Random Autograph Card: Carlos Corporan

My featured autograph card is Astros catcher Carlos Corporan. He had career game against hated New York Yankees going 4-5 with a homerun, 4 RBIs, and double just a triple shy of a cycle. A good defensive player while low on batting side he will surprise you, at times, with impressive game using his bat. You just don't know til it happens. One of Astros games I attended he went 2-3 with a RBI against San Francisco Giants. Astros shut out then-champions Giants 6-0 thanks part of his contribution along being behind the plate catching strikes from Wandy Rodriguez. This is second straight game he caught for starter Lucas Harrell and both games were quality starts. The guy has been down the road of majors and AAA ball and sitting on the bench being the no. 2 catcher. When given opportunity to start on the lineup he will scrap his way to produce a spark for the team. That's why he's one of my favorites in the game. Forget stats as long a player performs their hardest in the game in offense, defense, or both. The card got signed last year when he was at AAA club Oklahoma City.

Also obtain is his game-used jersey I picked up Astros game last year. Glad to find one. Go Astros!

Randon Autograph Card: Chris Davis

Week and half into the season Orioles' Chris Davis on rampaging tear. In 7 games he bashed 4 homeruns and driven in 17 runs while batting above .400 earning him AL player of the week.  This is nothing new as he been crushing homers since started in the minors. It was different story in the majors when he go for broke swinging at the fences, Rob Deer and Gorman Thomas style, but found himself leaving the batter box with a K. He was on the fringe with the label of "AAAA" hanging above his head being stuck between Rangers and their AAA club. Then came the trade at 2011 trade deadline. Rangers wanted reliever Koji Uehrara from the Orioles offering pitchers Tommy Hunter. Orioles willing complete trade if they send Davis as part of the package. Reluctantly, Rangers agreed and in a three-way deal involving Pirates Davis goes to Baltimore. It's what he needed. A fresh new start after four years crushing balls in Rangers organization, but fallen out of favor when Mitch Moreland took over his starting 1B spot. Now with Orioles he can shed away "AAAA" tag and be regular starter for down and out Orioles team. Orioles got more than they bargained. In his first full season with Orioles he broke with 33 homeruns and 85 runs batted in becoming a contributor to the team's surprise run of AL East crown and in the playoffs. Now in his second season with the team he's already off to fast start. Orioles won out big in the trade as they got a player with a heavy bat. Koji Uehrara never became a factor in the Rangers organization and left for free agency after end of last season.

I got this card signed in 2007 when he was playing for Rangers Double-A club. The fans who saw him crush balls at minor league parks expected big things from him. After so many jump starts and stalls he finally living it up.

Random Autograph Card: Rick Ankiel

First regular MLB game of 2013 season in the record books. Rick Ankiel, now playing for Houston Astros, made a good impression. In pinch-hit performance he hits first homerun of 2013 MLB season with a 3-run shot off Derek Lowe putting the game out of reach for Texas Rangers as Astros went up 7-2. Astros went on to win 8-2.
 
I got this card signed in 2005 when he was playing for St. Louis Cardinals Double-A affiliate. At the time he was making transition from pitcher to batter. Ten years in the league and still going.