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OMGautos

Ron Kittle

Ron Kittle - 1989 Score
Who: Designated Hitter Ron Kittle

Team: Cleveland Indians

Card: 1989 Score

Acquired: In Person, Soxfest 2010

Comments: After getting a pair of signed cards from Mr. Kittle last year, I was able to actually meet the man himself and get an autograph in person. How about this '89 Score? So cheap, so generic, but actually a pretty nice looking card.

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Randy St. Claire

Randy St. Claire - 1989 Topps
Who: Pitcher Randy St. Claire

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1989 Topps

Acquired: TTM 2/2 12/14/2009 (173 days)

Comments: Randy had a pretty brief stint with the Cincinnati Reds in 1988, appearing in just 10 games. He did manage to get a win out of it though, finishing his career with the Reds 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA. He started the 1989 season with the Minnesota Twins.

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Herm Winningham

Herm Winningham - 1989 Upper Deck
Who: Outfielder Herm Winningham

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1989 Upper Deck

Acquired: In Person, Redsfest 2009

Comments: Herm may have been the best part of my Redsfest. The guy is flat-out a ham. While waiting in a pretty long line to get an autograph from him, Glenn Braggs and Tracy Jones, he single-handily kept the entire line entertained. He gave folks in line good-natured ribbings, examined random things, asked questions and was generally rowdy and down-right fun. Nice to see guys with some personality.

Speaking of personality, the '89 Upper Deck has an akward one. I believe 1989 was the first year Upper Deck released cards. While the quality did blow away from Topps, Donruss and Fleer were doing at the time, the design has not stood the test of time. The digitally illustrated basepath on the right of the card is pretty cliché and a lot of photos in this set were poor - most suffering to low lighting or akward crops. Photo-wise, Herm actually made out pretty well compared to a lot of other cards I've seen from this set.

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Jim Corsi

Jim Corsi - 1989 Topps
Who: Pitcher Jim Corsi

Team: Oakland Athletics

Card: 1989 Topps

Acquired: In Person, Fenway Park

Comments: Jim signed my '89 Topps before the Red Sox game at Fenway Park on Monday, August 10, 2009. Jim was signing in the Fenway's "Autograph Alley" before the game. Former player signing often sign in Autograph Alley for anyone at the ballpark before Red Sox games. Before my trip, I kept a watch on the game-day information page on redsox.com to see who was going to be signing at the game I was attending. Once I saw it was Jim, I found a couple cards of him in my collection and brought them along. Jim was nice and personable and kindly signed two cards for me.

Jim grew up a Red Sox fan and eventually pitched for the Sox from 1997-99.

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Chris Speier

Chris Speier - 1989 Donruss
Who: Infielder Chris Speier

Team: San Francisco Giants

Card: 1989 Donruss

Acquired: TTM 2/2 8/1/2009 (5 days)

Comments: Chris is an awesome signer. Always great about TTM and fantastic in person. He's just a great baseball guy. He turned my request around in just 5 days. It helps that I live in Cincinnati, but still. That is getting to your mail pretty quickly. This '89 Donruss was just a rider included in a request of two cards. The other card, which was the real reason I sent the request, will have to come later. I have some more work to do on that one.

The first card that Chris ever signed for me is one of my favorites, actually. He signed his 1973 Topps card at Redsfest last year.

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Manny Trillo

Manny Trill - 1989 Bowman
Who: Infielder Manny Trillo

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1989 Bowman

Acquired: TTM 3/3 7/27/2009 (19 days)

Comments: 1989 Bowman - what a crazy set. I remember being pretty excited about it when it came out. Bowman was so nostalgic feeling. The fact that the cards were oddly sized compared to the modern card made it seem pretty fancy at the time. Simple design, facsimile autograph, it was refreshing at the time - at least for a little baseball card collector like myself. I wonder how the rest of the industry really received it though - you know, the adults at the time. Looking at it now, it seems a bit dated, mostly due to the logo design. I guess the rest of the design is holding up pretty well. Of course, you can't put the damn things in a binder because they are too tall.

In my digging for Manny Trillo cards, I found out that he did have one baseball card where he's featured as a Red. Of course, that card was a 1989 Bowman, and it was in my possession. I actually have the entire 1989 set. See, back in the day, my grandparents would buy me sets of Topps for Christmas, but they also needed to get the same thing for my brother. You all know how that goes. We had to have the same thing, or there was a fight. Well, he ended up getting a set of '89 Bowman that year. I suppose I got the '89 Topps set at the time. I was probably a touch jealous, too. In the end, I ended up with the cards since my brother's interest in baseball cards faded pretty quickly. I win! Okay, just kidding.

So, about Manny. He ended up playing just 17 games for the Reds in 1989 and was eventually released on May 25, 1989. An end of a great career.

