Kevin Hickey

Who: Pitcher Kevin Hickey

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Card: 1990 Fleer

Acquired: In Person, Soxfest 2010

Comments: Shoot! I didn't know this before Soxfest: Kevin played an Indians pitcher in the film Major League II. Awesome!

Freddy Garcia

Who: Pitcher Freddy Garcia

Team: Chicago White Sox

Card: 2006 Fleer

Acquired: In Person, Soxfest 2010

Comments: I can't say that I was too familar with Freddy Garcia's body of work before Soxfest. My boys were excited to get his autograph the first night, so I figured I might as well be excited too. Freddy was nice and corgial and the whole thing was good. I really didn't think that Freddy would have all all that big of an impact on my memory of that weekend, then we witnessed this in the hotel lobby on that Saturday night. HAHAHAAHAHA. We even got our picture with Freddy about 5 minutes before all this happened. It was the only photo I got with a Sox player that weekend... and you know exactly why. LOL

Vance Law

Who: Vance Law

Team: Montreal Expos

Card: 1988 Topps

Acquired: TTM 2/2 7/23/2009 (37 days)

Comments: This one of those cards where the end result is a whole lot greater than the sum of it's parts. Let's face it - '88 Fleer is not a great design. Vance's glasses? Pretty dorky. Corny batting stance photo taken during batting practice? So much for an action photo. But... in spite of its self, this card is really coming together. There's a color harmony that only comes together on a card once in a blue moon. Plus, if you are going to have a batting practice photo taken, there are not many better places then Wrigley Field. Throw in Vance's awesomely old-school signature and you have winner, folks. This card is kicking some butt... though it's not trying too darn hard. That's the way you want it.

Joe Price

Who: Pitcher Joe Price

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1981 Fleer

Acquired: TTM 3/3 7/9/2009 (225 days)

Comments: 1981 Fleer - damn ugly. Joe resurrected this card from the junk pile by signing it. It will now proudly reside in my autograph binder an ugly duckling. The card is so bad and the signature is so good that is looks like the signature was printed on. I can tell you that it wasn't. It's just the card is that bad.

Don Baylor

Who: Designated Hitter Don Baylor

Team: California Angels

Card: 1981 Fleer

Acquired: TTM 3/3 8/12/2009 (23 days)

Comments: These ugly Fleer cards must be good luck with autographs. I'm racking up a nice little collection of signed cards from this set. Don's card is a little beat up, unfortunately, and I'm not sure why. It was in my collection like that, nothing do with the postal service or anything.

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?

Jeff Montgomery

Who: Pitcher Jeff Montgomery

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1988 Fleer

Acquired: TTM 3/3 7/6/2009 (17 days)

Comments: Jeff is seen here having to share space with Cubs rookie Damon Berryhill. He holds his own in this spring training photo, but the action shot of Damon is tough to compete with. The win goes to Damon. Wonder if he signs? Might be nice to complete the dual on this one.

George Foster

Who: Outfielder George Foster

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1981 Fleer (#202)

Acquired: In Person, Reds Hall of Fame & Museum (6/6/09)

Comments: I had a handful of George Foster cards to choose from when I met him last week before a Reds game. Some where better than this (design-wise) and some where worse. I can't exactly place my finger on what made me go with this one... but here it is. Maybe because early Fleer is just so odd. They are more yearbook portraits than baseball cards. I really wonder what George is laughing about in this photo. I really, really do. I should have asked him. Damn.

Oh... and his position? Slugger. What? Yeah, I mean, he was and all... but does that belong on a baseball card? Oh, Fleer... you're so cute.

Billy Hatcher

Who: Infielder Billy Hatcher

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1991 Fleer

Acquired: TTM 2/2 2/20/2009 (9 days)

Comments: Billy's return is my first TTM success of 2009 spring training. Off to a good start, if you ask me.

I did get Billy's autograph during Redsfest last year, but I unfortunatly didn't have a card for him to sign - he signed my Redsfest badge instead. I was really bummed that I didn't have a card for him that day. Heck, I didn't even have a card for him when I started putting together some letters for spring training this year. My homie, Paul, hooked me up with a pair of cards to send.

It's too bad the autographed got a little smeared, but that's okay.

Most Reds fans that followed the team in 1990 love Billy Hatcher. He had a uber-stud World Series that year, hitting .750 in the series, including seven straight hits. Unreal. Billy is currently the first base coach for the Reds and always tosses baseballs in the crowd during games.

Isn't 1991 Fleer one of the worst baseball card designs of all time? Even older stuff that we used to think was bad ('83 Fleer, '91 Donruss) actually have a bit of odd-ball fun appeal now-a-days. These yellow cards will never be anything but crap. The only only things going for this card are A) It's a Reds card B) It's Billy Hatcher C) rockin' the autograph.

Mark Grace

Who: Mark Grace

Team: Chicago Cubs

Card: 1990 Fleer

Acquired: TTM 1/1 1/20/2009 (11 days)

Comments: Obviously, I'm not much of a Cubs fan. But, Gracie was a pretty good player and he's a great signer. Nice addition to the collection.

Those Cubs uniforms with the solid elastic waistband are unfortunate.

Pokey Reese

Who: Second Baseman Pokey Reese

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 2000 Fleer Gamers

Acquired: TTM 1/1 1/7/2009 (69 days)

Comments: Calvin "Pokey" Reese, Jr. snagged two Gold Gloves during his time patroling 2nd base for the Reds. That was pretty cool. He nicely signed the odd-ball card for me, the only Pokey Reese card in my collection.

Chris Welsh

Who: Pitcher Chris Welsh

Team: Montreal Expos

Card: 1984 Fleer

Acquired: TTM 2/2 11/14/2008 (41 days)

Comments: Back at ya with another Chris Welsh card - this time it's Fleer and an Expos uni - both oddballs in my book. Chris is rockin' a righteous 'stach in this photo, unlike the last card I posted of him. His mustache should have its own card, don't you think?

Tim Belcher

Who: Pitcher Tim Belcher

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1993 Fleer

Acquired: TTM 12/2/2008 (8 days)

Comments: A speedy return from Mr. Belcher - even with the Thanksgiving Holiday thrown in! Tim was only with the Reds briefly during the 1992 season and part of '93. Two interesting things about this return - Tim dated the signature on the card (11/3) and on the back of the return envelope he stamped "Thanks for being a fan of baseball! All the best, Tim." Pretty cool, huh? That was a nice touch. Thank YOU, Tim.

Anthony Munoz

Who: Offensive Tackle Anthony Munoz

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Card: 1990 Fleer

Acquired: In person, 2002?

Comments:Part two of this two autograph set. Here's the story: 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.