Yes, I'm a stat freak – just ask any of the local play-by-play radio announcers I have worked with over the last dozen years. I'm usually good for about three yellow legal pads worth of numbers – ready to chime in with some useful and not so useful statistical information.

My personal collection of sports memorabilia is small, but interesting. My numerous trips to Cooperstown and the taking in of Hall of Fame weekend has presented a nice opportunity to put my collection together.

My wife also presented me with a wonderful Christmas gift – a baseball allegedly signed by the members of the 1963 Yankees. However, it's originality remains a mystery – something I've been trying to figure out the last few years.

One of the signatures that did catch my interest was that of "Ed" Ford, AKA. "Whitey" Ford. There is "Larry" Berra, obviously Yogi Berra. The name of Roger Maris has some possibilities of being the real deal. However, right there in the "sweet spot" is the prize of all signatures ... Mickey Mantle.

I was able to track down the original owner and he says the signatures are legit. His son allegedly caught a foul ball and during a rain delay secured the autographs. Some appear to be the real deal, but I tend to lean on the theory it was a clubhouse endeavor completed before a game in a mass signing of baseballs.

Research has also led me to believe that not all the signatures are original. I've seen a real Mantle signature and it doesn't match the one on my baseball. Folk lore has it, he paid a clubhouse attendant to sign for him before anyone else arrived at the stadium. However, I'll keep on scratching for the facts.

I've put together a nice collection of baseballs, including Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson. I watched Pete Rose sign a baseball for me and other baseball fans. I have a nice display of additional Hall of Famer baseballs.

I had Ron Darling autograph my Mets' cap a couple of summers ago when I visited Port St. Lucie for a week of spring training. I haven't worn it since.

Recently in Cooperstown, I purchased a print of Cleon Jones (Last Out) bringing in the championship-clinching fly ball and taking one knee to wrap up the 1969 World Series. I also secured autographs from the three Mets that had joined him for the day. They included Ron Swoboda (The Catch), Art Shamsky (1969 World Series champion) and Ed Kranepool (Mr. Met). That is how they signed the poster under their respective names.

However, the most interesting piece I have come across is what I believe to be a photograph taken by my late uncle when he was stationed in the service at a base in Texas during the early 1940s. I was going through some papers my mom's sister had left her and opened up an old photo frame. I studied it for a while and the more I looked at it the more I became convinced it was the old "Yankee Clipper" himself. My wife even saw the resemblance to Joe.

My uncle Andy was a big Yankee fan – often retiring early at bedtime to go upstairs and listen to the games on the radio. This particular photograph was taken no more than 10 feet away. Can you imagine being that close to Joe DiMaggio?

I know the Yankees used to play exhibition games during the off- and pre-season, and my research proved they played games in Texas. Could the photo really be that of Joe DiMaggio? To have an original photograph of DiMaggio takes your breath away.

Now, if I could just re-locate that photograph.

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