Autograph Flashback: Dustin Pedroia

Hey everyone!

Sorry about the lapse in posts, but college gets fairly hectic sometimes. Speaking of college, i just finished my first semester of senior year and i only have one more semester to go (scary).

However, this semester allowed me to meet and greet with a few athletes and bands (look for a post in the near future). So what happened this semester? Well i think the Red Sox are Champions again, but ho hum, we have seen that before (feels good to say that huh?) I look forward to some day getting all of the 2007 World Series Red Sox on a jersey as well, but i have to get the 2004 Sox first.

Well, the end of the year awards came out and look who won the AL Rookie of the Year award. The mighty munchkin himself, Dustin Pedroia (seen below in an Upper Deck Team USA jersey card i got on eBay for $4).

It is the most amazing feeling in the world when you scout out a player in the minors and he someday excels in the Bigs. For me, i met Pedroia at a Pawtucket Red Sox game in 2006. He was the headliner at the year end meet and greet with the fans before the game.

For this event, i got many autographs including David Murphy, Jazy Lopez (2007 World Champion), Adam Stern, Jeff Bailey, and Craig Breslow. Pedroia was the headlining the signing so he got the first seat, and on my ball, he got the Sweet Spot.

This lovely gem would fetch a pretty penny nowadays since Pedroia had a decent little season for himself. But more surprising is the emergence of Jacoby Ellsbury who took Red Sox Nation by storm and was arguably more popular in the half season he played for us then Pedroia's full season. Ellsbury, who i met in early January 2007, is now charging $125.00 for an autographed baseball. WOW! And i paid $10 for a bunch of up and coming Red Sox rookies!

So this just shows you how important it is to get the players autographs when they are young, because once they go pro and hit it big, it will cost you!

Keep On Collecting!