Chuck Knoblauch came onto the baseball scene with a flourish in 1991. He was a fast and steady, top-of-the-order, on base machine early in his career helping lead the Twins to the 1991 World Championship earning Rookie of the Year on the way. Later on, he got the yips and could not throw the ball from second base to first base. It was later revealed he was a PED user and ended up having domestic issues. A sad tale really. But, a couple items from happier times arrived in my mailbox today. Chris R (rifon on SCN) attended a signing event and got a pair of items signed by Chuck. My December, 1991 Baseball Digest issue and 1991 Opening Night Twins at A’s ticket were both signed nicely by Chuck. His signature has really deteriorated from his playing days. Back then his signature looked like his name. Now it is a C with some loops. But, he did include “MLB Debut!” on the ticket. A couple nice items to add to the Twins collection!
Category: Private Signing
A Hugh(es) Addition
During the 2014 Twins season, Phil Hughes rarely walked a batter. In fact, he holds the record for least number of walks (16) in a season of over 200 innings pitched. He also holds the record for the best strikeout to walk ratio in a season (11.625). He had great control that year!
The last card I needed of Phil in a Twins uniform was his 2017 Topps #379 so when Todd B (moselder71 on SCN) had a signing with Phil I jumped on it. Today I received my card back signed! I am done with Phil Hughes signed Topps cards in my collection!
Out of the Woods
Todd B (moselder71 on SCN) advertised a signing with Simeon Woods-Richardson well before Twinsfest. I added a pair of debut tickets at Twinsfest last year but it was Simeon’s scribble loopy “signature”. I had a pair more debut tickets and did not want to risk not having his full signature so I sent them in to Todd’s signing. I had to pay extra for the full name on the tickets but they turned out great. I had also sent in a pair of cards hoping that Simeon was not in a group I was going to have to get through at Twinsfest. Luckily, he was not and I am able to use the two cards I got signed too!
The items that showed up today are:
Debut Ticket with full name and “MLB Debut” @ 2
2023 Topps #479
2023 Topps Heritage #65
Sanoooo Doubt About It!
At one time Miguel Sano was one of the most feared hitters in baseball. He has since fallen off the map and is currently playing baseball in the Dominican Republic. Jackson T (of Big T Authentics and zagurski2016 on SCN) is pretty much the current go to guy for Dominican players’ autographs as he travels back and forth multiple times a year and has built up a nice stable of players he gets to sign. This was the first, and only so far, signing for Sano since he left the Twins and I had a bunch of cards I needed for my sets. So, I took all my non-Topps Now cards and a Triple Play ticket and shipped them to Jackson. The cards I sent and got signed are:
-2017 Topps Now already signed by Dozier & Mauer
-2020 Topps 412
-2020 Topps 424
-2021 Topps 383
-2021 Topps US248
-2022 Topps 123
-2020 Topps Heritage 441
-2021 Topps Heritage 456
-2022 Topps Heritage 384
-2020 Allen & Ginter 269
-2021 Gypsy Queen 216
-2022 Gypsy Queen 206
And the ticket was the Triple Play game from 06.01.2017 against the Angels. I had that signed by Brian Dozier and he inscribed Triple Play. You can see the ticket in the picture Jackson sent me of Sano signing.
I am really excited to knock off all my Sano collection needs except for my Topps Now. I have to wait for another signing as this one was not cheap!