Another Blind Trade With Drake

After falling way behind on trade and 50/50 posts, there looks to be a light at the end of the tunnel.  I have a few stacks of cards that need to be scanned and uploaded, and with my laptop being on its last legs, scanning and uploading has become an arduous task.

That being said, I am not intentionally withholding scans.  It's just a huge pain in the butt.  I got this blind trade from my friend, Drake over the summer, and have just recently been able to scan the cards.  The Trey Mancini at the top of the post is a key highlight of the blind trade.  Drake also sent me a bunch of team set cards of some guys that he has seen, while I hooked him up with an almost complete Wood Ducks team set (where I sat those Julio Valdez cards, I cant seem to figure out).

The KeBryan Hayes 2019 Topps Heritage Minors card shown here was a big surprise.  Drake really hooked it up with what he sent. 

Je sent a good many Bowman cards, including a Kenen Irizarry 2018 Bowman.  I was going to send Drake a few of mine, since Irizarry was playing independent ball near Drake, but he talked me out of it.  It seems Irizarry is a tough auto still.

My niece could have saved Drake the trouble and signed Jacob Berry's card for him.  What a signature.  

I missed out on getting Kevin Made with Myrtle Beach, so Drake helped me out there as well.  He also got the above dual of Benny Montgomery and Jaden Hill signed.  I had someone else get one of these done for me as a 50/50 this season, also.

The above Dan Radison is different.  I keep looking at it, thinking it is a Starting Lineup card, but it isn't. 

Drake also added a couple Topps cards to the album in the above 2019 Topps Jakob Junis and the 2020 Topps Edwin Rios.

Thanks for the trade, Drake! I appreciate all of the work you put into it.

50-50 Return From Mike in Texas

For some reason, my Texas connections have fallen off recently.  I thought I had found a good 50-50 partner there to make up for it, but since it took a year to get these signed cards back from Mike in Texas, I think I will be on the lookout for someone else to take Frisco and Round Rock cards.

I was glad Mike took the cards that he took, and I was able to finally get a few of my Hans Crouse cards signed, but he held the cards hostage while I worked out a trade to get my 2019 Bowman Draft Davis Wendzel card back.  He knew I was only sending one of his cards, which is all I could find.  I told him that ahead of time.  He agreed to take the card and got it signed, but when it came time to send everything back, he thought he should hold everything until I sent something suitable for Wendzel in return.

I have gone on record saying that I hate trading, and this was a scenario that made me dislike it even more.  I had told him that I would show him some of my extras and we could work out a deal, but when I offered him anything, he would come back with "I only want top 100 prospects."  So, I found the best names I could find (like Leody Taveras, who, at the time was a top 100 prospect for the Rangers, of course) and he said "I don't know who that is..."  That happened with every player I showed him.  I got frustrated and said I would revisit the deal later.  Well, I got busy and forgot.  Finally, I went back and remembered that he still had m cards, so I told him to just keep the dang Wendzel card and send me the rest of my stuff back.  I got the cards back, so essentially, I traded the Wendzel for the Wendzel.  He could have just asked to keep it, and I would have let him, but he wanted to try to squeeze a Bobby Witt, Jr. or Adley Rutschmann out of me.  Yeah, that wasn't going to happen for a Davis Wendzel.

Needless to say, I won't be sending 50/50s out to this guy again.  Not when we agreed to the deal at the beginning, only to have my stuff held hostage in favor of a "better deal".  I was set to give him a stack of autos, but he wouldn't have it.  Oh well.  I'm bound to find a grapher in Texas who goes regularly, versus the guys I know who don't really graph anymore.

TTM Success - Conner Capel

When I am able to get an old team set card signed TTM, that is always a good day.  I also got two other cards back signed with this TTM success from Conner Capel, so I definitely was excited.  The above 2018 Carolina League Top Prospects card turned out nicely, and has been liberated from my box.

He also signed my 2019 Topps Heritage Minors and 2019 Bowman, which both turned out great, as well.

Capel (b. 1997) was a 5th round pick by the Indians in the 2016 June Amateur Draft out of Seven Lakes High School in Texas.  He has played in the minors since 2016 for the Indians and Cardinals organizations, reaching AAA.  He has 475 hits, 58 home runs and a .250 batting average.

