William Van Landingham and Rusty Greer Sign Baseball Cards Through the Mail
A couple days later, a Rusty Greer autograph arrived after a very short six day wait.
Van Landingham spent his entire four year Major League career with the San Franciso Giants.
His rookie season was his best year. He went 8-2 with an earned run average of 3.54, and 56 strikeouts.
Van Landingham's best claim to fame is the fact that he set the record for longest complete name in MLB. Former Atlanta Braves catcher, Jarrod Saltalamacchia tied Van Landingham for the record.
In 1996, Van Landingham took on another long named pitcher, Jason Isringhausen, tying a record for the longest combined names of two starters.
Van Landingham responded to my autograph request in 59 days and his signature is the first one I have received in red ink.
Greer responded in just six days, tying Vance Law, Ricky Jordan, and Bruce Benedict, for the second fastest response.
Like Van Landingham, Greer spent his entire career with one team, the Texas Rangers.
In 1996, 98, and 99, Greer and the Rangers took on the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series.
All three times the result was the same with the Yankees defeating the Rangers. Greer struggled in all three series, recording a total of four hits in 36 at bats.
Today, Greer works as an assistant head coach at Texas Wesleyan University.
While Van Landingham and Greer came through with autographs attempts to reach Royce Clayton and Brad Havens failed. Both requests came back return to sender.
Other players that I have sent requests to are: Latroy Hawkins, Tony Pena, Omar Vizquel, Tim Wakefield, Tommy John, Steve Garvey, Ron Gant, Bryan Harvey, Tommy Lasorda, Ray Fontenot, Jason Thompson, Leon Durham, Dave Winfield, Jay Tibbs, Mike Scioscia, Ken Howell, Eric Davis, Randy Milligan, Jay Bell, Danny Tartabull, Joe Magrane, Roger McDowell, Rick Aguilera, Nick Esasky, Kevin Seitzer, Dave Burba, Chris Sabo, Charlie Hayes, Tommy Gregg, Junior Ortiz, Mariano Duncan, Mo Vaughn, Andy Hawkins, Howard Johnson, Matt Nokes, Julio Franco, Jim Eisenreich, Rick Rhoden, Rafael Palmiero, Curt Wilkerson, Tim Laudner, Mike Mason, Craig Reynolds, Kevin Bass, Wade Boggs, Matt Stairs, Nolan Ryan, Mark Gardner, Carlos Garcia, Kevin Appier, Greg Walker, Ron Roenicke, Aaron Sele, Gary Gaetti, Glenallen Hill, Bill Mueller, Armando Benitz, Todd Hollandsworth, and Doug Drabek.
Published by Marie Lowe
I have a degree in journalism and work for a daily newspaper. In 2005 I was honored as the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Journalist of the Year. Have just entered the fourth year of my mother's battle with ovarian... View profile
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6 Comments
Post a CommentAwesome news!
You need to write an overview article about your collection!
good work, Marie, thanks!
I'm still enjoying this series. Keep up the good work.
good job
good for you, Evan Longoria was in our local SAMS club and my friend aquired a nice signed photo of him for me