My Yankee Collection - 2013 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Jim Abbott Autograph

I can still remember learning about Jim Abbott for the first time as a kid.   I couldn't wrap my brain around how incredible and special it was that this guy was pitching in the major leagues with only one fully-functioning hand.

So many years later, it was a very exciting moment for me to be able to bring home this Jim Abbott autograph for my collection and to do so for about $4:  

I don't really dabble much with the Goodwin Champions release.   It has some pretty bizarre cards that I find attractive on some days and incredibly awful on others.   I'm sure the lack of license doesn't help my preferences either, making for some disappointing pictures.   That being said, this card is exactly what I want in a certified auto issue of a player like Abbott....with the exception of maybe hoping for a bit more in the image.

Nevertheless, the portrait-picture of Jim is pretty charming.   The uniform could easily be from his days at the University of Michigan, so I am okay with the editing of that maize "M".   Bleh.   The area left for Jim's signature and his effort to center it beautifully in that space transforms this card (in my mind) into a true piece of memorabilia - a little above and beyond a standard, signed card.

Here's the back:

Standard verbage here, but back to Mr. Abbott...

I am STILL in amazement and have been an avid fan of Abbott's ever since I excitedly pulled his "#1 Draft Pick" rookie card out of packs of 1989 Topps.   You remember this one?

Boy, did I LOVE that card.   1989 was one of those years where I bought a LOT of wax and had a healthy stockpile of this particular rookie card.   How could you not love him?   He had just helped the US Olympic baseball team bring home the gold - but he was pretty much a super-hero in my eyes already, based solely on his ability to overcome the challenge he was born with.   Sure, it's a story that we've heard a million times, a million different ways, and it serves up the same 'ol life lesson.....but there was something about Abbott's story that just sticks with you.   I hope it always does for me and I plan on sharing it with my little ones.

Jim wowed fans and won their hearts wherever he went, including his epic no-hitter in Yankee Stadium, as a Yankee, in September of 1993.   I'll never forget it.   Sure, it was extra special as a Yankees fan, but it certainly seems to be an excellent exclamation point for an already amazing story.

I am thrilled to add this Jim Abbott autograph to my collection and would jump at the chance for some more.   Only time will tell, but in the meantime - thank you for the memories, Jim!

Thanks for reading and keep collecting!

My Yankees Collection - 2010 Topps Chrome #214 Ivan Nova RC Certified Autograph

Here's another example of what is quickly becoming the 'must have' card for me when it comes to my PC's or favorite players from the teams I collect.

The " 2___ Topps Chrome RC auto" is usually dependable for being a nice looking card.   The "RC shield" always goes a long way with me and any certified autograph, while usually keeping most cards out of my price range, is a welcome addition!

Here we have Ivan Nova's version from the 2010 Chrome set.   Shield?   Check.   On-card signature?   Check - and this one looks really nice in the blue ink with just the right amount of tilt to fill up the auto-space.   The overall color scheme fits together nicely!   Awesome picture of said rookie?   Not so much, but I can deal with that.   Here it is:

Great color scheme! Awful reflection of collector, DOH!

Nova and his compadre Michael Pineda are going to be an essential key to the Yankees' success this year.   In the field and at the plate, we are a team in quasi-transition.   Some highly paid talent was brought in, yes....but this is not the team of old.   200 home runs will not be reached, in my opinion.   I think Girardi will have to run a lot more, and earn some wins the hard way - which I am ecstatic about.

That also means that we can't have our starter getting blown out of the water early or, frankly, blown out of the water at all.   Our staff needs to be dialed in and working hard to keep ahead in counts and any batted balls on the ground.   Should be simple, yeah?

Ivan had a great season last year - he was almost an unsung hero, in my opinion.   Kuroda collapsed as the post season approached.   Sabathia just kept getting SHELLED.....it was hard to watch, but this kid picked up the slack as best he could and he did it well.

Here's the back of the card:

Let's Go Yankees!

Exit question - what's the classic baseball word that serves as a synonym for teammate, fellow player/pitcher?   I know there's a word for this and I just can't remember right now....

Thanks for reading....

