Another TTM Success From Ryan Church

Here is another 2010 Topps Update that has been added to the autograph album. I got this one back TTM from Ryan Church. I had sent to him back in 2019, so it was time to add another of his autographs to the album. 

I mailed to Church on December 23 and got the card back on January 16, for a 24-day TAT. 

Some Autographs From Aidan

My friend Aidan took some cards from me for the Cape Cod league to get signed this summer.  He sent me back a few signed Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Aidan got a few Saltalamacchias done and also sent me back some other random cards like the above 2017 Update Jacob Faria and the 1988 Donruss Jose Mesa.

All of the cards loom great.  Thank you so much for the autographs, Aidan!

2023 National Free Signer - Geoff Blum

The next free signer was someone I hadn't gotten in person or TTM previously, Geoff Blum.  A good many of this year's signers were guys I had gotten before, so it was nice pulling cards that I hadn't gotten signed.  The above 2009 Topps Update turned out nicely.

Both of these (2003 Topps and 2010 Topps Update) also look nice.

Blum (b. 1973) played in the majors from 1999 to 2012 for the Expos, Astros, Devil Rays, Padres, White Sox and Diamondbacks.  He had 990 hits, 99 home runs and a .250 batting average.  He won the World Series in 2005 with the White Sox.

TTM Success - Hideki Matsui

A private signing came along recently that I junked into so I could get this really cool 2010 Topps Update signed by Hideki Matsui.  I'm sure most folks who signed up for the signing sent in Yankees stuff, but I have always liked this card. Now it is in my autograph album. 

Matsui (b. 1974) played in the majors from 2003 to 2012 for the Yankees, Angels, A's and Rays.  He had 1,253 hits, 175 home runs and a .282 batting average.  He was an All Star in 2003 and 2004.  He finished 2nd in the 2003 AL Rookie of the Year voting (to Angel Berroa).  His best MVP finish was 14th in 2005.  He won the World Series in 2009 with the Yankees.  He was the MVP of that World Series.

I mailed to the signing on December 21 and got the card back on February 13, for a 54-day TAT.

TTM Success - Colby Lewis

This TTM success from former pitcher, Colby Lewis, added some nice cards to the autograph album.  The above 2015 Topps Stadium Club is a great card, from a great set, and I was glad to get it signed.

I also got a 2010 Topps Update and a 2015 Topps Heritage signed by Lewis, and both turned out nicely, as well.

Lewis (b. 1979) played in the majors from 2002 to 2004, 2006 to 2007, 2010 to 2012 and 2014 to 2016 for the Rangers, A's and Tigers.  He had a record of 77-72 with 961 strike outs and a 4.70 ERA.

I mailed to Lewis on May 10, 2021, and got the cards back on December 17, 2022, for a 586-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jose Tabata

I got some cards from the 2010s out of my boxes with this TTM success from Jose Tabata.  The above 2012 Topps turned out really well.  I like the scoreboard backdrop behind Tabata, and how it matches up with the Pirates colors on the card.

Tabata also signed a 2010 Topps Update and a 2013 Topps for me.  His Sharpie of choice was a light blue, but I think it still looks good on the cards.

Tabata (b. 1988) played in the majors from 2010 to 2015 for the Pirates.  He had 438 hits, 17 home runs and a .275 batting average.

I mailed to Tabata on July 21 and got the cards back on August 3, for a 13-day TAT.

TTM Success - Fred Lewis

I got some cool cards back TTM from Fred Lewis.  The above 2007 Topps Rookie 52 really looks nice.  I've had those cards since they came out, and I haven't been able ot do a whole lot with them.  Getting this one signed at least gets one out of my box.

These two cards are some really great shots.  A 2010 Topps and a 2010 Topps Update both show Lewis sliding in for a play.  I love getting great action shots signed, and these two will look really cool in my album.

Finally, I had this 2007 Topps signed.  I used to have a lot more of this set, but I sold off most of them at past card shows.

Lewis (b. 1980) played in the majors from 2006 to 2012 for the Giants, Blue Jays, Reds and Mets.  He had 415 hits, 27 home runs and a .266 batting average.

I mailed to Lewis on October 2 and got the cards back on December 31, for a 90-day TAT.

TTM Success - John Jaso

I added some pretty sweet cards to my album with this TTM success from John Jaso.  The above 2010 Topps Update is a card that I was really happy to see come back signed.  I love the horizontal shot, and the headfirst slide.  This card is really great!

I was also able to pull a couple old cards out of my boxes, the above 2009 Bowman has been in there since 09, and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get any more of those out of there.  The above 2011 Topps Heritage was something I threw in right as I was preparing my envelope for mailing, and it turned out really nicely as well.

Jaso (b. 1983) played in the majors in 2008 and from 2010 to 2017 for the Rays, Mariners, A's and Pirates.  He had 573 hits, 55 home runs and a .258 batting average.

I mailed to Jaso on January 14 and I got the cards back on January 28, for a 14-day TAT.

TTM Success - Alex Gonzalez

This was a pretty cool TTM success from Alex Gonzalez.  It is a bit tougher to get returns from more recent players, but there are a few of them, now, who are actively signing.

Also, I have so much mid-to-late 2000s stuff, it is hard and time consuming for me to go through those boxes.  So, being able to put some of those cards to use is always a good feeling.

I chose some nice cards of Gonzalez to send along; the above horizontal cards were really nice ones.  I like the 1960 design on the 2009 Heritage, and the 2010 Topps Update looks really nice.

I also added a couple mid 2000s to the album, a 2006 Topps and a 2007 Topps.  I would like to get some more 2006 Topps so I can add more to the album.  I used to have a bunch, but they were damaged when I moved several years ago.

Gonzalez (b. 1977) played in the majors from 1998 to 2007 and 2009 to 2014 for the Marlins, Red Sox, Reds, Blue Jays, Braves, Brewers and Tigers.  He had 1,418 hits, 157 home runs and a .245 batting average.  He was an All Star in 1999 and won the World Series with the Marlins in 2003.

I mailed to Gonzalez on January 8 and got the cards back on January 27, for a 19-day TAT.

TTM Success - Rob Johnson

I got some late 2000s, early 2010s cards back signed from Rob Johnson with this TTM success.  I really liked the 2008 UD Piece of History that I was able to get signed.  I didn't have any of these in my album, yet, so I was glad to get one out of the way.

I also had a 2010 Topps Update and a 2008 Upper Deck that I got signed.  All of the cards turned out really nice.

Johnson (b. 1982) played in the majors from 2007 to 2013 for the Mariners, Padres, Mets and Cardinals.  He had 147 hits, 8 home runs and a .200 batting average.

I mailed to Johnson on August 7 and got the cards back on September 9, for a 33-day TAT.

Finally Brian Matusz Has a Topps Card

...and I own it, thanks to Pete. I think I traded him a Swisher for it, but I forget.
Matusz really turned it on at the end of the season. I think he will get some votes for Rookie of the Year, but will lose the award to Neftali Feliz. At the beginning of the season, Matusz was poised to win, but a mediocre middle of the season really ended his hopes. I still believe that he will win 20+ games many times in his career and will be on par with the likes of great Oriole pitchers from the past like Mussina and Palmer. I'm glad that I finally have a Topps card of Matusz. Now, if they'd only get Wieters on one, I'd be good to go.