I mailed to Capel on April 29, 2020, and got the cards back on March 28, 2022, for a 698-day TAT.

TTM Success - Alejandro Kirk

Another Spring Training TTM success came back for me, this one of Alejandro Kirk.  I got a 2019 Topps Heritage Minors and a 2019 Bowman Draft signed by Kirk.

Kirk (b. 1998) has played in the majors since 2020 for the Blue Jays.  He has 49 hits, 9 home runs and a .259 batting average.

I mailed to Kirk via Blue Jays Spring Training on February 9 and got the cards back on May 13, for a 93-day TAT.

TTM Success - James Marvel

I got some nice, recent cards signed TTM by James Marvel.  The above 2020 Topps gold turned out awesome.  I skipped sending his base 2020 in favor of the gold, and I'm glad I did.  I can always try him again; maybe at Spring Training.

I also got this 2019 Heritage Minors innings leaders card signed.  I doubt I'll try for the other guys, but you never know.

Marvel (b. 1993) played in the majors in 2019 for the Pirates.  He didn't play in the majors last season.  He has a record of 0-3 with 9 strike outs and a 8.31 ERA.

I mailed to Marvel on October 7 and got the cards back on November 3, for a 7-day TAT.  He kept my 2019 Bowman Platinum.

TTM Success - Garrett Whitlock

 This might be one of my more disappointing TTM successes.  I had some nice cards of Garrett Whitlock, and the cards I got back had some pretty bad autos on them.  The aboce 2019 Heirtage Minors blue parallel is numbered 68/99 and it looks like his pen was on its deathbed.

The 2018 South Atlantic League Top Prospects card has a signature that you can barely see.  The 2019 Bowman Holiday has the impression of a pen on it, but no ink.  I may send these back at some point, but as of now, they'll just sit in my album.

Whitlock (b. 1996) was an 18th round pick by the Yankees in the 2017 June Amateur Draft out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  He has a record of 12-8 with 201 strike outs and a 2.41 ERA while rising up to the AA level.

I mailed to Whitlock on January 6 and got the cards back kind of signed on July 24, for a 200-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jonathan Hernandez

I was able to add a former Wood Duck to my autograph album with this TTM success from Jonathan Hernandez.  I sent the cards to Rangers Spring Training, and he sent them back signed in black Sharpie.

I was really excited to get these cards back, as I have enjoyed seeing the former Wood Ducks move along and up the Rangers depth chart.

Hernandez (b. 1996) made his MLB debut last season for the Rangers.  He went 2-1 with 19 strike outs and a 4.32 ERA in 9 games.

I mailed to Hernandez on February 11 and got the cards back on March 4, for a 22-day TAT.

TTM Success - Grant Lavigne

 Here are some cards that I got signed TTM by Rangers prospect, Grant Lavigne.  I had seen Lavigne when he played for Asheville, but these cards came out, and I saw that he was signing TTM.

These are all 2019 versions of Topps products (Heritage Minors - Top, Pro Debut - above left, and Bowman - above right).

Lavigne (b. 1999) was a first round draft pick (42nd overall) by the Rockies in the 2018 June Amateur Draft out of Bedford High School in New Hampshire.  He has reached A ball in the Rockies system (Asheville),  Over his two seasons in the minors, he has 176 hits, 13 home runs and a .272 batting average.

I mailed to Lavigne on January 6 and got the cards back on February 28, for a 53-day TAT.

TTM Success - Casey Golden

I got him in a 50/50 last year on a 2019 Pro Debut, but I wanted to add a couple more Casey Golden autos to my collection, so I sent these two cards TTM to him.  The above 2019 Topps Heritage Minors turned out really well.  Those cards (and their 1970 counterparts) really look great when signed.

The above 2019 Bowman Draft also looks really nice.

Golden (b. 1994) was a 20th round pick in the 2017 June Amateur Draft by the Rockies out of UNC-Wilmington.  He has reached High A so far in the Rockies system and has 285 hits, 77 home runs and a .271 batting average.  He seems to have a great deal of power, and if he can break into the majors and hit in Coors field, who knows what he can do!  I like that Golden is actually from NC, as well.

I mailed to Golden on January 14 and got the cards back on February 21, for a 38-day TAT.

