TTM Success - John Gant

While these cards sat in my to-be-blogged stack, I actually met and got John Gant to sign in person on our road trip to Iowa this summer.  These cards shown on this post came in before that because I sent to Gant TTM.  I didn't know that I'd meet him later in the summer.  I was happy to get my 2014 Bowman purple parallel signed, however.  This card had been floating around my boxes for some time.

I also got a 2016 Topps Update and 2021 Topps Update signed.  Both of these turned out nicely.

Finally, here is a 2022 Topps Update that Gant signed.  I'm glad he signed all four in blue Sharpie. 

Gant (b. 1992) played in the majors from 2016 to 2021 for the Braves, Cardinals and Twins.  He has a record of 24-26 with 325 strike outs and a 3.89 ERA.  Since 2021, Gant has bounced around a bit.  He didn't play in 2022 or 2024; but spent 2023 in Japan while playing in independent ball briefly this season and then having his contract purchased by the Royals, who assigned him to Omaha.

I mailed to Gant on April 28 and got the cards back on May 13 for a 15-day TAT. 

Graphing Returns From Max

My good friend, Max, hooked me up with a ton of autographs recently, after I sent him a bunch of cards for this past season.  Max helps me move a bunch of stuff out of my boxes every year, and I get rewarded with adding a lot of them to my autograph album.  He and I have had this arrangement for a long time, and he is the person who really got me into switching from getting baseballs signed to cards.

The above 2022 Topps Diamondbacks team card is an orange shimmer parallel numbered 287/299 and Max got it signed by their manager, Torey Lovullo.

Max really came through by getting Bob Brenly on my 1987 Topps Giants leaders card and his base card.  Brenly has been a tough get for me, so crossing these two off of the list was very welcome.  Max told me that Brenly hadn't seen one of the Giants Leaders cards signed by Jim Barr in a long time, so that made me feel good about my project.

Most recently, Max hit me up for Diamondbacks cards, so I was able to fire off a package to him fairly quickly with guys he needed to refill in his autograph books.  He got some nice stuff back signed for me, like the above Geraldo Perdomo cards.  I don't see any Diamondbacks affiliates, so getting these kinds of cards signed can be tough.  This helped me move some stuff that has just been sitting for a while.

I had gotten Daulton Varsho TTM in the past, but I still had a ton of his cards.  I cleaned out most of them in the package to Max, but still got a lot back signed.  I love the 1989 Topps insert; I think those look awesome when signed.  I also love the gold foil 2022 Topps.

There was a good variety of stuff that Max sent back from his Diamondbacks graphing.  I was very happy to get the Jake McCarthy 1987 Topps Chrome mojo card back, as well as the Christian Walkers.  I liked Walker a lot when he was an Orioles prospect.  I am really glad he has stuck with a team in the majors, and has found some success.

Max also was able to get some Guardians cards signed for me, starting with a few Triston McKenzie cards that I had left in my box from when I saw him with Lynchburg.  I know I had a 2017 Bowman Ernie Clement in my autograph album already, so I am also keeping this one, since it was from Max.  I was also really happy that some of my Panini Mosaic cards that I picked up ended up being signed.  I lucked into some boxes of them from my distributor, and now I have some signed versions in my album.

As he always does, Max included some random cards that he either got for me or he has extras of.  I really enjoy these types of additions to any package.  I always try to include some signed cards for Max when I send him packages, and it seems like he enjoys the random stuff as much as I do.

I forgot how many of the shimmer cards I had sent out, but Max got a few of them taken care of for me.  The green Zach Plesac above is numbered 51/499.

I checked and it looks like Steve Lawson will keep me from finishing the above 1973 Topps, but I likely will go after Bob Reynolds.  Maybe I'll get lucky and Lawson will do a private signing sometime soon.  Max got the 2019 Topps Diamondbacks card signed by Luis Frias.  These team cards really come in handy when you see someone you don't have a card of.  Only problem is remembering who signed them.  Thankfully, Max remembered, and I was able to put a post it note on the back with the player's name.