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Shawon Dunston

Shawon Dunston 1989 Topps
Who: Shortstop Shawon Dunston

Team: Chicago Cubs

Card: 1989 Topps

Acquired: TTM 4/2 6/29/2009 (91 days)

Comments: This '89 Topps was the other card that I sent to Shawon Dunstan. He of course, returned two additional signed cards for me. He is an awesome fellow.

So, I totally remember Shawon playing when I grew up. If you were a kid in the midwest in the '80s and '90s, you saw the Cubs on TV more than any other ballclub because of day games and WGN broadcasting every damn game. So, guys like Sandberg, Grace and Dunstan were household name. They were the guys you loved pulling out of wax packs. Guys that actually made into your binder for safe-keeping. But, that said, I had NO CLUE Shawon played until 2002. No clue at all. He played 18 major league seasons. That's pretty awesome.

That is one epic turtle neck isn't it?

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Kal Daniels



Who: Outfielder Kal Daniels

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1989 Topps

Acquired: TTM 1/1 6/27/2009 (18 days)

Comments: A great return from former Red Kal Daniels. I have one other autograph from him, a 1987 Topps card. That card was signed in person at a card show last year. I think this one came out a little better, at a better price too... Free.

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Curt Warner

1989 Pro Set Curt Warner

Who: Running Back Curt Warner

Team: Seattle Seahawks

Card: 1989 Pro Set

Acquired: TTM 4/3 6/8/2009 (35 days)

Comments: I've got mad love for cheap ol' Pro Set. Do you?

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Kevin Butler

Kevin Butler 1989 Proset
Who: Kicker Kevin Butler

Team: Chicago Bears

Card: 1989 Pro Set

Acquired: TTM 2/2 4/24/2009 (11 days)

Comments: If I were a kicker, this is the photo I would want on a card - right in the moment of celebrating a successful kick. Maybe even a game-winning one. This photo of Kevin Butler really captured a great moment in his career.

Nice Adidas, too. I like those.

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Tracy Jones

Tracy Jones 1989 Topps
Who: Outfielder Tracy Jones

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1989 Topps

Acquired: 3/3 3/3/2009 (127 days)

Comments: Tracy looks around and says, "Whoa, I've totally been here before."

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Dan Mahan

Dan Mahan 1989 baseball card
Who: First Baseman Dan Mahan

Team: Multi-Color Pirates

Card: 1989 Trader

Acquired: Mom bought a set

Comments: I figured this would be a good April 1st post - my own card! It's the only one I ever had made during my baseball career (knothole thru high school). I signed it at some point, but I'm not sure when. Certainly not when the card was new - I was probably scribbling pretty good at age 11. I would guess maybe around junior high or something like that.

The Multi-Color Pirates were my first team, so this certainly is a rookie card. Our sponsor, Multi-Color, was a printing facility down the street from where we lived at the time. I believe our coach worked there. As for being the Pirates, I didn't much care, really. I was just glad to be playing. Check out those black pants, huh? Oh... yeah... the glasses. They are totally racquetball eyewear I had no need for prescription glasses. I was just a huge dork and a big fan of Chris Sabo. It's sad, and true.

The baseball field that is in the photo is now gone. There is a Cincinnati Public School there now.. and a pretty neat one too. Can't find a photo though, sorry.

For my birthday party last year, my wife had these cards re-made and used them as party favors. It was pretty funny. Of course, I signed a few. It was fun.

Here's the back of the card:

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Dan Pasqua

1989 Topps Dan Pasqua
Who: Outfielder Dan Pasqua

Team: New York Yankees

Card: 1987 Topps

Acquired: TTM 2/2 2/7/2009 (8 days)

Comments: Coming soon...

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Stanford Jennings

Stanford Jennings 1989 Topps
Who: Running Back Stanford Jennings

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Card: 1989 Topps

Acquired: TTM 2/2 1/8/2009 (12 days)

Comments: Stanford Jennings. Just watch this hot mess. I'd be taking a breather on the bench after that too.

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Bobby Bonilla

Bobby Bonilla 1989 Topps
Who: Third Baseman Bobby Bonilla

Team: Pittsburgh Pirates

Card: 1989 Topps

Acquired: TTM 3/3 11/6/2008 (13 days)

Comments: Another Bobby Bo! He's the man, I tell ya. Signed three cards for me - one more on the way.

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Scott Terry

Scott Terry 1989 Score
Who: Pitcher Scott Terry

Team: St. Louis Cardinals

Card: 1989 Score

Acquired: TTM 2/2 11/8/2008 (16 days)

Comments: This is the second of two cards that Scott signed for me.

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Herschel Walker

Herschel Walker 1989 Pro Set
Who: Herschel Walker

Team: Dallas Cowboys

Card: 1989 Pro Set

Acquired: TTM 2/2 1/13/2009 (17 days)

Comments: Greatest College Football Running Back Ever.

