TTM Success - Max Stassi

This TTM success from Max Stassi was a nice one that I got back from Spring Training.  Spring Training TTMs for the last two years almost seem like they were a waste of time.  I got very few returns and a whole lot of cards are out there somewhere (probably in the trash), and I will probably be waiting forever for them.  So, when I got this return from Stassi, I was happy.

I got a card from 2019 Topps , 2010 Pro Debut, a 2020 Topps and a 2020 Topps gold signed by Stassi.  The all look nice, and have been put away in my album.

Stassi (b. 1991) has played in the majors since 2013 for the Astros and Angels.  He has 181 hits, 32 home runs and a .225 batting average.

I mailed to Stassi on February 9 to Angels Spring Training, and got the cards back on October 30, for a 263-day TAT.

TTM Success - Nicholas Grim

Here are two more cards of a former Oriole prospect that I was able to get signed TTM.  I had these Nicholas Grim 2012 Bowmans in my box since they came out.  As usual, I pulled them and put them with all of my other Orioles and kind of forgot about them.  Recently, I went through the box and cleared out some room by removing cards of guys who I would try to send TTM and a lot of those duplicates to send to other folks who were looking for guys to send to.  It helps me clear out space for new stuff and forces me to try to find new people to mail to.

Grim (b. 1991) was a 17th round pick in the 2012 June Amateur Draft out of Cal Poly.  He played in the minors in 2012 and 2014 to a record of 0-0 with a 10.00 ERA and 4 strike outs.  

I mailed to Grim on October 15 and got the cards back on October 28, for a 13-day TAT.

TTM Success - Ronnie Welty

Here are some more Orioles cards that I pulled from my boxes and got signed TTM.  I remember seeing Ronnie Welty play for Frederick, and I probably got him on a team ball, but this was way before I was getting cards signed.  Now, I have this 2011 Bowman in my album, and it looks great.

This 2011 Bowman foil parallel also turned out great.  I love how this turned out, as the white foil looks really nice.

Welty (b. 1988) was a 20th round pick by the Orioles in the 2008 June Amateur Draft out of Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona.  He played in the minors from 2008 to 2013 in the Orioles and Phillies systems, reaching AA.  He had 498 hits, 58 home runs and a .279 batting average.

I mailed to Welty on October 19 and got the cards back on October 28, for a 9-day TAT.

TTM Success - Val Majewski

Here are two more Orioles cards that I pulled from the box Max sent me and mailed off TTM.  These Val Majewski cards turned out great.  I love the 2005 Topps Cracker Jack set.  The cards just look sharp.  I was glad to find this card in the box and now it looks amazing in my album.

2005 Topps Heritage also looks really nice.  The 1956 Topps set is underrated, and translated very well to Topps Heritage.

Majewski (b. 1981) played in the majors in 2004 for the Orioles.  He had 2 hits, no home runs and a .154 batting average.  He was a 3rd round draft pick in the 2002 June Amateur Draft by the Orioles out of Rutgers.

I mailed to Majewski on October 12 and got the cards back on October 2, for a 14-day TAT.

TTM Success - Luca Dalatri

Here are a couple cards that I found while going through some of the former LCS boxes and one of my own boxes.  The above 2018 Donruss American Pride card of Gianluca (Luca) Dalatri was in one of the boxes I picked up when my former LCS closed.  I found it recently and checked to see if Dalatri signed TTM.  He did, so I was about to send the card off, until I went through my own stuff and found the below 2018 Stars and Stripes card.

Dalatri (b. 1998) was a 40th round pick by the Tigers in the 2019 June Amateur Draft out of UNC.  He became a free agent and was picked up by the Cardinals.  He played this season at two levels in the Cardinals system, reaching high A.  He has a record of 1-3 with 30 strike outs and a 6.85 ERA.

I mailed to Dalatri on October 19 and got the cards back on October 26, for a 7-day TAT.

