Signature Sundays - Marty Barrett

Just a quick one today, featuring a cheap autograph that I couldn't resist when I stumbled across it on eBay a couple of weeks back...

Just in case you're not sick of the 1987 Topps design yet!

I have very little memory of seeing Marty Barrett play, as he was moving on from the Red Sox and winding down his MLB career just as I was getting old enough to begin loving sports.  He was an under-appreciated contact hitter, and an above average arm at second base for Boston throughout much of the 1980s.

Marty's best season by far was 1986, though it ultimately ended in heartbreak for the Sox.  Barrett played in nearly every game that season and ended up with career highs in hits (179), doubles (39) and RBI (60).  In the playoffs he was even hotter, with 24 hits including 13 in the World Series alone.  He was the ALCS MVP that year, and had Boston been able to hold on against the Mets would have been a likely World Series MVP candidate as well given that he swatted .433 in the Fall Classic that year.

I wasn't aware that this nice, bold, on-card autograph existed since I wasn't collecting in 2005, but when I stumbled upon it during a late-night eBay search I was happy to bring it home with a bid of $5.06 with free shipping!

Maybe not the most impressive autograph you'll ever see featured here, but for the price of a fast food value meal I was excited to add this All-Time Fan Favorite to the collection!

I've got a few autographs backed up in queue, so you'll be seeing some more Signature Sundays posts here on Shoebox Legends in 2017...