Player Collector Contest entry: Jonny Gomes

I live near AAA Durham, and thus watched Gomes play there from 2003-2008 (although more than half of that time was spent at Tampa). Gomes's style of play was agressive and all out, and it was clear that playing as hard as one can was what he considered both fun and important. At the same time, he was good, clutch and had his head in the game. He hit several tying, walk-off or otherwise crucial hits while at Durham, including this one, which I was there for:

http://dbulls.streamhammer.com/video_cl ... hi_res.wmv

Despite all his trips up and down from Durham to Tampa or the reverse, Gomes kept a clear head. When Piniella, who is said to have disliked Gomes, sent him down after doing well in April of 2005 (hit .304 with 2 HR in 23 AB), Gomes said that "the Rays were going to get sick of looking at his face on the Tropicana Field scoreboard when the top Minor League performers were shown." He then tore up Durham (.321, 14 HR), and forced Piniella to call him up again in June. (This gap probably cost Gomes Rookie of the Year, as he only had 348 AB.) In 2008 he was again sent down, and, while clearly frustrated, ripping down the "Welcome back Jonny" sign in the dugout, again did well, hitting something like .350 his first week back. Taken together, I quickly came to enjoy watching Gomes's hustle and determination. When I made the (bad) decision to collect baseball cards, it was easy to decide on whose cards to buy.


Collection Statistics:

Cards:
473/594 (80%)
395/403 (98%) without 1/1s
78/191 (41%) just 1/1s

Collection 2: 278/341 (82%) no 1/1s, obviously, and no oversize or extra-thick cards (in a binder).


Autographs:
89/104 (86%)
84/88 (95%) without 1/1s
About 300 total

Game Used (includes patches, as well as gu/auto cards):
35/37 (95%
32/32 (100%) without 1/1s
About 75 total
About 25 total patches



Game Used Items:

11 jerseys:
2001 Princeton Devil Rays home (first pro jersey)
2003 Tampa Bay Devil Rays road (MLB debut)
2004 Durham Bulls road
2004? Tampa Bay Devil Rays road
2004 Tampa Bay Devil Rays home vest
2008 Durham Bulls home (1 game charity auction, HR jersey)
2008 Durham Bulls BP/alternate (used in the occasional game)
2009 Louisville Bats home
2009 Louisville Bats road
2009 Louisville Bats alternate
2009 Louisville Bats BP

15 bats:
2002 SAM Bat (autographed)
2004 SAM Bat
2004 SAM Bat
2004 Rawlings
2004 XBat
2005 SAM Bat (autographed)
2005 SSK
2005 D-Bat (autographed with "game used rookie year")
2006 Phoenix
2006 MAX Bat
2007 MAX Bat
2008 MAX Bat
2008 SAM Bat (MLB holo, team sourced)
2009 MAX Bat
2009 MAX Bat

Other:
Game used fielding glove
Game used cleats (autographed with "game used rookie year")


Pictures:

Game used items:



2008 Durham Bulls BP/alternate (just bought last week):










Cards:


Game used:



















Autographs:











The 2006 Bowman Originals 2006 Bowman buyback autos of Gomes were supposed to be numbered out of 363. However, 278 and 279 were mistakenly numbered out of 366. I have not seen any others like them.
























Some uncertified autographs:












Rare photo from the 2003 AFL. It would have have to have been developed around the same time, because Gomes only used that signature during fall ball there.



Other goodies:














1/1s:
























Rookie cards:




These were handed out to season ticket holders at a game, supposedly, although I did not see anyone with one when I was there (not a season ticket holder, but went to that one). Seen only four on eBay, and I have two of them:




Finally, this collection would not be complete without Gnomes (note the text at the bottom):

Such nice stuff. Hoping he gets a nice deal somewhere this offseason.

mudflap02 said:

Such nice stuff. Hoping he gets a nice deal somewhere this offseason.

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I think he's got to get another contract, although it might be another 1 year deal. Great to see him hitting every day this seasons, though.


Have you seen this one? The one card that gets that extra 'h' in it...

WOW!!!

i was gonig to enter the contest but after seeing this collection why bother :lol:

Huffamaniac said:

WOW!!!

i was gonig to enter the contest but after seeing this collection why bother :lol:

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Thanks! I'd tell you to sign up anyways, but the last spot was just taken. Maybe next year? It's more for fun (and bragging rights) than to actually win the thing.

Awesome collection! That's a ridiculous amount of GU. You should show off all of the A&G autos.

dude. Thats ridiculous