Padrographs five at a time

I have decided that unless I have a really good story about the card or the player deserves an individual post I will be posting 5 cards at a time. Nathanial Martin Culp was drafted in the 4th round of the 2006 draft and has worked his way up to AA San Antonio this year. That said I would expect to see him in San Diego sometime this year. I got the card signed through the mail. Jose Luis Cruz was the third pick in the 1995 draft by the Mariners since then he has played for several teams. He played 91 games for the Padres in 2007, hitting .234 before going to the Astros, where his father is a coach. He played for 12 seasons earning a Gold Glove in 2003 while playing for the Giants. I got this card back in the mail just a day after I bought one on eBay.

Luis Alfonso (Bojorquez) Cruz was signed as a amateur free agent by the Red Sox in 2000. The BoSox traded him to the Padres for Cesar Crespo in 2002. He was granted free agency after 5 years in the Padres organization and signed at the end of the 2007 seasons and signed a free agent contract with the Pirates. A September call up in 2008 he has been playing SS and 2B for the Pirates since.
Deivi (Garcia) Cruz was signed as an amateur free agent by the Giants in 1993. He made his major league debut in 1997 with the Tigers. After 5 years with the Tigers he signed with the Padres before the 2002 season. He played in all but 11 games in 2002 with the Padres at SS, 1B and pinch hitting. He played three more seasons in the majors. I believe I got the card signed through the mail. Cesar Antonio Crespo has a World Series ring, having only played three seasons in the major leagues. He was drafted by the Mets in the 1997 draft, and then traded to the Marlins in 1998, then in 2001 the Marlins traded him to the Padres with Mark Kotsay. After playing parts of the '01 and '02 seasons with the Padres he was traded to the Red Sox for Luis Cruz (see above). While with the Padres he played in 80 games playing every outfield position, 2B, SS and 3B. He won a World Series ring with the Red Sox in 2004 playing in 52 games and not getting on the field at all during the Series. He played in the minors through 2007. I don't remember how I got the card signed.

More Padrographs for your enjoyment

I have been off my feet since Monday and went to the doctors today and he took 120 cc of fluid off my knee. Feel a little better. Hard to sit at the computer. Thanks to Night Owl and the others who sent packages this week, someone cleaned up around me and threw away the package wrappers, and I don't remember who the package was from. Now here are 5 more Padrographs for your enjoyment. Michael Patrick Corkins was originally signed by the Giants, and then chosen by the Padres in the expansion draft. He played in 158 games going 19-28 in his six seasons in the majors all with the Padres. He may best be remembered for giving up Willie Mays 600th Home Run on September 22, 1969. Roger Lee Craig played 12 seasons in the major leagues, mostly for Brooklyn and Los Angeles. I remember him best as the manager of the Giants, but he managed the Padres for 323 games going 152-171 during the 1978 and 1979 seasons. The card is from a 1977 schedule set issued by the Padres, when he was a coach. John Reilly Costello has a 1.000% won loss percentage during his year with the Padres, his record was 1-0, although as a relief pitcher he appeared in 27 games. I got this signed through the mail about a year ago, I guess some players signatures are just too big for the card. Patrick Corrales played in 1972 and 1973 for the Padres and 1974 and 1975 in the minors for the Padres, so this would be a final tribute card to someone who has managed several teams and is now the bench coach for the Nationals since Manny Acta was fired. Callix Sadeaq Crabbe has 21 major league games to his credit, he was a rule 5 draftee from the Brewers whom the Padres returned. He became a minor league free agent after the 2008 seasons and signed with the Mariners and is playing at AAA Tacoma this year.

Quick catch up

Joey Manuel Cora Amaro played in 140 games over three seasons with the Padres between 1987-1989. He is currently the bench coach for the White Sox and many people think he will eventually be a major league manager. I got the card signed when Las Vegas played in Portland.

Aaron James Coonrod was drafted by the Padres in 2002, played in their minor league through 2004, never getting higher than advanced A. He finished his career in 2005 with the Burlington Expos. I got this off of eBay, because I must have sent it out 4 or 5 times and never got it back.

Craig Michael Cooper was drafted in 2006 and has worked his way up to playing 1st base for the San Antonio Missions at AA. I got this through the mail cause Craig signed with the green Sharpie that I sent him.
Daniel Bernard Combs was 11-20 over two years with the Padres after being with the .45s' and Astros for 7 years. 1971 was his last year in the majors. I got this card off of eBay.

Scott Robert Coolbaugh was part of the Padres organization for two years but only played in 60 games at the major league level for the Padres. I don't remember how I got this card signed.

