26 November 2012

the topps dodger autograph project - into the aughts

the dodgers returned to the postseason for the first time since 1988 in 1995, although they may have made it in 1994 if there hadn't been the strike.  anyway, i'm moving on with the topps dodger autograph project posts, and this one starts with '95.  remember, the idea here is to have at least one topps card from each year signed free of charge through the mail.  i fell short with the 1950's, but am on track since then.  i don't count traded sets, but i will show them if i have them.  here we go.

1995 topps, chris gwynn
gwynn returned to the dodgers after a couple of years in kansas city.  i've also had 1995 topps dodger ttm successes with brett butler, jim gott, kevin gross, dave hansen, and tim wallach.

i don't have a 1995 topps traded card signed, unfortunately.  roberto kelly, please send me back your card!

1996 topps, todd hollandsworth
the 1996 national league rookie of the year was kind enough to sign this card.  no 'roy' inscription, but a cross instead.  the only other 1996 topps dodger ttm success i have had is with brett butler.

there wasn't a traded set issued in 1996 - the first time since 1980.

1997 topps brett butler
what a surprise! a card featuring a photo of butler bunting.  you'll notice a theme here as the team sets were smaller following the strike of 1994, so there aren't a lot of options for having cards signed.  the only other 1997 topps dodger ttm success i have had was with greg gagne.  i also have a card signed by karim garcia that i picked up at a card show.

there was no traded set in 1997, either.

1998 topps, greg gagne
gagne is a good signer.  the only other 1998 topps dodger ttm success i have had came courtesy of todd hollandsworth.

once again, topps did not issue a traded set, so no dodgers to chase there.

1999 topps, jose vizcaino
el viz turns two.  the only other 1999 topps ttm success i have had came from closer jeff shaw.  there was a traded set in 1999, but i don't have any of the cards signed.  the dodgers in the set, in case you were wondering, are steve colyer, bubba crosby, and luke prokopec.

2000 topps, jeff shaw
shaw for konerko.  he pitched well, but konerko could have provided some stability at first base after eric karros was traded.  the only other 2000 topps dodger ttm success i have had was from jose vizcaino.  slim pickings for me in the traded set, too.  the only dodgers featured are marcus castillo, tony mota, and ismael valdes - none of which i have even attempted to have signed through the mail.

2001 topps, chan ho park
i got this card returned to me when park was pitching for the yankees.  i've also had 2001 topps dodger ttm successes with andy ashby, davey johnson, chad kreuter, jeff shaw, kevin elster, and dave hansen.  there were a few dodgers featured in the traded set, but i don't have any of them signed. 

thanks to all these players for signing my cards!  here's a running list of the topps dodger autograph project:

1951 topps - preacher roe (purchased)
1952 topps - rocky bridges
1953 topps - bobby morgan
1954 topps - billy herman (purchased)
1955 topps - don zimmer (purchased)
1956 topps - randy jackson
1957 topps - carl erskine
1958 topps - joe pignatano
1959 topps - fred kipp
1960 topps - chuck essegian
1961 topps - bob aspromonte
1962 topps - norm sherry
1963 topps - ed roebuck
1964 topps - ken mcmullen
1965 topps - dick tracewski
1966 topps - john kennedy
1967 topps - phil regan
1968 topps - jim campanis
1969 topps - jeff torborg
1970 topps - al mcbean
1971 topps - sandy vance
1972 topps - manny mota
1973 topps - wes parker
1974 topps - claude osteen
1974 topps traded - jim wynn
1975 topps - ron cey
1975 topps mini - joe ferguson
1976 topps - bill russell
1976 topps traded - dusty baker
1977 topps - steve garvey
1978 topps - dave lopes
1979 topps - charlie hough
1980 topps - jerry reuss
1981 topps - doug rau
1981 topps traded - ken landreaux
1982 topps - dave goltz
1982 topps traded - jose morales
1983 topps - ron roenicke
1983 topps traded - rafael landestoy
1984 topps - fernando valenzuela
1984 topps traded - mike vail
1985 topps - burt hooton
1986 topps - enos cabell
1987 topps - steve sax
1987 topps traded - matt young
1988 topps - len matuszek
1989 topps - mickey hatcher
1990 topps - kal daniels
1990 topps traded - juan samuel
1991 topps - tim belcher
1992 topps - roger mcdowell
1993 topps - dave hansen
1993 topps traded - tim wallach
1994 topps - jody reed
1995 topps - chris gwynn
1996 topps - todd hollandsworth
1997 topps - brett butler
1998 topps - greg gagne
1999 topps - jose vizcaino
2000 topps - jeff shaw
2001 topps - chan ho park

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