One of My Favorite Cards - 2011 Bowman Platinum Michael Choice - Certified Autograph

Picked this card up for a couple of bucks.   I told you I was dabbling in prospects!   Michael Choice is another player I have picked up for my dynasty fantasy baseball team.   His power potential intrigued me as he worked hard in the A's organization last year.   The A's made another great run in the fall and Michael had an effective impact while he was called up for coffee towards the end of the season.

Choice was traded to the Rangers this winter and is competing hard for a starting slot on the roster under the careful eyes of Ron Washington -in fact, Mr. Washington has even noted that he expects Choice to have an impact on a daily basis.   Which is great but from a fantasy perspective......we'll have to see.   With Choo and Rios' arrival in Texas, it looks like Michael will have to compete with Leonys Martin for that final spot.   

Hopefully, he'll get his shot.   He comes with a record of both power and patience, a rare combination.   According to his card below, he went deep seven times in thirty games during his debut.   That's pretty stellar.

It will be exciting to watch and while this card might not last in my collection forever, I'm enjoying it for now.

Thanks for reading!

Ryan

My Jagielo Collection - 2013 Bowman Sterling Certified Autograph

Woo!

My Eric Jagielo collection has grown.   Kicked off a couple (few?) weeks ago with my first "1/1" Jagielo printing plate, I have now acquired a second autograph of the Irish Yankee from the Bowman Sterling set - here's a look at a very well slanted, on-card signature :)

The card is simple but sweet and the cold metallic theme of this Sterling design works well with the manly color scheme of the New York Yankees.

Yes, their full name for effect.   Here's the back:

I did not know that Jagielo was only the 3rd Irish player to be a first rounder?   Let's see...was it Jeff Counsel?  Was it Yaz? Who were the other two, I wonder?   I need to look this up!

Welcome to the PC!

Thanks for reading -

Ryan

My Braves Collection - 2011 Topps Chrome Julio Teheran Certified Autograph

I'm a Braves fan.   And a Yankees fan.   This confounds most people.   I grew up 5 hours from Atlanta - they were the home team.   I grew up idolizing Don Mattingly and learning about the legend of Mickey Mantle and the Yankees - they were the dream team, far away.

At the time (mid 80's to EARLY 90's), both teams were awful, as any Dale Murphy or Mattingly fan can attest.   Is it my fault that both teams have been relatively successful, one or the other or both, almost every year from that fateful year in 1991?   Nope.   Have I enjoyed every single inning of it?   Yep.

SO, the Braves.   They break my heart and then quickly build it back up every spring.   Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman are two of my Player Collections (BOY, do I need to update THOSE lists.  I mean.....start them).   Being in the Fox South Sports network area....I usually catch at least SOME Portion of most of their games.   My wife is from Atlanta.   Yes - we're Braves fans, and that carries over into my collecting habits beyond Freddie and The Kimbrel - I'm up for just about ANY Brave you can throw at me, including Julio Teheran.

I love this card.   In fact, in a lot of ways, the TOPPS-CHROME-RC LOGO-AUTO card is quickly becoming the standard card for me to pursue or seek out for any player that I am a fan of or want to collect in any way (not necessarily a PC).   Does this hold true for you guys, too?

But yes, this card is great.   Julio is a hard-throwing pitcher (nearly 9 K's / 9 IP last year) and this picture captures him in a great follow-through that fills the card.   The proverbial RC logo shield is there - so, despite the official rules, this is a Rookie Card for me, even though the RC shield doesn't always make it so.   The Braves logo is great in the lower right hand corner, with a wrap-around assurance of the signature's authenticity (not so sure I needed THAT on the front, but whatever).

Most of all, I like the space provided for the autograph and Mr. Teheran's perfectly proportioned and slanted John Hancock across said space.   It works and looks very, very sharp.   Here's the back of the card:

He was Baseball America's #1 Prospect - I did NOT know that!? Thank you, card back! 

I am hopeful for an improvement by Teheran on the VERY SOLID 14-8 record from last season.  He is still VERY young but has a full vote of confidence from the club's front office, as he was never on the table  during trade talks for Justin Upton, amongst others.   His young gun colleague Randall Delgado was not so lucky and, I dare say, has yet to achieve the same big league success as Julio.

Braves win.

I look forward to cheering for Julio and the Braves throughout the coming season - CHOP! CHOP!

Thanks for reading!