Javier Valentin

Who: Catcher Javier Valentin

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 2007 Reds SGA

Acquired: In person, 2007 Redsfest

Comments: I like Javy. Not sure what it is, but he seems like a fun guy. I like these Reds SGA cards too. They make for nice autographs. The thing I love about this photo is that Javy's helmet is coving his eyes. Adds a real sense of mystery, right?

Justin Turner

Who: Second Baseman Justin Turner

Team: Dayton Dragon (Reds Low A)

Card: 2007 Dayton Dragons SGA

Acquired: In Person, Redsfest 2007

Comments: Another Reds minor league up-and-comer. I really dig how Justin signed in black right on the white of his pants - since the background was pretty dark. Also did that he put his number (#2) in there was well.

Bill Bray

Who: Pitcher Bill Bray

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 2007 Topps Heritage

Acquired: In Person, Redsfest 2007

Comments: Not the greatest signature, but not bad. Can't really make out his name at all. Great card to get an autograph on though. The 2007 Topps Heritage design featured head shots, just as the original '58 set did. Bill was one of the more solid guys out of the Reds bullpen this year. He's pretty young, so hopefully we'll get some good seasons out of him.

Chris Valaika

Who: Shortstop Chris Valaika

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 2007 Dayton Dragons SGA

Acquired: In Person, 2007 Redsfest

Comments: Chris is another guy that I didn't know much about when I got his auto at Redsfest. He's been tearing up the Reds minor league system and might get a shot at the bigs in the next two years. These guys always end up signing a lot of autographs, so a lot of them shorten up their signature to get it down quick. Sometimes it ends up looking like hell, but Chris has done a nice job with his. It's got a little character to it.

Chris Dickerson

Who: Outfielder Chris Dickerson

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 2006 Bowman Heritage

Acquired: 2007 Redsfest, In Person

Comments: At Redsfest 2007, no one new who Chris Dickerson was - including me. Reds fans now know after he had a great debut with the Reds when he was called up in September '08. He'll be fighting for the centerfield job in the spring, for sure. The autograph is funny - I like how he intentionally signed it at the bottom of the card. Very different. I remember him being very deliberate while signing it, taking his time. I wonder if he did that considering the layout of the card, or if he always signs stuff like that. Either way, I like it.

Brad Salmon

Who: Pitcher Brad Salmon

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 2007 Topps

Acquired: 2007 Redsfest, In Person

Comments: Man, this autograph turned out kinda crappy, but Brad was really cool about it. I learned my lesson, I guess you have to rub the gloss off the cards sometimes or the Sharpie won't stick too well. Brad did his best for me. Apparently, Brad is in the KC Royals farm system now, spending the entire 2008 season with their AAA affiliate Omaha Royals. It cracks me up that his fakey sig on the card is his full name. Mega-Classy!

Drew Stubbs

Who: Outfielder Drew Stubbs

Team: Dayton Dragons (Reds Low A)

Card: 2007 Dayton Dragons SGA

Acquired: Redsfest 2007, In Person

Comments: Drew was the Reds first round pick in 2006 and tore through the minor leagues in 2008 - mostly under the radar due to the attentions Bruce/Votto/Cueto/Volquez generated. You'll be hearing about this guy pretty soon, it sounds like. I'll have to admit, when I got this autograph from him at Redsfest last year, I didn't know who he was. Boy, am I glad I got this auto though! Probably the first of a few more as Drew makes his way up to the bigs.

Jay Bruce

Who: Outfielder Jay Bruce

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 2007 Dayton Dragons SGA

Acquired: 2007 Redsfest, In Person

Comments: Whoa! Jay Bruce! Total awesomeness, right. Yes, total awesomeness.

To be quite frank, I knew very little about Jay Bruce when I was at last year's Redsfest. All I kept hearing was that this guy was going to be awesome and he had just won the 2007 Minor League Player of the Year award. I figured I would get in his line once I heard that. I was able to snag this pack of Dayton Dragons cards and luckily, it had a Jay Bruce card in there to get autographed. Otherwise, I would have had to use something else, and it just wouldn't be as cool. At this year's Redsfest, I'm sure his lines will fill up QUICK. Not sure if I will mess with that or not, but I would love to get his auto on a Reds card.

Matt Belisle

Who: Pitcher Matt Belisle

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 2007 Reds SGA

Acquired: In Person, Redsfest 2007

Comments: Man, I really rooted for Matt this season. I thought he might make a breakthrough. After converting to a starter in 2007 and having a few good games, he was overshadowed in 2008 by Johnny Cueto, Edison Volquez and Homer Bailey. He got his chance with the Reds after a few months of AAA, but didn't make the most of it, unfortunately. As for the auto, Matt was another really nice guy. Unfortunately for him, there were not a whole lot of folks in line for his autograph at Redsfest. I was in a line to get Jay Bruce/Chris Dickerson/Drew Stubbs (I know, AWESOME) that was packed, and right next to it was Matt's line. After I got autographs from those guys, I hopped over to Matt's line and hardly had a wait. I guess that is nice and all, but I thought he would get a little more love. That's probably why I was rooting for him this year.

