RBI (153) A Character Guy...

If you've never had the opportunity to interact with starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, you're definitely  missing out. Guthrie is without a doubt one of the funniest most interesting characters in the bigs. He's not shy from clowning around with fans even though not everyone gets his sense of humor, but he's definitely one of my favorite MLB players to see around.

Guthrie was taken in the first round of the 2002 MLB draft with the 22nd pick by the Cleveland Indians who he debuted for in 2004. He stuck around the bigs after the 2006 season and has been a reliable arm to put in a rotation. More than 700 Strikeouts support his 60+ career Wins, and he's a known innings eater to keep teams in the game with a career ERA hovering around 4.20. He's pitched for the Indians, Orioles, Rockies and Royals. He's been extremely reliable for the Royals and is part of their rebuild from irrelevance.

Jeremy was nice enough to autograph this 2012 Topps Heritage card for me after an Royals vs Angel game during the 2013 season. It was pretty cool because after Jeremy kindly knocked out signing for every one that asked him he hung out catching up with some of his friends a few feet away from the rest of us graphers hanging out catching up with each other. It just goes to show you that if you're polite to a player and don't mob them they probably won't mind doing a few signatures and can act like a normal person with their own friends without having to run away. Though as a side note I have seen Jeremy run away from a kid running in a little circle until he caught him and signed for him, and yes it was funny and good natured not him being a jerk.

On the walk away from the stadium I called out to Jeremy and asked him what was the absolute worst piece of trash stadium he had ever played in. Immediately he responded "This one." Sorry Arte Moreno, but seeing as Guthrie pitched in Cleveland and Tampa Bay it sounds like the Angels have some work to do off the field.

For more hilarity to follow Jeremy Guthrie's Twitter is @TheRealJGuts

RBI (135) Adam Jones, A Flying Star...

In more ways than just one. I was able to get a Baltimore Orioles star center fielder Adam Jones autographed baseball. It wasn't necessarily the easiest autograph to obtain and definitely involved some stadium antics, but I was able to get get the elusive Jones' signature on my baseball.

Adam Jones was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 2003 MLB draft as the 37th pick. He was taken as a pitcher/shortstop but eventually moved to the outfield at the Mariners request. He debuted for the Mariners in 2006 but was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2008. Since moving to the Orioles he has shined as star for them, so far being a 3-time All-Star and winning 2 Gold Gloves. He shows a strong blend of speed and power with more than 100 Home Runs and 60 Stolen Bases. His playmaking ability at the plate and in the outfield helped convince the Orioles to give him the largest contract in team history with a 6 year $85 million extension.

I was honestly semi disappointed in this autograph. The ball is a commemorative baseball with the 20 year anniversary logo for Camden Yards that I was thrown by Rays pitcher Jake McGee. It's a clean ball with a perfect logo that I held back for almost a year to get signed by an Oriole of note. Unfortunately the stadium shenanigans had Jones in not the greatest mood while he signed so he paid no attention to me when I asked for him to sign under the logo. Yes at least I got the autograph, but it still could have been a great looking piece for my collection with a nice story behind the ball itself. At least I was able to get  an Adam Jones autographed baseball. Thankfully it was still a good day as I got to watch a good game with Kyle of Addictive Artwork, David and my other friends.

RBI (32) An interesting TTM combination...

At least that tends to be the way former pitcher Bob Milacki got things done throughout his career. Mr. Milacki has had some interesting highlights throughout his career and I'm sure he's having some of those moments still as he works for the Phillies Organization.

Milacki was taken in the 2nd round of the 1983 draft by the Orioles, and made his MLB debut in 1988 with Balitmore. It was with the Orioles he gained most of his career's shine by pitching in two memorable games. In his rookie year he led the American League with 36 games started and posted a 14-12 record with 3 Complete Games and 2 Shut Outs.

On April 23, 1989 Milacki posted a complete game shutout against the Minnesota Twins, but did so facing only the minimum 27 batters. He wasn't credited with a perfect game or no hitter as he gave up 3 hits and 2 walks, but he was able to escape trouble thanks to coaxing 4 key double plays. The game was not only his first Shut Out of the season, but was also his first win for the year.

Two years later while still an Oriole Milacki combined with Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson, and Gregg Olson to no hit the Oakland A's. Milacki had put up six scoreless frames with no hits, but had issued out 3 walks prior to being pulled by manager Johnny Oates.

Baltimore would be the highlight of Milacki's career as he left at the end of the 1992 season for Cleveland, Kansas City, Seattle, and a stint pitching in Japan. He would only make 22 starts in the 3 MLB seasons he played after leaving Baltimore, despite having 109 starts in his 5 years with the Orioles.  In 143 appearances, Milacki would post a 39-47 record with 8 Complete Games, 5 Shut Outs, 387 Strikeouts, and a 4.38 ERA.

Bob Milacki autographed this 1992 Score card mailed to him at the Double-A Reading Phillies facility. He responded to me after 54 Days.

RBI (31) An impulse pull...

A while ago I was out and about picking up some batteries for my reading light and of course the closest battery rack to the door is normally on the checkout aisles. Well next to the checkout aisles as you all know there are the card racks, and I couldn't resist wandering over to see what was there. I decided to have a little restraint and grabbed the last pack from the box.

I was pleased to see my first 2011 autograph from the Topps 60 inserts. I'm a little unsure about the signer though. Chris Tillman was the Mariners 2nd round pick in 2006, but was traded to the Orioles with a host of prospects for Erik Bedard. He's been ranked as the best pitching prospect in the Orioles organization and second best prospect only behind All Star catcher Matt Wieters.

The Anaheim native has had a bumpy Major League career and since 2009 has made 34 Major League starts. He shows flashes of potential but against big league hitters continues to be pummeled having a career 5.35 ERA not including a shelling by the Yankees today. He fails to get the strikeouts necessary to survive with runners on as he has been unable to coax the groundouts needed to escape the perils of the AL East. 

His time in the minors has been more successful as he threw a no-hitter against the Gwinnett Braves for the Norfolk Tides in 2010. He also finished as a 2010 International League ERA leader with the 4th best ERA a 3.34 with Norfolk. Despite his struggles so far with the Orioles it's likely they don't give up on their pitching prospect as a combination of Tillman and the still developing Brian Matusz can give a strong 1-2 punch to help pull the Orioles out of the AL East cellar in future seasons. As in the 2013 season when Tillman was named an All-star.

I pulled this Chrill Tillman autographed Topps 2011 Series 1 Topps 60 insert from a loose pack box.