# 588 - Tony Gwynn Jr - Black Border Parallel

Tony Gwynn Jr signed his 2008 Topps Black Border Parallel card for our 08 Topps collection at a Spring Training practice back in February. He is currently playing for the Dodgers Triple A team in Albuquerque.

I like the black border parallel cards even though I don't have too many of them. This one is numbered 19/57 on the back.

# 588 - Tony Gwynn Jr - Black Border Parallel

# BOS13 - Hideki Okajima - Team Set

Former Boston Red Sox reliever, Hideki Okajima resurfaced this Spring over at the Oakland A's camp.

Okajima was really nice on the day we saw him. He signed a few cards for us including this one from the 2008 Topps Boston Red Sox 14 card team set.

# BOS13 - Hideki Okajima - Team Set

# 174 - Hideki Okajima - Opening Day White Border Parallel

Former Boston Red Sox reliever, Hideki Okajima resurfaced this Spring over at the Oakland A's camp.

Okajima was really nice on the day we saw him. He signed a few cards for us including this white border parallel from the 2008 Topps Opening Day set.

# 174 - Hideki Okajima - Opening Day White Border Parallel

# 174 - Hideki Okajima - Opening Day

Former Boston Red Sox reliever, Hideki Okajima resurfaced this Spring over at the Oakland A's camp. He didn't make the big club and is currently in Sacramento on the River Cats roster.

Okajima was really nice on the day we saw him. He signed a few cards for us including this one from the 2008 Topps Opening Day set.

# 174 - Hideki Okajima - Opening Day 
 

2012 Topps - Wade Miley

Yikes! It's been a few days since my last blog post. I've had a busy couple of days thanks to work and baseball. I've gotten a few trade packages the past week or so but haven't got a chance to scan anything. Hopefully I'll be able to catch up this weekend.

The Pirates are in town and I ended up going to two of the three games in the series. My son and I went to our first Diamondbacks game on Monday night. We had a good time but the D-Backs lost. Today one of my friends and I left work early and hit up the day game. I cashed in a ticket voucher I won at Fan Fest and scored two tickets that normally go for $100 each for free. We watched Wade Miley take care of business from fifth row dugout box seats. It was a good day.

Wade signed his 2012 Topps rookie card for me during Spring Training. A nice pickup from a 2012 National League All-Star. 

2012 Topps Heritage - Paul Goldschmidt

The Diamondbacks have officially extended Paul Goldschimidt's contract. Goldschmidt is now under contract with the Diamondbacks through 2018. You can read all about the deal over at MLBTR. We now have most of our core players locked up for at least the next three years. Hopefully this will be a good formula for success.

Paul signed his 2012 Topps Heritage card for us after a Spring Training practice in February. 

2012 Topps - John McDonald

Last week John McDonald was traded from the Diamondbacks to the Pirates. Not too long before that the Prime Minister of Defense signed his 2012 Topps card for us.

John played in 89 games for the D-Backs over the last season and a half. He seemed like a really nice guy. I've seen quite a few tweets and blog comments recently about how much he'll be missed in Arizona. 

# 164 - Eric Chavez - Chrome Refractor

Zach from Autographed Cards was in town this week. We met up yesterday over in Surprise to catch the Diamondbacks and Royals game. We were able to get a few autographs pregame. Nothing too earth shattering but I did go home with this 2008 Topps Chrome Refractor signed by Eric Chavez.

# 164 - Eric Chavez - Chrome Refractor 

# 651 - Martin Prado - Gold Border Parallel

Way before Martin Prado was traded to the Diamondbacks, we had already acquired his signed 2008 Topps card. Remember this post from 2010?

Right before Spring Training I picked up his gold border parallel from the 08 Topps set. He signed it for us at a practice just the other day.

I listened to an interesting interview on MLB Network Radio the other day where Chipper Jones talked about how much the Braves were going to miss Prado. Hopefully he'll be a key piece to some good D-Backs teams for the next few years.

 # 651 - Martin Prado - Gold Border Parallel 

# 43 - Aaron Hill - Chrome Printing Plate

Last July we picked up an Aaron Hill printing plate from the 2008 Topps Chrome set. The other day we had him autograph it. I think it turned out pretty well.

Aaron recently signed an extension with the D-Backs so it looks like he'll be a part of our infield for the next few years.

# 43 - Aaron Hill - Chrome Printing Plate 
  

# 52 - Ramon Castro - Team Gift Set

One of the nice things about the 2008 Topps Team Gift Sets are they have some cool classic combos cards. This one features Ramon Castro and Pedro Martinez. Ramon signed it for us at the Dodgers Spring Training practice we went to in February.

# 52 - Ramon Castro - Team Gift Set 

# 36 - Ramon Castro - Team Gift Set

Former Mets catcher, Ramon Castro, had a card in the 2008 Topps New York Mets 55 card team gift set. Ramon said he had never seen this one before. Always cool. Especially since this set came out 4+ years ago.

# 36 - Ramon Castro - Team Gift Set
 

# 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
 

# UH 187 - Rod Barajas

After previously playing for the Diamondbacks for parts of five seasons, including the World Series Championship team in 2001, Rod Barajas is back in the desert. He is battling it out with Wil Nieves to be our backup catcher.

Rod signed his card from the 2008 Topps Updates & Highlights set for us over at Salt River Fields last weekend.

# UH 187 - Rod Barajas

Progress: 506/990
 

# UH 14 - Bartolo Colon

It's nice to have some new signed 2008 Topps cards to blog about.

Next up is two-time All-Star and 2005 American League Cy Young award winner, Bartolo Colon. I remember trying to get Bartolo's autograph once before when he was on the Angels. He almost ran us over with his car in the parking lot.

A few years have passed and this time my experience was completely different. On the day I went over to the A's camp, Bartolo took a seat on the bleachers and signed for everyone who asked. Totally awesome.

# UH 14 - Bartolo Colon

Progress: 505/990
 

# UH 240 - Clayton Kershaw

Earlier this week two-time All-Star and the 2011 National League Cy Young award winner, Clayton Kershaw, signed his rookie card for our 2008 Topps set.

I made my first ever trip to Camelback Ranch for a Dodgers Spring Training practice. Man, the crowd was big. I mean I get it. They have tons of stars and Sandy Koufax was there too so that definitely didn't help. I fought hard to come home with a few signed cards. This one is by far my favorite.

Not a bad way to start off Spring Training 2013. Check back tomorrow for another former Cy Young award winner.

# UH 240 - Clayton Kershaw

Progress: 504/990
 

Daniel Hudson Collection - 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen Autographed

I went to Salt River Fields over the weekend. My wife, son, and I went out to see the D-Backs on Sunday and we went home with a few autographs.

My wife had Daniel Hudson sign this 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen for me because she's awesome. 

I've gotten a few 2008 Topps cards signed so far this Spring too. Check back tomorrow to see what we got.

Daniel Hudson Collection - 2012 Topps Archives Autographed

I went to Salt River Fields over the weekend. My wife, son, and I went out to see the D-Backs on Sunday and we went home with a few autographs.

Of all the players we met, my favorite was Daniel Hudson. Big surprise, right?

Daniel signed a few cards for us including this 2012 Topps Archives. 

Daniel Hudson Collection - 2012 Topps Heritage Autographed

In our last post I hinted that I went to Salt River Fields over the weekend. My wife, son, and I went out to see the D-Backs on Sunday and we went home with a few autographs.

Of all the players we met, my favorite was Daniel Hudson. Big surprise, right?

Daniel signed a few cards for us including this 2012 Topps Heritage.