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Stanford Jennings

Stanford Jennings 1989 Pacific
Who: Running Back Stanford Jennings

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Card: 1989 Pacific

Acquired: TTM 1/1 1/8/2009 (12 days)

Comments: Stanford Jennings was probably my favorite person on the planet when he ran back that kick-off for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXIII for the Bengals. I pretty much went berzerk and lost my voice and kick my brother. It was insane. Check it out here. How about this Pacific card? I had never even heard of them before. Funny stuff.

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Tim Birtsas

Tim Birtsas 1990 Topps
Who: Pitcher Tim Birtsas

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1989 Topps

Acquired: TTM 11/13/2008 (12 days)

Comments: Coming Soon...

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Ron Robinson

Ron Robinson 1989 Topps
Who: Pitcher Ron Robinson

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1989 Topps

Acquired: TTM 3/3 11/6/2008 (13 days)

Comments: Ron The Red. Holla at ya boy! This is a nice looking autographed card. Ron rocked the blue Sharpie on this nicely design piece of Topps cardboard. He was kind enough to sign three cards for me, and the all looked def.

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David Fulcher

David Fulcher 1989 Pro Set
Who: Safety David Fulcher

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Card: 1989 Pro Set

Acquired: TTM 2/2 11/26/2008 (54 days)

Comments: David Fulcher is THE MAN. One of the hardest hitting safeties in the game back in the late 80's and early '90s. The family and I were big fans of his. Great signature on this card, eh? He also personalized one for my newphew. Nice way to start a young man's collection, right?

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Jason Buck

Jason Buck 1989 Pro Set
Who: Defensive End Jason Buck

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Card: 1989 Pro Set

Acquired: TTM 12/5/2008 (11 days)

Comments: Jason played seven years in the NFL, 4 with the Bengals and 3 with the Redskins. Hi best season was in 1989 when he started all 16 games, recorded six sacks and had a fumble recovery.

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Jeff Reed

Jeff Reed 1989 Topps
Who: Catcher Jeff Reed

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1989 Topps

Acquired: TTM 3/3 11/10/2008 (11 days)

Comments: If you didn't know before, Jeff takes autographing very seriously. He makes this made apparent in the photo on this 1989 Topps card.

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Carl Zander

Carl Zander 1989 Pro Set
Who: Linebacker Carl Zander

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Card: 1989 Pro Set

Acquired: TTM 2/2 11/1/08 (12 days)

Comments: This photo is depicting Carl right before he ends some poor cleveland Brown wide receiver as he ventures across the middle.

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Sam Wyche

Sam Wyche - 1989 Pro Set
Who: Head Coach Sam Wyche

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Card: 1989 Pro Set

Acquired: TTM 1/1 11/19/08 (7 Days)

Comments: Legendary Bengals coach Sam Wyche. Sweet! I wrote him a quick note about how my parents took me and my brother to the 1988 AFC Championship game against the Bills and how, to this day, it was the greatest game I had ever been to. Sam wrote back a note about how great that game was - a very nice surprise. Thanks Coach Wyche!

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Bobby Bonilla

Bobby Bonilla 1989 Topps All Star
Who: Outfielder Bobby Bonilla

Team: Pittsburgh Pirates

Card: 1989 Topps All-Star

Acquired: TTM 3/3 11/6/2008 (13 Days)

Comments: Man, in the mid-to-late '80s Bobby Bonilla was the man. I am of course a Reds fan, but for some reason, I could not hate on the Pirates. Even in the '90 NLCS. Bonilla was a pretty exciting player, and one half of the original "Killer B's". The other half being Barry Bonds, of course. I'll take Mr. Bonilla's autograph any day, thank you. He did sign three cards for me, so more to come.

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Tim Krumrie

1989 Pro Set Tim Krumrie
1989 Topps Tim Krumrie
Who: Defensive Lineman Tim Krumrie

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Card: 1989 Pro Set & 1989 Topps

Acquired: TTM 2/2 10/22/08 (16 days)

Comments: Tim Krumrie is, without a doubt, a complete and total badass. In my house growing up, he was our #1 Bengal. Tough, awesome, great football player, etc. I'll never forget him breaking his leg in Super Bowl XXIII. That was unreal. Even more unreal, he was back at training camp and ready to go the following season. He's amazing. Gotta love that. I'm totally jacked to get a pair of autographs from him.

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Anthony Munoz

1989 Pro Set Anthony Munoz
Who: Hall of Fame Offensive Tackle Anthony Munoz

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Card: 1989 Pro Set

Acquired: 2001 or 2002?

Comments: Anthony came into my office back in 2001 or 2002 to do an online chat on the website I was working for at the time. I brought two cards with me that day to have signed, and I almost chickened out. I actually did chat with him for a few minutes, but I didn't ask for an autograph. But, I was leaving for lunch or something and I happened to ride down with him in the elevator and asked him if he would sign my cards then. Of course, he happily obliged. Anthony is a fantastic guy and a great ambassador for the Bengals, football and Cincinnati. We are lucky to have him.

I'm VERY glad I got his autograph that day.

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