New this week and an upcoming contest.

 Two New this week.  Henry Williams and Kevin Kopps. From 2021 and 2022 Bowman Chrome and both certified by Topps as authentic signatures.  Williams was drafted in the 3rd round by the Padres.  He was traded to the Royals in August of 2023 for Scott Barlow.  Kopps was drafted in the 3rd round and played in the Padres organization until earlier this year. He is currently playing in Mexico.  

Contest starting tomorrow:  Each month I will pick a player to be the prize winner. If that players padrograph number is picked the person who picked the number will win an $20 eBay gift certificate.  

Please pick numbers between 2 and 1385.  The more numbers you select the better your odds are.  No batches please just individual numbers.  

Derek picks #824

The Player: Sid Monge

The Card: 1983 Topps #74 Traded

How I got the Auto: I purchased the signed card from a seller on Ebay.

About the player: Sid was born in Mexico and moved to Brawley, California when he was sixteen.  He was drafted by the Angels in 1970.  He made his major league debut in 1975 with the Angels. He was traded to Cleveland in 1977.  He was named to the All Star Game in 1979.  In 1982 he was traded to the Phillies for Bake McBride.  In 1983 he was traded to the Padres for Joe Lefebrve.  In 1984 he was purchased from the Padres by the Tigers.  After his playing career he was a pitching coaches in MLB and the Mexican League.  In 2004 he was named to the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame.

Fun Fact: On July 19, 1982 Tony Gwynn got his first MLB hit off of Sid who was pitching for the Phillies at the time.

Between: Kevin Mitchell and Willy Montanez

Up Next:  Night Owl picks #449

 

Ohio Tim picks #999 and a contest announcement

The Player: Eric Rasmussen

The Card: 1981 Fleer #497

How I Got the Auto: Through the mail

About the Player:  He was half of a duo named "Wild Pitch" with Padres pitcher John D'Acquisto, who taught Rasmussen how to play guitar.  He was drafted by the Cardinals in 1973 and made his major league debut in 1975 for the Cards.  In 1978 he was traded to the Padres for George Hendricks.  He played for San Diego from 1978-1980. He then played in Mexico for two years before returning to St Louis, he finished his playing career for the Royals in 1983. He has been a minor league pitching coach for years and played for the Sun Sox in the Professional League in 1989-1990. After the 2008 season he was promoted to the Twins Minor League pitching coordinator, a position he still holds.

Between: Dennis Rasmussen and Colin Rea

Up Next: Derek picks #824

Contest Announcement:  Each month I will pick a Padrograph player and if anyone picks his number during the month, they will recieve a $20 eBay gift card.  The contest for August will begin next Monday, August 10.  

 

Ohio Tim picks #613

The Player: Chris Jones

The Card: 1997 Mothers Cookies #20

How I Got the auto: I sent it to him and he signed and returned it.

About the Player: He was drafted by the Reds in 1984 and made his major debut with them in 1991.  During his career he played with both the Rockies and Diamondbacks in their inagural years.  He also played for the Astros, Mets, Giants and Brewers.  He played for the Padres in 1997 appearing in 92 games. He had signed with the Padres as a free agent and did so in again in 1999 and 2000 but did not stick with the team in those instances.  

Between: Bobby M. Jones and Deacon Jones

Up Next: Ohio Tim picks #999

 

New This Week

I picked up three new cards this week.  I was looking for two of them and stumbled across one.  I stumbled across the Michael Salina, which prompted a search for Padres draft picks signed.  I found three more which should all be in the next week.  Salina is currently playing in the Arizona Complex League, he was drafted just last year.

Nelson Cruz played for the Padres in 2023, the card is from 2024 Museum Collection.  Would have been nice if the picture matched the relic.  Kruz Schoolcraft went to high school here in Portland.  He is 19 years and in his second season at A Lake Elsinore.

 

Saturday Hat Giveaway

 This Saturdays' hat has been worn twice since I got it just over a year ago.  I was enamored with it when I ordered it, but I just haven't worn it enough to justify keeping it.  Comment if you want to wear or to gift to someone. More than one comment and the comments will be randomized.  

Ohio Tim picks #1119

 The Player: Andy Sheets

The Card: 1998 Mothers' Cookies, #17

How I got it: TTM

About the Player:  Sheets played for the Padres in 1998 appearing in 88 games.  He played in the majors from 1996-2002 for the Padres, Mariners, Angels, Red Sox and Devil Rays.  He played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp from 2003-2004 and the Hanshin Tigers from 2005-2007.  

Between: Dick Sharon and Gavin Sheets

Up Next: Ohio Tim picks #613

Ohio Tim picks #1276

 The Player: John Vander Wal

The Card: 1999 Keebler #17

How I got it:  TTM

About the Player: Vander Wal played the outfield and first base for eight teams from 1991-2004.  He played for the Padres in 1998 and 1999.  He also played for the Expos, Rockies, Giants, Pirates, Yankees, Brewers and Reds.  He was a scout for the Padres from 2009-2016.  He holds the record for most pinch hits in a single season with 28 in 1995 with the Rockies. Ichiro almost caught him with 27 in 2017.  

Between: Geoff Vandel and Cesar Vargas

Up Next: Ohio Tim picks #1119

Ohio Tim picks #614

The Coaches: Jack Krol, Harry Dunlop, Deacon Jones, Galen Cisco and Ozzie Virgil, Sr.

The Card: 1985 Mothers Cookies, #27

How I got it: By sending it out TTM multiple times. 

