Frank Thomas

I was finally able to get this Beckett Baseball Card Monthly magazine cover signed by Hall of Famer Frank Thomas on March 5, 2025! This is the exact magazine I tried to get signed about 30 years prior when I saw the White Sox play the Toronto Blue Jays during Spring Training.  This time around, Frank was signing autographs as well as promoting his vodka brand, FT35 at a bar called Bar 2350, located at 2350 Curlew Road in Palm Harbor, Florida. It was a 30 year journey to finally land the Big Hurt in my collection... Totally worth the wait!!!

 

 

Mike Piazza

On October 15, 2024 a friend of mine told me he saw a post on social media that Mike Piazza would be attending a dinner at the Italian Club In Ybor City along with the team he manages (Team Italy) On Wednesday October 16th. Mike, the 1993 National League Rookie of the Year and 2016 Hall of Fame inductee arrived at the restaurant about 10 minutes after us and was kind enough to sign the inside cover of a Beckett Baseball Card Monthly magazine for me, along with an 8x10 picture for my son! Being huge Mets fans, we were psyched to add Hall of Famer Mike Piazza into our collections!
 

Dick Allen

Dick Allen signed this 1970 Topps baseball card for me at Brighthouse Networks Field on March 21, 2015 right before a Spring Training game. Mr. Allen was part of an autograph signing featuring members of the Philadelphia Phillies alumni. On December 8, 2024, Mr. Allen was finally elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Classic Baseball Era Committee. Unfortunately, Mr. Allen passed away on December 7, 2020 without receiving the well deserved honor in his lifetime.

 

Joe Mauer

Joe Mauer signed this 2014 Topps baseball card for me on November 15, 2016 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater, Florida moments after being inducted into the Florida State League Hall of Fame. On January 23, 2024 Joe was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, with a voting percentage of 76.1%.

 

Jim Leyland

Jim Leyland signed a 1989 Topps baseball card for me in the mid 1990's at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Florida. Mr. Leyland was managing the Pittsburgh Pirates at the time. He signed the card from the visiting dugout prior to a Spring Training game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Mr. Leyland was finally elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame's class of 2024 on December 3, 2023!

 

Pat Gillick

I mailed this 8x10 picture of Hall of Fame executive, Pat Gillick representing his 1962-1963 playing days with the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, Rochester Red Wings on January 28, 2023 and received it back signed and personalized ten days later on February 7, 2023. Mr. Gillick later became the General Manager of the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies and helped bring championships to both cities! Mr. Gillick was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame along side Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven in 2011.

 

Scott Rolen

I first met Scott Rolen in 1995 when he was a stand out 3rd baseman for the Clearwater Phillies. 

I was the batboy for the team, and this guy could flat out play! I remember telling my Dad about him, saying, "This guy is like glue. Baseballs just stick to his glove". Scott was the 1997 NL Rookie of the Year, won 8 Gold Gloves and over 300 home runs. On January 24, 2023 Scott was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame with 76.3%!

 

Fred McGriff

The Crime Dog, Fred McGriff signed this Beckett Baseball Card Monthly magazine in the mid 1990's at a celebrity golf tournament at East Lake Woodlands Golf Course, in Palm Harbor, Florida. Crime Dog compiled 493 career home runs and was the most consistent power hitter in my lifetime. I was so happy to see him FINALLY elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame on December 4, 2022, to become a member of the 2023 class!

 

Jim Kaat

On October 8, 2022 I mailed an 8x10 picture to 2022 Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Kaat requesting an autograph. 20 short days later, on October 28, 2022 it arrived back home signed and personalized! Beyond thrilled to have this in my collection!!

 

Larry Walker

 On July 18, 2022 I mailed this 8x10 picture to 2020 Hall of Fame inductee Larry Walker requesting an autograph. I finally received it back signed and made out to me on Thursday October 6, 2022 for an 80 day turn around!! I know it only took 80 days, but it felt like years! So glad to add Mr. Walker into my collection! This guy was such a great hitter. I was so happy to see him finally make his place into the Halls of Cooperstown, which was long overdue! 