Keith Martin Comstock

Keith Comstock was in the Padres organization for just a couple of years in the late 80's pitching in just 44 games, finishing none and having an ERA over 5 before he was released. I got this signed when he was here with the Las Vegas Stars. I remember that he would not sign his 1988 Topps white letter variation card, because he said we were trying to make the card more valuable, sorry Keith it is still a nickel card. One of Keiths' more memorable cards was a minor league card showing him getting hit in the groin with a ball. He said they taped the ball there and then he made the reaction. He is currently the pitching rehab coordinator for the Texas Rangers.

Dinged Corners, Cards on Cards and books to read

Earlier this week, before I went down with another bout of gout, I got a great mail day. There were gems from the crew at Dinged Corners and from Kerry at Cards on Cards.

I choose a few cards from each shipment to highlight. The ladies at Dinged Corners sent several great bundles of Padres. Marcus Giles looks excited to be playing alongside his brother, too long that didn't last too long. Evereth Cabrera had a great night last night almost single handily defeating the Doggers. One of my friends got his autograph for me while he was here on a rehab assignment. Chip Ambres are you one of those guys who waits for the off season to answer your mail. I sent you this card in spring training and you still have it. Andy Ashby fishing, one of my favorite cards and one that should end up on Baseball Cards come to Life. Greg Maddux on a Future Stars card? By the time he was with the Padres he was a lock for the hall of fame. What was UD thinking? Joey Cora was one of the nicest people I met, I remember giving him and some other players a ride to their hotel. Jake you forgot to sign one of your cards. I have a picture of my oldest son in almost that same uniform at about the same age. Patricia and the girls sent me their books recommendations as did Kerry. I have never read any of the books the Dinged Corner crew recommended. I will be putting the books on hold at the library as soon as I can. I read Kerrys' recommendation a couple of years ago, not a big fan of the book.

Kerry also sent some great Padres cards. Tony Gwynn sporting the airbrushed logo less uniform. Reminds me of the Pro Track meet I once worked at, each event was sponsored by a corporation. Jim Ryun and Kip Keino ran in the Post Cereal 1500 meter run, each sporting a post cereal logo on their singlet. Any time Tony smiled made for a great card. Mickey Lolichs' parents used to come in each time he was coming back to Portland to buy a dozen official balls for him to sign while he was there. One time they brought him in with them and we got some stuff signed (they let us know they were bringing him) and this was one of the things I got signed.

Thanks for the great cards and the book recommendations.

Baseball in Fort Wayne

Baseball in Fort Wayne by Chad Gramling; 2007; 127 pages; Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, SC; 0-7385-4129-X; 6/27/09-6/28/09

This is one of a series called Images of Baseball, I reviewed a while back, Baseball in Portland. Chad Gramling who also writes the Baseball in Fort Wayne blog does an awesome job of chronicling baseball in Fort Wayne, IN in all it's different forms. The Kekiongas were the first team, so named for the Natives Americans that used to live in the area. He effectively uses pictures taken over time to work with the text to chronicle the changes in baseball in Fort Wayne. There seems to have always been baseball in some form in Fort Wayne since prior to the Civil War. One of the most well known teams in Fort Wayne were the Daisies of the All American Girls Baseball League, which was immortalized in the movie A League of their Own. I started following baseball in Fort Wayne when the Wizards became a farm club of the Padres, they have since changed their name to the Tincaps, but are still a Padres farm club, so it is a good place to find information on the Padres up and comers. RRR

The 33 Year Old Rookie

The 33 Year Old Rookie, How I Finally Made it to the Big Leagues After 11 years in the minors by Chris Coste; Foreword by John Kruk; 2008; 199 pages; Ballantine Books, New York, NY; 6/25/09-6/27/09

Chris Coste (pronounced Coast) finally caught his dream. That was to make it to the major leagues, he chronicles the journey that led him to be a World Series Champion in 2008. Any book that chronicles the brave knights journey to achieve or find requires a few things, a sidekick, a villian, a cast of supporting characters of all shapes and sizes. Coste had all of those things as he made his way to the greatest show on dirt. His Mom, Wife and Daughter fill the roles of Queen Mother, Queen and Princess as he strives towards his Holy Grail. He journeys through a country of Junior Colleges, Independent Leagues, Minor League Affiliates of several teams. His junior college coach, Smith, fills the role of villian who attempts to convince the knight that he is not worthy to wear the armor. His fellow knights are the ballplayers that he meets during his journey constantly encouraging him. The Wizards Simmy and Charlie Manuel guide him towards the Grail and then enable him to become a member of the round table. Then in 2008 he and his fellow knights were awarded the Grail after slaying the Rays. Coste writes well and communicates the emotions he felt at various stops along his journey. His wife Marcia has to be one of the most understanding and supportive women in the history of the world. I hope that Marcia and Chris are buying Casey all the toys they promised her she could have when Daddy made it to the big leagues. RRRR