This took two trips

I don't know what it is, but Mother Nature, mainly in the form of thunderstorms, nearly derailed Colin's efforts to get a team-signed ball from the Daytona Cubs, the Florida State League Advanced-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.

We got the first batch of signatures -- nine in total -- before a rained-out game against the Tampa Yankees on July 9. Then, last Saturday in Dunedin, we had to dodge intermittent raindrops to add another seven signatures to the ball.

Perseverance paid off, though, as Colin completed the 11th team ball during our Summer of Baseball. The only FSL team he missed? The Palm Beach Cardinals. Still, it's a pretty remarkable feat.

Here are the 16 players and coaches to sign the Cubs' team ball:

Manager Buddy Bailey on the sweet spot;

Jonathan Wyatt, Josh Vitters, Craig Muschko and an unidentified player;

Robinson Chirinos, the since-traded Josh Harrison, Brandon Guyer and Mark Reed;

Ryan Searle, Tony Campana and Nate Sampson; and

Pitching coach Tom Pratt, James Leverton, Mike Perconte and Jericho Jones.

We had hoped to add an autograph from former big-leaguer Richie Zisk, now serving as Daytona's batting coach, but he declined multiple requests to sign before Saturday's game.