Signature Sundays - Nomar Garciaparra!

Recently I was fortunate enough to land a very nice on-card autograph of one of my favorite Red Sox from the days of my childhood fandom, none other than Nomar Garciaparra:

I was 13 years old when Garciaparra made his big-league debut for the Sox in the summer of '96.  At that impressionable age it was almost impossible not to become a fan.  Nomar, with his goofy batter's box antics and flip-up shades (so glad they are pictured here), could flat out rake the ball.  Not only that, but he was an exciting shortstop to watch in the field, quickly establishing himself as one of the premier players at his position.

Over the years Nomar became a fan favorite in Boston, racking up batting titles, 30 HR and 100 RBI seasons, and plenty of MVP votes along the way.  I still remember watching many of his amazing performances at the plate, most notably his two grand slam, 10-RBI game against the Mariners in 1999.

Even if injuries and other issues led to his less-than-admirable departure from Boston, I've always had a soft spot for him given that he was my absolute favorite player for a good four or five year stretch there.  It's a shame that it took me this long to add his autograph to my collection, but I'm glad I waited because this is one beautiful card.