TTM Success - Jason Grilli

Here are several.cards that I got back signed TTM from former pitcher, Jason Grilli.  He signs through the same group as Sean Casey.  He also included an extra card, much like Casey did.

Grilli (b. 1976) played in the majors in 2000, 2001, from 2004 to 2009 and from 2011 to 2017 for the Marlins, White Sox, Tigers, Rockies, Rangers, Pirates, Angels, Braves and Blue Jays.  He had a record of 34-47 with 694 strike outs and a 4.22 ERA.  He was an All.Star in 2013.

I mailed to Grilli on November 4 and got the cards back on November 12 for an 8-day TAT.  I paid his fee of $5/card.  He even sent a note back saying it sent him some good ones.

TTM Success - Nick Bierbrodt

These two cards that I got back signed TTM from Nick Bierbrodt turned out pretty well.  I liked the above 2001 Upper Deck; it came from a box I got from a card show with Ryan.

This 2002 Topps was also decent.  The corners got a little beat up, but I'm still happy it came back signed. 

Bierbrodt (b. 1978) played in the majors in 2001, 2003 and 2004 for the Diamondbacks, Devil Rays, Indians and Rangers. He had a record of 6-9 with 112 strike outs and a 6.66 ERA.  In 2002, Bierbrodt was shot three times in the chest and arm in Charleston, SC.  He missed the entire 2002 season while recovering from his injuries.

I mailed to Bierbrodt on March 13 and got the cards back on November 7 for a 239-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Jay Bell

There have been quite a few TTM success recently where I went back and got guys I had gotten before.  This was a result of going through a bunch of boxes during the playoffs and amassing a huge stack of guys to send to.  One of them was Jay Bell.  Bell signs a bunch, and has a ton of cool cards.  The above 1992 Donruss Diamond King was a definite highlight.

The above 2000 Bowman and 2001 Upper Deck were some pretty cool cards.  I like how Bowman updated the classic 1955 Bowman TV Set design.  That's one of my all-time favorite sets and adding this with the updated (now, not so updated) design to the autograph album. 

I also got a 1993 Triple Play, 1995 Finest, 1998 Topps and 1999 Topps signed during this TTM request to Bell.

I mailed to Bell on October 11 and got the cards back on November 15, for a 35-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Jay Canizaro

Here is a nice 2001 Upper Deck that I found in my box that got sent off to be signed TTM.  This card has a great shot of Jay Canizaro, and looks really great signed.

Canizaro (b. 1973) played in the majors in 1996, 1999, 2000 and  2002 for the Giants and Twins.  He had 149 hits, 10 home runs and a .250 batting average. 

I mailed to Canizaro on September 7 and got the card back on November 13, for a 67-day TAT.

TTM Success - John Halama

This 2001 Upper Deck of John Halama was one of those cards that I found in a box that I just had to get autographed once I saw it.  It was among a small stack of 2001 Uper Decks that I had found at a show with my good friend, Ryan, earlier this year.  I didn't realize how much I enjoyed the photography of this set.  I was really glad that I added the stack to a bulk deal that I had made at that show.

Because I had seen that Halama was signing, I found a few of his other cards in my boxes; a 2002, 2003 and 2004 Topps, along with another card from the bulk deal at the show, the below 2000 Upper Deck.

Halama (b. 1972) played in the majors from 1998 to 2006 for the Astros, Mariners, A's, Devil Rays, Red Sox, Nationals and Orioles.  He had a record of 56-48 with 492 strike outs and a 4.65 ERA.

I mailed to Halama on March 16 and got the cards back on May 12, for a 57-day TAT.

TTM Success - Brian Tollberg

Here are a couple cards that I picked up at a show, recently, then sent off for TTM.  The above 2001 Upper Deck of Brian Tollberg is a nice card; I had forgotten how mice a set 2001 Upper Deck was.  It's a clean design, and the cards look good when signed.

I had also gotten this 2001 Topps signed, which also turned out nicely.

Tollberg (b. 1972) played in the majors from 2000 to 2003 for the Padres.  He had a record of 15-16 with 182 strike outs and a 4.48 ERA.

I mailed to Tollberg on March 23 and got the cards back on March 31, for an 8-day TAT.

Christmas Present From my In-Laws - Brooks Robinson Signed Upper Deck Card

My in-laws actually read my blog on a regular basis, from what I'm told.  So, when I opened one of my Christmas presents and saw it was the above Brooks Robinson signed 2001 Upper Deck Endless Summer card, I knew they'd get to see it again.  The card comes with a full COA from Upper Deck, which I haven't seen for a card before.  Its pretty cool, actually.  I kind of wish they had affixed their COA sticker on the back of the card, though.  Oh well.

According to the COA, the card was signed in front of an Upper Deck representative in Rock Hill, South Carolina in 2001.  My question is, since I was living in Charlotte at that time, how did I miss that Brooks would be in nearby Rock Hill?  Oh, that's right, I was a broke college student at the time.  That might be why I missed it.  That would have been cool, though, to meet Brooks as he was in the area.  Well, I got my chance 8 years later.

Anyway, I love this card and I'm glad my in-laws thought well enough of me to get it for me for Christmas.  I'm surprised that my mother-in-law didn't get me a signed Yankees card, since she likes to pick on me being an Orioles fan.  Her dad (my wife's grandpa) was nice enough to call me and gloat about the Yankees signing Brian Roberts.  Thanks, Pop, I appreciate that.

So, thanks to my in-laws for this awesome signed Brooks Robinson card.  I really love it and it will be added to my Brooks PC.

Finally Found a Trade Partner in Town

It has been over 4 years since I moved out this way from Charlotte, effectively leaving most of my friends and family behind.  It is hard for me to get out and meet folks.  I don't normally walk up to people and say "Hey, let's be friends.", because, well, that would be a bit creepy.

Anyway, the Town of Winterville (where I live) had a steak cookoff on Saturday.  They also had local vendors, carnival rides, etc.  One of the vendors was a young fellow named Corey who sells cards.  I had seen an ad he placed on facebook about selling a box of cards, so I made sure to stop by and say hello at the festival.

I did and took a look at his wares and ended up buying a few bucks worth.  A few things for myself and a few trade pieces.  Well, not really trade, more like 'random care package' stuff.  I got the above 1993 Upper Deck Grand Slam Cal Ripken, the below 2001 Upper Deck Endless Summer Brooks Robinson as well as a few random cards of Hall of Famers: Walter Johnson, Harry Heilmann and Hank Greenberg.

Corey dropped by last night and we went through a few boxes of cards together, just to show him a little bit of what I had available for sale/trade.  It was nice sitting in the comfort of my living room and talking cards with someone other than my wife.  She probably appreciates the break.