Big R's Autographs

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I have been collecting autographs for about 7 years.  I have compiled a collection of over 2500, most of which were obtained in person.  I recently started collecting through the mail by using SASE.  Both methods are a lot of fun and very successful

LATEST UPDATES!

Here I will try to update autographs that I get on a daily basis, either from attending games or through the mail.  You can look at my other signatures by clicking on the links at the top.  Click on the smaller pictures to see a larger shot of the autograph.  Any questions or comments, you can email me at rhurd1@gmail.com

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2008 Requests	2008 Successes	2008 Success Rate
62	31	47%
2007 Requests	2007 Successes	2007 Success Rate
280	183	67%
2006 Requests	2006 Successes	2006 Success Rate
243	165	68%

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4/28/08

        After moving and not having internet for over the last month, I can finally post an update.  Here we go:

        First off I received my first piece of mail from the regular season from Padres pitcher Greg Maddux.

        I attended my first few Orioles games this years.  The first was against the Mariners.  Unfortunately they were a bad start to the year as they are not a very friendly team.  I came out with infielder Miguel Cairo (card), coach Norm Charlton (cards), reliever Roy Corcoran, reliever Sean Green, ace Felix Hernandez, outfielder Charlton Jimerson, and closer J.J. Putz (cards).  

        Next up was the Toronto Blue Jays.  I was able to get shorstop David Eckstein, manager John Gibbons, pitcher Roy Halladay, second baseman Aaron Hill, infielder Marco Scutaro, outfielder Shannon Stewart, outfielder Vernon Wells, and catcher Greg Zaun.

        Finally I hit the White Sox who were a surprisingly good signing team.  I got reliever Octavio Dotel, catcher Toby Hall, first baseman Paul Konerko, catcher A.J. Pierzynski, outfielder Nick Swisher, DH Jim Thome, pitcher Matt Thornton (cards), and pitcher Javier Vazquez.

        Between the three games I also got the following Orioles:  reliever Chad Bradford (card), pitcher Brian Burres (cards), utilityman Brandon Fahey, centerfielder Adam Jones (card, card), first baseman Kevin Millar, infielder Scott Moore, Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, former first baseman Boog Powell (card), second baseman Brian Roberts, and outfielder Luke Scott.

        And last, I received signed cards of Jason Bergmann, Shane Victorino, Eli Whiteside, and Davey Johnson in trades.

Greg Maddux - c/o San Diego Padres, 1/1, 12 days

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4/2/08

        No mail yet this week, but I finally have an update from my visit to the Orioles annual Fan Fest.  I was able to pick up autographs of reliever Chad Bradford, now former outfielder Jay Gibbons (cards), pitcher Jeremy Guthrie (card), catcher Ramon Hernandez, DH/first baseman Aubrey Huff, and pitchers Steve Trachsel and Jamie Walker (I have an extra postcard for trade).  I was also able to pick up some former O's signed 8x10s for $5 a piece.  They were Harold Baines, Al Bumbry, Chris Hoiles, Javy Lopez, Dennis Martinez, and Gregg Olson.  The season is underway and my first game will be the Mariners @ the O's on Friday and Saturday!

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3/28/08

        Another spring training return coming from Reds catcher Javier Valentin.  I also attended the Orioles Fanfest today and got a few more current and former Orioles for my collection, and I will update with those scans over the next couple of days.

Javier Valentin - c/o Reds Spring Training, 1/1, 30 days

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3/26/08

        I was very happy today to check the mail and see yet another Hall of Fame return.  This was the last baseball that I was waiting for, and of course the one that I had to pay for took the longest to get back to me.  Former Reds catcher Johnny Bench signed a ball for me through his website.  I also sent a $40 money order along with my ball and request, and was thrilled to get it back.  

Johnny Bench - c/o Johnny Bench Enterprises, 1/1, 64 days

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3/22/08

        The last ten days have been unbelievable for me in terms of quality of successes.  Since my last update, I have received two more Hall of Fame baseballs, and two more spring trianing successes.  The baseballs came from former A's closer Dennis Eckersley and former Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk.  My spring training successes came from Dodgers reliever Jonathan Broxton and Giants outfielder Fred Lewis.

Jonathan Broxton - c/o Dodgers spring training, 1/2, 23 days

Dennis Eckersley - c/o home, 1/1, 70 days

Carlton Fisk - c/o home, 1/1, 24 days

Fred Lewis - c/o Giants spring training, 1/1, 24 days

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3/21/08

        I have a good amount to update today.  I have received a few more spring training requests from Dodgers pitcher Jason Johnson, Twins outfielder Jon Knott, Marlins third baseman Dallas McPherson, and another Hall of Fame success from former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda.  

        In a trade with Ed, I also received signed cards of Fausto Carmona, Tyler Clippard, Elijah Dukes, Kyle Kendrick, Wil Nieves, and Freddy Sanchez.  In another trade with Tim, I received signed cards of Damian Jackson and Aaron Miles.  Thanks to both for smooth trades.

Jason Johnson - c/o Dodgers Spring Training, 1/1, 29 days

Jon Knott - c/o Twins Spring Training, 3/2, 14 days

Dallas McPherson - c/o Marlins Spring Training, 1/1, 12 days

Tommy LaSorda - c/o Dodgers Spring Training, 1/1, 16 days

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3/14/08

        Another slow mail week, however today I received a new Hall of Famer for my collection.  Former Red Tony Perez signed a ball for me through the Marlins' spring training address.  Perez is an advisor for the Marlins and I sent this out after seeing that he was there in spring training.  

