TTM Success - Kurt Ainsworth

Here is another Oriole added to my autograph album, Kurt Ainsworth. The cards I sent him were some pretty nice ones, like the above 2004 Upper Deck. I have very few of these, so adding this one was great.  I had been waiting for Ainsworth to sign for a while, and the time finally came to send to him.

I also got a 2004 Topps Total and a 2005 Topps Chrome signed.  Both of these had been buried in my Orioles box, and are now in the autograph album. 

Ainsworth (b. 1978) played in the majors from 2001 to 2004 for the Giants and Orioles. He had a record of 6-8 with 90 strike outs and a 5.19 ERA.

I mailed to Ainsworth on October 14 and got the cards back on December 10, for a 57-day TAT.

TTM Success - Antonio Alfonseca

Adding cards from the 2000s to my autograph album might be the toughest task there is, especially via TTM.  It just feels like there aren't as many players from that decade who sign regularly, but I could be wrong.  I was able to get Antonio Alfonseca on a few cards, most notably on this 2005 Topps Chrome.  Even though the Sharpie he used wasn't the best, the card turned out well.

I also sent him a 2001 Topps and a 2005 Topps.  Both look pretty cool when signed.

Alfonseca (b. 1972) played in the majors from 1997 to 2007 for the Marlins, Cubs, Braves, Rangers and Phillies.  He had a career record of 35-37 with 400 strike outs and a 4.11 ERA.  He had 45 saves in 2000 to lead the NL, and put him at 22nd on the MVP Award ballot that season.  However, his 4.24 ERA that season makes me wonder how many of them were nail-biters.

Alfonseca won the World Series with the Marlins in 1997.

I mailed to him on March 25 and got the cards back on April 27, for a 33-day TAT.