Chris Speier

Right on the heels of a few new signed ATCRCS cards comes this one signed by former Cubs utility guy and current Reds Bench Coach Chris Speier. Another collector on sportscollector.net advertised that he was going to RedsFest and I took him up on his offer by sending in ATCRCS cards for both Speier and another Reds coach/former Cub Billy Hatcher. Unfortunately, Hatcher managed to evade him.

I am very happy to add another card to this collection (up to 31 now) but I will say this is one of those rare occasion that the scanner makes this card look better than in real life. The signature is nice but Speier managed to sign right over the darkest part of the card, his dark blue sleeves. Luckily the scanner picked up the difference in colors nicely. With the card tucked away in a binder and this scan added to my Father's Day gift, it works out though.

Speier spent two seasons with the Cubs. I'm not a big fan of the Utility label for a position but I thought it was the best way to go for him seeing as he played 81 games at shortstop and 84 games at third base. Most of his shortstop games came in 1985 which was also the year the Cubs were transitioning from Larry Bowa to Shawon Dunston. The next year, he platooned more at third base with Ron Cey and Davey Lopes. Speier is also credited with 20 games at second base, backing up future Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. So Utility it is.