Nolan Ryan

 On March 11, 2022 I mailed two 8x10 pictures to the Nolan Ryan Foundation along with the required donation fee per photo for the 1999 Baseball Hall of Famer, Nolan Ryan himself, to autograph for my son and I. June 6,  2022 they arrived in the mail! My son and I are beyond thrilled to have one of the greatest and hardest throwing pitchers into our collections! The Ryan Express amassed 324 wins, 5,714 strikeouts, 7 No-Hitters and a respectable 3.19 ERA over 27 amazin' seasons! A very big THANK YOU to Mr. Ryan for taking the time to sign our pictures!

Billy Williams

I was FINALLY able to add Hall of Famer Billy Williams into my collection on April 29, 2022!

This was to be my third and final attempt... Luckily it paid off! I originally sent these two 8x10 pictures along with a $20 donation each to him through the mail in late 2017. Both items and cash were returned unsigned. I tried again in March of 2022, and increased the donation to $30 each, however the same result. Items returned unsigned and cash returned. On April 8, 2022, I added an additional $10 each.  Boo-Ya!!! Both my son and I were so excited to see the oversized envelope in the mailbox and were even more thrilled to see them signed! Mr. Williams was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1961 and inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. The top picture is mine and the other belongs to my son.

 

Bud Selig

I mailed this 8x10 picture to former Baseball Commissioner and Hall of Fame class of 2017 member, Bud Selig on Friday, March 11, 2022. I received it back on Monday March 28, 2022. 

 

Orlando Cepeda

 I mailed this 8x10 picture to Baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda on February 17, 2022 and received back signed on March 1, 2022 for a 12 day turn around! 

The Puerto Rican native won the 1958 National League Rookie of the Year award. 1967 National League MVP award, and was apart of the 1967 World Championship St. Louis Cardinals!

Mr. Cepeda was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.

Dennis Eckersley

I met Dennis Eckersley at Lansbrook Golf Club during a celebrity golf tournament in Palm Harbor, Florida in the mid 1990's. Mr. Eckersley signed an 8x10 for me just before the tournament began. He was inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.

 

Ryne Sandberg

 I first met Ryne Sandberg at Carpenter Complex on February 15, 2014 during the Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training workouts. The Hall of Famer signed an 8x10 Barry Colla picture for me that day. I normally only get one autograph per person and never bother them again, however, I also had a Cubs jersey that I wanted signed. That picture is posted below. On March 14, 2015, Mr. Sandberg signed a jersey from the players and coaches parking lot outside of the Phillies Spring Training ballpark.

John Smoltz

 I met John Smoltz Friday, October 8, 2021, moments after Game 2 of the ALDS at Tropicana Field, when the Tampa Bay Rays took a beating from the Boston Red Sox 14-6. Mr. Smoltz, a Hall of Fame pitcher is one of the TV announcers for FS1, signed an 8x10 picture for me as he was leaving the ballpark. He also signed an 8x10 picture for my son, pictured in blue and was signing a baseball for my son's friend, NJ, who is standing to his left.

Lee Smith

 I mailed this 8x10 on April 8, 2021 and received it back signed on April 17, 2021 for a 9 day turn around!

Very pleased to add this pitching legend, and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer into my collection! I remember in the early 90's during Spring Training in Florida, when he was the closer for the St. Louis Cardinals, he was a tough autograph to get. Glad to finally be able to check him off the list!

Bill Mazeroski

I mailed these two 8x10 pictures of Hall of Famer, Bill Mazeroski to his home on March 19, 2021 and received them back signed and personalized 20 days later on April 8, 2021! Mr. Mazeroski was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. The picture he signed for my son, shows him hitting a walk off home run to beat the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series! He was the first player in Major League history to accomplish that!

 

Dave Parker

On March 25, 2021 I mailed 2 8x10 pictures to the legendary "Cobra", Dave Parker. I added a sticky note requesting each picture to be personalized, one for my son and the other for me.

The 8x10 photo of Mr. Parker smoking was supposed to be for me as I didn't want my 9 year old son to have that particular picture hanging on his bedroom wall. When I received the autographs in the mail on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, I quickly discovered the mix up... On December 8, 2024 Mr. Parker was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Classic Baseball Era Committee. It's a long overdue honor. But thankfully, a decades long overlook has finally been corrected.