Topps set but I think this one's pretty cool.

# UH 277 - John Rheinecker

Progress: 272/990

# 49 - Rick Honeycutt - Team Gift Set

Back in December, I picked up a few of the 55 card team sets that Topps released in 2008. The Los Angeles Dodgers set included a card of former Dodger pitcher, Rick Honeycutt

Over his 21 year career, Rick Honeycutt was a 2x All-Star and a 2x World Series Champion. He has been the pitching coach for the Dodgers since 2006.

# 49 - Rick Honeycutt ( Dodgers Gift Set )

# 41 - Rick Petersen - Team Gift Set

Back in December, I picked up a few of the 55 card team sets that Topps released in 2008. The best part of these team sets is that they had some unique cards thrown in. Cards of pitching coaches or hitting coaches aren't very common outside of a minor league team set.

Thanks to the New York Mets team set, I was able to get my first Rick Petersen card signed during Spring Training. Rick has been the pitching coach for the Oakland A's, New York Mets, and is currently with the Milwaukee Brewers.

# 41 - Rick Petersen ( Mets Gift Set )

# 389 - Callix Crabbe

Here's another card we had some help with. A friend on SportsGraphing.com had Callix Crabbe sign his 08 Topps card for us at a recent New Hampshire Fisher Cats game.

After spending some time with the Padres & Brewers, Callix is now with the Toronto Blue Jays organization. His only time with a big league club came while he was with the Padres in 2008.

# 389 - Callix Crabbe

Progress: 271/990

# UH 146 - Carlos Gonzalez

Earlier this year, I sent a few Colorado Rockies cards to a friend on SportsGraphing.com for a Spring Training 50/50. He was able to get a few 08 Topps cards signed for our set.

My favorite of the five Rockies autographs we added for our set this week is from outfielder, Carlos Gonzalez. After putting up some big numbers in the minor leagues the past few years, Carlos is turning into a solid offensive threat in Colorado. His call-up last year sparked the team's turn around which ended with the Rockies winning the NL Wild Card.

# UH 146 - Carlos Gonzalez

Progress: 270/990

# 356 - Manny Corpas

Earlier this year, I sent a few Colorado Rockies cards to a friend on SportsGraphing.com for a Spring Training 50/50. He was able to get a few 08 Topps cards signed for our set.

Next up is Rockies reliver, Manny Corpas. Manny has been with the Rockies since he made his MLB debut back in 2006. He has been given the closer role a few times but hasn't been able to establish himself as a pitcher who can close out games consistently.

# 356 - Manny Corpas

Progress: 269/990

# 636 - Rafael Betancourt

Earlier this year, I sent a few Colorado Rockies cards to a friend on SportsGraphing.com for a Spring Training 50/50. He was able to get a few 08 Topps cards signed for our set.

Rafael Betancourt was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Colorado Rockies during July last season. Since then, he has established himself as a valuable part of the Rockies bullpen.

# 636 - Rafael Betancourt

Progress: 268/990

# UH 286 - Aaron Cook

Earlier this year, I sent a few Colorado Rockies cards to a friend on SportsGraphing.com for a Spring Training 50/50. He was able to get a few 08 Topps cards signed for our set.

Aaron Cook was named to his first All-Star team in 2008. His 08 Topps All-Star card looks great signed!

# UH 286 - Aaron Cook

Progress: 267/990

# 34 - Aaron Cook

Earlier this year, I sent a few Colorado Rockies cards to a friend on SportsGraphing.com for a Spring Training 50/50. He was able to get a few 08 Topps cards signed for our set.

My pile of signed cards that I still need to post about is still growing. In an effort to get caught up, we'll be having double posts all week long!

First up is Rockies pitcher, Aaron Cook.

# 34 - Aaron Cook

Progress: 266/990

Custom Card Sunday: Goose Joak Originals # 1

Switching Custom Card Sunday up a bit this week. Instead of our usual custom 08 Topps card, today's post is all about Goose Joak Originals. If you are not familiar with Goose Joak or his custom card set, you should definitely check out his blog.

This week, I made my first two cards for the Goose Joak Originals 2010 set. Last year's set had over 900 cards. This year, it's already up over 200.

To start off my contributions to the set, I decided to go with cards of two of my favorite players from my favorite team: Dan Haren & Justin Upton.

# 494 - Paul Maholm

We had written to Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, Paul Maholm last year during the season. Our 08 Topps card came back signed during Spring Training. I guess Paul used some of his free time in Florida to catch up on his mail. We're glad he did!

# 494 - Paul Maholm

Progress: 265/990