Juan Aneuris Ciriaco

Juan was somehow signed by the Padres in 2003 and played his way through their system, advancing as far as AA San Antonio in 2006. He plays mostly the infield positions although he has played some in the outfield. After the '06 season he signed with the Giants and is playing at AAA Fresno this year. I got this card signed through the mail a couple of years ago, I am not too sure which way the autograph goes.

Angelo Dominic Cianfrocco

Archi really did not want to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he was drafted by them in both phases of the 1986 draft but did not sign with them. In 1987 he was drafted in the 5th round by the Expos, he played with Le Expos until they traded him to the Padres in 1993 for Tim Scott. He played with the Padres through 1998, he hit 27 homers and hit .241. During his time with the Padres he played at least one inning at each position except pitcher. After he was released by the Padres in November of 1998 he played for the Seibu Lions in Japan. During a game against the Reds Archi was facing off against Tom Browning, when Browning broke his arm while delivering the pitch.

I went and saw the Beavers play on Memorial Day and again yesterday. They were playing against the Memphis Redbirds, I don't remember who started for the Redbirds on Monday, but Mitchell Boggs did yesterday. Yesterday was a slugfest with both Allen Craig and Wil Venable hit two home runs each and several others players hitting home runs. The teams split the two games, but the worst day at the ball park is better than the best day at work.

Incoming Mail, Upper Deck and Topps 2, ebay pickup

I had heard that Upper Deck 2 and Topps 2 were out so this weekend I went hunting for them. I found Upper Deck 2 at the local card shop and bought 5 packs on Saturday and 5 on Sunday. A bit of difference in what ratio of inserts I got. Sunday I went to Target and got 5 packs of Topps 2 and got some nice inserts there also. I got mail from Roll Out the Barrel, Cards on Cards and Night Owl Cards this weekend also. These are the inserts that I got from the first five packs of Upper Deck Series 2 that I bought at Baseball Cards and More. They were the last five packs in the box. The owner said that I bought the most packs out of the box and he didn't know what any one else had gotten out of the box. I am willing to trade any for any of these except the Pirates and Peavy Cards. Dinged Corners has the right of first refusal on the USA cards. Then I went to Target and bought some packs of Topps 2. I got some good base cards for my Padres out of these packs, but GCRL or Night Owl would really have liked these five packs. I am keeping the Mel Ott card, but the others are available. I am keeping Mel Ott, because he is one of the first ballplayers I ever remember reading about and I really liked him for a long time. I then went back to Baseball Cards and More and bought 5 more packs of Upper Deck 2. I didn't do as well on the second batch of Upper Deck 2 packs and even got a duplicate autograph of Mike Leake on the National Team. The Jr. is already spoken for but the rest of the cards are available to trade. Night Owl spent me some cool stamps and stickers among the cards he sent me, he helped me make some progress on my starting lineups. I am trying to compile the opening day starting lineups for every season since 1969. Roll Out the Barrel and Cards on Cards both sent packages this weekend and these are some of the cards they sent. The Mini Bip card is very fun, Geroge Kottaras was supposed the future behind the plate, but I think he is now Tim Wakefields catcher, you can never have too many Gwynn masterpiece cards and I got one of the airbrushed disappearing Bowman rookies. Finally I picked up this from the 2009 Bowman off of eBay for $5.60 including S&H, but I can't get the Logan Forsythe from the same set for under about $12-$15. I will keep looking. I am going to the Portland Beavers vs Memphis Redbirds game this afternoon, I am planning on being in section 215. I will be wearing a Hawaiian shirt (it's all I wear, my wife makes 'em for me) and a Padres cap.

Floyd John Chiffer

Mr. Chiffer is a year and a half older than I am and before I even thought about what I was going to do for a career, he was finishing his baseball career. He was drafted by three different teams, but only signed with the Padres in 1978 after being drafted in the 5th round. He pitched for the Padres from 82-84 before he was traded to the Twins for Ray Smith. He was 5-5, through 130 innings in 81 games with a 4.02 ERA. After he was traded to the Twins he played for 3 more years in the Twins, Expos and Braves organizations but never made it back to the majors. When he was traded for Ray Smith, Smith had played 3 years for the Twins, played for 2 years in the minors but never made it back to the majors either. Strange how Chiffer and Smiths' careers paralleled each other. I need to find a card of Smith, he played at the University of Oregon.