I had gotten Johnny Barbato earlier this year when I went to High Point for a game.  Max came in and got Ben Gamel for me to finish the base and gold of these 201 Topps Update cards.  I was very happy that I had these at the ready to send out when he asked for Gamel.  I'm not usually that well prepared.

Max also got these three for me, by Chase DeJong (on a 2016 Bowman), Mitch Keller (on a 2017 Bowman Chrome mojo) and Ben Gamel (on a 2021 Topps Updare).  I am glad I don't have to run into the DeJong or Keller in my Bowman box anymore.  That is one of the fun parts of all of this.  It seems that Max has a knack of helping out with cards I see oftenin my boxes and think to myself "I need to get these signed and out of here..."

Finally, Max also whittled down the box of Frank Thomas cards I sent him when the former LCS around here closed.  I know I sent him a ton of Frank cards, and signings with him have tapered off a bit, from what Max has said.  I know Max has what would be a fortune's worth of Thomas cards, if he had to cough up the fees to get them all signed.  Still, he had a great assortment to choose from, now, and if Frank can be consistent in signing, Max will not need another Frank card for a while.

Max is and always will be one of my most trusted graphing partners.  He actually taught me about getting cards signed in the beginning, and I have always valued his friendship.  It amazes me that we have been able to keep this going for as long as we have.  It's a great arrangement, and it benefits the both of us.  As long as I have the ability, I am going to keep him loaded with the cards he needs.  He is going to keep helping me move stuff out of the boxes and the house.

Thank you, Max, for all that you do.  I cherish the stuff you help me with, and I look forward to next season, and many more seasons to come.  Happy graphing, buddy!

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 - Tony Barnette

These two Tony Barnette cards kept popping up in my box, so I had to finally get them in the mail for a TTM. They turned out alright; the above 2016 Topps Heritage could be better. The marker was probably old.

This 2016 Topps Update turned out better.

Barnette (b. 1983) played in the majors from 2016 to 2019 for the Rangers and Cubs. He had a record of 11-4 with 132 strike outs and a 3.53 era.

I mailed to Barnette on March 28 and got the cards back on April 4, for a 7-day TAT. 

Another TTM Success From Bartolo Colon

I was really excited to see a private signing pop up for Bartolo Colon.  I wanted to get him on his Topps Now card where he hit his first home run, but that card is at some ridiculous prices right now.  I had forgotten that the moment had been captured on this card, as well, from 2016 Topps Update.

So, I sent it off to the signing and also requested the "Big Sexy" inscription.  It cost me a bit, but the card turned out great and looks amazing in my album.

I mailed to the signing on December 18 and got the card back on January 23, for a 36-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $50.00, which included the inscription.  I believe the auto itself was $35 and the inscription was an additional $15.

TTM Success - Mike Bolsinger

Here are a couple nice recent cards I got signed TTM by Mike Bolsinger.  The above 2016 Topps Update turned out really well.  I always liked that design, and this one will look good in my album.

I also got a 2014 Topps Update signed by Bolsinger, and it looks really good, as well.

Bolsinger (b. 1988) played in the majors from 2014 to 2017 for the Diamondbacks, Dodgers and Blue Jays.  He had a career record of 8-19 with 210 strike outs and a 4.92 ERA.

I mailed to Bolsinger on July 23 and got the cards back on January 8, for a 169-day TAT.

TTM Success - Tim Adleman

I got a couple cards signed by Tim Alleman that had been in my box for quite a while. I've been doing a good job getting stuff sent out that has just been hanging around. I guess that's one benefit of not being able to go to games. Alleman signed a 2016 Topps Heritage and a 2016 Topps Update.

Alleman (b. 1987) played in the majors from 2016 to 2017 for the Reds. He had a record of 9-15 with 155 strike outs and a 4.97 ERA.

I mailed to Alleman on November 19 and got the cards back on December 3, for a 14-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Drew Stubbs

I have spent more and more time trying to identify recent players who sign TTM.  One of them was Drew Stubbs, and I got some nice cards signed by him.  The above 2014 Topps Target red parallel turned out nicely.

I also sent a (curved) 2010 Topps Chrome (left), a 2011 Topps (middle) and a 2016 Topps Update (right).  They all look nice.