TTM Success - Matt Karchner

Matt Karchner may need a new marker, or he put this one in the envelope while it was still wet.  Even further, he may have used a dry erase marker on the card, but whichever it is, this card did not turn out well, at all.  Still, it is signed, and it isn't the worst that I've seen (which says a lot).  To be fair, the 1998 Stadium Club cards have a ton of gloss and that also could have contributed to the auto not sticking at all.

This 1998 Topps looks better, but still shows some of the signs of not sticking like the other one.

Karchner (b. 1967) played in the majors from 1995 to 2000 for the White Sox and Cubs.  He had a record of 21-13 with 166 strike outs and a 4.21 ERA.

I mailed to Karchner on October 19 and got the cards back on October 26, for a 7-day TAT.

Some Autos From Dugan

To say that I'm behind on posting would be an understatement.  I've got a stack of 50/50s and trades from this past season that I need to get scanned and while I am close to being caught up on TTM posts, I am still not quite there.  So, I am trying to get some cards scanned and posted to reduce my stacks and move stuff into my albums.

My good friend, Dugan, took some cards from me this season after I missed a few guys while graphing.  He was able to get the above 2021 National exclusive card of Blaze Jordan signed for me IP, which was nice of him.  Jordan signs TTM, and I intend to send to him, but I was glad Dugan got this card done for me without an inscription.

I had put aside a small stack of Indians Bowman cards and missed them when I saw Lynchburg this summer.  I found them and got them to Dugan before the season was out, and he helped me finish off the ones I could finish.  It was just nice to get them out of my box.

I had missed Lolo Sanchez a couple times, so it was nice to get one of my cards signed, and I was able to finish off the last Braxton Ashcraft card that I had.

I had missed this Mosaic Deivy Grullon while we were in Durham, so Dugan took it for me and got it done.  Thankfully, it was right before Grullon left the Bulls.

Finally, Dugan sent me this nice custom he made of himself that he had signed.  It will go in my autograph album with the rest of my cards.

Thanks so much for getting these done for me, buddy!

TTM Success - Billy Butler

This return took a long time, but was well worth it.  I had a ton of Billy Butler cards, and took a shot at getting a few of them signed, and it paid off.  The above 2010 Topps National Chicle turned out really well.  I like these cards, and have now gotten a few of them signed.  The Sharpie he used seems to have been dying, but this card turned out ok.

Some of the other cards turned out better than others, solely based on the Sharpie.  Still, I was glad to get the cards back signed after waiting for so long.

Butler (b. 1986) played in the majors from 2007 to 2016 for the Royals, A's and Yankees.  He had 1,479 hits, 147 home runs and a .290 batting average.  He was an All Star and Silver Slugger Award winner in 2012.  

I mailed to Butler on March 26, 2020, and got the cards back on October 25, 2021, for a 578-day TAT.

TTM Success - Lee Mazzilli

Lee Mazzilli was a tougher autograph to obtain for my 1987 set, but I was patient and waited for a private signing to happen.  One finally did, and I was able to cross Mazzilli off of my needs list.

Mazzilli (b. 1955) played in the majors from 1976 to 1989 for the Mets, Rangers, Yankees, Pirates and Blue Jays.  He had 1,068 hits, 93 home runs and a .259 batting average.  He was an All Star in 1979.  He won the World Series with the Mets in 1986.

Mazzilli managed the Orioles from 2004 to 2005 to a record of 129-140 (.480 win %).  The Orioles started out strong during the 2005 season, spending the beginning months of the season in first place.  The wheels fell off in a big way, and by the time Rafael Palmeiro was serving his suspension for a failed steroid test, Mazzilli was on his way out as manager.  I still feel like he got a raw deal and should have been given a longer leash, but that is life as an Oriole fan.

I mailed to the signing on September 18 and got the card back on October 25, for a 37-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $20.00.

