In addition to my 89 Cubs collection, I've started a collection of players who were born in my hometown of Mobile, Alabama or have ties to this area in some way. Some live here now, some played for the University of South Alabama, or some played for our AA team the BayBears. There is a lot of baseball history here. In fact, there are more players in the Hall of Fame born in Mobile than in any other city. (Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, Billy Williams, Ozzie Smith, Satchel Paige)
Hank Aaron is probably the most famous player from here. Our AA stadium bears his name and his childhood home has been moved next to the stadium as a museum. He attended the opening of the museum 2 years ago, but he did not sign anything for anybody. I got his signature when I was a kid at a book signing on the inside of his book. That was the only thing he would sign. I'm hoping to add a ball to my collection, but I think he has an exclusive deal with Steiner and their fees are outrageous.
Hank Aaron Stadium is loacted on Bolling Brothers Blvd. The Bolling brothers played in the 50's and 60's. They both still live here. I sent cards out to both Frank and Milt Bolling and got them back within a few days. I asked Frank if I could send hima ball to sign and he said that would be fine. He won the Gold Glove in 1958, so I sent a GG ball and he inscribed it as requested.
Ozzie Smith was born here, but didn't live here long. We still claim him though. He came to town a couple of years ago for the opening of the Hank Aaron Museum. I got his signature on a ROMLB. He's a very nice guy.
Bernie Carbo lives right outside Mobile in Thedore, Alabama. He lives about a mile away from my mother in law. He runs an organization called Diamond Club Ministry. I found an email address for him on the site and I emailed him and asked if I could send him a ball to sign. He said that would be fine. He signed a ROMLB for me as well as a card I sent.
Jon Lieber played at the University of South Alabama. He also makes his home here. A guy that I work with is good friends with him so a couple of months ago, I asked if he would take him a ball to sign for me. He signed the ROMLB and inscribed it with "20 wins 2001" since I am a Cubs fan and that was by far his best season. He also signed an 8X10 for me that I guess he just had lying around. It's not in the best of shape.
Lance Johnson also played at South Alabama and lives about 3 miles from me. I sent 2 cards to him on 1/26/12 and received both back signed on 3/1/12. both are inscribed with "1 Dog" The 89 Fleer in the bottom of the picture was signed IP at a South Alabama alumni game when I was a kid. Notice that it's signed with a "#1"
Dave Stapleton played at South Alabama and lives across the bay from Mobile in Fairhope, Alabama. His name comes up a lot in conversations about the 86 World Series. He was used as a late inning defensive replacement at 1st base a good bit in the postseason. That was not the case in Game 6 and we all know how that turned out. I obtained this signature on an 87 Topps at the same alumni game that I got the Lance Johnson signature.
Jim Mason was born in Mobile and attended the same high school that I went to. His daughter was in my graduating class. He played for several teams in the 70's. He hit a home run in his only postseason plate appearance in the 1976 World Series as a member of the Yankees. I sent him a card on 1/18/12 and I received it back signed on 1/24/12.
Terry Adams was born in Mobile and still lives right outside Mobile in Semmes, Alabama. He was the Alabama high school player of the year in 1991. He started out with the Cubs and played for several more teams before retiring in 2006. I sent 2 cards to him on 1/26/12 and received both back signed on 3/8/12.
Juan Pierre was born here *** played at South Alabama. He was a member of the 2003 Marlins team that beat my Cubs and went on to win the World Series. I sent him a 2010 Topps to the Phillies ST address on 2/21/12 and received it back signed on 3/1/12.
Turner Ward was not born here, but he played high school ball here and played at South Alabama. He is currently the manager for our AA team the BayBears. I obtained his signature IP at a game last season. I have since found more cards of him and plan to get them signed this season.
Adam Lind played at South Alabama. I got this certified auto out of a 2007 SP Authentics pack.
The rest of the players I'm listing are current or former BayBears:
Paul Goldschmidt had a monster year last year. He was named USA Today's minor league player of the year. He looked pretty good for the DBacks at the end of the year too. I sent this 2010 Topps to the Dbacks ST address on 2/22/12 and received it back signed on 3/3/12.
Jarrod Parker is a former 1st round pick and made 1 start for the Dbacks at the end of the year and then was added to the postseason roster. He was part of the Trevor Cahill trade and should be on Oakland's roster this year. I got this 2010 topps Pro Debut card signed IP at a game last season.
Colin Cowgill also played in Arizona last year and was traded to Oakland in the Cahill deal. I sent this 2010 Topps Pro Debut card to the A's ST address on 2/22/12 and received it back on 3/12/12.
A.J. Pollock is a solid prospect. I got this IP at a game last season.
Ryan Wheeler. IP at a game last season.