Stubbs (b. 1984) played in the majors from 2009 to 2017 for the Reds, Indians, Rockies, Rangers, Braves, Orioles and Giants.  He had 687 hits, 92 home runs and a .242 batting average.

I mailed to Stubbs on April 8 and got the cards back on April 16, for an 8-day TAT.

TTM Success - Matt Andriese

I added two recent cards to my autograph album with this TTM success from Matt Andriese.  The above 2016 Topps Update is actually a rainbow parallel, but the scan didn't really pick it up.  Still, it looks really cool.

Then, I got this 2015 Topps Update, which also turned out well.

Andriese (b. 1989) has played in the majors since 2015 for the Rays and diamondbacks.  He has a career record of 24-30 with 391 strike outs and a 4.58 ERA.

I mailed to Andriese on January 2 and got the cards back on January 24, for a 22-day TAT.

TTM Success - Neil Walker

I got some really cool horizontal cards in from this TTM success from Neil Walker.  The above 2016 Topps Update looks really awesome.  It is a little hard to see his signature, but still, it is a really nice card.

This 2010 Topps also looks great.  Walker had some nice cards, and I think I sent some good ones out for this TTM request.

Walker (b. 1985) has played in the majors since 2009 for the Pirates, Mets, Brewers, Yankees and Marlins.  He has 1,215 hits, 149 home runs and a .267 batting average.  He was a Silver Slugger Award winner in 2014. 

I mailed to Walker via Marlins Spring Training on February 20 and got the cards back on October 11, for a 233-day TAT.

TTM Success - Sam Dyson

I added another spring training TTM success with these cards from Sam Dyson.  I really liked this horizontal 2016 Topps Update, and it turned out great.

His 2016 Topps base also turned out really well.

Dyson (b. 1988) has played in the majors since 2012 for the Blue Jays, Marlins, Rangers and Giants.  He has a career record of 15-19 with 201 strike outs and a 3.59 ERA.

I mailed to him via Giants Spring Training on February 15 and got the cards back on March 9, for a 22-day TAT.

Sox Fest Autos ad More From Max

My buddy Max recently went to the annual Fan Fest for the Chicago White Sox and picked up a bunch of autos for me.  We were operating under our normal agreement: I would search for cards that Max needed (mostly past players who would be there) and he would send me a few cards back signed for my trouble.  Max nailed it, as usual with a nice return from quite a few players.

I was really glad to see these Miguel Gonzalez cards come back.  The 2013 Topps Wal Mart blue at the top would have been fine by itself, but Max went for a mini rainbow here with the 2014 cards.  There are red hot foil, Target red and Wal Mart blue cards from 2014.  I thought this was a really cool touch from Max that he didn't have to do.  I sent him a ton of Miggy cards, though, so he had a lot to choose from.

Here are some of the other guys that Max was able to get.  I know I sent him the Willie Harris 2008 Upper Deck.  I may have also sent him the 2014 Bowman Tyler Danish.  I know I failed to find him extra Eric Soderholm cards, since I had gotten him TTM and sent out my extras to a few kids as TTM starter packs.  I also don't think I sent him the 81 Fleer Ed Farmer.  Still, I'm glad to add these cards to my album.

Max also used this opportunity to close a few minor deals.  He sent me a 2009 Topps card signed by Skip Schumacher in exchange for a 2009 Topps Geovany Soto that I had.  I went ahead and swapped those out in my album, so I didn't have the Schumacher to show.  I also sent him a 1988 Topps Traded Vance Law that I recently got TTM for this 1989 Topps.  Since the 88 Traded wasn't a true Topps base, I was completely fine with swapping it out for the 89.

Max also included a few Orioles cards.  Most notably, Max filled a team bag full of 1981 Fleer Orioles.  There are a few duplicates in the bag, so a few may be sent out as TTMs shortly.

He also included these two 2016 Topps Update Matt Wieters cards.  Funny how his appearance changed so dramatically between the two cards (spoiler alert, that isn't Wieters in the top card).

So, thank you so much, as always, Max!  I loved the package!