Therion's All Time Astros Autograph Collection (1,004 Reached!! 25 To Go!)

[Therion]

Luis Garcia makes his debut and sets me back another.

 

[Therion]

I have reached a point where truly amazing updates are rare, but today I have a doozie of an update. One addition and three updates. I am going to start with the new one because the updates are all incredible.

Michael Brantley is now off of the list. I was pumped to see him get an official Astros autographs this year. Now if they could just talk Verlander and Greinke into it.

Ivan Murrell. This is an upgrade from an index card but the coolest part is that this is his only Astros card, he passed away quite a long time ago, and these rarely surface. One popped up for $29 and I hesitated. The next day eBay sent a $25 off coupon since I have been a member since 1998. $4? All day, every day.

Jordan Jankowski. Upgraded from a Minor League card. Both Guduan and Jankowski quickly disappeared from baseball. Guduan lasted another year after this card, so I had him on two copies already. Jankowski was out of baseball before this card released and started a real estate company. I gave it a shot and now have the only copy of this card I have seen signed by him (which will change) and it is signed by Guduan as well. I imagine finding this signed by both with be a set collector's nightmare in the future.

Bert Pena. Upgrade from a signed Minor League game program. Bert Pena disappeared for 35 years. He has long been one of those "will never be found" guys. An address popped up under his full name and I gave it a shot. While the rarity is about to nosedive because he has been found, this is one that I never thought I would see. This is also his only Astros card and, I believe, his only card in a Major League uniform.

 

[Dazed]

Great addition & updates! That Murrell auto is sweet.

 

[mrmopar]

I like that Murrell as well. I think I have a Cramer minor league card signed by Pena. When you say he was found, you mean he is going to do a signing "found"?

 

[Therion]

No, I mean that he now signs through the mail. Who knows if he will keep signing for long, but the window is open. If you need the addy, just drop me a PM.

 

[Therion]

Two upgrades and one new addition. My new addition offically puts me at 925 different Astros autographs!

First, the new addition.

Taylor Jones


Both upgrades were from private signings and are guys that never had cards made in an Astros uniform.

Rick Ankiel

Charlie Hayes

 

[mrmopar]

That Ankiel is great, but it looks like it's the popcorn guy's card. Very reminiscent of the 1973 Garvey, which looks more like a Wes Parker card. 1-2 seconds later and it might have been a great shot of Garvey after what appears to be a HR, but instead he is obscured by the much larger Parker.

 

[Therion]

I agree, but it is honestly the only memorable thing Ankiel ever did for the Astros!

 

[Therion]

One new pickup and one upgrade today.

Lum Harris, upgrade from an index card.

Enoli Paredes. This is new to my collection, but I will be looking to upgrade once he gets a card with a logo on it.

 

[Therion]

Three new additions and two upgrades this week, one of them is HUGE!

First, the new additions. Some of this year's newbies are starting to show up on cards, so hopefully that trend continues.

Cristian Javier

Jack Mayfield

Martin Maldonado

And two upgrades.

First, a tough on since he was with the Astros so briefly. Obtained in a private signing.

Sid Fernandez

And last, but not least, an incredibly rare auto to find on one of his cards especially since he died as an active player in 1975.

Don Wilson

 

[dano7]

Nice additions and congrats on the Wilson!

 

[Therion]

Two upgrades since my last update.

Marc Krauss

Cecil Upshaw

 

[Therion]

One new addition and several upgrades (including one that is SUPER rare) since my last update.

First, the new addition that puts me at 930 unique Astros autographs!

Dusty Baker. This will need to be upgraded later, but is a good placeholder for now.

Now the upgrades.

Yordan Alvarez upgrade. Someone offered me a stupid amount of money for my sticker auto'd card, so I took it and bought this one.

Mike Maddux from a private signing. Not rare, but he has no Astros cards.

Dave Mlicki. Got this one TTM and is an upgrade from a Minor League card.

Steve Pearce. Another from a private signing. Again, not particularly rare but he has no Astros cards.

Bob Stinson. I have only seen one other copy of his only card signed and it is also signed by Fenwick, who is equally hard to find. I am not rich, so that one cannot be mine. This one will make a great placeholder until I win the lottery.

 

[mrmopar]

Stinson doesn't seem to be a tough auto, but I have to say I don't remember that card. I wouldn't mind one myself.

 

[Therion]

Three upgrades down here in the new frozen tundra. The Landis is not particularly tough, but just never grabbed one. The other two have zero Astros cards, so my only option was customs. Both were done through Private Signings.

Jim Landis

Darren Oliver

Cody Ransom

 

[Therion]

Four upgrades since my last update, one of which illustrates my sickness.

Mike Barlow custom obtained TTM

Phillip Barzilla

German Rivera custom TTM with fee.

Dan Warthen custom TTM. This one illustrates my sickness. There are no pictures of Warthen in an Astros uniform. This card is his actual face, but the rest of the picture is actually Mark Lemongello who had a similar build and similarly crazy hair. This is the uniform Warthen would have worn as well, as they played in the same year. I wish I was better at Photoshop, but it's not horrible.

 

[mrmopar]

That is some good stuff! Bummer that so many players were missed in certain uniforms, simple because Topps couldn't possibly get everyone and in all various uniforms. I remember the Lemongello card in 1978 Topps (I knew them all by heart originally). He had quite a story after baseball. I think I tracked down his 78 T auto for my collection, but I don't remember now. It was my first set and would love to have a complete signed set some day. Have most of them, but have never actually tried to see who I am missing. I am pretty certain I don't have Messersmith and probably never will. I'm sure there are a few more toughies I missed.

 

[deaconblues63]

I can’t unsee the Dan Warthen. card. I wonder what he thought about it.


Sent from my iPhone using Freedom Card Board

 

[Pinbreaker]

Stinson doesn't seem to be a tough auto, but I have to say I don't remember that card. I wouldn't mind one myself.

I think most of Stinson's auto's were from when he was a Mariner.. Before he went to work at Boeing..

 

[Therion]

I can’t unsee the Dan Warthen. card. I wonder what he thought about it.


Sent from my iPhone using Freedom Card Board

Well, he didn't keep a copy for himself, so that might be an answer in itself lol