Tom Browning

Who: Pitcher Tom Browning

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1987 Topps

Acquired: In Person 9/20/09

Comments: This autograph was a little lesson in patience. When I first decided to go after getting all the Reds in the 1987 Topps set to sign their cards, a signing with Tom popped up right away. I think his autograph was only $10, or something like that, but I passed, thinking I could get him for free at some point in the future. I ended up sending to him during spring training to no avail, so I was beginning to wonder if this was going to happen as easily as I thought it would. Then, when he was arrested during spring training, I really thought it wasn't going to happen. UGH!

Well, sure enough, time has passed and Tom was signing autographs before the Cincinnati Reds game on September 20 in the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. My patience was rewarded, and I got to say howdy to Tom and have him sign his '87 Topps card.

I have one other card signed by Tom, and coincidentally, it too was signed while at the Reds HOF. I was able to get this 1990 Upper Deck card signed in 2005 during a small special event at the museum.

The light at the end of the tunnel is coming for this set. I now have 22 of the 35 Reds cards in this set signed, with another one in the works right now. I'm hoping to knock off at least one more at Redsfest in December. We're getting there!

Lee May

Who: First Baseman Lee May

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1969 Topps

Acquired: In Person (8/2/09)

Comments: I've received a few autographs from Lee May, but this one is a bit more special than the others. When I met Mr. May this time, I also had my 3-year-old nephew, Brayden, with me. Mr. May was signing autographs in the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum before a Sunday Reds game. Along with the card above, Mr. May also signed a card for Brayden, his first in-person autograph. Of course, Mr. May was fantastic with Brayden, giving him a couple of high-five and posing for a photo with us. He is certainly one of the nicest ballplayers I've ever met.

All-in-all that day was awesome. Not only did we get Brayden an autograph from a Reds great, but I was also able to snag a ball for him that was hit during batting practice by one of the Colorado Rockies. All that on top of the stadium giveaway that day - a kids-sized Jay Bruce mesh jersey. The little guy took home a lot of loot that day, but I have a fantastic memory with my nephew.

Tommy Helms

Who: Second Baseman Tommy Helms

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1969 Topps All-Star

Acquired: In person, at Reds HOF & Museum (8/1/09)

Comments: Mr. Helms signed this card for me recently before a Reds game at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. They've had a handful of signings before games this year. Along with Tommy, I've been able to chat with and get autographs from Leo Cardenas, Lee May and George Foster over the course of the season. Since this autograph, I've picked up another at the Reds HOF and there will be a few more signings before the season concludes.

Like always, Tommy Helms has a great signature. He also has a wicked-awesome goatee (not pictured).

Plus, how awesome is this card? This is from when an All-Star card was a friggin' ALL-STAR card. Super-fantastic design from the late-'60s. I love the knockout with the black and white photo placed in the background. Great to see the old "The Sporting News" banner at the top surrounded by a plethora of stars.

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.

George Foster & Lee May

Who: Outfielder George Foster & First Baseman Lee May

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1976 Topps RBI Leaders (#3)

Acquired: In Person, Reds Hall of Fame & Museum (Lee May - 4/26/09) (George Foster 6/6/09)

Comments: This is the first dual card I've ever completed, and it's a neat one for a Reds fan. Of course, you have current Red at the time, George Foster on the card. But, former Red Lee May was the RBI leader for the American League in 1976, playing for the Baltimore Orioles. Oh... how many RBIs did they have? Right... Lee May with 109 and George Foster with 121. The Reds Joe Morgan was second behind Foster with 111, still outpacing the American League leading May.

The card was signed at two different times, but at the same place, the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. Lee signed this the same day he also signed this card for me. George signed the card at the Hall of Fame this past Saturday before the Reds game.

Leo Cardenas

Who: Shortstop Leo Cardenas

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1964 Topps

Acquired: In Person (5/9/09)

Comments: This Leo Cardenas baseball card was signed the same day as this one. The thing I like about this card is the mask job on Leo's head and how it's just poking above the frame of the photo. A classic Topps design.

Leo Cardenas

Who: Shortstop Leo Cardenas

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1960 Topps

Acquired: In Person (5/9/09)

Comments: Reds Hall of Famer Leo Cardenas signed this fantastic 1960 Topps card for me before a Reds game at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. He quite liked the card and commented on how old it was. I think a lot of people that were getting autographs that day either had newer cards or were just getting there ticket stubs signed. I made sure to purchase this particular card before the signing... I figured it would turn out pretty well.

Lee May

Who: First Baseman Lee May

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1970 Topps

Acquired: In Person (4/26/09)

Comments: "The Big Bopper" signed two cards for me over the weekend at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum at Great American Ballpark. The Reds HOF is doing a series of signings this year featuring Reds of the past. The currently featured exhibit at the HOF is about Crosely Field, so I imagine that they will feature Reds who took the field at Crosley, as Lee May did. The next signing is Leo Cardneas on May 9th.

I had actually seen Lee May speak a few weeks ago with a teammate of his, Tommy Helms. He and Mr. Helms played together while with the Reds (May at 1st, Helms at 2nd) and later with the Astros. They are good friends and it showed in their talk - they were total cut-ups. I really enjoyed it. I wasn't able to get an autograph that evening, but when I learned about the Lee May signing at the Reds HOF last Friday, I made a point to go.

Not many folks were in the museum when I met Mr. May, likely due to the $10 admission that is required to enter. I'm a member of the museum, so I was taken care of on that front. We had a small chat about baseball, mostly about Joey Votto and playing first base. Like Lee May, I played first base... but didn't quite get to the bigs. Ha. Overall, it was a very nice encounter with a great Red of the past.

Mr. May was kind enough to sign two cards for me. The other is a dual card with another Red from the '70s. Once the other half of that card is signed, I'll have it posted here. I do have one other signed Lee May card as well.