skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Here's another card I got signed during Spring Training 2012.
This time last year I was excited to see what Ryan Roberts was going to do during the upcoming season like a lot of other Diamondbacks fans. He was coming off a career year in 2011 but didn't quite live up to the new, lofty expectations.
Ryan was super nice when I met him. He took time and signed for everyone who asked and was very friendly the entire time.
Ryan is now in Tampa with the Rays but Tatman will always have a special place in D-Backs history.
As I'm getting ready for Spring Training 2013, I'm looking back at some of the cards I got signed in 2012.
Aaron Heilman signed this 2011 Topps card for me over at the Seattle Mariners Spring Training complex last March. Aaron spent parts of the 2010 and 2011 seasons with the Diamondbacks. His time in Arizona was pretty unmemorable. Our bullpen was terrible those years and Aaron didn't do much to break that mold.
Despite that I was actually excited to get this card signed. It was kind of a turning point in my Diamondbacks collection. I realized that I wanted to try to focus on getting former D-Backs to sign their D-Backs cards. Not quite the "The Great Orioles Autograph Project" but something similar without the need to get everyone who has ever played in AZ.
A.J. Pollock is one of the Diamondbacks many outfielders. A.J. was a first round draft pick in 2009. He made his Major League Debut against the Pirates during a day game at Chase Field on April 18, 2012. I was at that game! Woo! Too bad we lost.
A.J. signed this 2010 Topps Pro Debut card for us during Spring Training last year.
We were able to get Trevor Bauer's autograph back in Spring Training. Arguably being the D-Backs top prospect, he already had plenty of buzz around him.
The good news for us is that on the day we saw him, he signed autographs for everyone who asked. I had him sign his 2011 Bowman rookie card.
Since then Trevor made his MLB debut in June, struggled mightily over a few starts, and was sent back down to Triple A. He's still our top prospect but some have cooled off on him a bit. His name is even out there in trade rumors this off-season. Hopefully he comes into Spring Training next year and solidifies his spot in the D-Backs rotation. Maybe I'll even be able to get another autograph from him.
Another D-Backs prospect made his MLB debut tonight. Outfielder, Adam Eaton was called up from Triple A Reno where he was absolutely crushing the ball. His .381 average was good enough to win him the 2012 Pacific Coast League MVP award.
Adam signed his 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League card for us during Spring Training this past year. He seemed like a really nice guy. He was talking to all of the fans who asked for his signature. I had two copies of this card and Adam asked for the extra. I obliged and he gave it to a young fan.
The Diamondbacks will be looking to find a way to get him playing time in our outfield next year. I'm pretty sure that means Gerardo Parra, Chris Young, or Justin Upton will be traded sooner rather than later.
Last week when I sat down to scan a few of the D-Backs cards we got signed this past Spring Training, this is the first card I grabbed. I remembered getting Patrick Corbin's autograph but couldn't remember what type of card I had for him to sign.
It turns out that we had his 2011 Topps Pro Debut card. It features him on the Orem Owlz, the Angels Rookie ball team. My memory of this guy must be all around awful because I had also forgotten that we got him as part of the Dan Haren deal.
I'm sure he'll have some Diamondbacks cards next year but for now this one's a nice part of our D-Backs collection.
Over the weekend I scanned a few of the D-Backs cards that we got signed during Spring Training. I realized quite a few of the prospects that we got autographs from back in February have been called up to the big club.
Another prospect will be making his debut today. I'll be there to watch Tyler Skaggs as he takes the mound at Chase Field for the first time in the first game of a day/night double header.
We don't have many day games in Arizona and I had been thinking about taking my son to one for awhile now. It's our good fortune that Skaggs will be pitching at the game we have tickets for. Hopefully we can win both games today against the Marlins and split the series.
One of my goals this past Spring Training was to try to get a few more gold border parallel cards signed. Here's another one. 2008 American League All-Star and current Texas Rangers closer, Joe Nathan signed a gold border parallel for our collection.
# UH64 - Joe Nathan - Gold Border Parallel
Here's another card Brendan Ryan signed for us. This one is from the 2008 Topps St. Louis Cardinals 14 card team set. The picture is cropped slightly different than his base. Always exciting for me.
Oh and yes, I'm still finishing up Spring Training posts.
# STL14 - Brendan Ryan - Team Set
I'm sure Ron Washington is having fun again this year leading the Rangers. They're in first place and have to be the favorites to return to the World Series for a third straight time. If they're able to make it, hopefully this time they can win.
Ron signed the gold border parallel version of is 08 Topps manager card for us during Spring Training.
# 22 - Ron Washington - Gold Border Parallel
Josh Hamilton hit another home run today. It's his 18th of the season. Dude's had an amazing week. Let's hope it continues. He signed the gold border parallel version of his 2008 Topps Home Run Derby card for us this past Spring Training.
# UH 202 - Josh Hamilton - Gold Border Parallel
I have Cameron Maybin on a few of my fantasy baseball teams this year. So far he's not doing so hot. Hopefully he can start to get on base more and rack up big numbers in steals.Here's a 2008 Topps Chrome card that he signed for us during Spring Training. It goes nicely with the Refractor we posted earlier this month.# 119 - Cameron Maybin - Chrome
Brendan Ryan signed the Gold Foil version of his 2008 Topps card for us. This was during Spring Training before he proposed to his girlfriend during the two game series in Japan. That story probably got more coverage than it should have but I thought it was pretty cool.# 353 - Brendan Ryan - Gold Foil
Yorvit Torrealba's done a nice job in Texas. After spending some time with the Rockies and Padres it seems he's finally found a home as the Rangers primary catcher. He signed his card from the 14 card Colorado Rockies team set for us.# COL14 - Yorvit Torrealba - Team Set
Ron Washington has done a nice job turning around the Texas Rangers. Leading your team to two straight World Series appearances is pretty impressive. He signed the Gold Foil version of his 08 Topps card for us during Spring Training. If you want to be a good coach like Ron Washington, get a degree in sports management.
# 22 - Ron Washington - Gold Foil
Another Gold Border Parallel for our collection. This one is of former Dodgers closer and current D-Backs reliever, Takashi Saito.# 406 - Takashi Saito - Gold Border Parallel
I had met Jeremy Guthrie a long time ago when he was playing in the Arizona Fall League. I think it was right after he was drafted by the Indians. He was the Colorado Rockies Opening Day starter this year and it was nice to see him again after so many years.# 136 - Jeremy Guthrie - Opening Day
Josh Hamilton signed the Gold Border parallel version of his 2008 Topps Series Two card for us. Hopefully Josh can stay healthy for the rest of the year and win another MVP award.# 439 - Josh Hamilton - Gold Border Parallel
This one was more difficult to get than I thought it would be. Clayton Richard was signing autographs for fans after the Padres Spring Training game we went to. He kept skipping my card and seemed to be only signing for kids. Once he was finished up and about to take off, I asked him if he'd sign and personalize my card for my son. He obliged. Thanks, Clayton.# 16 - Clayton Richard - Red Hot Rookies
Former Cincinnati Reds reliever, Matt Belisle signed a card for our set. Matt's one of those guys I had meant to write to for awhile but never did. My procrastination turned out to be okay since we tracked him down at a Rockies Spring Training game.# 342 - Matt Belisle
Progress: 482/990
