SoCal Autograph Odysses

I tried something new recently, and sent an 8x10 photo to Dallas Mavericks star and future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki.  I sent this photo through the mail, because I had come across a website which serves as a database for athletes and their "through the mail" signing habits.  Through this website, I saw that Dirk had a success rate of 100%, which means that whatever people send he signs and sends back.  As this was my first attempt in doing this venture, I researched what to do and how best to maximize my probability of getting an autograph back.  I purchased an 8x10 photo for five or six bucks, mailed a self addressed stamped envelope, and hoped for the best.  I sent the photo out to the Dallas Mavericks facility on September 10th, so you can imagine my surprise when I picked up my mail yesterday and found an envelope.  Inside was this photo... I have to say, that's a pretty nice autograph to get at little cost through the mail from a player of Dirk N...

As I have mentioned in a post or two previously, Tony Gwynn is my all time favorite player and a major icon in the lexicon of San Diego sports.  He often appeared in the community, and as such, I was able to gather a bit of sports memorabilia from the man.  I have two baseballs signed, two identical 8x10's, and a throwback 1984 Padres jersey he signed for me with his 3141 inscription (which is his hit total).  My wife and I decided to have some of my items put together as a big montage as part of a nice shadowbox we can display on the way up to my sports memorabilia man cave.  I wanted to use the jersey as the centerpiece, one of the 8x10's and the 1998 World Series ball.  I decided against using the HOF 07 ball he signed for me because I preferred to keep it in my baseball Hall of Famer case, of which I currently have 31 signed baseballs in.  I took my items in to Hobby Lobby (religious nuttiness aside), brainstormed with my go to guy for framing, and they...