My Yankee autograph project ... #70-74

[Matsuicollector]

As some of you may know, I have a project to obtain 1 pack-pulled certified autograph of every player to be pictured or denoted as a Yankee or Yankee minor league affiliate. I've greatly enjoyed seeing Danny's pickups in his thread, so I thought I would make one similar for my project and hopefully you guys will enjoy it just the same.

I figure I'll post when I can with new pickups, as well as go through my current collection alphabetically. So, let's start out with something that just came in the mail!



What makes this such a big pick-up is that this is one of only 4 Yankee-uni Granderson solo autographs currently out there. There were 3 of these produced, with a Ruby 1/1 parallel. I don't think there is another player with as high a profile as granderson that has <10 total yankee uni autographs. Apparently there are slated to be 10 more Granderson autos from 2012 Topps museum, but I can't find any evidence that they were produced and distributed yet or will be anytime soon. While Granderson never won a WS with the Yankees he will be remembered for his power (and strikeouts ) and a great season in 2011 where he batted .262, with 41 HRs, 119 RBIs, 136 Runs.

With the addition of Granderson, there are now only 3 more "vets" autos that I need:

Mickey Mantle
Bob Watson (04 Topps Originals)
Hiroki Kuroda

Here is the list of "prospects" I still need from recent years and past minor league sets (i.e. Tristar, Elite, Metal, etc.)
Abiatal Avelino
Addison Maruszak
Angel Reyes
Angelo Gumbs
Austin DeCarr
Brett Marshall (looking for 08 Razor letterman)
Chase Whitley
Chris Smith (looking for 08 Razor letterman)
Claudio Custodio
Corey Black
Dean Anna
Dietrich Enns
DJ Mitchell (looking for 08 Razor letterman)
Fred Lewis
Gosuke Katoh
Jacob Lindgren
Jeremy bleich (looking for 08 Razor letterman)
Jonathan Hovis
Jose Pirela
Jose Ramirez
Katsuhiro Maeda (97 UD SP prospects)
Kendall Coleman
Leonardo Molina
Luis De Los Santos
Luis Severino
Marcos Vechionacci
Miguel Andujar
Nick Goody
Omar Luis Rodriguez
Phil Wetherall
Preston Caiborne
Tyler Webb
Yangervis Solarte
Zolio Almonte

 

[MrMet]

I have a Kuo, and a Custodio redemption in the works, both from Topps Pro Debut

 

[dano7]

Very nice Granderson and a great project to be working on. I didn't have anything that would help you. I had a couple of Razor cards, but not the Lettermen.
DANNY

 

[Matsuicollector]

Very nice Granderson and a great project to be working on. I didn't have anything that would help you. I had a couple of Razor cards, but not the Lettermen.
DANNY

No problem. Thanks for the thought though. With the Razor cards I decided to go for the lettermans because they have "New York AL" written on the cards, lol.

 

[Matsuicollector]

Here's the first autograph by alphabet:

#2 Aaron Boone



Aaron Boone only played ~1/3 of a season with the Yankees but will forever be remembered for his 11th inning Walk-Off HR against the Red Sox in game 7 of the 03 ALCS. This is Boone's only Yankee uni auto, and thus still sells for way more than any base Aaron Boone auto should lol. Also of note, it was Boone's injury after that 2003 season that was the catalyst for the Yankees obtaining Alex Rodriguez.

 

[Matsuicollector]

Up next: #3 Abraham Almonte



Almonte was signed by the Yankees from the DR. He was traded to the Mariners for reliever Shawn Kelley. While he never got the call with the Yankees, mostly due to injuries and off the field issues, he now has the opportunity to make the Mariners opening day roster.

 

[Matsuicollector]

Got behind a day so here's two more:

#4 Adam Roller



Roller was drafted by the Red Sox in the 33rd round in 96. He then came to the Yankees organization in 99. In 01 he put up a 1.15 ERA and was looking like he could be a promising late inning reliever. He has a couple up and down years after that and at the end of 03 he was signed by the Phillies but never played with them due to injury. This is Rollers' only Yankee uni auto

#5 Adam Warren



Warren was drafted in the 4th round by the Yankees in 09. Last season he posted a 3.39 ERA pitching out of the bullpen and could have a similar relief role again this year. He is also a candidate to start in case of injury.

 

[Matsuicollector]

#6 Adrian Hernandez



Everyone know El Duque, but here's El Duquecito, his second cousin. He was signed by the Yankees as a FA from Cuba in 2000 and made a few apperances for the Yankees in 01. However, he was never able to stick around in the big leagues and then began to struggle mightily in both the majors and minors in 02 and in 03 after being singed by the Brewers.

 

[Matsuicollector]

#7 Alberto Gonzalez



Gonzalez was signed by the Dbacks in 02 and was traded to the Yankees in 07 in a deal for Randy Johnson. He made it up for the big leagues for a brief time at the end of the 07 season. He had a second stint with the Yankees in 13, being traded from the Cubs for cash considerations. He was able to make a contribution when Eduardo Nunez went down with an injury. He currently singed a minor league with the Padres

 

[Lancemountain]

cool thread! love the writeups

 

[Matsuicollector]

cool thread! love the writeups

Thanks! I thought it would be fun to put a blurb about the players as I list them, especially some of the more obscure guys.