About the coaches: 

Jack Krol-played in the minor leagues from 1954-1966. Then he became a minor league manager and then a coach with the Cardinals, serving as interim manager for three games, winning one and losing two.  He was a member of the Padres coaching staff from 1981-1986.  Then he managed in the Padres minor league system from 1987-1990.  In 1992 and '93 he managed the Cardinals AAA team the Louisville Redbirds.  He passed away in 1994 from cancer. I talked to Jack Krol when he was a manager in the Padres minor league system.

Harry Dunlop-another career minor leaguer, he played in the Pirates system from 1952-1957, missing a year for military service.  In his first season in the minors he caught three no-hitters in his first sixteen games.  He coached for the Royals, Cubs, Reds, Padres and Marlins. He passed away in 2022 at the age of 89.

Deacon Jones-played in forty games for the Chicago White Sox from 1962-1966.  After his playing career he coached and managed in the White Sox organization through 1973.  He coached for the Astros from 1976-1982 and the Padres from 1984-1987. He was on the Orioles staff as a minor league hitting coach and liasion to minority communities.  He still holds the record for highest single season batting average, when he hit .409 for the Dubuqe Packers in 1956.  He passed away in 2023 at the age of 89.

Ozzie Virgil Sr.-played in 324 games between 1956 and 1969 for the Giants, Tigers, A's, O's and the Pirates.  He most frequently played third but during his career he played every position except pitcher and center field.  He served in the Marine Corps from 1950-1952. After playing he served as a coach for 19 years for the Giants, Expos, Mariners and Padres (1982-1985).  Many times he was hired by Dick Williams and served as the third base coach for the 1985 All Star Game.  The airport in his hometown in the Dominican Republic was named for him in 2006.  When he coached for the NL at the 1985 ASG his son Ozzie Jr was on the team.  He passed away in 2024.

Galen Cisco-pitched in the major leagues from 1961-1969 for the Red Sox, Mets and Royals.  After retiring from playing he became a pitching coach for the Royals, Expos, Padres, Blue Jays and Phillies. Galen turned 90 in March of this year .

Up Next-Ohio Tim picks #1276 (I said you could pick multiple numbers and Tim did)

Please pick some more numbers.

 

New this week

I added two more signatures to my collection.  I found them both on eBay.  I cashed in a half gallon jar of coins and got $191 so I was able to add Michael Wacha and Robert Suarez to the Padrographs.  The Suarez is a 2024 Topps Update All Star Stitches card and the Wacha is a 2023 Topps card #USC 189.  That gets me down to 41 players who have cards through 2025.  After the season I will check the 2026 roster to see whom I still need.  

 

Saturday Hat Giveaway

 Todays' hat giveaway is one I consider the coolest logo in the major sports, the Minnesota Wild of the NHL.  If you are interested in the hat just leave a comment.  More than one comment and I will randomize the list.  

Ginko-5 please email your address at padrographsatlivedotcom and I will send you last weeks hat.

Matt picks #42

The Player: Luis Arraez

The Card:  Topps Now 2024, #177

How I got it: I purchased it on eBay and received it February 22, 2025

The Player: Arraez was signed by Minnesota as an International Free Agent in 2013 and made his MLB debut with them in 2019.

From 2022 to 2024 he won batting titles with the Twins, Marlins and Padres.  In January the Twins traded him to the Marlins.  On April 11, 2023 he became the first player in Marlins history to hit for the cycle.  In May of 2024 the Marlins traded him to the Padres.  After the 2025 season he signed a one year contract with the Giants. 

Up Next: Ohio Tim picked #614

 

San Jose Fuji picked #198

 

The Player:  Joey Cantillo

The Card: 2020 Bowman, #PA-JC

How I Got the card: Ebay, 5/26/2020

About the player: Cantillo was born in Hawaii in 1999. He was drafted by the Padres in the 16th round of the 2017 draft.  In 2020 he was traded to Cleveland as part of an eight player deal.   He didn't play in 2020 due to the Pandemic.  He made his major league with Cleveland in 2024.  He has made 21 starts so far this year.

Fun Fact: He is named for Joe Dimaggio

Up Next: Matt picks #42

 

Wax Pack Wonders picked #23

The Player: Yonder Alonso

The Card: 2012 Topps Gold Rush Wrapper Redemption Autograph #66

How I got the card: I purchased it on eBay, the date I got it is lost in the fog.

About the player: Yonder was drafted in the first round of the in 2008 by the Reds.  He played for the Reds for two years before being traded to the Padres in 2011 with three other players for Mat Latos. He played for four years in San Diego playing primarily at first. In 2015 Yonder and Scrabble were traded to the A's for 3 players.  In 2017 he was named to the All Star Game.  He then played for Seattle, Cleveland and Colorado.  He signed a minor league contract with the Padres in 2020 but did not play due to the cancellation of the minor league season due to the pandemic.  

Fun Facts: Yonder played on a Little League team funded by Jose Canseco.  Yonders' sister, Yainee, is married to Manny Machado.

Up Next: San Jose Fuji picked #198

Please pick a number between 2-1379.  I need more numbers to write about.  Pick multiples if you want.

 

New this Week.

 

I got this Topps Finest auto on eBay.  It just arrived on Wednesday.  He played in the KBO from 2015-2025. He missed two years due to military service.  He signed a four year contract with the Padres in 2026.  He started the season on the IR with a strained oblique.  He made his MLB debut in Mexico City against the Dbacks. He has played in 42 games for the Padres this year.  

Saturday Hat Giveaway Winner-I ran the three names through random.org three times and Ginko-5 is the winner.  Please send me your address and I will send the hat to you.