Another TTM Success From Justin Nicolino

Something I like to do from time to time (especially during the offseason) is go through the box of shame and pull some cards that I can try to send out TTM.  This helps reduce the cards in the box and make room for more guys that I'll miss out on the next season.  I got two Justin Nicolino cards out of the box.  I missed him in 2023 when he was with High Point. 

I got Nicolino TTM back in 2022 on a couple cards.  This time around, he signed a 2016 Topps (top) and 2012 Topps Pro Debut (above).  Both of the cards turned out nicely. 

I mailed to Nicolino on September 20 and got the cards back on January 15 for a 117-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jace Peterson

This TTM success from Jace Peterson came in from Spring Training the other day, and was a nice surprise. I hoped the cards would come back signed, and I wasn't disappointed. I especially liked adding the above 2019 Topps, which shows Peterson as an Oriole .

I also got one of the several 2012 Topps Pro Debut cards that I jad of Peterson out of the box. 

Finally, Peterson signed a 2016 and a 2017 Topps to cap off the return.

Peterson (b. 1990) has played in the majors since 2014 for the Padres, Braves, Yankees, Orioles, Brewers, A's and Diamondbacks. He has 545 hits, 42 home runs and a .228 batting average. 

I mailed to Peterson via Diamondbacks camp on March 2 and got the cards back on April 1, for a 30-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Tanner Peters

When I went through my box of early 2010s prospect cards, I stopped on this 2012 Topps Pro Debut of Tanner Peters.  I loved the mountain in the back, so I found an address and tried sending to him TTM.  I got two of these cards back signed; I had included several extras for him to keep, if he wanted.  He kept three of the cards and sent me back two of them.

Peters (b. 1990) was a 1th round pick by the A's in the 2011 June Amateur Draft out of UNLV.  He played in the minors from 2011 to 2015, reaching AAA (all in the A's system).  He had a record of 16-23 with 302 strike outs and a 3.95 ERA.

I mailed to Peters on October 11 and got the cards back on October 21, for a 10-day TAT.

TTM Success - Ryan Rua

TTM successes have been very slow to come in this summer, but they haven't been non-existent.  This one from Ryan Rua was a good one to move a few cards out of my boxes.  The above 2018 Topps turned out great.

Rua also signed a 2012 Topps Pro Debut, 2015 Topps Heritage, 2015 Topps Chrome and a 2016 Topps.  All of the cards turned out well.

Rua (b. 1990) played in the majors from 2014 to 2018 for the Rangers.  He had 164 hits, 23 home runs and a .236 batting average.

I mailed to Rua on June 14 and got the cards back on June 24, for a 10-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Brandon Eckerle

Here is a random 2012 Pro Debut that I grabbed from my box and tried TTM.  It worked, obviously, because (even though the silver Sharpie is hard to see in the scan) Brandon Eckerle sent it back signed.

Eckerle (b. 1988) was a 32nd round pick by the Tigers in the 2011 June Amateur Draft out of Michigan State.  He played in the Tigers organization only in 2011, then was done, only reaching high A.  He had 69 hits, no home runs and a .330 batting average.  Makes you wonder why he was done after only one season.

I mailed to Eckerle on March 31 and got the card back on May 14, for a 44-day TAT.

A 50/50 From Drew C

Here is a small 50/50 that I finally got back a month or so ago.  This 50/50 was taken by a new friend, Drew C., who graphs Syracuse.  He took a bunch of cards from me, then realized how tough graphing in Syracuse was.  He ended up only getting a few of the cards signed, but I was still happy with the results.  He finished off all of the 2012 Pro Debuts I could find of Mason Williams.  I had a ton of them, and got several back signed.

Drew also got this 2016 Columbia Fireflies team set card signed by Patrick Mazeinka.  My brother, Adam, got me the team set, and I was glad to finally get this card into my autograph album.

Thanks for taking the 50/50, Drew!

TTM Success - Josh Parr

While going through my prospect boxes, I pulled a bunch of guys that I saw who signed TTM and pulled enough to fill a smaller box.  So, I've had a ton of choices of folks to send to, and I have already sent out over 150 TTM request in the new year.  One of the players I came across in the boxes was Josh Parr.  I found several of his 2011 Bowman Draft cards, as well as the above 2012 Topps Pro Debut.

All of the cards turned out great.  Especially the card that I initially pulled, the 2011 Bowman Draft Chrome refractor.  Those cards look especially nice, for some reason, and this one was no different.

Parr (b. 1989) was a 12th round pick in the 2011 June Amateur Draft by the Diamondbacks out of the University of Illinois.  He played in the Diamondbacks system from 2011 to 2014, reaching A ball.  He had 149 hits, 11 home runs and a .230 batting average.

I mailed to Parr on January 10 and got the cards back on January 21, for an 11-day TAT.

TTM Success - Frazier Hall

One of the things I enjoy the most about sending cards off TTM for autographs is looking up the players who most folks may have forgotten about or never even heard of.  I think I caught Frazier Hall off-guard when I mailed to him, because he sent me a note back saying "Thanks for remembering me in my faded glory.  Baseball was good to me.  It taught me many of life's lessons."  I love when players write something back.

Hall (b. 1988) was a 16th round draft pick by the Angels in the 2011 June Amateur Draft out of Southern University and A&M College (Louisiana).  He played 3 seasons in the minors in both the Angels and Diamondbacks organizations, reaching A ball.  In the minors, he had 213 hits, 22 home runs and a .278 batting average.  He played in independent ball from 2013 to 2015, where he had 130 hits, 11 home runs and a .226 batting average.

I mailed to Hall on October 19 and got the card back on November 9, for a 21-day TAT.

June 21, 2014 Raleigh Card Show Part 5 - Orioles PC Pickups

Ok, so this is the final post from my recap of what I got at today's card show.  I got a bunch of Orioles PC needs.  I got 8 cards that I didn't even bother showing (mainly because I was tired of scanning) and the three that I included in this post.

I really like this 2013 Bowman Blue Wave Refractor of Orioles prospect, Jonah Heim.  The blue wave cards are amazingly beautiful and it helps that one of Heim's family members follows me on Twitter.  I've picked up a few of Heim's cards and this one is my favorite so far.

I found two of Manny Machado's Pro Debut cards.  I used to see these go fairly high, but the 2011 I was able to get for $2.  Not too bad.

I got this 2012 Pro Debut for $2 as well, I think, but I'm beginning to  lose track.  It still is a nice card and I always enjoy a good Frederick Keys card.

Finally, the last piece I'll show is this mint condition 1966 Orioles program/scorebook that I picked up for $10.  I almost missed out on it, though.  The guy saw me in my Orioles hat and Brooks Robinson shirt and brought the program to my attention right away.  I only had a plastic shopping bag with me, so I didn't want to buy it right away and carry it around the whole time.  I had the guy hold it for me while I made the rounds at the show.  Finally, when I made the last bulk 1959 Topps transaction, I realized that I didn't leave myself with enough money to cover the program.  Oops.

Luckily, the world we live in now has smart phones where we can log onto the internet and pay someone via Paypal while you are standing there talking to them about cards.  So, in a matter of minutes, I paid the guy electronically for the program and added on the previously mentioned 1959 Topps Yogi Berra.

Well guys, there you have it.  One of the most successful card shows I have been to in a long time.  Yeah, I spent a good bit, but I made a huge dent in my 1959 set and scratched a bit of the surface on my 1969 set.  Plus, I got a few sweet relic cards.  Oh, I also bought cards for a few friends as well.

I hope you all enjoyed these 5 posts.