Up next is #8 Al Downing



Al Downing made is major league debut with the Yankees in 61. He spent 8 more years with the Yankees, becoming a 1x All-Star and never posting an ERA greater than 3.56. He was traded to the Oakland A's in 1970 and had a relatively poor season between the A's and Brewers that season. In 71 he was picked up by the Dodgers and earned Comeback Players of the Year, going 20-9 with a 2.68 ERA. He finished his career with the Dodgers, with a career W/L record of 123-107 and a 3.22 ERA. Also of note, Downing surrendered Hank Aaron's record breaking 715th home run on April 8, 1974

 

[MrMet]

Thanks! I thought it would be fun to put a blurb about the players as I list them, especially some of the more obscure guys.

Up next is Al Downing



Al Downing made is major league debut with the Yankees in 61. He spent 8 more years with the Yankees, becoming a 1x All-Star and never posting an ERA greater than 3.56. He was traded to the Oakland A's in 1970 and had a relatively poor season between the A's and Brewers that season. In 71 he was picked up by the Dodgers and earned Comeback Players of the Year, going 20-9 with a 2.68 ERA. He finished his career with the Dodgers, with a career W/L record of 123-107 and a 3.22 ERA

You skipped one important fact about Downing...

 

[Matsuicollector]

You skipped one important fact about Downing...

Broadcaster?

 

[MrMet]

Downing surrendered Hank Aaron's record breaking 715th home run on April 8, 1974.

 

[Matsuicollector]

Downing surrendered Hank Aaron's record breaking 715th home run on April 8, 1974.

Doh! I was actually going to put that in my description too. Thought I already had. Thanks.


Up next is #9 Alex Rodriguez



These aren't Yankee uni but they are a part of my PC so I thought I'd include them also


I don't think A-rod needs any introduction

 

[Matsuicollector]

Next up is #10 Alfonso Soriano



Soriano was signed bt the Yankees in 1998. He played in NY for five seasons before being traded to Texas in the Alex Rodriguez deal. While playing for NY Soriano was a very productive 2nd baseman. In 03 and 03 he put up 30+HRs & 30+steals. In 2002, he also led the AL in hits, extra base hits, stolen bases, and runs. In 03, Soriano set the record for most home runs to lead off a game in a season with 13. This past season he rejoined the Yankees in a trade with the cubs for minor league pitcher Corey Black, and went on an absolute tear at times during the remainder of the season. In one 4 game stretch from Aug 13-18 he went 13-18, with 5 HR, 18 RBI and 9 Runs scored. In the final 58 games of the season, he .256 with 17 home runs and 50 RBI. All Yankee fans are hoping for a repeat of what we saw last year.

 

[Matsuicollector]

Next two up:

#11 Alex Graman (skipped him earlier)



The Yankees drafted Graman in the 3rd round of the 99 draft. He advanced through the minors and made brief appearances with the Yankees in 04 and 05, pitching poorly on both occasions. He finished up the 05 year with the Reds organization. His minor league career record was 64-56 with a 3.73 ERA. In 06 he went over to Japan to play for the Seibu Lions. He was converted froma starter to a closer in the middle of the 07 season. In 08 he had his best season going 3-3 with a 1.42 ERA and 31 saves. He pitched the final 2 innings of the Japan Series, helping his team to win the title.

#12 Al Gettel



Gettel was signed in 36 by the yankees and finally got the call to the big leagues in 45 and stuck around with NY through the 46 season where he went 6-7 with a 2.97 ERA. He then bounced around the league until retiring after the 95 season. Gettel appeared in a few Westerns during his playing days and once rode out on a horse onto the field (minor league game) in Western attire, earning the knickname "Two Gun"

 

[PadresFan86]

Very interesting, I love the details of each player.

 

[Matsuicollector]

Very interesting, I love the details of each player.

Thanks!

Next one is #13 Al Leiter



Leiter was draft by the Yankees in the second round of the 84 draft. He played sparingly with the Yankees in 87, 88 & 89, never pitching particularly well with a cumulative ERA of 4.98 over that span. He was traded during the 89 season for outfielder Jesse Barfield. He was a WS winner with the Jays in 93, picking up a relief win in game 1 of that series. In 96 Leiter signed with the Marlins as a free agent. He went 15-12 with a 2.93 ERA that season, earning his first trip to the all star game. He won his second WS with the Marlins in 97. In 98 he would join the Mets and enjoy his best season going 17-6 with a 2.47 ERA. He garnered one more all-star appearance in 2000, where he helped the Mets reach the WS, but would subsequently lose to the Yankees. In 05 he rejoined the Yankees for what would be his final season. He worked out of the bullpen in the playoffs, earning a relief win. However the Yankees would lose the series to the Angels 3-2. This is Leiter's only Yankee uni auto, and is somewhat hard to find.

 

[Matsuicollector]

#14 Anderson Feliz



The Yankees signed Feliz out of the Dominican Republic and he played his first professional games as a 17 year old in 09. He has had some injury issues over the past couple season but has shown the ability to swing a good bat at times. He is still only 21 and will hopefully remain healthy and continue up the minor league ladder.