Alan Zinter was the BayBears hitting coach last season. I got this 90 Score signed IP at a game last year. The new hitting coach is former Pirate and Dback Jay Bell. I've got several cards I'd like to get him to sign for me.
Hank Aaron is probably the most famous player from here. Our AA stadium bears his name and his childhood home has been moved next to the stadium as a museum. He attended the opening of the museum 2 years ago, but he did not sign anything for anybody. I got his signature when I was a kid at a book signing on the inside of his book. That was the only thing he would sign. I'm hoping to add a ball to my collection, but I think he has an exclusive deal with Steiner and their fees are outrageous.
Hank Aaron Stadium is loacted on Bolling Brothers Blvd. The Bolling brothers played in the 50's and 60's. They both still live here. I sent cards out to both Frank and Milt Bolling and got them back within a few days. I asked Frank if I could send hima ball to sign and he said that would be fine. He won the Gold Glove in 1958, so I sent a GG ball and he inscribed it as requested.
Ozzie Smith was born here, but didn't live here long. We still claim him though. He came to town a couple of years ago for the opening of the Hank Aaron Museum. I got his signature on a ROMLB. He's a very nice guy.
Bernie Carbo lives right outside Mobile in Thedore, Alabama. He lives about a mile away from my mother in law. He runs an organization called Diamond Club Ministry. I found an email address for him on the site and I emailed him and asked if I could send him a ball to sign. He said that would be fine. He signed a ROMLB for me as well as a card I sent.
Jon Lieber played at the University of South Alabama. He also makes his home here. A guy that I work with is good friends with him so a couple of months ago, I asked if he would take him a ball to sign for me. He signed the ROMLB and inscribed it with "20 wins 2001" since I am a Cubs fan and that was by far his best season. He also signed an 8X10 for me that I guess he just had lying around. It's not in the best of shape.
Lance Johnson also played at South Alabama and lives about 3 miles from me. I sent 2 cards to him on 1/26/12 and received both back signed on 3/1/12. both are inscribed with "1 Dog" The 89 Fleer in the bottom of the picture was signed IP at a South Alabama alumni game when I was a kid. Notice that it's signed with a "#1"
Dave Stapleton played at South Alabama and lives across the bay from Mobile in Fairhope, Alabama. His name comes up a lot in conversations about the 86 World Series. He was used as a late inning defensive replacement at 1st base a good bit in the postseason. That was not the case in Game 6 and we all know how that turned out. I obtained this signature on an 87 Topps at the same alumni game that I got the Lance Johnson signature.
Jim Mason was born in Mobile and attended the same high school that I went to. His daughter was in my graduating class. He played for several teams in the 70's. He hit a home run in his only postseason plate appearance in the 1976 World Series as a member of the Yankees. I sent him a card on 1/18/12 and I received it back signed on 1/24/12.
Terry Adams was born in Mobile and still lives right outside Mobile in Semmes, Alabama. He was the Alabama high school player of the year in 1991. He started out with the Cubs and played for several more teams before retiring in 2006. I sent 2 cards to him on 1/26/12 and received both back signed on 3/8/12.
Juan Pierre was born here *** played at South Alabama. He was a member of the 2003 Marlins team that beat my Cubs and went on to win the World Series. I sent him a 2010 Topps to the Phillies ST address on 2/21/12 and received it back signed on 3/1/12.
Turner Ward was not born here, but he played high school ball here and played at South Alabama. He is currently the manager for our AA team the BayBears. I obtained his signature IP at a game last season. I have since found more cards of him and plan to get them signed this season.
Adam Lind played at South Alabama. I got this certified auto out of a 2007 SP Authentics pack.
The rest of the players I'm listing are current or former BayBears:
Paul Goldschmidt had a monster year last year. He was named USA Today's minor league player of the year. He looked pretty good for the DBacks at the end of the year too. I sent this 2010 Topps to the Dbacks ST address on 2/22/12 and received it back signed on 3/3/12.
Jarrod Parker is a former 1st round pick and made 1 start for the Dbacks at the end of the year and then was added to the postseason roster. He was part of the Trevor Cahill trade and should be on Oakland's roster this year. I got this 2010 topps Pro Debut card signed IP at a game last season.
Colin Cowgill also played in Arizona last year and was traded to Oakland in the Cahill deal. I sent this 2010 Topps Pro Debut card to the A's ST address on 2/22/12 and received it back on 3/12/12.
A.J. Pollock is a solid prospect. I got this IP at a game last season.
Ryan Wheeler. IP at a game last season.
Alan Zinter was the BayBears hitting coach last season. I got this 90 Score signed IP at a game last year. The new hitting coach is former Pirate and Dback Jay Bell. I've got several cards I'd like to get him to sign for me.
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