TTM Success - Buddy Groom

Some more cards were taken out of the big Orioles box that Max sent me and sent off for TTM.  Well, some were from that box, and a couple others were ones that I had pulled a while back to send off.  They all got put together and sent out, and came back signed.

All of the Orioles cards (the 2003 Donruss, 2003 Topps Total and 2004 Topps Total) came from Max, and the 1993 Topps and 1994 Donruss were ones I had put aside in my TTM box and held onto for several years before I finally dropped them in the mail.  All of the cards look nice, and have been added to my album.

Groom (b. 1965) played in the majors from 1992 to 2005 for the Tigers, Marlins, A's, Orioles, Yankees and Diamondbacks.  He had a record of 31-32 with 494 strike outs and a 4.64 ERA.

I mailed to Groom on October 14 and got the cards back on October 25, for an 11-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Maury Wills

Among my stack of cards that I really wanted to get signed was this 1977 Topps Turn Back The Clock of Maury Wills.  I missed sending this out when I initially sent to Wills earlier this year, because I had put the card in a different box a while ago and found it recently.  I got the card done, finally, and it looks great.

I mailed to Wills on October 12 and got the card back on October 25, for a 13-day TAT.  I paid Wills's fee of $10.00.

TTM Success - Jack Cressend

A few more 1999 Bowmans came out of my box recently when I was able to get these three cards signed by Jack Cressend.

I got a bunch of 1999 and 2000 Bowman cards out of a box from my former LCS, and I have been going through them and trying to get some of them signed.  The chromes all kind of fused together with each other, and got a bit curved, but they are easily separated and didn't sustain much damage at all.  So, I have been able to send off some of them and get them signed.

Cressend (b. 1975) played in the majors from 2000 to 2004 for the Twins and Indians.  He had a record of 5-5 with 104 strike outs and a 4.20 ERA.

I mailed to Cressend on October 15 and got the cards back on October 23, for an 8-day TAT.

TTM Success - Travis Hafner

Another card that I found while digging through my boxes was this really cool 2001 Bowmans Best Franchise Futures Travis Hafner.  I added it to my stack of stuff that I really wanted to get signed, and sent it off not too long after.  He signs through PastPros, so I had no problems getting it signed; it was more of waiting until I wanted to pay.  The card turned out great and looks awesome in my album.

Hafner (b. 1977) played in the majors from 2002 to 2013 for the Rangers, Indians and Yankees.  He had 1,107 hits, 213 home runs and a .273 batting average.  His best MVP finish was 5th in 2005.  He appeared on the 2019 Hall of Fame ballot, but received no votes.

I mailed to Hafner via PastPros on October 9 and got the card back on October 22, for a 13-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jack Voigt

Here are some cards from the mid-90s that I was able to get signed TTM from former Oriole, Jack Voigt.  For the longest time, these kinds of cards were almost invisible to me when I would be looking through boxes.  I had seen so many cards from this era because that was the era I grew up in, card-wise.  So, while I would be digging out some nice vintage, or looking for more contemporary inserts and parallels to get signed, these cards would just sit.  I have gotten a new appreciation for these lately, and cards like the above 1995 Topps Stadium Club turn out really well when signed.

I had raided my Orioles box for TTM subjects, since returns had all but dried up the last few months.  In that search, I found several guys from this era who sign, and I was able to move a lot of cards out and create some space.  Cards like the above 1994 Score Select and 1995 Score look really great.

I was also able to add a 1994 Topps to my album, as well as a 1995 Fleer Ultra.  The worst part about cards from the mid 90s is the over-gloss, but fortunately, none of these cards had stuck together with others, and all are in great shape.

Voigt (b. 1966) played in the majors from 1992 to 1998 for the Orioles, Rangers, Brewers and A's.  He had 138 hits, 20 home runs and a .235 batting average.

I mailed to Voigt on October 12 and got the cards back on October 22, for a 10-day TAT.

