TTM Success - Dylan Bundy

This return from a private signing with Dylan Bundy helped me get two cards that I tried getting signed in Durham finally added to the autograph album.  Last season, I walked around with this 2012 Bowman Sterling for two days trying to get Bundy to sign, but got ignored both days.  The card looks great.  

This 2013 Topps short print was another one that i had hoped to get signed. I had a couple copies of this one, so it was nice to get one of them signed.  It would have been better had he stopped for us in Durham, but it's all good.  I had gotten Bundy in person myself several times.  

Bundy (b. 1992) played in the majors in 2012 and from 2016 to 2022 for the Orioles, Angels and Twins.  He had a record of 54-65 with 852 strike outs and a 4.74 ERA.  He finished 9th in the 2020 AL Cy Young Award voting.

I mailed to the signing on January 31 and got the cards back on May 1, for a 91-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $15/card.

Huge Care Package From Max

I haven't had a chance to talk to my good friend, Max, recently since he has been really busy with school and sports and I have just been busy.  I got a nice package in from him a couple weeks ago that was full of awesome stuff.  I needed this Adam Jones relic from 2014 Panini Classic.  It has a nice orange piece of jersey and is numbered 12/99.

I had send Max some cards for him to get signed at a game, and he surprised me with two of them.  These are 2015 Bowman and Bowman Chrome cards signed IP by Trace Loehr and Skye Bolt.  Bolt was a former UNC standout, so getting his auto is really nice.

This card might be one of the highlights, though.  It is a striking 2012 Bowman Sterling Dylan Bundy refractor numbered 103/199.  I don't recall ever seeing any of these, so this is a really cool addition to the collection.

Max also hooked me up with this emerald parallel of Brooks Robinson from 2013 Museum Collection.  I don't believe I had one of these.  This one is numbered 123/250.

Here is a Topps Finest refractor of Nolan Reimold numbered 175/199.  This is my second Reimold Finest refractor from that year.

Finally, among a ton of other cards, most of which will be used for TTM requests were a few playing cards like this Dave Parker.  Parker is an underrated player that I like a lot, so I was happy to add this to the collection.

Thanks so much for the care package, Max!  I really appreciate it, and am looking forward to being able to talk a lot more this summer!

A Little Taste Of The National From Eric

I was unable to attend the National this year because of my extensive vacation to Michigan and Illinois.  I really wanted to go, but there was no way I was going to be able to afford it.  Luckily, my friend, Eric, sent a few things my way from his visit to the National.

Above is a really sharp looking Kevin Gausman 2014 Turkey Red auto that is numbered 454/499.  I hadn't had a chance to pick up any Turkey Red at all last year or this year.  I saw the Gausman before, but couldn't get my hands on it.  Thankfully, Eric thought of me when he saw it and grabbed it.

Eric told me he found this Jonathan Schoop auto in a $4 bin that was slammed full of cards.  What a deal!  The card didn't scan as good as it looks in person, but I assure you, it looks great.

Finally, Eric sent me 14 1969 Topps that I needed for my set.  Even better, 10 of them were high numbers, so that really helps me along with my set!  They are all in awesome shape, too!

Thanks for the cards, Eric.  Expect some great Twins cards in your mailbox real soon!

My Second Secret Santa

I joined in two Secret Santas this year and the second one was just as nice as the first.  This one was featured on Weston's blog, Fantastic Catch.  I was paired up with Daniel from the blog "It's Like Having My Own Card Shop."  I sent Daniel a couple Brandon Webb cards (a relic and an auto) and he sent me an assortment of Nolan Reimold cards to help with my wishlist and a little something extra (see below).  I had already purchased the above Wal Mart blue parallel from COMC recently, and subsequently buried it under a bunch of mail and other posts.  That's not to say I won't enjoy both of them.  I just regret that I spent the store credit on it.

I'm not going to hide the fact that the highlight (for me) was the above factory set orange parallel.  I have been searching for this card for some time now and have always come up empty handed.  Add on the fact that my good friend Ryan owned a copy before me and let it be known, well, I really wanted one.  I finally have it.  This card is numbered 141/230.

Also, I finally was able to add the Toys R Us purple parallel.  By my unofficial count, I still need quite a few of Nolan's 2013 offerings in order to complete my rainbow.  If only I could land a platinum parallel, I would have an actual chance at completing one.  Oh, if only.

Among the other cards Daniel knocked off of my wishlist was the above 2009 Topps Heritage high numbered chrome rookie card of Nolan.  This one is numbered 928/1,960.  He also included the 2009 Bowman chrome refractor, but Weston had already sent me one for Christmas (so now I have 2).

The surpsise Daniel sent was this 2012 Bowman Sterling Kevin Gausman auto that I had completely forgotten that I had on my wishlist.  The Bowman Sterling autos are not numbered.

Thanks for the package, Daniel and thank you Weston for hosting the Secret Santa.  I fully intend on signing up for some of these this year.