Recognize Autograph?

[Case12]

Anyone recognize this autographed ball? It was gotten by me in person probably signed in 2000, probably a show in Chicago. Don't know if it was a retired or active player. It is on a MLB. Thank you very much for your help.

[Case12]

I almost always had balls signed to my kids. I am a collector, so never planned to sell. Winston was born in 1999. I took him to many shows. (As I did all my kids.) My fault for not marking the cube....then 20 years go by and my memory has failed....;-)

[Case12]

Any ideas before I pack it away?

[tazdmb]

NM, signature is older than I thought.

[Hxcmilkshake]

I usually like these puzzles but after googling possibilities for an hour I'm nowhere. Anything else you can remember? Chicago player? Minor/Major leaguer? Old/young?

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[Case12]

Originally Posted by Hxcmilkshake

I usually like these puzzles but after googling possibilities for an hour I'm nowhere. Anything else you can remember? Chicago player? Minor/Major leaguer? Old/young?

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Wow! You didn't have to do that! There are only a few more things. It is one of the newer non-league balls (which I think started in 2000). I moved to Chicago in 1999. Its Major league for sure. Only two shows I went to then was one in the Chicago area (I remember I had Ryne Sandberg sign for me then) and 2002 all star game show in Milwaukee. (I remember I had Bob Horner sign then). So, it has to be one of those shows. Now that you sparked my memory I'll see if I can find adds of who signed at those shows.

[Case12]

I am going to make a pretty sure good guess. 2002 National Sports Collector Convention at Donald E. Stevens Convention Center in Rosemont (Chicago). But there were 89 players past and current (then) signing. I can't find a list of them though. I remember standing in long lines to get autographs at that show.

[Case12]

One more tidbit I am finding online. I am pretty sure I also got Dwight Gooden and Milt Pappas at that show. Maybe Reggie Jackson (not sure about that one).
I bet the listing may have been in Sports Collectors Digest (which I didn't keep from that long ago).

[Bpm0014]

TJ Hooker?

[Yastrzemski Sports]

Originally Posted by Bpm0014

TJ Hooker?

If that can be verified I would be interested.
Follow up question - does anyone have an address for Adrian Zmed?

[commishbob]

I see 'TJ' Somethingorother and what *might* be 'P/39'

TJ Mathews finished his pitching career with Houston in 2002 wearing that number and was a Chicagoland native. Seems like the sort of guy who would be a freebie autograph at a show since he was a local.

But I can't even squint and see 'Mathews' as the last name on that ball. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[baseball tourist]

Originally Posted by commishbob

I see 'TJ' Somethingorother and what *might* be 'P/39' ¯

Psalm 138 perhaps?

[Case12]

What do you guys think of maybe TJ Tucker? Signatures similar?

[commishbob]

Originally Posted by baseball tourist

Psalm 138 perhaps?

I hadn't considered that but it very well might be.

[Case12]

Ok. I have to reset my story. My wife steps in and tells me what happened. I had a work friend who had a brother in law who was working up from the minors and thought he was about to go to majors. I like any player signed baseball, and love the novelty. Winston was born July 1999. We lived in TX. In November of 1999 we moved to Chicago. It is an interleauge ball. So,can2000 sounds about right. But neither of us remember names. Now we have the story. We searched for hours, then I hit upon TJ Tucker. His autos are different during his career. Here are some of them. My wife thinks they look pretty close, so I am throwing it out there. Thoughts?

[commishbob]

Looks like a match for sure

[Case12]

Looking into Tom Held too

[Case12]

Mystery solved!! TJ Held. Minor league player for Detroit Tigers farms. It took a lot of work, but I found his email, because he coaches a HS team now. He's my age, 56. He was amazed someone had his signat on a ball...thinks it's worth a penny, ha, ha. He couldn't find a card....wish I could find one. Here is his pic from Google search.

[Hxcmilkshake]

Wow good work. Never would've found that in a million years!

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