TTM Success and What I will be doing on my summer vacation

After several attempts through the mail I have gotten one of the signatures I have been pursuing for awhile Zach over at autographed cards got a card signed quickly during Spring Training so he urged me to send my card out. I did and I got it back in just 9 days. I already have every one else on the card signed on other cards.

I am taking a week off in July so I can work at the AAA All Star Game. It is being held here this year. I had my interview yesterday and I report for orientation on July 9 at 6 PM. Fan Fest will be on Saturday, July 11 at PGE Park, Monday, July 13 will be the Home Run Derby and Wednesday, July 15 will be the game at PGE Park. I am really looking forward to this, it will be one the highlights of the year.

Travis Cole Chick

Travis was drafted by the Marlins in the 14th round of the 2002 draft. He was traded to the Padres on July 31, 2004 for Ismael Valdez. On July 23, 2005 he was traded with Justin Germano to the Reds for Joe Randa. On July 6, 2006 he was traded to the Mariners for Eddie Guardado and cash. The Mariners called him up on September 13, 2006 and he pitched in three games before being sent back down to the minors. He was granted free agency after the 2008 season and signed with the Dodgers, he is pitching this year at Chattanooga. I got the autograph through the mail.

Robert Michael Champion

Mike Champion played three season in the majors, all for the Padres. She was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1973 amateur draft. He was 18 years old, he is just two years older than I am and his major league career was over before I finished my 4 year enlistment in the US Navy. He played from 1976-1978 in San Diego, playing in 193 games, 150 of them in 1976. He hit .229 with 2 HR over those three years. In 1979 he was traded to the Indians as the player to be named later. He played in the minors in 1979 and 1980 for the Indians in the minor leagues. I got the card from ebay.

TTM Success

I found one of the Bowman disappearing rookies. I was poking around, now I can't remember the website, looking for addresses of some of the guys I needed. There was an address for Sean Watkins that last had success in 2002, so I mailed off this 1996 Bowman card on the 4th of May and received it back today. I asked Sean what he was doing now and he said he spends his time watching his sons play and is an assistant coach at Peoria Notre Dame High School and is really into fitness.

Andújar Cedeño Donastorg or Andujar (Donastorg) Cedeno

Andujar Cedeno was signed by the Astros in 1986 as an amateur free agent. In 1992 he hit for the cycle while playing for the Astros. In 1994 he was part of a huge twelve player deal between the Padres and the Astros. He played in 49 games for the Padres hitting 3 home runs and hitting .234. In 1996 he was traded to the Tigers for John Flaherty and Chris Gomez. In September of 1996 he was traded to the Astros as part of a conditional deal. He played his final major league game in 1996. Then it sounds like he returned to the Domician Republic and may have been playing there. In 2000 after a game between the Tigres de Licey & the Azucareros del Este in Santo Domingo the car he was driving was hit head on by a truck and he was killed. He was 31 years old.

Bernabel Castro

Bernie was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent by the Yankees in 1997. In December of 2001 he was traded to the Padres for Kevin Reese. He played in Portland in 2003 and 2004, and if I remember correctly was a big fan favorite. I got this signed while he was in Portland. In 2004 he signed a free agent contract with the O's for the '05 season where he played in 24 games for the Orioles, he signed a free agent contract with the Nationals for the 2006 season. He played in 42 games for DC and then signed a free agent contract with the Yankees after playing at AAA for the Nationals in 2007. 2008 he played at AAA for Scranton Wilkes Barre. I couldn't find anything about him playing anywhere this year.

beer, cheese and cards

Phil, my favorite soon to be Navy veteran sent me some padres cards in return for some cards of the Brew crew that I sent him. I have chosen to highlight 5 of the cards. Thanks for all the cards Phil. Another player who stopped by on his way to the Hall of Fame, there are several players with Padres connections in the Hall. Maybe that will be a contest question in the future. I was almost as excited this spring to hear that the Professor was helping at Padres spring training with the pitchers. These three guys are three of the nicest guys that I have ever met at a ball game or in the game.

