10/09/2007 1:58 PM ET Ted Lilly liked to trade for Will Clark By George Castle / Special to MLBPLAYERS.com

Ted Lilly finished the regular season 15-8 with a 3.83 ERA for the Cubs. (Jason Wise/MLB.com)

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MLBPLAYERS.com: When did you start collecting cards?

Lilly: I was 10, and the guys I started collecting were San Francisco Giants players. My favorite player growing up was Will Clark. He and Matt Williams were the guys I tried to collect the most. I remember the 1989 World Series against Oakland.

I liked Will's swing, he was one of the best players on the team. I wanted to hit, and he was a great left-handed hitter that I emulated the most when I was a kid.

When I was a kid, I really didn't want to be a pitcher. I just was kind of forced into it because I couldn't hit. I was an outfielder. I was a pretty good (outfield) thrower when I was young.

I believe I have a George Brett rookie card. But I don't think I got any McGwire or Canseco cards back then.

MLBPLAYERS.com: How did you organize your cards? v Lilly: I put them in albums and I traded them among friends. Anytime I got a Will Clark card, I was pretty happy (in a trade). I don't think I always made good trades, because I always wanted Will's cards. I still have the cards. I put them away. I'll probably give them to my kid.

MLBPLAYERS.com: Where did you first appear on a card?

Lilly: It was with the Yakima Bears rookie league team in the Dodgers organization. I don't think it was an action shot.

MLBPLAYERS.com: What's your best Major League card?

Lilly: That's a good question. I don't really have one that sticks out. I've gotten cards from pretty much every team I've been on. I get to see cards I haven't seen before.

-- Red Line Editorial

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