The Best Ryan Howard Around

I found this really sweet Ryan Howard card last week.  Being a St. Louis native, having a few St. Louis collectors left in my circle within the hobby, that's always been a pretty popular name.  There is that one Ryan Howard who is from the western part of St. Louis County, went to Layfette High School, and then played at Missouri State until the Phillies drafted him.  Yes, that Ryan Howard is a pretty popular player, lots of baseball cards of that guy.

A few summers ago I ran into Ryan Howard.  He was playing at USA Baseball.  Always good to see a player from back home in person.  Here he is......

the other Ryan Howard.  

The other Ryan Howard is also from the metro St. Louis area hailing from St. Charles County, which is just across the Missouri River from St. Louis County.  He played his college baseball at Mizzou and also appeared on the USA Baseball Collegiate team. 

Playing for Team USA means baseball cards.  Howard has several, but I went for an autographed version.....

There are actually several different Ryan Howard USA Baseball autographs, but this is the only one that has an on-card autograph.  Although he does have a nice looking one with a signed acetate slab.  I know it's a short cut around a sticker, but they look nice....

Maybe if I can find one that is a little bit less expensive I will go for it.  In the meantime, he became a former college player last summer when he drafted by the Giants and made his debut playing in the short season Northwest League.  He even had a card in Bowman Chrome last year.....

I am hoping that he will get a few more cards at some point this summer.  Maybe even an autograph in something?  Even if the other Ryan Howard gets shut out of baseball card sets for the first half of the summer, he is currently hitting .317 with the Giants High A team in San Jose.  That's worth a few baseball cards, right? 

Looking forward to more of this Ryan Howard, who just happens to be at the moment, the best Ryan Howard around.