# 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  

# 325 - Jim Leyland

I'm glad to finally have card # 325 from the 2008 Topps set signed. It's of Detroit Tigers manager, Jim Leyland.

For the past two off-seasons, I've seen people get returns from him and I keep forgetting to send him a request. Well this year I was determined not to miss out. I sent Mr. Leyland a request a few weeks ago and my card came back signed over the weekend.

Leyland is a potential Hall of Famer. He led the Pirates to three straight division titles back in the 90s. He won a World Series in Florida in 1997 and he's won two AL Championships while in Detroit. His win loss record is right around 500 but with another title I bet he gets in.

# 325 - Jim Leyland

Progress: 503/990
 

# 427 - Carlos Guillen

Carlos Guillen started off Spring Training with the Mariners until he decided to retire last week. Glad we were able to get this one done before he made that decision.

Carlos had a pretty nice career going until injuries slowed him down. He was a three-time all-star.

# 427 - Carlos Guillen

Progress: 478/990

# 403 - Nate Robertson

Former Tigers pitcher, Nate Robertson signed a card for our set. Nate is now with the Seattle Mariners organization.

# 403 - Nate Robertson

Progress: 412/990

# UH 153 - Armando Galarraga

Our 2011 Diamondbacks Fan Fest posts continue with former Detroit Tigers pitcher, Armando Galarraga.

I was glad to get Armando's autograph. Probably had something to do with his near perfect game.

# UH 153 - Armando Galarraga

Progress: 382/990

# 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 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

# 641 - Marcus Thames

A friend from SweetSpotGraphs.com sent us nine signed 08 Topps cards for our set. Our next nine posts will feature these cards. First up is former New York Yankee and current Detroit Tiger, Marcus Thames.

# 641 - Marcus Thames

Progress: 159/990

# 539 - Clete Thomas

Detroit Tigers rookie, Clete Thomas signed the card below. Clete recently was sent back down to AAA so I'm glad to get this one back. Thanks, Clete!

# 539 - Clete Thomas

Progress: 105/990

Mail: Jones & Masterson

Good mail day. Former Tigers closer Todd Jones and Red Sox prospect Justin Masterson both signed an 08 Topps card for me. Thanks, guys!

# 484 - Todd Jones
# UH 20 - Justin Masterson

Progress: 19/990