Josh Labandeira Autographed Card

Josh Labandeira played professional baseball until 2008, mostly in AAA ball, appearing in 7 MLB games with the Montréal Expos in 2004, with 14 plate appearances and 4 strikeouts. I met him at that time, in September 2004, as the team was ready to fold, playing its final games at the Stade Olympique. That's probably when he signed this rookie card, #216 from Topps' 2004 Bowman set and First Year sub-set, in blue sharpie, although I do not specifically recall it:

While it doesn't show him wearing the #1 uniform from his regular season games, it does show him wearing #73, from Spring training, which slots him perfectly in my Expos Numbers Project.

Following his retirement, he moved to California and became an assistant coach for the Reedley College baseball team, until the Boston Red Sox came calling and signed him as their Western California scout.

B.J. Johnson Sweet Spot Helmet Autograph Card

Here's another card from my favourite insert set of all time, Upper Deck's 2004 Sweet Spot collection - in this case, card #238 from the Signatures Tier Two / Rookie Signatures sub-set, B.J. Johnson of the Denver Broncos, numbered 396/699:

It features an embedded tiny plastic helmet replica, which he signed in silver sharpie.

Johnson was a star player for the University of Texas Longhorns, but injuries started taking their toll in his draft-eligible year, but the Broncos took a chance on him nonetheless. After two injury-filled seasons, he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, often falling to injury as well - and he promptly retired after just his third NFL season.

Now, with fellow UT alumnus Roy Williams, he owns a distillery where he primarily makes wheat-based vodka. Just the thing to make all matters of pain go away...

Perhaps the Super Bowl Champion Broncos could order a few cases from him...

Ernest Wilford Sweet Spot Autograph Card

I had mentioned how great I thought these 2004 Sweet Spot cards by Upper Deck (this one is #251 of the Signatures Tier Two / Rookie Signatures sub-set) were in a previous post, and here's proof:

This one isn't just signed in silver sharpie, and it's better than on-card - it's on-inserted mini-helmet! It could have been a card of commissioner Paul Tagliabue (1990s represent!) and I would've thought it was amazing, but to have a legitimate NFL prospect on it is that much better.

Ernest Wilford is 35 and not yet retired, though he hasn't played in the NFL since 2010, during his second stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had drafted him 120th overall in the 4th round in 2004 after breaking all pass reception records with the Virginia Tech Hokies. He did get into legal troubles in January 2011, and had gone through tough times with the Miami Dolphins (who hadn't?) between his stints with the Jags, but I thought the fact the he could play both wide receiver and tight end might convince a team to sign him as an insurance policy eventually. I was wrong.

This card is about half an inch thick (room for the helmet), and is numbered 152/559.

Kerri Kasem Autograph Card

The daughter of former radio personality Casey Kasem is making a name for herself... by following in her daddy's footsteps. And taking her clothes off.

She has hosted acountless award shows, had a show on E!, and a long list of radio shows, with The Side Show Countdown (countdowns being a family specialty) and Sixx Sense (with Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx) being the most recent.

This Kerri Kasem autographed insert card, from Benchwarmer's 2004 Series Two set, was signed in blue sharpie. She and her cat, Kid D, have been profiled on Animal Planet's Housecat Housecall.