Juan Nieves

Who: Pitcher Juan Nieves

Team: Milwaukee Brewers

Card: 1987 Topps

Acquired: In Person, Soxfest 2010

Comments: The best part of getting this autograph was what happened before it. At the Comcast autograph booth, Juan and someone else (Kevin Hickey, maybe?) was scheduled to sign and I was there right on time. There was one guy in line and as I snaked through, I saw this guy (pretty tall dude, too) jokingly giving the other former Sox player some grief from the front of the line. As I walk up, he's says "there's someone in line! great!" or something like that, which was kinda odd. So, I smile and walk up behind the first guy in line and he turns around rally fast, sticks out his right hand and says, "Hi! I'm Juan Nieves" with this huge smile. I was like "OHHHHHH!" Haha. Since I'm not the biggest White Sox fan, I didn't recognize him. It was pretty funny. After that, Juan sat down and signed my '87 Topps for me. Couldn't have been any nicer.

Juan's major league career was cut pretty short by an arm injury, but in that time he managed to toss a no-hitter on April 15, 1987. He's currently the bullen coach for the White Sox.

Glenn Braggs

Who: Outfielder Glenn Braggs

Team: Milwaukee Brewers

Card: 1987 Topps

Acquired: In Person, 2010 Reds Caravan

Comments: Glenn was just one of those guys that I figured I might never get an autograph from, but I end up getting meeting him twice within two months. Between the two cards, I've done pretty well.

As with the Brandon Phillips card i posted recently, I met Glenn at the Reds Caravan stop in Columbus last month. I got a little lucky with this one - Glenn was in a hurry to get out of the mall and to his flight and was signing for everyone he could while he was walking out. A fella I know from the Reds was cutting the line for him so he could go and did the cut right at me, making sure I was able to get Glenn's autograph. Pretty cool of him to do that.

Nice to get this '87 Topps signed too. You all know my love for the wood paneled cards of my youth, so I was torn on what cards for Glenn to sign at Redsfest. This one didn't make the cut, but found redemption at the Reds Caravan.

Cecil Cooper

Who: First Baseman Cecil Cooper

Team: Milwaukee Brewers

Card: 1987 Topps

Acquired: TTM 2/2 7/9/2009 (22 days)

Comments: I can't resist the '87 Topps. Both of the cards that Cecil signed for me were ugly cards that just got more awesome over time. They just deserved signatures. It's the way it is.

This card is from Cecil's last year in the league - 1987. He wrapped up his 17 year big league career with a batting average of .302. Not to shabby at all, was it?

He really liked that jacket, didn't he?

Cecil Cooper

Who: First Baseman Cecil Cooper

Team: Milwaukee Brewers

Card: 1981 Fleer

Acquired: TTM 2/2 7/9/2009 (22 days)

Comments: 1981 Fleer - so bad it's good. I've really takin' a likin' to sending these out for TTM. I have a small stack of them and always give them a shot if I'm looking for a player from that era. I was pleased as punch to find this beauty when I wrote to Cecil Cooper, current manager of the Houston Astros. There's a lot going on here. Bad card design. Ugly Brewers uni. Softball jacket under the jersey w/ fly collar. Cecil is gazing stoically into the stands. Rad sideburns and a gold medallion on his chain. Does it get much better than this?

Paul Molitor

Who: Hall of Fame Infielder Paul Molitor

Team: Milwaukee Brewers

Card: 1987 Topps

Acquired: TTM 1/1 1/23/2009 (17 days)

Comments: Dude. Paul Molitor. This is a sweet return. Getting a Hall of Famer in 17 days? For no fee? Pretty awesome. A big thanks to Mr. Molitor for keeping it real.

This card did get a little mangled during transit. Looks like the mail sorter at the post office had its way with it. Oh well. Still '87 Topps and still pretty sweet.