TTM Success - Joel McKeon

A random 1988 Topps made it into the autograph album when this one came back signed TTM from Joel McKeon.  A true Junk Wax Era cards, but it is still a nice addition. 

McKeon (b. 1963) played in the majors in 1986 and 1987 for the White Sox.  He and a record of 4-3 with 32 strike outs and a 5.17 ERA.

I mailed to McKeon on January 8 and got the card back on February 4 for a 27-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Ross Jones

A random 1988 Topps was added to the autograph album when this card came back signed TTM from Ross Jones.  There is a lot of blue on this card, but it definitely isn't a problem. 

Jones (b. 1960) played in the majors in 1984, 1986 and 1987 for the Mets, Mariners and Royals.  He had 32 hits, no home runs and a .221 batting average. 

I mailed to Jones on October 31 and got the card back on January 27 for an 88-day TAT.

TTM Success - Don Gordon

Something funny about my autograph album is that 1988 Topps is a bit underrepresented. Compared to a set like 1973 Topps, of which I have 167 signed cards, i have just 96 signed 1988 Topps.  For a set that is so overproduced, it's just a little odd that I don't have as many signed cards.  Don't Gordon was the most recent addition to the album from 1988 Topps, and the card turned out nicely.

Gordon also included this nice religious tract card.  I like when players add extras to the submission. 

Gordon (b. 1959) played in the majors from 1986 to 1988 for the Blue Jays and Indians.  He had a record of 3-8 with 56 strike outs and a 4.72 ERA.

I mailed to Gordon on November 18 and got the cards back on December 2 for a 14-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Guy Hoffman

Here are a few 80s cards that I got back signed TTM from Guy Hoffman.  The above 1980 Topps White Sox Future Stars card looks pretty cool.

Above left is a 1987 Fleer Update and above right is a 1988 Topps.  Hoffman inscribed both of these for me, and both look great.

Hoffman (b. 1956) played in the majors in 1979, 1980, 1983 and from 1986 to  1988 for the White Sox, Cubs, Reds and Rangers.  He had a record of 17-17 with 187 strike outs and a 4.25 ERA.

I mailed to Hoffman on October 31 and got the cards back on November 26 for a 26-day TAT. 

Another TTM Success From Tim Birtsas

Here are some more cards of Tim Birtstas that I got signed TTM recently.  I've held these cards for a while.  I was glad to add the above 1989 Score to the autograph album. 

I also added the above 1986 Donruss (left) and the above 1988 Topps (right).

I mailed to Birtsas on November 6 and got the cards back on November 21 for a 15-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Jay Baller

Ah man. I've wanted to get this 1988 Topps Jay Baller card signed for so long.  The chest hair and chains card that my former friend Max and I used to laugh about is now locked into my autograph album. California Max, not Chicago Max, as I usually explain to Chris.  Chicago Max actually sent to this signing too, I believe. 

Baller (b. 1960) played in the majors in 1982, 1985 to 1987, 1990 and 1992 for the Phillies, Cubs and Royals.  He had a record of 4-9 with 117 strike outs and a 5.24.ERA.

I got this card signed through a private signing, since Baller doesn't sign TTM often.  I sent to the signing on August 10 and got the card back on October 25 for a 76-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $10.00.

More Signed Cards From Max

My friend, Max, sent me another batch of signed cards recently that added a ton more guys to the autograph album.  He has helped me get so many cards out of my boxes and got them signed.   The above Garrett Cooper 2021 Topps rainbow foil turned out great.  I'm pretty sure I'm out of Garrett Cooper cards by now, but you never know. There's probably a box in my stack of boxes that has a couple more I need to dig out.

Something that I have learned to love is the search function of the blog.  If I mention all of the players shown, I'll be able to search and know who I have in my albums.  That's a big help, especially when someone like Max hooks me up with so many different players.  So, here are signed cards of Ryan O'Hearn, Korey Lee, Kyle Cody, Ty Blach, Garrett Cooper and Brenton Doyle.

I was really glad to get some Cole Tucker cards signed, especially the 2019 Bowman Heritage (top left). The 2021 Topps Pro Debut of Alfonso Rivas looks nice.  Im reappy glad to get those out of the boxes because the font used on 2021 Topps, Chrome and Pro Debut is so hard to read, especially when leafing through cards in a hurry.

Kyle Freeland, Peter Lambert and Jake Bird round out this stack of cards.

Here are two team cards Max used, Tyler Holton at the top and Joe Davis at the bottom.

Here are a bunch of coach cards that Max got signed: Rigo Beltran, Lane Zawadski, Darren Holmes, Dave Bush, Tom Goodwin and Juan Nieves.  That Dave Bush 2007 Topps Heritage turned out great.  I wish I had kept the bulk cards I used to have from that set.

