Last Bit of Autos From The National

As far as I know, this is the last of the stuff that I brought home from last year's National.  It only took me about 7 or 8 months to get it all posted.  There were a couple vendors at the show who had some nice, cheap cards signed by deceased former players (and one other), so I figured I would grab a few for my album.  For some reason, I never sent the above 1957 Topps to Virgil Trucks for him to sign.  Whenever I see a Trucks card, I usually pick it up, and this one was no different.

I got the Burke Waldron (above left) cards from the Signatures for Soldiers.  I wanted to send one TTM, but Waldron passed away before I could.  I also liked the Monte Ivrin 1988 Pacific, 1959 Topps Mudcat Grant and 1961 Topps Bill Virdon 1960 World Series Highlight.  These were all cards I would have liked to send out back then, but didn't get a chance (probably because I didn't have extras of said cards).

I'm hoping to signer list for the National comes out soon.  I'd like to start pulling cards for those guys as soon as possible.  The days will be flying away, and July will be here before I know it.

TTM Success - Bill Virdon

I got a really cool TTM success from former Rookie of the Year, Bill Virdon.  I saw this 1979 Topps Astros team card at my LCS and immediately wanted to try to get it signed.  I love that the Astrodome is in the background of the team photo.  The auto on the card turned out great, and Virdon included his NL ROY 55 inscription for me.

This 1976 Astros team card looks nice, but it pales in comparison to the other one.  I don't believe you can beat that background.

Finally, here is a really nice 1965 Topps that Virdon signed for me.  I only have two 1965 Topps cards signed, so I would like to find a few more subjects from that set to send out.  This is one of my favorite Topps sets; one of which I would love to complete at some point.

Virdon (b. 1931) played in the majors from 1955 to 1965 and 1968 for the Cardinals and Pirates.  He had 1,596 hits, 91 home runs and a .267 batting average.  He was the 1955 NL Rookie of the Year and a Gold Glove Award winner in 1962.  He won the World Series with the Pirates in 1960.  He appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 1974 and 1975, but received only a slight percentage of votes (0.8% in '74 and 0.3% in '75).

As a manager, Virdon had a record of 995 and 921 for the Pirates (1972 and 1973), Yankees (1974 and 1975), Astros (1975 to 1982) and Expos (1983 and 1984).  He led the Pirates to the post season in 1972, and he led the Astros to the post season twice (1980 and 1981).

I mailed to Virdon on March 12 and got the cards back on May 7 for a 56-day TAT.

TTM Success - Bill Virdon

I got my 61st TTM success when I got home from work yesterday.  I would have posted it then, but I had been up since 4AM, so I decided to be lazy and put it off a day.

Bill Virdon (b. 1931) played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 to 1965 and 1968 amassing 1,596 hits, 91 home runs and a .267 batting average.  He won the World Series with the Pirates in 1960 and also took home the 1955 NL Rookie of the Year award.

I mailed to Virdon on June 13, 2012 and got my ball back signed yesterday, June 20, 2012.  That made him a 7-day TAT.  He signed the ball for free. 

I've gotten several signed balls from members of the 1960 World Series Champion Pirates:  Dick Groat, Vern Law, Bob Skinner and Bill Virdon as TTM successes, and Bill Mazeroski as one of my Hall of Fame signed baseballs (got that one in a trade, along with Don Drysdale for a 3 piece, auto Albert Pujols card).  I also have Virgil Trucks, of course, who was one of the coaches for that team.