Autographed Cards A-Z

When I got back into collecting five or so years ago one of the things that excited me was the availability of autographed cards.  Perhaps I went a little overboard but I think I picked up some nice cards.  This will be an A-Z series of posts with varying numbers of cards.

Bill Hands played for the Cubs from 1966-1972.  In 1969 he went 20-14.  There are no certified autos out there so I picked this one up.  Who fakes Bill Hands autographs?

 1972 Topps #335

Great card of Miracle Met Bud Harrelson.

 1999 Fleer SI

Ellie played in three World Series with the Orioles.

 2004 UD Timeless Teams #49

 Henrich hit .323 in the 1947 World Series, one of four he would appear in and come out a winner each time.

 2003 UD Yankee Signature Series #PN-TH

Two cards from my favorite auto set.  

2005 UD Signature Decades #SD-KH 

 2005 UD Signature Decades #SD-KH1

Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog won 3 pennants and one World Series.

 2003 Topps Retired #TA-WH

Big Cards Need Love Too -- #'s 17-20

I guess I'm in the minority but I think these 3-1/2" x 5", 1983 Donruss Action All-Stars are nice.   Here they are in numerical order. (Click to enlarge particularly if you want to read the backs).

 Damaso had some good years for the Jays in the mid 1980's.  He swiped 54 bases in 1982.

 Gary is in the same league as Damaso.  He had some good years but not in the long term.  He's the father of Daryle Ward.  I don't like the batting practice cap.

 Now we're talking.  Coop put up some big numbers.  In '83 he posted career highs in homers (30) and runs batted in (126).  This card just looks sharp to me.

 "You know Keith Hernandez?"  Not a great picture of Keith here.  This is the year (1983) he was traded to the Mets.  According to Whitey Herzog who had both suspicions of Keith using drugs and a problem with his attitude the Cards manager was told by owner August Busch to "trade the son of a bitch."  The Mets picked him up for Neil Allen and Rick Owenby.

2005 Signature Decades -- 1970's Hitters

1970's Hitters

2005 UD Signature Decades -- the 1980's

I have a fair amount of certified auto cards but my favorite set is Upper Deck's 2005 Signature Decades. Overall the design is appealing and they are all on card autographs in a bright blue ink that stands out nicely against a white background.

Here are seven stars from the 1980's. Five are in the Hall of Fame.

1980's