March Pick Ups

[earlywynnfan]

Thrilled with these for the WWII collection:
Chylak: was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge and earned a Purple Heart. (Had a severe eye injury; sometimes umpire jokes write themselves.)
Donatelli: fascinating story: was a POW in Germany, actually started his umpiring "career" there, umping games between the prisoners.


Also, acquired last month, what I feel is a total oddity and surely uncommon: Harold Arlin, who was the first broadcaster ever over the radio for a baseball game (and FB!)

Ken

[cottnat]

This isn't worth nearly as much as some of the items you have all gotten, but I finally finished up a project to 100% completion that I have been working on for almost 3 years now. Signed by all 25 members of the Opening Day Roster in 2010 (Target Field's Inaugural Season) plus Manager Ron Gardenhire. I am not much of an in person grapher, so getting this done took some creativity, bartering, some help from forum members (patneshek.com) as well as Pat Neshek himself. Now to frame it....decisions, decisions.



SP - Scott Baker
SP - Francisco Liriano
SP - Carl Pavano
SP - Nick Blackburn
SP - Kevin Slowey

RP - Pat Neshek
RP - Jose Mijares
RP - Jon Rauch
RP - Matt Guerrier
RP - Jesse Crain
RP - Alex Burnett
RP - Brian Duensing

C - Joe Mauer
1B - Justin Morneau
2B - Orlando Hudson
3B - Nick Punto
SS - JJ Hardy
OF - Michael Cuddyer
OF - Denard Span
OF - Delmon Young
DH - Jason Kubel

B - Jim Thome
B - Brendan Harris
B - Alexi Casilla
B - Drew Butera

M - Ron Gardenhire

[Rays & Mariners]

Looks great Cottnat! I just finished (I think) something similar myself...

Eric

[cottnat]

Very nice, I think the projects look great, and I know there are some with a lot more impressive names, but I am pretty pumped to have mine done. With the current MLB structure that has players being easily traded, demoted, leaving via FA, retiring, etc. it makes it really difficult to nab all the guys before they end up on other teams. It was easier to get Joe Mauer/Justin Morneau than it was to get Brendan Harris/Alexi Casilla.

[jgmp123]

Cottnat/Rays & Mariners -

Great items. I will say that it is very tough to collect a full team, but to collect that full team on one specific item, that my friend is very very tough. Don't let the completion take away the joy you have with the piece....(some time the chase is the best part)!!

[isaac2004]

Originally Posted by Rays & Mariners

Looks great Cottnat! I just finished (I think) something similar myself...

Eric

That is awesome. You live in Seattle I take it. Is it me, or did Felix sign on the edge of the base?

[Rays & Mariners]

Yep, I'm in Seattle. Felix's auto is at the top right of the base. Not his best looking auto but its his. My wife and I were just down in Spring Training and I got the plate finished.

Thanks
Eric

[scmavl]

Love those projects, guys. And some of those Twins players look like they really take pride in their signatures. Nice to see these days.

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by scmavl

Love those projects, guys. And some of those Twins players look like they really take pride in their signatures. Nice to see these days.

One of the nicest '10 OD signed photos of the Twins I've seen (surprisingly, there are quite a few). That's a really nice Mauer.

[cottnat]

Originally Posted by scmavl

Love those projects, guys. And some of those Twins players look like they really take pride in their signatures. Nice to see these days.

You can thank Harmon Killebrew for that. He would chew out players at twinsfest every year because the young guys had people waiting in their lines for an autograph only to get chicken scratch on their item. Look at early vs current autos of guys like Torii Hunter and Michael Cuddyer and you will see what I mean.