Ken Harrelson

Who: Ken Harrelson

Team: Kansas City Athletics

Card: 1966 Topps

Acquired: In Person, Soxfest 2010

Comments: In juxtaposition to the Steve Stone Experience™, there was Ken "Hawk" Harrelson, who was great with the fans in line and put down this fantastic autograph on a 1966 Topps. Alongside Steve Stone, Ken is a broadcaster for the White Sox.

When looking into Ken's career, that great little nugget that popped out was his popularization of the batting glove during the '60s. Though he can't be credited with the invention of it - some point out examples of its use as early as 1901 - he is the man that brought it back to stay in baseball. I wonder how much of it has to do with his love of golf? Where they using gloves in golf back then as well?

Dusty Baker

Who: Outfielder/First Baseman Dusty Baker

Team: Oakland Athletics

Card: 1987 Topps

Acquired: TTM 1/1 1/12/2010 (315 days)

Comments: DUSTY! I shot this card to Dusty Baker during the 2009 spring training. Glad to see it back. A nice addition to any '87 Topps autograph selection, really. This is one of three Dusty Baker cards I have in the my autograph collection. Should I keep going?

Moose Hass

Who: Pitcher Moose Hass

Team: Oakland Athletics

Card: 1987 Topps

Acquired: TTM 1/1 9/29/2009 (18 days)

Comments: Coming...

Tony LaRussa

Who: Manager Tony LaRussa

Team: Oakland Athletics

Card: 1987 Topps

Acquired: TTM 1/1 9/21/2009 (19 days)

Comments: It's pretty amazing that Tony LaRussa has been managing for 31 years. I would guess that only Bobby Cox currently has a longer career going. I'm hoping someday soon he will done the red and white and manage in Cincinnati. I would bet Walt Jocketty will try and lure him to the Queen City sometime soon.

How about the look LaRussa is throwing on this '87 Topps? This is really the manager's equivalent of an action shot. There is so much more going on here than in a photo of a manager calling for a left hand pitcher while walking out to the mound. You can smell the fear coming from the person on the receiving end of this look. Take it in. Take. It. In.

Tony has rocked my some autos in the past, including a 1985 Topps. But, I have yet to post it. I guess if you do this long enough, some things start falling through the cracks. I'll have to get that posted soon. Stay tuned!

Jim Corsi

Who: Pitcher Jim Corsi

Team: Oakland Athletics

Card: 1990 Topps

Acquired: In Person, Fenway Park

Comments: This '90 Topps is the second of two cards that Jim Corsi signed for me at Fenway Park. Fantastic, eh?

Jim Corsi

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.

Rollie Fingers

Who: Hall of Fame Pitcher Rollie Fingers

Team: Oakland Athletics

Card: 2008 Goudey

Acquired: TTM 1/1 6/13/2009 (8 days)

Comments: Sweet, another 2008 Goudey signed by a hall of famer - this time the one and only Rollie Fingers. He's in the mustache hall of fame as well, right? Well, I couldn't exactly find a Mustache Hall of Fame to check, but here's a great 'stache-related interview with him to fill the void.

I will say that Rollie's autograph is as nice has his mustache. It has a certain elegance to it, doesn't it?

Virgil Trucks

Who: Pitcher Virgil Trucks

Team: Kansas City A's

Card: 1958 Topps

Acquired: TTM 2/1 5/6/2009 (6 days)

Comments: Wow, what a great signer Virgil is. He's 92 years old (born April 26, 1917), and is still signing like a fiend! This is a 1958 Topps card - pretty old, huh? Well, this card was out towards the END of Virgil's career. He's been around a long time, folks. Not only is he still signing, but he was kind enough to include an extra card of his own - signed as well. How cool is that? That card will be featured soon, so stick around.

This was truly a great return.

Whitey Herzog

Who: Manager Whitey Herzog

Team: Kansas City A's

Card: 1960 Topps

Acquired: TTM 2/2 5/6/2009 (7 days)

Comments: Absolute fantastic looking autograph! Whitey has a great looking sig, and the card is perfect for it. These 1960 Topps really do look great autographed - as do their modern counterparts, Topps 2009 Heritage. I'll be hunting more of these down, for sure.

Ron Cey

Who: Third Baseman Ron Cey

Team: Oakland Athletics

Card: 1987 Topps Traded

Acquired: TTM 2/2 1/16/2009 (6 days)

Comments: I can't say that I had heard of Ron Cey before I sent for his autograph. I've seen that he's a great signer, so I dug up some cards and sent them his way. He had them back to me in just six days. Pretty awesome, huh? Ron did have a great career in the '70s and '80s with the Dodgers and the Cubs. His last team was the Athletics, and his last Topps card is the one above. Nice classic pre-game photo to wrap-up a career, huh? Good lookin' card.

Fun Fact: On January 30, 1987, Cey was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Oakland Athletics for Luis Quinones. Quinones, of course, would go on to be a Cincinnati Red.

Ted Kubiak

Who: Shortstop Ted Kubiak

Team: Oakland Athletics

Card: 1969 Topps

Acquired: TTM 1/1 11/26/2008 (12 days)

Comments: This is another vintage card in my collection of a player unknown to me. I looked Ted up, and he is an active TTM signer... so what the heck right? Glad I did too! Ted had a so-so career, but won two World Series rings with the Athletics... one of them against my beloved Reds in 1972. That's okay though... I'm happy for him. Thanks for the autograph, Ted!

Dusty Baker

Who: Outfielder/First Baseman Dusty Baker

Team: Oakland Athletics

Card: 1986 Topps

Acquired: In Person, Redsfest '08

Comments: Dusty was super-nice and chatty when I got this autograph from him During Redsfest. It was the first autograph session of the night, so I'm sure that helped, but he seems like a generally nice guy. I told him how he waved to me (dropped the "hang loose") after he let me cross the street towards the end of a 20-mile run near downtown. I was a little tired at the time, so I was thinking "Was that Dusty Baker, and did he just drop me the 'hang loose'?". He seems at least mildly amused at my story. That was all I needed.