Ben Oglivie

I mailed former All-Star, Ben Oglivie a 1984 Topps baseball card asking for his autograph on July 5, 2025. 16 days later, July 21, 2025 it arrived!

Happy to add another successful autograph into my collection!

 

Bill Buckner

I met Bill Buckner in the mid 1990's when he was a hitting coach in the Blue Jays Minor League system. He signed a 1993 Ted Williams baseball card for me. Mr. Buckner had a solid MLB career which included a batting title in 1980, 2,715 career hits and a lifetime batting average of .289. In my opinion, that is a strong case for the Hall of Fame. However, Bill's amazing career was overshadowed by one costly mistake during game 6 of the 1986 World Series. Regardless, I'm very happy to have Mr. Bucker's autograph in my collection!

 

Willie McGee

My brother and I met Willie McGee in the mid 1990's during Spring Training when he was back with the St. Louis Cardinals. We were hanging outside of the visiting clubhouse at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium, which was the Spring home to the Philadelphia Phillies. There was a small group trying to get autographs from Cardinal players before they left for the day. Willie was standing by the team bus talking with the bus driver. My brother calls out to him asking for an autograph, Willie responded that he couldn't as he was getting ready to board the bus. He then signs an autograph for the bus driver (If I remember correctly). Seeing this frustrated all of us, but apparently my brother, most of all. He calls out again to Willie by saying, "We pay your salary!" Willie came over to the fence where the group was standing and demanded to know who said it. The group was silent. Willie asked again and my brother apologized. To our surprise, Willie responded with, "No, you're right!". He proceeded to give the group of about 10 or so his autograph! When it was my turn, he signed a 1990 Upper Deck baseball card.

 

John Olerud

The 1993 batting champ, John Olerud signed this 8x10 picture for me at Englebert Complex in the mid 1990's when he was a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. When John won the American League Batting Title, he batted an amazing .363.

 

Paul O'Neill

Paul O'Neill signed this 1991 Topps Stadium Club baseball card in the mid 1990's at Dunedin Stadium, when the New York Yankees came to play the Toronto Blue Jays.  Paul signed the card right after the team finished BP.

 

Matt Holliday

Matt Holiday signed this 2017 Donruss baseball card on August 25, 2017 at Dunedin Stadium. Matt was on a rehab assignment with the Tampa Yankees and he signed the card just before a game against the Dunedin Blue Jays.

 

Jeff McNeil

I met Jeff McNeil on August 15, 2017 when the St. Lucie Mets came to play the Clearwater Threshers. Jeff signed a 2014 Bowman baseball card prior to the game.

 

Luis Arraez

Luis Arraez signed this 2016 Choice baseball card on April 24, 2018 when the Fort Myers Miracle came to play the Clearwater Threshers in Clearwater, Florida

 

Brian Jordan

I met the 2-way and former MLB All-Star player, Brian Jordan in the early 1990's during Spring Training when he was playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brian played for the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL before moving full time to baseball where he truly excelled.

 

Ron Gant

In April, 1995 Ron Gant signed this Beckett Baseball Card Monthly magazine from the visiting clubhouse at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium prior to a Spring Training game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Ron was at the time playing for the Cincinnati Reds. 

 

Deion Sanders

In April, 1995 Major League Baseball was getting off to a late start with Spring Training due to the strike which began in 1994 and ended in early 1995. 

In April, 1995 I was asked by Clearwater Phillies General Manager, John Timberlake if I'd like to be the visiting team batboy for a Spring Training night game, against the Cincinnati Reds. Of course I jumped on the suggestion!

The game was also televised that night by ESPN. While in the visiting clubhouse, I had asked Deion if he would sign a page out of a Beckett Baseball Card Monthly magazine prior to the game. He told me he'd sign it after BP.

After BP had ended, I was sitting at my locker, not far from Deion's. I didn't want to bother him, as I had heard he wasn't the easiest to get an autograph from and I didn't want to annoy him.

After sitting for several minutes, I figured he'd ask me to come over for the signature. But instead, he got up to take a shower. Afterwards, he's sitting at his locker and called me over to sign the page for me!

Deion was not only an outstanding baseball player, but an amazing football player. 

 He helped the San Francisco 49ers win the Super Bowl in 1995 and in 1996 won a Super Bowl as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

 

Chris Weinke

Chris Weinke signed this 1993 Classic Best baseball card from the Dunedin Blue Jays team set when he was a first basebman for the Dunedin Blue Jays. Chris later went back to school and played football for the Florida State Seminoles and won the Heisman Trophy Award in 2000 and went on to play in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers.

 

Jake Arrieta

 On June 29th, 2025 I was at a Perfect Game 13u baseball tournament to watch my son play at Cacti Park, the Minor League training facility of the Washington Nationals in West Palm Beach, Florida. As soon as I got there, I thought I recognized Jake Arrieta walking around. I dismissed it as I wasn't 100% sure it was him. About half-way through the game, one of the dads on our team says to me, "You see that guy over there? That's Jake Arrieta." I told him that I thought so too, but wasn't sure. He then pulled up the roster of the other team and sure enough, Jake's son was currently pitching. I always have all of my cards on me as I never know who I might see at these games. 

After the game, Jake signed a 2014 Topps baseball card for me. He also signed a card for my son as well as posed for a picture with him. Jake was very friendly to everybody, which was great! As a player, he was tough to get an autograph from. I'd seen him on multiple occasions during Spring Training ignore any fan that asked for an autograph, or even just tried to get his attention.