Finally, here are a few Bobby Meacham and Jose Hernandez cards.

Thanks for hooking me up, as always, Max.  I have another box ready to ship, which will hopefully go out tomorrow!

TTM Success - Greg Cadaret

Some Junk Wax era cards were removed from the boxes and added to the autograph album when I got this TTM success back from Greg Cadaret.  I had to dig to find the working address, but I was successful.  The above 1991 Donruss turned out nicely. 

I also added a few of his Topps cards; a 1988, 1989 and 1994.

Cadaret (b. 1962) played in the majors from 1987 to 1994 and 1997 to 1998 for the A's, Yankees, Reds, Royals, Blue Jays, Tigers, Angels and Rangers.  He had a record of 38-32 with 539 strike outs and a 3.99 ERA.

I mailed to Cadaret on October 16 and got the cards back on February 20, for a 127-day TAT.

TTM Success - Mike Boddicker

One more 1991 Crown Orioles card was added to the autograph album when I finally sent a TTM request out to former Oriole, Mike Boddicker.  I thought I had gotten him TTM before, but apparently not.

I had some nice cards of his to send.  I got the above 1985 Topps Glossy All Stars and a 1988 Topps signed. I also got a 1981 Topps Orioles rookies signed, then sent that one off to Floyd Rayford.  It also has Mark Corey on it, so I should be able to fill that card up.

Boddicker (b. 1957) played in the majors from 1980 to 1993 for the Orioles, Red Sox, Royals and Brewers.  He had a record of 134-116 with 1,330 strike outs and a 3.80 ERA.

He was a 20-game winner in 1984.  That season, he was an All Star.  He also finished 4th in the AL Cy Young race and 25th in the AL MVP voting.  He finished 3rd in the 1983 AL Rookie of the Year voting in 1983 and was a Gold Glove Award winner in 1990.  He won the World Series with the Orioles in 1983.  He appeared on the 1999 Hall of Fame ballot, but received no votes.

I mailed to Boddicker on January 31 and got the cards back on February 10, for a 10-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Casey Candaele

A bunch of late 80s to early 90s stuff came in signed TTM from Casey Candaele.  The above 1988 Toys R Us is the card that drove the whole thing.  It is the first one of these to make it into the album. I have no idea where I got it, but it is pretty cool. 

I also got a 1988 Topps, 1991 Topps, 1992 Topps and a 1991 Donruss signed.  They all turned out great.

Candaele (b. 1961) played in the majors from 1986 to 1988, 1990 to 1993 and 1996 to 1997 for the Expos, Astros and Indians.  He had 43 hits, 11 home runs and a .250 batting average. 

I mailed to Candaele on October 17 and got the cards back on November 20, for a 34-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Bob Brower

While I have a ton of 1988 and 1989 Topps, I don't have near as many in my autograph album compared to other sets from that era.  1988 especially is underrepresented. I added one to the album with this TTM success from Bob Brower.  The 1988 turned out nicely.

The 1989 turned out well, also.

Brower (b. 1960) played in the majors from 1986 to 1989 for the Rangers and Yankees.  He had 141 hits, 17 home runs and a .242 batting average.

I mailed to Brower on June 30 and got the cards back on July 20, for a 20-day TAT. 

2023 National Free Signer - Steve Trout

The next free signer at the National was Steve Trout, a guy who I had gotten as a free signer before at a National a few years ago.  I had a bunch of his cards put aside for a potential TTM at some point.  I had held off sending to him because I didn't want to pay a fee to send to someone I've already met.  I'm glad I waited, because I ended up with 6 of Trout's vouchers.

I got the above 1981 Topps signed, which turned out well 

I also got a 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1988 Topps signed.

The above 1989 Topps was one I found while locking for Jim Gantner cards prior to leaving for the show, and it turned out nicely, as well.

Trout is always fun to meet.  He's very friendly and seems to enjoy doing signings. I believe I have most of his Topps run signed, so that's a plus.

2023 National Free Signer - Jim Gantner

Jim Gantner was the next free signer at the National.  I had gotten him a while back on my 1987 Topps, so I had to dig out some other stuff for the show.  I got the above 1989 Topps Big signed, and it turned out really well.

I also got a 1988 Donruss Baseballs Best (these look so cool with the orange border), a 1988 Topps and a 1990 Topps signed.

Gantner has a really nice signature.  I kind of wish I had brought an 87, just to upgrade it with the thinner marker he was using.

TTM Success - Mike Trujillo

Here are some nice mid-80s, Junk Wax Era cards that I got signed TTM by Mike Trujillo.  The above 1986 Topps turned out nicely.  This has always been an underrated set.  I think it may be due to the only big rookie card in the (base) set is Ozzie Guillen.  I don't count Traded, but there is a Bonds and Bo Jackson in that one, which pumps that up just a bit.