A Bunch of Autos From Max

My good friend, Max, just sent me a nice stack of IP autos that he had gotten done recently.  I contributed some of the cards to his efforts, so it was nice to see some of them come back signed.  I like the above 2007 Topps CoSigners of Joe Crede.  I may have to send it off to Tadahito Iguchi, as well, and complete the card.

Max tossed in a couple minor league cards that I know I didn't contribute.  It will be cool to add them to the autograph album, for sure.

I was especially glad to move the several 2000 Topps Crede rookies and the 2007 Allen & Ginters that I had.  Some of that stuff can be hard to move, to when I get a chance to, I jump on it.

Here are a few more guys that Max added.  I'm pretty sure I didn't provide the 2013 Topps Geovany Soto, but if I had, then good, because I have a ton of 2013 Topps and I definitely am happy to thin out that box.

I know I sent Max some Rafael Furcal cards, so it is very likely the 2006 Topps, 2010 Topps and 2013 Topps came from me.  I like the minor league card, as well, because I wouldn't have had this one in my collection at all, if not for Max.

These two Jose Contreras cards appear to have gotten smudged a bit.  No worries, they still will have a good home in my album with the rest of the cards.

Finally, here are a couple Carl Everett cards.  I'm not sure if I sent any of Everett to Max in the past, but I have a ton of 1991 Bowman and don't often get much of a chance to move any.

Thank you so much for the signed cards, Max!  I look forward to the next list of names you send me so I can move some stuff out of my boxes again.

TTM Success - Dave Trembley

Dave Trembley may not be remembered as the best manager to ever helm the Orioles, but given the teams he was handed, I think he did an admirable job.  We met him back when he was managing the Orioles, and he was one of the nicest guys I've ever met.  I was really sad when he was let go, but he quickly latched on with the Braves.  I finally got around to sending to him TTM, and got some nice cards taken care of.  The above 1991 Classic Best came out of a bargain box my wife bought off of Ebay.  This might have been one of the highlights of the box, and I kept it with my Orioles stuff for over 10 years.  I have finally moved this card to my autograph album, where it should have been kept all along.

I have cards of Orioles managers all in succession in my Orioles box, so Trembley's cards weren't hard to locate.  I got a (from left) 2010 Topps Heritage, 2009 Topps Heritage and 2009 Topps signed.

Trembley also included this Orioles post card that he signed.  He also inscribed the back with his tenure as Orioles manager.

Trembley (b. 1951) managed the Orioles from 2007 to 2010 to a record of 187-283 (.398 win %).  His teams were plagued by a lack of pitching, which seems to be the case most times when talking about the Orioles over the last 10-15 years.  He was dealt a tough hand, and managed with class.  A lot of the Orioles players who would see some success under Buck Showalter broke in under Trembley.

Trembley began managing in the minors in Kinston (I didn't know that, until just now) in 1986.  Back then, they were the unaffiliated Kinston Eagles.  He moved to the Pirates organization from 1987 to 1989.  After a break from managing in 1990, he managed Charleston (in the Padres) organization from 1991 to 1992 and Wichita (also Padres org.) in 1993.  Trembley then spent time in the Cubs organization 1994 to 2002, managing Orlando, Daytona, West Tennessee and Iowa.  His first stop in the Orioles organization was in 2003, when he was tapped to manage AA Bowie.  He spent 2 seasons in Bowie, then 2 at the Orioles then-AAA team in Ottawa, before managing the Orioles in 2007.

I mailed to Trembley on October 12 and got the cards back on October 19, for a 7-day TAT.

TTM Success - Ryan Kohlmeier

My good friend, Max, sent me a huge box of Orioles cards.  I went through the box and found a ton of guys who sign TTM, so I sent a bunch of the stuff off.  I had completely forgotten about Ryan Kohlmeier's time as an Oriole.  I sent off some really nice cards; I got two of the four cards back, but I'll take it as a success.

