I have been fortunate to have had some awesome replies to my autograph requests to people over the years but today has to rank right up there with one of my favorites.
Over all the years of my collecting, Rich Reese has always avoided signing his 1965 Topps Rookie card. Rumors persist on how he does not sign it because he is listed as Dick Reese, or another rumor that he did not like the card… whatever the reason, I had only seen that card signed once and that was from the mid-1960’s because he signed it Dick Reese. When it was the last card I needed for the 1965 Twins set, I wrote him a nice, heartfelt letter and made a small sticker in the same size, color, and font and placed it over Dick Reese which said Rich Reese. Amazingly, he returned it to me signed with a note that it was the only one he signed. He said he has turned down his daughter when she asked for him to sign one.
I had an equally amazing response from Ryan Vogelsong today! Ryan is pictured on a 2017 Topps card as a Twin. I am not sure if it was photoshopped or taken in spring training but he is shown in a Twins uniform. Over the years since his retirement, he has had a few private signing events and I always sent in the card and it would always come back unsigned that Ryan refused to sign it because he never played for the Twins. I thought maybe it would be a hold in my collection. Back on February 8th I received the 2017 Topps Phil Hughes card from a private signing and that left the Vogelsong card as the last card I needed for my set. I decided to take a shot. I wrote a real heartfelt letter on what baseball means to me, especially Twins baseball, and my family. I wrote about how I remember him signing with the Twins and was excited because of his success with the Giants. I wrote about how my family went to Florida spring training games in five of the previous six springs prior to COVID and I am sure I saw him warm up under the walkway overhang bullpen area. I also included a printout of my 2017 Topps Twins set with every card signed but his. I put it in a Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope and sent it to him hoping for the best. I do not know what it was that led him to sign my card and return it to me but I cannot thank him enough. My 2017 Topps Twins team set is complete! I had a rough couple days at work and to open the mail and see this made things turn around for me. THANK YOU Ryan! You made my week if not month or even longer! I love my hobby!
The Hawk, again
About a month ago I received a Baseball Digest signed by Andre Dawson. The Hawk was on a pair of covers and at the time I only had the one issue. I quickly tracked down the other issue and sent it to Dawson. Today I received the January, 1988 issue signed by Andre. He has one of the prettiest signatures in the hobby today. I am done with him until I find something else to collect that he is a part of!
The Knobber
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!
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!