Tony Perez - c/o Marlins spring training, 1/1, 16 days

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3/10/08

        A very surprising return today, although I wish it was from spring training.  Former Red Sox first baseman Mo Vaughn signed three cards for me in over two years.  Returns like these are always exciting and part of what make this hobby so much fun.  

Mo Vaughn - c/o home, 3/3, 780 days

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3/7/08

        Finally got some mail for the week.  Phillies third baseman Pedro Feliz signed a card for me through the team's spring training address.  I have now received 5 successes from spring training out of the 35 I have sent out.  I probably won't be sending many more out and I'll just be waiting for the season to start or working on some trades instead.  Hopefully I'll start getting a few more returns.

Pedro Feliz - c/o Phillies Spring Training, 1/1, 21 days

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2/29/08

        I finished off the February with a little bit of mail, although it has been a slow week.  Today brought two more spring training successes from Yankees pitcher Kei Igawa and Padres second baseman Tadahito Iguchi.  I also received a signed Frank Robinson 8x10 in a purchase.  

Kei Igawa - c/o Yankees Spring Training, 1/1, 9 days

Tadahito Iguchi - c/o Padres Spring Training, 1/1, 7 days

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2/25/08

        Today brought my first spring training success of 2008.  I have only sent about 15-20 requests to spring training so far and probably won't send more than 50.  I got two new autographs for my collection as Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ and Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez signed for me.  I also got another Orioles 8x10 from former slugger Bobby Bonilla.

Bobby Bonilla - c/o home, 1/1, 20 days

J.A. Happ - c/o Phillies spring training, 1/1, 10 days

Orlando Hernandez - c/o Mets spring training, 1/1, 10 days

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2/19/08

        A return and a failure today.  The failure was from recent Hall of Famer Goose Gossage.  I sent Goose a ball in the beginning of January hoping for a Hall of Fame inscription, but he returned the ball today unsigned with a note to check out his website for autograph information.  I've seen a lot of people getting their items back over the last month so this one was pretty much expected.      

        The return was from Devil Rays (I just can't call them the Tampa Bay Rays yet) infielder Ben Zobrist.

Ben Zobrist - c/o home, 4/3, 43 days

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2/15/08

        I've gotten some decent mail over the last few days.  Former Cubs manager and new Reds manager Dusty Baker, former White Sox pitcher Dustin Hermanson, former Orioles pitcher Tippy Martinez, and Astros catching prospect J.R. Towles all signed for me through their home addresses.  

Dusty Baker - c/o home, 1/1, 22 days

Dustin Hermanson - c/o home, 1/1, 7 days

Tippy Martinez - c/o home, 1/1, 6 days

J.R. Towles - c/o home, 2/1, 15 days

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2/12/08

        An ex-Oriole day with former outfielder Ken Singleton signing an 8x10 for me.  My parents also attended the Baltimore Auto Show over the weekend where Larry Sheets was signing autographs.  I ended up getting four cards signed and a postcard signed as well.

Ken Singleton - c/o home, 1/1, 4 days

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2/9/08

        No mail to report, but I felt like posting a pack pull of Brian Esposito that I got in a blaster box of 2007 Topps 52 Rookie Card.

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2/8/08

        More mail today with former Royals pitcher Brian Anderson and former Rangers pitcher Aaron Sele each signing for me.

Brian Anderson - c/o Home, 2/2, 37 days

Aaron Sele - c/o New York Mets, 1/1, 304 days

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2/7/08

        Another Padre 8x10 came back today from the regular season.  Flashy shortstop Khalil Greene signed and personalized my photo for me in about 5 months through the Padres team address.

Khalil Greene - c/o San Diego Padres, 1/1, 159 days

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2/4/08

        A nice day today with a few successes.  Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, former catcher Todd Greene, and former Devil Rays and Astros pitcher Dan Miceli all signed for me.  

Adrian Gonzalez - c/o San Diego Padres, 1/1, 196 days

Todd Greene - c/o home, 5/5, 7 days

Dan Miceli - c/o home, 3/3, 12 days

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2/1/08

        Just one in the box today coming from pitcher Rheal Cormier.  Cormier signed 4 cards for me through his home address, including a dual card already signed by Aaron Fultz.  

Rheal Cormier - c/o home, 4/4, 8 days

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1/29/08

        More mail today coming from local hero Tippy Martinez.  Tippy signed two cards for me through his home address in only 3 days!!!

Tippy Martinez - c/o home, 2/2, 3 days

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1/28/08

        Finally some mail after a long drought.  Former catcher Brent Mayne signed three cards for me through his home address.  My parents also went to a boat show in Baltimore where Scott McGregor ended up signing, and they brought home a signed postcard for me.  

        I also received signed cards of Brandon Backe, Ambiorix Burgos, Brandon McCarthy, and Oliver Perez in a trade.

Brent Mayne - c/o home, 3/3, 10 days

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1/15/08

        More mail today.  Former outfielder Bobby Bonilla and Royals prospect Billy Butler both signed cards for me.  I also got a signed card of Aaron Boone courtesy of Eric who attended a signing over the weekend.

Bobby Bonilla - c/o home, 2/3, 12 days

Billy Butler - c/o Omaha Royals, 1/1, 221 days

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1/14/08

        A good mailday today with Hall of Famer Yogi Berra signing a ball for me, former Mariners thirdbaseman Jeff Cirillo, and Astros shortstop Adam Everett signing cards for me.