# 201 - Matt Capps

Former Pittsburgh Pirates closer, Matt Capps signed a card for our set. Matt was selected to play in the 2010 All-Star game while he was a member of the Washington Nationals. Matt's last big league appearance came in 2012 with the Twins.

I remember Matt best for being one of those cheap closers you could pick up in the late rounds for your fantasy baseball team.

# 201 - Matt Capps

Progress: 526/990

# 468 - Gregor Blanco

Hey it's Gregor Blanco! You may remember him from the 2014 NL Champion San Francisco Giants. Gregor has been a staple in the Giants outfield for the past three seasons.

I picked up his signed 2008 Topps card from a friend on SportsGraphing.com last year.

# 468 - Gregor Blanco

Progress: 525/990

# 247 - Edgar Gonzalez

Edgar was with the Diamondbacks for parts of six seasons. This was during a time when I wasn't really following the team closely. He started 35 games and had an ERA just under 6.

I was surprised to see that Edgar is still playing. In 2013 he made 8 appearances while splitting time with the Astros and Blue Jays.

I bought this card from a friend on SportsGraphing.com well over a year ago.

# 477 - Edgar Gonzalez

Progress: 524/990

# 477 - Ben Broussard

I remember hearing an interview with Ben Broussard on MLB Network Radio last Spring. He had just finished playing winter ball in Mexico and was trying to make a comeback. It took a while but he reemerged in the Atlantic League later that summer. A friend on SCN helped us out by getting this 2008 Topps card signed for us.

I've been a fan of Ben's since he played in the Arizona Fall League back when he was the Reds top prospect. I wish him the best in his comeback and musical career.

# 477 - Ben Broussard

Progress: 523/990
 

# 261 - Josh Barfield

A friend from SCN helped us out last season with this signed Josh Barfield 2008 Topps card for our set. Josh signed it before a Long Island Ducks game. I remember when Josh was the Padres top prospect. He last appeared in the big leagues with the Indians in 2009. Since then he's bounced around with a few organizations and has played in the Atlantic League.

# 261 - Josh Barfield

Progress: 522/990
 

# 292 - Mark Loretta

After about eighteen months, Mark Loretta signed and sent back his 2008 Topps card for our set. I was glad to get this one back. Mark was a pretty good player. He was a two-time All-Star and he won a Silver Slugger Award in 2004. After retiring Mark took a front office job with the Padres.

# 292 - Mark Loretta

Progress: 521/990
 

# 144 - Jerry Owens

Wow. I haven't done a 2008 Topps post in awhile. I've gotten a few new things for our collection that I need to scan. Maybe I'll work on that this weekend.

In the meantime, here's a card that former Chicago White Sox outfielder, Jerry Owens, signed for us. I sent Jerry a TTM request earlier this year c/o the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League. It came back a few short days later signed.

# 144 - Jerry Owens

Progress: 520/990
 

# 45 - Dontrelle Willis

A friend on SCN helped us out with this 2008 Topps card signed by Dontrelle Willis. Dontrelle's career started off magnificently. In 2003, he won the National League Rookie of the Year award while leading the Florida Marlins to a World Series Championship.
Since then he's bounced around from team to team (including a short stint with the Arizona Diamondbacks). Dontrelle is currently playing for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League.
# 45 - Dontrelle Willis
Progress: 519/990  

# 348 - Craig Monroe

Former Minnesota Twins outfielder, Craig Monroe signed his card for our 2008 Topps set. Craig is probably best remembered for his time with the Detroit Tigers. He put up some pretty big numbers for the Tigers in 2006. He hit 28 home runs and drove in 92.

# 348 - Craig Monroe

Progress: 518/990

# 457 - Josh Fields

We had a little help with getting Josh Fields to sign his 2008 Topps card for our set. A friend on SportsGraphing.com was able to get his autograph for us at a Lehigh Valley IronPigs game.

You may remember Josh from his time at Oklahoma State University. In addition to playing baseball, he was the quarterback for the Cowboys.

# 457 - Josh Field

Progress: 517/990

# UH 74 - Corey Patterson

Here's another one for our 2008 Topps set. I friend on SCN helped us out by getting Corey Patterson to sign his card from the Updates & Highlights set while he was playing with the Tacoma Rainiers.

