3 On Card Autos: The Angel Autos

It started over at Dinged Corners and has since spread like wildfire through the card blogging world. The question they posed, "What are your 3 favorite on card autographs?". I was intrigued immediately, but realized right away, I'd never be able to narrow to just 3. So, being the rule breaker that I am, I decided to break mine into categories. My 4 categories: Angels autos, Baseball outside of Anaheim, Football and non-sports.

Today: The Angel Autos

Choosing just 3 Angel on card autographs proved to be too difficult for me, so I went with 3 and an honorable mention. Even so, I could have filled up this page with another dozen. Restraint isn't exactly one the traits that come to mind when speaking of me.

We'll start with the honorable mention, Wally Joyner.

The scan doesn't do this card justice, but since it's still encased in the plastic tomb provided by Topps, this was the best I could do. In person, this card just looks so clean and the signature pops out. Speaking of the signature, would you expect anything less elegant from the Mormon slugger?

Now onto the main event. In no particular order.
1. Jim Abbott

Unfortunately, this is another card in which the scan does it no justice. For whatever reason, chrome and scanners never quite work correctly. Had I been a bit less lazy, I'd have used the camera, but oh well, this is what you get with me. Love the signature, love the uniform, love the pose. There was something about watching Abbott as he transitioned from pitcher to fielder that just left you in awe. I still can't figure out how a guy with one hand makes the decision to become a pitcher and then not only does so, but becomes a successful major leaguer.

2. Garret Anderson

I've already espoused my love for Garret Anderson, but this card is cool for more than just the player featured. The card is a commemoration of perhaps the greatest moment for us Halo fans, the 2002 World Series. If you're an Angel fan you already know why Garret is labeled as "World Series Hero" on this card, if you're not an Angel fan, well, you should be.

3. Luis Polonia

Was there really any doubt that this card and this player would end up on my list? This card was the first ever entry in my series of "Cards that Define Me". A series that never really took off and I really need to get back to. Luis signed the card for me at a fan appreciation day and instantly became a centerpiece of my collection. I could go on, but there's no need. Spend more than two minutes on my site and you'll become fully aware of my love for the man with the jheri curl mullet.

There you have it, 4 Angel on card autos for the price of 3. How could you go wrong?

Go Halos!

The Night Owl Strikes

While some would say that Night Owl's best quality is his writing skill, which can be seen over and over through his entertaining posts, others would argue that his generosity takes the top spot. I, on the other hand, find something else to admire about the man. His penchant for pulling Halos! The man is an Angel magnet, which while unfortunate for a Dodger fan, means a windfall for this Angel fan. Greg, thank you for making me your dumping ground. I truly appreciate it.

So what exactly did Greg send along, a heaping of Halos. Here's a small sample.

A number of 1985 Fleer cards were sent along, that I can only hope were part of some Dollar Store finds.

I love everything about this Bobby Grich card. The giant mustache, the flowing mane, the bat awkwardly staged in his lap. Beauty.


1989 Donruss is one of my favorite sets. I remember open a ton of packs as a kid and I always enjoyed the borders and their fading in and out of colors. Combine that with the boyish charm of Wally World and the ostentatious use of MVP on the card and you have a winner.


Garret the Brave, still pictured as a Halo. As Garret's career winds down, it's tough seeing him with another team. When Angel fans would criticize Garret it was okay, because he was one of our own and we all still had the memories of his bases clearing double in game 7 of the 2002 World Series. It's a lot tougher to hear Braves fan railing against GA, knowing that their only memory of him will be as an aging outfielder, struggling to keep up.


Words can't describe how I feel about this. On the day after Thanksgiving, we will be putting up our Christmas tree as we do every year. The first ornament going on the tree will be Mr. Glaus.


I have no idea how this game works or what the point of it was, but I enjoy its oddball appeal.


This is my first and only 2009 Topps Finest card and getting hold of it made me really appreciate the set this year. I normally try to open at least one box of Finest each year, but budget hasn't allowed for that this year. I was okay with that, until I got this beauty.


A second shiny Saunders from the Night Owl. If Joe could just avoid ever pitching in Texas again, we might have a chance this year.


It's especially odd to see a 2008 card that still features Bart as an Angel, but Timelines had more than a few of these. I pulled a Randy Johnson "Mariners" version of this relic. I'm fine with the flashback, but then why not just put Angels on the card?


I can't imagine how disappointing it must have been for Night Owl to open a blaster of Timelines and pull Bart the Angel and a blaster of UD and pull a K-Mo relic. Sorry about your luck Greg...wait, no I'm not. I thoroughly enjoy your rotten luck.

Greg also sent a long a number of other Angels, which have found a very warm home out here. Thanks again Greg for your generosity and best of luck with your Halo radar in the future.

Go Halos!