BROB

Leading off for your Baltimore Orioles, 2nd baseman, number 1...BRIAN ROBERTS!!

That is what we Orioles fans were used to hearing in the first inning before this season. Roberts got injured in Spring Training, but was healthy enough to start on the Opening Day Roster. Roberts played in 4 games, in Tampa and the Home Opener. He re-injured himself stealing second base in the home opener and went on the DL. And that's where he has been since. Since he did play in a handful of games this year (and is on his way back btw), he qualifies for my 2010 Orioles Autograph Project. So here are my BRob autographs that I have obtained:

This was my 1st Brian Roberts autograph. In 2005, BRob had a breakout season. He had been with the O's since 2001 and I did not have his autograph yet. So when I was at a local card show, I saw this Orioles Team Postcard of Brian Roberts signed for $5. I immediatley bought it and it became my first Brian Roberts autograph.

Last year, I decided to do a 2009 Orioles Autograph Project. I noticed that the only BRob autograph that I had was the FanFest postcard. While on Sportsgraphing.com (username: Crusader4Life) I noticed the above card for sale. I had wanted a signed card of Roberts and for $2 I thought it was a good deal. So I bought it and there it was my 2nd autograph and 1st signed card of Brian Roberts.




At this year's Orioles FanFest, you did not know who was going to be signing in each line until an hour before, so it was hit or miss who you would get. I knew that while I was preparing for the FanFest, so I brought plenty of extras for my help and myself to make sure I had something for everyone to sign for me or my helpers. I decided that if I were to get BRob, that I would get something bigger signed. So while I was looking through my Orioles items, I saw these Baltimore Sun 16x20 photos/posters. And behold, multiple ones of Brian Roberts. I had enough to give on to my 2 helpers and one for myself.
I had early entrance tickets and I got in as the gates opened for the early admittance. I noticed that they had exclusive early entrance signings. And the first one I saw included BRIAN ROBERTS. So I was able to get in line and get him to sign this large photo and it turned out great. My favorite Brian Roberts autograph!

2010 Orioles Autograph Project

Okay, so this year I have decided to work on an autograph project. But, this one is not for a specific card set. Instead, I have decided to try to obtain at least one (1) autograph of every player and coach that wears the Orange and Black at any point during the 2010 season. There are some exceptions:
1. Minor League players do not count unless they play on the Big League team this season.
2. All coaches and bullpen catchers count, however bat boys (they wear uniforms) do not count.
3. Team announcers, Front Office guys, Mascots, and other Orioles personnel do not count. (Though I will include the announcers, mascot and FO guys I have and want, but they will not count towards the total)
4. It can be on any item, though i am trying to get everyone on a card.
I'm pretty far along already and it is early yet, but new players will come up all year, so I won't be finished until the season is entirely over.
Okay, so this year I have decided to work on an autograph project. But, this one is not for a specific card set. Instead, I have decided to try to obtain at least one (1) autograph of every player and coach that wears the Orange and Black at any point during the 2009 season. There are some exceptions:
1. Minor League players do not count unless they play on the Big League team this season.
2. All coaches and bullpen catchers count, however bat boys (they wear uniforms) do not count.
3. Team announcers, Front Office guys, Mascots, and other Orioles personnel do not count.
4. It can be on any item, though i am trying to get everyone on a card.
I'm pretty far along already and it is early yet, but new players will come up all year, so I won't be finished until the season is entirely over.
BOLD means I have autograph, Italics i don't have, * Means Pending
1 Brian Roberts INF
2 Julio Lugo INF
3 Cesar Izturis INF
6 Justin Turner INF (DFA'd, in Mets Organization)
6 Corey Patterson OF
9 Miguel Tejada INF
10 Adam Jones OF
11 Juan Samuel Coach/Interim Manager
13 Will Ohman LHP
14 Nolan Reimold OF (Currently in AAA)
15 Craig Tatum C
16 Lou Montanez OF (DL)
17 Brian Matusz LHP
18 Felix Pie OF
19 Koji Uehara RHP
21 Nick Markakis OF
23 Ty Wigginton INF
24 Chris Tillman RHP
25 Garrett Atkins INF (Released)
25 Josh Bell INF
26 Cla Meredith RHP (Currently in AAA)
27 Mark Hendrickson LHP
28 Jeff Datz Coach
29 David Hernandez RHP
30 Luke Scott OF (DL)
31 Kam Mickolio RHP (Currently in AAA)
32 Matt Wieters C
34 Kevin Millwood RHP (DL)
35 Brad Bergesen RHP
36 Alan Dunn Coach
37 Matt Albers RHP
38 John Shelby Coach
39 Rick Kranitz Coach
40 Rhyne Hughes INF (Currently in AAA)
40 Scott Moore INF
43 Jim Johnson RHP (DL)
46 Jeremy Guthrie RHP
47 Dave Trembley Manager (Fired)
47 Jake Fox CA*
48 Terry Crowley Coach
49 Jason Berken RHP
50 Frank Mata RHP
51 Mike Gonzalez LHP (DL)
52 Gary Allenson Coach
53 Alberto Castillo LHP (Currently in AAA)
55 Alfredo Simon RHP
57 Jake Arrieta RHP
67 Ronnie Deck Bullpen Catcher
84 Mike Bordick Temporary Coach
GM Andy MacPhail