Dan Walters I met when he was playing with Las Vegas, (when they were the Padres AAA club) he talked to several of us for a while. He suffered a spinal injury while playing that caused him to retire. After he recovered from that he became a San Diego policeman and was paralyzed from the neck down, when responding to a domestic disturbance he was shot in the neck and then struck by a car. That was in 2003 and he is still paralyzed, the last time I sent him something to sign, (before I knew the story) I received a note from his Mom telling me of his injury.

Bip Roberts I also met when he played for the Stars. He was a genuine nice guy and would often talk with us before and after games. He signed a page out of a Padres yearbook for me with a real nice inscription that I didn't request. He is now the baseball coach at his Alma mater, Skyline High School and also working as a broadcaster for the Giants. He travels with the Giants when the high school isn't playing.

Tim Flannery is two weeks younger than I am and one year I sent him a book about surfing for his birthday and we have exchanged cards and gifts a couple of times. We met at Safeco Field when the Padres played there the year it opened. He has gotten my family tickets a couple of time for Padres-Mariners games. He has also become of my favorite singers, he has recorded a bunch of CD's with a bluegrass, Celtic feel. He has even toured Ireland and played with Garth Brooks and Jimmy Buffett. Lastly, any card that can pair up Jake Peavy and Bob Gibson can't be all bad. Although looking at the card in person the Gibson photo is very much clearer than the Peavy. Amazing that the 40 year picture is clearer. Thanks again, Phil

Vinicio (Soria) Castilla

Vinny started and ended his baseball career as a player in the Mexican League, now he is managing in the Mexican League and has been the manager for Mexico in the last two World Baseball Classics.

Vinny was purchased by the Braves from Saltillo of the Mexican League in 1990 and made his major league debut on September 1, 1991. In November of 1992 he was drafted by the Rockies in the Expansion Draft. He played there for seven years, going to the All Star Game twice. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 1999 for Aaron Ledesma and Rolando Arrojo. In May of 2001 he signed as a free agent with the Astros, in December of 2001 free agent with the Braves, then in December of 2003 he signed with the Rockies, November of 2004 with the Nationals, and in November of 2005 he was traded to the Padres for Brian Lawrence and cash. He played in 72 games in 2006, hitting 5HR and batting .229, before the Padres released him. In August 2004 he signed as a free agent with the Rockies, where he finished his major league career. I got the angrily signed (in my opinon) off of ebay.

Scott Robert Cassidy

Scott Cassidy was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as an amateur free agent in 1998. He made it to the majors in 2002 when he pitched in 66 innings in 58 games, no saves, and a 1-4 record, so I would guess he time as a middle reliever and maybe a spot starter. He spent the next two seasons in the minor leagues before he was sent to the Red Sox as part of a conditional deal. The BoSox released him and he signed as a free agent with them before the 2005 season. During the 05 season he was traded to the Padres for Adam Hydzu. While with the Padres he went 7-3 over 53.3 innings in 53 games. He was often used as a set up man for Trevor Hoffman. He played in Portland in 2007, in December of 2007 he signed a free agent contract with the Brewers but voluntarily retired on March 2, 2008. I got the card signed through the mail while he was in Portland.

Thanks to all of you who sent best wishes while I was down. I went to the Doctor on Thursday and he gave me colchicine to beat the gout and vicodin for the pain. I knew I was OK this morning when a nurse friend at church asked how much pain I felt and I said a 1. We decided I had been to the doctor enough, but she knew how I was feeling. I am better and walking a little slower.

Joseph Buren Cassel

Jack Cassel is one of the cofounders of weplaygreen.org an organization that provides tips on going green and uses athletes to promote enviromentalism. Jacks' brother Matt of the KC Chiefs and brother Justin, a minor league baseball are also part of the organization. He was drafted by the Padres in the 25th round of the 2000 draft. He worked his way up through the Padres organization getting all the way to Portland and making his major league debut August 10, 2007. He was released after the 06 season and signed with the Padres as a free agent, after the 07 season he signed as a free agent with the Astros, and after the 2008 season he signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians. I got the signed card through ebay.