Twins Autograph Collection

With returns from Carl Willis, Rich Robertson, Bobby Darwin, Camilo Pascual, Matt Walbeck,Frank Quilici, David West, and Chris Parmelee, my autographed baseball card collection of current and former Minnesota Twins continues to grow. I have 437 different players, and roughly 722 total signed cards.

7 of those cards were of Ben Revere, who was a great signer thru the mail. I was sure that I would soon have more signed Ben Revere cards than any other Twin (I have 10 signed Alexi Casilla cards). Then the Twins went out and traded Revere.

I like the pitchers (Alex Meyer, Vance Worley, and Trevor May) they got in return for Revere, and Denard Span - who had been traded earlier in the offseason. We need young, power arms to help solidify our starting pitching which has been the worst in baseball. I also like that Worley has a cool nickname “Vanimal” and that he has a history of signing cards through the mail (TTM)

I am sure Worley will be at Twinsfest along with candidates to replace Span / Revere in center field – Aaron Hicks, Joe Benson, and Darin Mastroianni. Hicks and Benson don’t sign through the mail, but I got both of the at fee minor league table the last couple of years. Mastroianni signed 4 cards for me at an appearance at the Twins Pro Shop in Roseville. Those cards look a fair bit different than the one he “supposedly” signed for me though the mail.

The signing of free agent pitchers Kevin Corriea, Rich Harden, and Mike Pelfrey (none of whom signs thru the mail) do not inspired me as they don’t have power arms. Hopefully the Twins can do more to improve the team for 2013; otherwise they should go into total rebuilding mode and trade Josh Willingham and Justin Morneau.

Christian Ponder

Something happened to me that is never happened to me before, and likely will not happen again. I was the first person in line at an autograph signing. It happened on 11/30 at a Schneiderman’s Furniture store where Vikings QB Christian Ponder was appearing.

I missed the previous signings he had done at the other Schneinderman’s locations, so I got there extra early – like 3 ½ hours early. Luckily, they let me sit in one of their recliners while I waited. Easily, the most comfortable autograph signing I have ever been at.

I Meet Ben Revere of the Minnesota Twins

I got to meet Ben Revere at an autograph signing held at AME Sports in Roseville, MN. Ben signed a banner (which you can see in the above picture) given to me as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago by my sister-in-law.

Ben seems like a really nice guy who is just happy to be able to live the life he is living. Twins fans love Ben because of his speed on the bases and in the outfield, and because he does seem to so warm and upbeat. Long term though I fear Ben won’t be a star. That is not to say he won’t be a solid player, but his lack of power and inability to walks limits his upside.

Ben wears the #11 which was last worn prominently by Jacque Jones. Jacque was a member of the 2002, 2003 & 2004 division champion teams and he hit 132 home runs in his 7 years with the Twins. Jacque also struck out over 700 times and posted an OPS + of only 100.

Like Ben, Jacque did some things well, and some things not so well which kept him from being a star. However, Jacque is still well thought of by Twins fans who remember his time here. Ben Revere time here could be viewed in roughly the same way – not a star, but as a contributor who helped the Twins to success.