"Sign your name across my card...

 I want you to be my hero." With apologies to Terrence Trent D'Arby and his late 80's pop hit "Sign Your Name" It was one of those let's make new lyrics to this song, based on something that is going on in your life, for me at that time it was through the mail or TTM autos. My buddies and I would compete to see who could get the best responses. I ended up with some pretty good ones. Mike Schmidt, with a form letter and personal signature, Nolan Ryan, Bo Jackson, Kirby Puckett, Joe Montana, Tino Martinez, George Brett among other.Was jealous when friends scored the likes of Jose Canseco, Wally Joyner, and Mark McGwire, but the funniest to me was when my friend Jeremy recieved his Mike Schmidt back. I had sent a 87 topps and an 88 Fleer, he signed the Topps, sent back the fleer. Jeremy sent an 88 Donruss and an 88 Fleer, Schmitty once again did not sign the 88 fleer. And Jer's letter was a word for word copy of mine, except for the different names, and once again a personal signature. My buddy Dave got responses back from Cal Ripken and Eddie Murray, although it was just a pre printed signature on an Orioles team photo for both, which brings me to my success for today. Through a private signing conducted by Waukesha Sports Cards did at the end of last month with Steady Eddie, and the baddest sideburns this side of Graceland.

Saw Murray in one game, July 9th, 1994 about a month and a half before the strike. The Indians were in first place at the time and the Twins, well, were the Twins. Eddie's line from that night

1-3, 1 run 2 rbi and the 454th home run of his career off of Jim DeShaies. Of course the curse of myself and brother going to a game continued and the Indians won 4 to 3.  These were some of the best seats we had up to that point though. We sat in the right field corner just above the garage door and had a perfect view of the Indians bullpen, as we could hear the phone ring when Erik Plunk was told to get warm in the later innings. Also took a nice picture of Dennis Martinez warming up before the game started. 

Not sure why or how it happened but soon after getting Murray's 1980 topps card I was always intrigued by him. later on in the decade, I realized that I had a majority of his major issues and started working on collecting him part time. He also seemed to be one of those players who were linked to a teammate for all time, Cal and Eddie, Trammell and Whitaker, Puckett and Hrbek, Yount and Molitor. 

Glad I got this one, as we know, tomorrow is not promised to any of us, and as with so many HOF'ers passing away in the past year, chances could get fewer and further between. Eddie Clarence Murray, one of 4 players in the history of the game to amass 3000 hits and 500 home runs. Class act all the way.



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