Herm Winningham

Who: Outfielder Herm Winningham

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1990 Upper Deck

Acquired: In Person, Redsfest 2009

Comments: How about this SWEET 1990 UPPER DECK card? So much better than those ratty '89s. Haha.

Redsfest stipulates that you are allowed one autograph per player in the autograph lines. Sometimes though, there are guys that don't seem to mind signing a couple while you are there. Herm was one of those guys - and a reason I always bring a few cards of each player with me. I am totally fine with one, but never more then two, and I always ask if they are cool with it - and that's only after I see them sign multiples for others. I never want to assume. I asked Herm and he said he didn't mind at all, "as long as it's not 8 or something." I think he signed at least five or six for the dude in front of me in line and was referring to that guy.

Overall, Herm was cool as hell. Hope he's back at Redsfest next year. And the next year. And the next year...

Chris Sabo

Who: Third Baseman Chris Sabo

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1990 Upper Deck

Acquired: In Person

Comments: This is hands-down one of my favorite autographs. Spuds was absolutely my favorite player when I was young. I was getting into baseball right when he had is monster 1988 Rookie-Of-The-Year-Winning season. He was the hottest player in town and I ate it up. Heck, I even did my best to look like him on the field.

So, while Chris Sabo is going to be at the upcoming Redsfest, I knew his autograph would be a tough ticket there. If you are not from Cincy, you have to understand that this town LOVES Chris Sabo. I am certainly not alone in my worship of the googled-one. He was the second coming of Pete Rose and Cincinnati was just nuts about him. So, when I heard that he would be at the unveiling of "Redsland Forever," a print by local illustrator C.F. Payne, I knew I had to be there and come armed with my '90 Upper Deck and a Sharpie. Of course, it was an event that I would have crashed anyways, so Sabo being there was a huge bonus.

Well, after some speeches about the print, where proceeds were going (Reds Community Fund and the Cincinnati Art Museum) Chris welcomed a few folks that want to chat with him, get a photo or sign an autograph. He was very gracious and I was stoked to meet him. I also brought along my childhood baseball card with featuring the googles and showed it to him. He seems to think it was amusing, and that's all I was looking for. I almost had him sign that as well - since he was the inspiration, but I just left it with the one autograph.

The '90 Upper Deck Reds team set is one that I am slowly working on. I really put more effort into my '87 Topps Reds and '72 Topps Reds, but this set might be getting a little more action coming up with the 20th anniversary of the Reds' '90 World Series Championship. There will be a lot of fanfare about it at Redsfest and all next season. Should be fun.

Luis Quiñones

Who: Infielder Luis Quiñones

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1990 Upper Deck

Acquired: TTM 3/3 9/8/2009 (41 days)

Comments: Oh my. I've seen it before, and it's great. But, until you see Luis Quinones' signature in person, you have not truly seen it. It's BEAUTIFUL. Wow. Just wow. I'm still taking it in. Plus, it's perfect on this '90 Upper Deck. Just a great looking set.

These days, Luis is coaching for the Oneonta Tigers, the Detroit Tiger's Single-A affiliate. They wrapped up there season last weekend, missing out on the playoffs in the New York Penn League.

Mariano Duncan

Who: Second Baseman Mariano Duncan

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1990 Upper Deck

Acquired: TTM 2/2 8/20/2009 (310 days)

Comments: A return from WAY BACK. I've actually sent and received an autograph request from Mr. Duncan since I sent this card and another back in October of '08. I remember the night I sent this - the Dodgers were on TV and in the playoffs. That's how I found out that Mariano was 3rd base coach for the Dodgers. I'm stoked to get this one back. Not only because I thought it was a lost cause, but it's a set that I am slowly working on - all the Reds from the 1990 Upper Deck release. There are a lot of toughies in that one, so no rush, really. It's a great set from my youth - Upper Deck raised the bar for sports cards forever with this one. Plus, the Reds won the World Series that year. Bonus, yo.

Joe Oliver

Who: Catcher Joe Oliver

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1990 Upper Deck

Acquired: TTM 2/2 1/10/2009 (52 days)

Comments: Coming...

Tim Birtsas

Who: Pitcher Tim Birtsas

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1990 Upper Deck

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

Comments: Tim didn't have a terribly long career (five seasons), but he certainly made it count by playing for the awesomest team on the planet, the Cincinnati Reds. This is what I love about collecting autographs - guys like Tim. Many folks probably have never heard of Tim Bartsas, but I have because I'm a Reds fan - and he signed my card for me. Great stuff.

Jeff Reed

Who: Catcher Jeff Reed

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1990 Upper Deck

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

Comments: Man, Jeff has a great signature. Look at that thing! Awesome. I didn't realize until I looked up his statistics, but Jeff had a pretty long major league career - 17 seasons. That's a loooong career for a catcher. This card goes toward my Reds 1990 Upper Deck Project.

Chris Hammond

Who: Pitcher Chris Hammond

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1990 Upper Deck

Acquired: TTM 2/2 11/14/2008 (7 days)

Comments: Chris enjoyed a pretty good 16 year major league career that started in Cincinnati in 1990 and wrapped up back in Cincinnati in 2006. Chris signed a pair of cards for me and had them back to me in just seven days. Super-awesome. Thanks, Chris! This one goes towards my 1990 Reds Upper Deck Project. I've got a long way to go on that one.

Todd Benzinger

Who: First Baseman Todd Benzinger

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1990 Upper Deck

Acquired: In Person

Comments: Man, Todd is a super guy. I met him at the same Reds Hall of Fame event where I also met Tom Browning and Ron Oester. I chatted with Todd for a while and he was super nice. He even let me hold his World Series ring. That's pretty trusting, huh? Anyways, I can't say enough about him - great dude. He is now coaching in the Reds minor league system - he'll be a hitting coach for Class A Dayton. Another former Red and class-act guy the Reds are adding to the coaching ranks.

Tom Browning

Who: Pitcher Tom "Mr. Perfect" Browning

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1990 Upper Deck

Acquired: In Person, October 2005

Comments: Tom Browning is the man. Great with fans. He loves the attention, but in a good way. He always seems to be giving back to the baseball community around Cincinnati. I got Tom's auto at a Reds Hall of Fame event opening the Reds 1990 World Championship exhibit. Several other players were there including Ron Oester and Todd Benzinger, Tom signed this for me up on the top floor of the Reds Hall of Fame by the pitching cage. He was helping some high school kids that were there with some pitches. Pretty cool, I thought. He was great to chat with. This is one of my favorite autographs.

Ron Oester

Who: Infielder Ron Oester

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1990 Upper Deck

Acquired: Redsfest 2007, In Person

Comments: Ron Oester - Nice! I ended up meeting him at a Reds function once and didn't have a card for him to sign. He was really great to talk with and said he would sign something for me anytime. I ended up getting my chance, along with everyone else, at Redsfest. I'll take it though. I always like this 1990 Upper Deck set too. Great for 'graphs. I have several other Reds cards from this set signed. I may have to try and get them all signed.