Sean Casey

Who: First Baseman Sean Casey

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 2004 Upper Deck

Acquired: TTM 2/3 8/12/2009 (16 days)

Comments: Another autographed card from one of my favorite Reds, Sean Casey. Here's the other card he signed for me, a 2003 Upper Deck "First Pitch".

It's kinda funny the card has the Great American Ball Park logo on it, yet Sean is playing against the Indians in Cleveland. The Indians are also the team that Sean was drafted by, and eventually made his MLB debut with (1997).

Danny Graves

Who: Pitcher Danny Graves

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 2004 Topps Heritage

Acquired: TTM 2/2 3/12/2009 (15 days)

Comments: Ah... looks like Danny was released from Astros' camp the other day. That's too bad. I was rooting for him on the comeback. I'm glad the timing worked out and I was able to get him TTM at Astros Spring Training. Good luck, Danny, in whatever is next for you.

Paul Janish

Who: Paul Janish

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 2004 (?) Bowman Draft Picks

Acquired: In Person, Redsfest '08

Comments: Paul got a cup of coffee in the bigs this past season with the Reds. With all the injuries to our shortstops - Jeff Kippenger, Alex Gonzoles, etc. - Paul got a chance to play in 38 games for the Reds. He'll likely start out in Louisville in '09. The card didn't scan for crap, did it? You can't read the bottom at all. Oh well.

Barry Larkin

Who: Shortstop Barry Larkin

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 2004 Leaf Certified Materials Autograph

Acquired: Gift from Cincy Reds Cards

Comments: The man himself, Barry Larkin. The card was a huge surprise from Joe over at Cincy Reds Cards. A great card too! The scan is not doing the card much of a favor here, the nice shiney silver on the right and left sides is got really dark on the scan. I do like the design, and the photo is pretty good - Barry is showing off not only his running skills, but flashing his captain status with the crest "C" on his jersey front and center. The card is number 12/25, so there are not a ton of these suckas running around out there. It must have been hard for Joe to give up this card, but he knew it was getting a home where it would be honored and cherished properly.

Cliff Floyd

Who: Outfielder Cliff Floyd

Team: New York Mets

Card: 2004 Topps Series One

Acquired: Christmas, 2005

Comments: My wife gave me a couple of packs of baseball cards one Christmas and I pulled this badboy out. I think she found packs of Topps and Upper Deck on sale a Meijer or something. Pretty cool to pull an autograph out of a sale pack.

So, I was so far removed from "The Hobby" that I:

a) didn't know autographs were even in baseball card packs

b) didn't know who the hell Cliff Floyd was

It didn't matter though, it was a fun pull and a nice gift from my wife :)