It's a good thing he got it signed quickly because Corey was only there 19 before they released him. However, I saw that he signed with the Yankees yesterday and was assigned to their Triple A team.

# UH 74 - Corey Patterson

Progress: 516/990

# 435 - Torii Hunter

Got a good one for the set. A friend on SCN helped us out with this signed 2008 Topps card of former Angels star, Torii Hunter. Torii signed it for him when the Tigers came through Pittsburgh late last month.

I actually have gotten Torii's autograph once before. It was way back in 1998 while he was playing in the Arizona Fall League. It was the first AZFL game I ever went to.

I'm pretty stoked to have this one. Torii's a four-time All-Star and has won nine Gold Glove awards.

# 435 - Torii Hunter

Progress: 515/990

# UH 265 - Tony Abreu

I totally forgot I had this 2008 Topps Tony Abreu card signed. It's been over a year since a member of SportsGraphing.com helped me out. Tony was playing with the Royals Triple A team in Omaha at the time. He's now with the Giants big league club. He got a few at bats against the D-Backs this past weekend which reminded me I never did a post for this great card.

Tony spent some time playing for the Diamondbacks in 2010. He played in 81 games and got almost 200 at bats.

# UH 265 - Tony Abreu

Progress: 514/990

# UH 257 - Casey Blake

A few weeks ago we did a post for Casey Blake's card from series one of the 2008 Topps set. He also signed his card from the Updates & Highlights set for us. This one has him on the Dodgers. He was traded to Los Angeles from the Indians for Carlos Santana at the trade deadline that year.

# UH 257 - Casey Blake

Progress: 513/990

# 231 - Casey Blake

Former Indians infielder, Casey Blake, signed a card for our set. He had a few good years in Cleveland. His best was in 2004 when he hit 28 home runs and drove in 88 runs.

# 231 - Casey Blake

Progress: 512/990
 

# UH 205 - Octavio Dotel

Octavio Dotel signed his card from the 2008 Topps Updates & Highlights set for us. Dotel has the distinction of having played on 13 different teams during his career. That's more than any other player in the history of Major League Baseball.

# UH 205 - Octavio Dotel

Progress: 511/990
 

# 7 - Mickey Mantle

Like most of the recent Topps sets, the 2008 Topps set included Mickey Mantle as card # 7. A fitting tribute to one of the most influential players of the last century.

I've kind of wondered what to do with this card for awhile now. Not too long ago I saw someone else get a TTM request back from one of Mickey's sons, David. David signed an Allen & Ginter card for the set they were working on. They shared the address so I went ahead and gave it a try.

A few weeks David returned my cards signed. He signed this one twice. Once on the front and once on the back. I'm guessing it's because the front is kind of dark and it's a little hard to see.

Thanks, David! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my request.

# 7 - Mickey Mantle

Progress: 510/990
 
     

# 591 - Rico Washington

Zach from Autographed Cards was in town this week. We met up today over in Surprise to catch the Diamondbacks and Royals game. His favorite team versus my favorite team. It was perfect.

Zach showed up bearing gifts. He gave me this 2008 Topps signed Rico Washington card for our set. I remember when Rico was a pretty big deal with the Pirates. He didn't pan out and it took him 10 years to reach the big leagues. He had his first and only cup of coffee with the Cardinals in 2008.

# 591 - Rico Washington

Progress: 509/990
 

# UH 57 - Ramon Castro

Back in December of 2010 we picked up a signed copy of Ramon Castro's 2008 Topps Gold Border Parallel. Pretty great except we didn't have his base card yet.

Ramon is a non-roster invitee for the Dodgers this year and he signed his base card for us at a Spring Training practice last week. I'm glad to be able to cross this one off the list.

# UH 57 - Ramon Castro

Progress: 508/990
 

# UH 92 - Eric Hinske

I doubt anyone was excited as I was when I found out the Diamondbacks had signed Eric Hinske. Not that I'm a big Hinske fan or anything. I just really wanted to get his card from the 2008 Topps Update & Highlights set signed.

The other day I went over to Salt River Fields to see Eric and the D-Backs and the 2002 American League Rookie of the Year didn't disappoint. Thanks, Eric!

# UH 92 - Eric Hinske

Progress: 507/990