Kohlmeier (b. 1977) played in the majors from 2000 to 2001 for the Orioles.  He had a record of 1-3 with 46 strike outs and a 5.37 ERA.

I mailed to Kohlmeier on October 12 and got the cards back on October 19, for a 7-day TAT.

Benny Ayala Cards From Jackson

My friend, Jackson, recently went on a graphing trip to Puerto Rico recently, and came back with several signed Benny Ayala cards for me.  I cleaned out my boxes of Ayala stuff and took these 6 cards back.  The above 1981 Topps turned out great.

I got a couple old Fleer cards (1981top left; 1983 top right), an older Donruss (1984, bottom left) and a 1985 Topps buyback (bottom right).  I was really glad to get the buyback signed, since I had it in my box for a while since I pulled it out of the pack.

I also got this 1991 Crown Orioles card signed, and it turned out well, also.

Ayala (b. 1951) played in the majors in 1974, 1976 to 1977 and 1979 to 1985 for the Mets, Cardinals, Orioles and Indians.  He had 217 hits, 38 home runs and a .251 batting average.

Jackson really hooked me up with these.  I'm hoping I can send him back to Puerto Rico with some cards of other guys the next time he goes back.

TTM Success - Jamie Westbrook

Moving 2014 Bowmans out of my box is always nice, and the stack I have of them is getting smaller.  I really enjoyed this set and all of the parallels in it, but it is nice to reduce things down and make room for more stuff.  So, periodically, I go through the box and look for guys who I can send to TTM.  I was successful in getting these two cards back from Jamie Westbrook.

Westbrook (b. 1995) was a fifth round pick by the Diamondbacks in the 2013 June Amateur Draft out of Basha High School in Arizona.  He he has played in the minors from 2013 to 2021 in the Diamondbacks and Brewers systems, reaching AAA.  He has 905 hits, 88 home runs and a .280 batting average.

I mailed to Westbrook on May 6 and got the cards back on October 18, for a 165-day TAT.

TTM Success - Kevin Millwood

Another private signing popped up and immediately I thought of a card that I wanted to get signed.  This 2011 Topps Heritage retail black parallel of Kevin Millwood always jumped out at me when I would go through my Orioles box.  I don't know what it is, but I just wanted to get the card signed.  So, when I saw Millwood show up on SCN for a signing, I dug through my box and found the card.

I decided that I also wanted to send off this 2004 Topps Season Highlights card that I had rescued from a factory set that had been headed to the dumpster at my former LCS.  I just thought the card would look cool in my album, so I sent it along, as well.

Millwood (b. 1974) is a North Carolina native and played in the majors from 1997 to 2012 for the Braves, Phillies, Indians, Rangers, Orioles, Rockies and Mariners.  He had a career record of 169-152 with 2,083 strike outs and a 4.11 ERA.  He won the ERA title in 2005 (2.86) and was an All Star in 1999.  His best finish in the Cy Young race was 3rd (NL) in 1999.  His best MVP finish was 26th, also in 1999.

I mailed to the signing on September 11 and got the cards back on October 16, for a 35-day TAT.  I forgot what I paid in fees.

TTM Success - Chris Bassitt

Here are some nice cards that I was able to get signed by A's pitcher, Chris Bassitt.  The above 2015 Topps turned out really well.  I like the green border on this card and think it was one of the best color combinations out of this set.

I also got a 2020 Topps and a 2020 Topps rainbow foil signed, and they both turned out great.

Bassitt (b. 1989) has played in the majors from 2014 to 2016 and 2018 to present for the White Sox and A's.  He has a record of 31-25 with 504 strike outs and a 3.47 ERA.  He was an All Star this season and finished 10th in the AL Cy Young race.  That wasn't his best finish, though, he finished 8th last season.

I mailed to Bassitt on March 4 via A's Spring Training and got the cards back on October 14, for a 224-day TAT.