Other Additions (Don't count towards total Orioles count)
Brady Anderson
Mike Boddicker
Mike Flanagan
Ben McDonald
Eddie Murray (Would like to upgrade)
Joe Angel
The Orioles Bird
Jim Palmer
Dave Johnson
Boog Powell
Rick Dempsey
Peter Angelos
60 Brandon Erbe RHP (40 man)
64 Luis Lebron LHP (40 Man)
40 Troy Patton LHP (40 man)
54 Chris Tillman RHP (40 man)
62 Chorye Spoone RHP (40 man)
66 Josh Bell INF (40 man)
58 Brandon Snyder (40 man)
Pedro Viola LHP (40 man)
Wilfrido Perez LHP (was on 40 man this year)
69 Pedro Florimon Jr. INF (40 man)
Tom Davis
Amber Theoharis
Fred Manfra
Jim Hunter
Gary Thorne

As you can see, I only need a few guys to complete this small project for now. Any and all help is aprreciated. Thanks!

BIG @$$ UPDATE

Sorry for those followers that I havent updated in a while. I felt no motivation to add updates after the news broke that my high school, Cardinal Gibbons, which I'm currently a junior at, will close at the end of the tear. After the upsetting news that I will not be able to graduate from there, I have finally decided that I wanted to update my blog. So I have a big @$$ update for you. (It will be in multiple posts)

ST TTM:

Dave Trembley signed 1/1 2009 Topps in 10 days c/o Orioles ST. Dave is the hopeful leader of the O's. Good luck Dave, Lead us to the Playoffs!


Hideki Okajima signed 1/1 2009 O-Pee-Chee in 20 days c/o Red Sox ST. I don't particularly have any likeness for the Boston team or most of its players. But Hideki is one of those players who I dont dislike that much. Regardless, I try to collect autographs on as many of my cards as possible. I have another autograph of his on an index card, but I wanted to get this card signed.


Ian Snell signed a Pirates photocard c/o Mariners ST. The main reason I sent to Snell was to upgrade my 08 Topps signed horribly in silver. This one didnt turn out that good either.

Jeff Datz signed indians team card from 05 Topps c/o O's ST. Datz is the O's new bench coach, replacing Dave Jauss after 2 seasons with the Birds. Now, I dont have to focus so much on Datz during the season for my 2010 Orioles Autograph Project. But i would like to get an signed Orioles item or an item featuring just Jeff Datz in the pic. (Also did anyone notice how many Jeff's I have gotten TTM since I started this blog?)


Radhames Liz signed 2009 Topps c/p Padres ST. Liz was claimed off waivers by the Padres from the O's shortly after the 2009 season concluded. This was the one remaining unsigned card I had of Radhames. So naturally I sent to him....and Voila!

The next posts will include a Wal-Mart card purchase and some other non ST TTM autographs. Stay tuned

New TTM Success!