TTM Success - Taylor Ward

I was able to get some cards out of my prospects box and get them signed recently with this TTM success from Taylor Ward.  I have slowed down on getting 2017 Pro Debut signed, but I have also whittled the bulk stack of those cards down, so it is nice to pull a few more away.

Ward also signed these 4 cards; a 2014 Panini USA (top right), a 2015 Panini Stars & Stripes (top left), a 2019 Bowman (bottom left) and a 2019 Heritage Minors (bottom right).

Ward (b. 1993) has played in the majors for the Angels since 2018.  He has 32 hits, 7 home runs and a .181 batting average.

He was a first round pick (26th overall) by the Angels in the 2015 June Amateur Draft.

I mailed to Ward on January 6 and got the cards back on February 4, for a 29-day TAT.

TTM Success - Matt VIerling

I added another 2019 Heritage Minors card to my album when I got this card back from Matt Vierling.

I'm not going for the set by any means, but I was glad to get one out of my box and have it signed.

Vierling (b. 1996) was a 5th round draft pick by the Phillies in the 2018 June Amateur Draft.

So far, he has reached High A (Clearwater) and has 175 hits, 12 home runs and a .263 average across 2 minor league seasons.

I mailed to Vierling on December 17 and got the card back on January 24, for a 38-day TAT.

TTM Success - Brice Turang

I decided to send off a couple 2019 Topps Heritage Minors cards TTM to former Mudcat, Brice Turang.  I wasn't too sure if he would be back this season, so when I saw he was signing, I sent them along.

The cards turned out great, and I was glad to get them out of my box.

Turang (b. 1999) was a 1st round pick (21st overall) by the Brewers in the 2018 June Amateur Draft.  He has reached the Brewers High A team (the Mudcats, of course) and has 166 hits, 4 home runs and a .263 batting average over 2 seasons.

I mailed to Turang on December 19 and got the cards back on January 13, for a 25-day TAT.

TTM Success - Cory Heitler

I have been busy today prepping and writing a ton of Spring Training TTMs.  I have been working toward adding more and more current players to my album, and also some more prospects.  I got this TTM success from Reds prospect, Cory Heitler on a 2019 Heritage Minors.

Heitler (b. 1997) was a 34th round pick by the Reds in the 2018 June Amateur Draft.  So far, he has a 3-2 record with 36 strike outs and a 3.03 ERA across two minor league seasons.

I mailed to Heitler on December 17 and got the card back signed on January 4, for an 18-day TAT.

TTM Success - Cal Mitchell

I have been getting more and more signed cards back from prospects lately, as opposed to the past players that I have been accustomed to.  I want to continue to add to my album, and also take cards out of my boxes, especially of guys I won't normally see in person.  These Cal Mitchell cards turned out really well.

Mitchell (b. 1999) was a second round pick by the Pirates in the 2017 June Amateur Draft out of high school.  He has reached the Pirates High A team, and across three minor league seasons, has 276 hits, 27 home runs and a .262 batting average.

I mailed to Mitchell on December 17 and got the cards back on December 31, for a 14-day TAT.  He signed 2 of the 4 cards that I sent.  He returned the other two unsigned.

TTM Success - Brock Deatherage

I was really glad when I saw that Tigers prospect, Brock Deatherage, signs TTM.  With a name like that, I really wanted some of his signed cards in my album.  All that I had when I mailed to him at the time were a couple cards from 2019 Heritage Minors.  He has since had a Bowman Draft card released.

Deatherage (b. 1995) was a 10th round pick in the 2018 June Amateur Draft by the Tigers out of NCSU.  He is actually from North Carolina, which is pretty cool.

So far, he has reached the Tigers High A team (Lakeland) and has 178 hits, 14 home runs and a .261 batting average across two minor league seasons.

I mailed to Deatherage on December 16 and got the cards back on December 30, for a 14-day TAT.

TTM Success - Joe Jacques

I was able to get one of my 2019 Heritage Minors cards signed TTM with this success from Joe Jacques.  I was able to get him last season at a Grasshoppers game, and he was pretty nice.

Jacques (b. 1995) was a 33rd round pick in the 2018 Amateur Draft by the Pirates.  He has played in the minors for two seasons, and had reached the AA level.  He has gone 4-6 with a 3.67 ERA and 79 strike outs.

I mailed to Jacques on November 25 and got the card back on December 16, for a 21-day TAT.