Our first forays

Given our proximity to three Florida State League (High-A) teams, it makes perfect sense -- to us, at least -- to keep our hounding skills current with trips to minor league stadiums in Clearwater, Dunedin and Tampa.

Instead of cards, though, we'll focus on team logo baseballs. They're affordable, portable and, when completed, will look pretty neat lined up in Colin's curio bookcase.

So far, we've started on two teams -- the Clearwater Threshers and Dunedin Blue Jays. Tomorrow, with Colin's Nana and Babop in attendance, we'll start a Tampa Yankees ball.

Over the summer, we'll try to hound every team in the league. I'm not sure we'll do team balls for every club, these will come into play over the course of the season: Charlotte Stone Crabs, the Tampa Bay Rays' FSL club, and the Jupiter Hammerheads, a Florida Marlins farm team.

While we'll try to get the league's best prospects on the team balls, this project is more about having fun than anything else. That's the best part about collecting as a hobby -- there's no pressure involved.

Here's what we've collected so far:

We kicked off our FSL hounding campaign Saturday, April 18 with this Clearwater Threshers team ball.

Manager Ernie Whitt was the first to sign the Threshers team ball. Others following suit were Javis Diaz, Derrick Mitchell, Matt Rizzotti and mascot, Phinley.

The Dunedin Blue Jays team ball was started Saturday, April 25.

Dunedin's Moises Sierra, top, and Justin Jackson were among the first Baby Jays to sign the team ball. Others signing were manager Omar Malave and Chris Emanuele.