I also got a 1987 Donruss and a 1988 Topps signed during this TTM request, and both cards turned out well.

Trujillo (b. 1960) played in the majors from 1985 to 1989 for the Red Sox, Mariners and Tigers.  He had a record of 12-12 with 96 strike outs and a 5.02 ERA.

I mailed to Trujillo on November 7 and got the cards back on January 9, for a 63-day TAT.

TTM Success - Steve Shields

A couple late 80s cards were added to the autograph album when I got this TTM success back from Steve Shields.  One would think that I would have a ton of 1988 and 1989 Topps in the album, but I don't have nearly as many as I do of some of the early 80s issues.  I think a big part of it is that going through those boxes can be kind of tedious, so I avoid them a lot of times.  I have been trying to add some more 88s and 89s to the album, though, so more may be coming in soon.

Shields (b. 1958) played in the majors from 1985 to 1989 for the Braves, Royals, Mariners, Yankees and Twins.  He had a record of 8-8 with 126 strike outs and a 5.26 ERA.

I mailed to Shields on October 27 and got the cards back on December 12, for a 46-day TAT.

TTM Success - Brad Arnsberg

Some more Junk Wax Era cards were added to my autograph album with this TTM success from Brad Arnsberg.  I liked the above 1991 Donruss Series 2 card that I got back signed.  I don't have nearly as many of these, as I do of Series 1, but I do have a few packs I got from my grandma a while back.  I sent a couple of the cards off, and this one was one of those.

I also got back a 1988 Topps, 1990 Topps Traded and a 1992 Stadium Club.

Arnsberg (b. 1963) played in the majors from 1986 to 1987 and 1989 to 1992 for the Yankees, Rangers and Indians.  He had a record of 9-6 with 100 strike outs and a 4.26 ERA.

I mailed to Arnsberg on November 23 and got the cards back on December 6, for a 13-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jay Aldrich

Here's another guy who I didn't now was an Oriole, Jay Aldrich.  I found his card in the 1991 Crown Orioles set, and found a couple other cards from 1988 (a Topps and Donruss).  I sent them off TTM, and they came back signed in black Sharpie.

Aldrich (b. 1961) played in the majors in 1987 and from 1989 to 1990 for the Brewers, Braves and Orioles.  He had a record of 6-5 with 46 strike outs and a 4.72 ERA.

I mailed to Aldrich on November 15 and got the cards back on November 26, for an 11-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jim Eisenreich

Hey, it's another 1995 Fleer in my autograph album! The freakiest set yields some nice signed cards, and this one was the key to what I sent off TTM to Jim Eisenreich.

I added some nice Topps cards, as well, but the Fleer turned out the best, in my opinion.

This 1998 Topps is a great card, as well.

Eisenreich (b. 1959) played in the majors from 1982 to 1984 and 1987 to 1998 for the Twins, Royals, Phillies, Marlins and Dodgers.  He had 1,160 hits, 52 home runs and a .290 batting average.  He won the World Series with the Marlins in 1997. He appeared on the 2004 Hall of Fame ballot, but received only 0.6% of the vote.

I mailed to Eisenreich on February 10 and got the cards back on March 19, for a 37-day TAT.

TTM Success - Mike Hart

A couple more Orioles cards were added to the album when I got this TTM success back from Mike Hart.  His 1988 Topps (above) looks nice now that it is signed.  I had quite a few of them, so it was nice to move one out of the box and into the album.

I also went ahead and got my 1991 Crown Orioles signed, and it also turned out well.

Hart (b. 1958) played in the majors in 1984 and 1987 for the Twins and Orioles.  He had 17 hits, 4 home runs and a .162 batting average.

I mailed to Hart on October 19 and got the cards back on November 1, for a 13-day TAT.

2021 National Free Signer - Jack Clark

Jack Clark was another of the free signers, and another guy who I had already gotten through a paid signing for my 1987 set.  So, I selected a variety of cards to get him to sign, starting with the above 1992 Topps.  I had this card set aside for a while, since it was the next on my list of his cards that I wanted to add to my album.  1992 Topps has some really nice shots in the set, and this one is right at the top of them, I believe.

I also had Clark sign his 1988 Topps, 1989 Score and 1991 Fleer.  The card slid a bit on my scanner, so it turned out a bit crooked.

Clark was really nice, and when I mentioned to him that my dad drag raced for over 40 years (Clark, a former drag racer, himself), and when I told him who my dad is, Clark asked me to get Dad's autograph for him.  That was really cool, especially since Clark gave me his phone number to do so.