David Ross

Who: Catcher David Ross

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 2007 Topps Heritage

Acquired: In Person, Redsfest 2007

Comments: This was one of the first Heritage cards I ever got. I was hooked after that. Love the old school design and great for autos. David's photo in this one is a little wonky, but I'll take it. David signed this for me a Redsfest. He was another very personable player signing that day.

Todd Coffey

Who: Pitcher Todd Coffey

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 2007 Reds SGA

Acquired: 2007 Redsfest, In Person

Comments: Can't say that I miss Todd too much now that he's not with the Reds, but he was a great signer at Redsfest. I think he was the only guy that asked how I was doing before I could say something when he signed. Not that anyone has to do that, but I thought it was cool. So, for that... I am a Todd Coffey fan. I hope he does well with the Brew Crew. Well, except against the Reds, of course. Oh, and he signed with his number. Bonus. Not sure why that is a bonus. It just is.

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.

Bobby Livingston

Who: Pitcher Bobby Livingston

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 2007 Reds SGA

Acquired: 2007 Redsfest, in person

Comments:These 2007 Reds giveaway cards are great for autographs. Nice matte finish, solid design, great photography. Bobby's signature is probably one of my favorites out of my collection. Huge sweeping "B", solid composition, and he added his number - I always dig that. He was very pleasant when signing autos that day at Redsfest - always a plus.

Mario Soto

Who: Pitcher Mario Soto

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1984 Topps

Acquired: Redsfest 2007

Comments: I was geeked to get this auto. Soto was the man for the Reds right when I started to get into baseball and baseball cards when I was a kid. He had a few really good years in the mid-80s. He's now a special assistant for the Reds helping out some of the young pitchers, most notably, Johnny Cueto. How about that signature up the side of the card? Nice variation.

Lee May

Who: First Basemen Lee May

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1983 Topps

Acquired: Redsfest 2007

Comments: Lee May is the Reds hall of famer that is probably most famous for being traded for Joe Morgan. Others were in involved in the trade, of course. May put up some great numbers for the Reds and Houston in the late '60s and early 70's. I really wished I had a better card for him to sign. Question: Does he always sign this particular card on the KC side? Is that so all is Reds glory comes through?

Ted Power

Who: Pitcher Ted Power

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1988 Donruss

Acquired: 2007 Redsfest, in person

Comments: Ted Power has been with the Reds organization for quite some time. The past few years he has served as a pitching coach at several different levels in the Reds' farm system. In 2008 he was with the Louisville Bats, the Reds AAA affiliate. Ted is also a regular at Redsfest and a great signer. I have at least another card signed by him along with some ticket stubs and stuff like that. Really nice guy and seems to truly enjoy interacting with the fans.

Now, about the card. Nice photo, but I always hated the Donruss designs in the late '80s. They were a little rough. But, for some reason I have a ton of them. Where packs of Donruss little cheaper than Topps back then? I must have bought them for some reason.

Jim O'Toole

Who: Pitcher Jim O'Toole

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1961 Topps

Acquired: 2007 Redsfest

Comments: Jim is another Reds Hall of Famer and a regular at Redfest. I got this autograph at the 2007 Redsfest, I believe. I didn't have a Jim O'Toole card in my collection, so I bought this "well-used" 1961 Topps from a vendor over in the collectibles section. 1961 just happens to be his best year when he went 19-9 with a 3.10 ERA.

I really like that the card all worn to hell. It's got some character and has Wrigley Field as the backdrop in the photo.

Tommy Helms

Who: 2nd Baseman Tommy Helms

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Card: 1970 Topps

Acquired: 2007 Redsfest

Comments: Redsfest is a great event to get autographs. The entry fee is pretty small and tons of players from minor leaguers to Reds Hall of Famers gladly sign. Tommy Helms seems to be there every year and is a great signer. The thing that stuck about this auto is actually what happened with the kid in front of me in line. He was probably 10 or 11 years old and talking on his mobile phone while Mr. Helms signed a PILE of baseballs for him. Totally ridiculous. Helms actually looked back at me at one point as if to say "how rude is this kid?". I couldn't believe someone would act like that, kid or not. Helms signed all the stuff the kid had and let him go without saying anything. The kid was still on the phone as he walked away. Helms was more than cordial with me and more than happy to sign for a grateful fan.