Today I received a new Spring Training TTM success.



Ty Wigginton signed one card in 12 days c.o Baltimore Orioles ST in black sharpie.
Ty had a dissappointing year for the Birds last year. It was his first year in four in which he didnt hit at least 20 homers. I'm hoping he can bounce back this year and be a good righty power bat of the bench.

A Contest and New Successes!!!

There is a ST contest going on at The Great Orioles Autograph Project. You pick a team in ST who you think will have the best record, the winner will win his/her choice of different card, autographs etc. It gets even better if you link to his blog on your blog, or if you are a follower of his blog (or both) Check it out for a chance to win. http://greatoriolesautographproject.blogspot.com


Today I received two Spring Training TTM Successes and a purchase from a member on Sportsgraphing.com. Let's begin...


Dennis Sarfate signed one card in black sharpie c/o The Baltimore Orioles ST in 11 days. Dennis was acquired by the Orioles in late 2007 in the miguel Tejada trade, and after an injury shortened 09, he was DFA'd to make room for Miggi. I was happy to hear that he cleared waivers and was invited to ST. The reason, I had one card of him that I really wanted signed. I am rooting for Dennis to land a spot in the crowded Orioles bullpen.




Count me as a person who though the Sherrill/Bell trade was bittersweet. I like Bell, but I wish we didnt have to trade George, because Flat Breezy was a well liked fan favorite. I still had some unsigned cards of George that I wanted to get signed, so I sent to him. George Sherrill signed one card in black sharpie c/o The LA Dodgers ST in 11 days.



Last year, I made a project to collect at least one autograph from every player and coach that wore an Orioles uniform in 2009. I plan to do the same thing in 2010. I like to have autographs of guys that were ST invites and wo could surprise and make the team or be called up do to injury. So this is where Jeff Salazar comes in. Jeff is an Orioles ST invitee, an will probably play at AAA Norfolk this year, but he may be a callup in September, so I like to have it as security and to add another new 'graph to my collection. Jeff Salazar 2007 Topps Heritage in blue sharpie c/o purchase.
Later today I may post the other 2010 graphs I have received prior to this blog.

This Past Week's Non-ST TTM Successes

As I said in my previous post, I had some TTM successes this past week that weren't from a ST sendout. I received 3 non-ST returns this past week, 2 of which were very long waits.



Jeff Kent signed 2 cards in thin blue sharpie in 4 months c/o Kent Powersports. I already had a Kent TTM autograph, an Astros card. But I wanted ones of him on the Giants and Dodgers. As you can see, I was successful. I'm glad to add two more autographs of this potential future HOF'er to my collection.



Jeff Kunkel (3 Jeffs in the same week, weird coincidence) signed 3 cards in over a year c/o home in black sharpie. Jeff was an average major league baseball player during his career, never played for the Orioles, and I already had his autograph from a previous TTM success. So you may ask, "Joe, why would you want another one, yet alone 3 more?" I have two answers. 1. He is a good TTM signer (even though this letter was probably misplaced because he signed in 9 days last time), so he is a slump buster. 2. I know a guy whose name is Jeff Kunkle, and I think it is funny how they have VERY similar names, and its just one of those funny autographs.



And now the longest wait. Billy Ripken signed 2 cards c/o home address in over 2 years! This was one of my longest waits ever, and Ive been doing TTM consistently since 2006! This was also a very sentimental request. One of the cards Billy signed was a homemade card that I made when I was eight years old. It was the 3rd of those cards I made (David Segui and Scott Kamieniecki are the others) and having that signed is special to me.

Spring Training TTM Successes

Spring Training is definitely the best time to send TTM requests to current players and coaches, the success rate is noticeably higher. So every year, I will send some requests to players and coaches in Spring Training. I have gotten 3 ST returns so far this spring. I have also received some non-ST successes as well this week before I started this blog.

Jeff Francis signed 2/2 2008 Allen and Ginters in black sharpie in 7 days c/o The Colorado Rockies Spring Training Site. Francis is a solid pitcher, but was injured last year, so I hope he bounces back well for the Rox.