Got Love for my Lefty Brethren

Did you know that today is Left Handers' Day?  I think it's pretty ridiculous that they have these special days for just about everything and everyone... but whatever... since I'm left-handed, I might as well take advantage of the situation.

Ever since I was a wee little boy, I have been a little self-conscious about being left-handed.  In elementary school... I would often be the only kid in class who wrote with their left hand.  When I played baseball... my coaches wouldn't let me play shortstop or third base (but I was fortunate enough to play second).  Back in college... I always found myself in forums with those L-shaped desks that catered to righties.  When I go out to eat... I often sit at the end of the table, so I don't bump elbows with my right-handed friends.  I'm unable to write down things in pen without smearing ink all over my hand and onto the paper.  Heck... even playing cards are designed for right-handed people.

But don't get the wrong idea.  This isn't a pity post.  It actually makes sense that things like video game controllers, spiral bound notebooks, and scissors tend to be catered towards right-handed people, since only 5 to 10% of the people inhabiting Earth are lefties.

However... since today is our official holiday... I'm going to celebrate my left-handed pride and show off a collection dedicated to my brethren that I've been working on.

The collection began with my favorite pitcher growing up... Mr. Lefty himself:

Before I started this project, Steve Carlton was the only player I specifically collected because he was left-handed.  But subconsciously... I must have been drawn to lefties, because two of my all-time favorite players were left-handed too:

The last time I visited my parents, I scanned a bunch of my left-handed hall of famers that I've accumulated over the years:

From there things sort of steamrolled and I've managed to pick up a few more left-handers over the past few months including these two hall of famers:

At first, I figured I'd target only baseball.  However... I've decided to broaden my interests and target football and basketball too.

Here's what I've acquired so far...

 

 

My goal is to acquire an autograph of any living hall of fame athlete, but I've also started to add some of my personal fan favorites too:

And maybe a handful of not-so-fan favorites:

Over time, I'll need to create rules here and there to help streamline things.  For example... in baseball, I've already had to create one.  I'm only collecting guys who throw with their left hand.  In other words... guys like Rod Carew and Joe Morgan don't qualify even though they batted lefty.

I also omitted hockey altogether.

I originally thought that guys like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux were left-handed, because they were left-handed shooters.  I went back and looked up photographs with them signing autographs and discovered that they both sign righty.  However if you know of any hockey players who write with their left hand, leave their names in the comments and I'll add them to my list.

Actually...

Do you know of any other left-handed hall of famers or fan favorites?

If so, add them to the comments below.  Remember... I'm only looking for guys who actually throw or write with their left hand.

Happy Thursday and sayonara!