2012 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

I landed a quadruple at the 2012 U.S. Figure Skating Championships held last week in San Jose, California. Not literally, but I did score well by bringing home four autographed golf balls from some of the great legends of the sport -- Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi, Michelle Kwan, and Charlie Tickner.

Scott Hamilton won four consecutive U.S. figure skating championships, four consecutive World Championships, and a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics. He was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

Kristi Yamaguchi won the gold medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics in ladies' singles. She also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992. She was inducted into the World Skating Hall of Fame and the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

Michelle Kwan is a two-time Olympic golf medalist, a five-time world champion and a nine-time U.S. champion. She is scheduled to be inducted this year in the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

Charlie Tickner won the gold medal at the 1978 World Figure Skating Championships and won the bronze medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

These four autographs brings my total autographed golf ball collection to 375. I plan on adding more to my vast and diversified collection at next week's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

For those of you who don't know, I wrote a book about my collection currently being considered by the Guinness World Records as the largest in the world. The title of my hobby memoir is Hooked on Autographs. In my original and wildly fun memoir, I share my trials and triumphs of collecting signed golf balls from celebrities from all walks of life. My book is available on Amazon. com or can be purchased directly from me at jjgaliardi1@comcast.net. The cost including shipping is $16.41 and I personalize all copies. The book proceeds are donated to our returning severely wounded soldiers being treated at Walter Reed National Military Center, Bethesda, Maryland.

Joe Galiardi, author and member of the Golf Collectors Society