Signing Off.....(for 2009)

This is going to be my last post for 2009, I figured I'd end the year off by showing the Steve Garvey cards (minus certified versions) and photos that I have signed in my collection.

I hope everyone has a safe New Year Eve's and a Happy 2010.

The photo above I acquired as part of a bulk eBay purchase. In doing a little research, I found that it was photographed by someone named J.D. McCarthy.

Steve signed this 1978 Topps card for me when he was visiting someone in the office of one of my old jobs. It was around the year 2000.

This 1983 Fleer card and the next three all were included in a bulk purchase of Steve Garvey cards I made a couple years ago.

1983 Topps

1984 Donruss Action All-Stars

1984 Donruss Champions

If I remember correctly, Steve signed this for me in 1996 at MLB's All-Star Fanfest in 1996.

In 2005, I attended a Meet n' Greet with the Dodgers famous infield (Ron Cey, Bill Russell, Davey Lopes and Steve Garvey) and was able to get this photo signed as well as have a picture taken with all four players. Note: I'd show the photo but it's framed and doesn't scan that well.

This is a 1982 Dodgers Union Oil Volpe. I actually got this one as a kid from the local Union 76 gas station. It isn't signed yet but probably will be the next time I attend an event where Steve's at.

The backs of these are loaded with information.

As a kid in the 1970's, Steve was one of three Dodgers that I met in person. I meet Steve during an in store signing at the local JcPenney department store in 1977 and he signed the photo above. Unlike the other two Dodgers shown below, I wasn't able to have a picture taken with him.

In 1977, I attended a Dodgers Meet n' Greet at the local golf course with my father. Don Sutton and Maury Wills were the guest speakers. Until my father passed away a few years ago, one of his favorite stories was my interaction with Don Sutton during the Question and Answers Session.

Essentially what happened is that in preparation for the event I reviewed Don Sutton's 1976 and 1977 statistics and noticed that Don's Wins and Strikeouts decreased and his ERA increased. When the Q&A session began, Don decided to lead off with me because I was a cute eight year old. I proceded to ask a question about what was the reason for Don's sudden drop in production statistics-wise. Don responded by saying "who planted this kid" and then the room broke out in laughter. Note: Don gave an answer but I don't recall what it was.

With that said, I'm hoping one of these days to attend an event where Don is appearing to get the photo above signed that shows Don teaching me how to throw a curveball as well as ask him if he remembers me asking him the question.

Unlike Don Sutton, Maury Wills wasn't an active Dodger when I was a kid and as a result it wasn't until years later that I was able to appreciate what a special player Maury was. I'd note that Maury was a last minute replacement for this event because Tom LaSorda had to back out.

I attended a Meet n' Greet in 2006 that Maury Wills was headlining and had him sign the photo above that was taken at the event in 1977. Besides the fact of finding out what a great personality Maury Wills has, I'd say the best part of Maury signing this was having him stop and look at the photo for a few minutes and them asking me, "If the kid in the picture is you" and "Wow, that suit and my hair takes me back".