TTM Success - Dick Baney

Here is a TTM success from another Seattle Pilot, Dick Baney.  I like getting these cards in, still, and the two I got from Baney turned out really nice.  This 1970 Topps was damaged a bit before I sent it out, but sending it TTM was a good way to put it to some use, I think.

Here is another 1983 Renata Galasso that I got from fellow Instagrammer, Caleb.  I think I have now sent out all of the ones he gave me.

Baney (b. 1946) played in the majors in 1969, 1973 and 1974 for the Pilots and Reds.  He had a career record of 4-1 with 38 strike outs and a 4.28 ERA.  Baney was in the Orioles system for a year, between June 1970 and June 1971, but did not get called up to the big club.

I mailed to Baney on October 13 and got the cards back on January 12, for a 91-day TAT.

TTM Success - Wayne Comer

I received a TTM success in the mail today from another former Seattle Pilot.  This time, I got cards back from Wayne Comer.  This 1970 Topps came from a buying trip at the antique shop in Columbia back in April, and I am glad I picked it up.  My goal was to add a few autographs of former Pilots players (and other defunct teams) and I feel like I have done pretty well.

My friend, Caleb, helped me out with the project when he sent me about five or so cards from a Pilots team set that he had.  Comer's signature is kind of tough to see on this card, but it is there.  This card shows the Pilots uniform a lot better than the 1970 Topps does.

Comer (b. 1944) played in the majors from 1967 to 1970 and 1972 for the Tigers, Pilots, Brewers and Senators.  He had 157 hits, 16 home runs and a career average of .229.  He made one plate appearance in the 1968 World Series with the Tigers and collected a hit (and a ring).

I mailed to Comer on November 1 and got the cards back today for an 8-day TAT.

Care Package From Caleb

I was skyping with my buddy Caleb when he saw that I was interested in getting some Seattle Pilots autographs TTM.  He jumped out of his chair and ran across his room to grab a set of cards that his uncle had given him, a 1983 Renata Galasso Seattle Pilots set.  He took the John Donaldson out of the set so he could get him TTM, and sent me a couple of guys that I could try.  I have already sent off a few of them; guys I already had a couple cards of, and held on to the above Wayne Comer and Rich Rollins.  I held on to them in case I found a couple other cards I could send, instead of just doing one card.  These should go out soon.

Caleb also sent a stack of Orioles cards.  This Frank Robinson manufactured patch card is pretty cool, and one I didn't have in my collection.  I was glad Caleb included it in the care package.

Thank you for the cards, Caleb!

Care Package From Caleb

Back before I left for the National, I got a care package in the mail from my buddy, Caleb.  I sent him a bunch of Braves stuff and a relic from a Braves minor league team.  In return, he sent me this Bowman Sterling Chance Sisco auto and the below 2014 Bowman Chrome refractor auto of Jonathan Schoop.

With Matt Wieters leaving via free agency this off season, the Orioles will have to make do with Caleb Joseph and most likely Steve Clevenger until Sisco is ready for the majors.  Sisco is probably the best prospect that the O's have now, since Kevin Gausman is in the majors and Dylan Bundy has been hurt so much.

I really want to get to a minor league game to see Sisco play next season.  I missed out this year.

This Schoop auto is numbered 250/500.  It is a really nice-looking card.  I have quite a bit of Schoop autos and relics now, and it looks like he might just become one of my main PC targets once Chris Davis leaves Baltimore behind.  Schoop is a really good player.  I just wish he would stop attending the Adam Jones school of hitting.  He swings at so many down and away pitches, it looks like a carbon copy of a Jones at bat.

Anyway, thanks for the cards, Caleb!!

Mailday From Caleb

I got a nice trade package in the mail on Friday from my buddy, Caleb.  I honestly don't remember what I traded him, but in return I got a 1973 Topps Jim Palmer, an Ed Rogers (former Oriole) auto numbered 222/250 and the above Matt Wieters from 2007 Tristar Prospects Plus.

I remember when Prospects Plus came out.  It was a nice set with first cards of quite a few big names.  I opened a bunch of packs, hoping to pull a Wieters and ended up with two Madison Bumgarner autos, and a ton of good cards of guys who are now stars.  I had put a bunch of the base cards up and went through them last year.  I was impressed with all of the names I had.  Good thing I saved them all, and was patient.

Thanks for the trade, Caleb!

Instagram Trade With Caleb - 2011 Topps Blue Altuve RC

I completed a trade with my friend, Caleb, recently when I sent him some Braves stuff in exchange for this 2011 Topps Jose Altuve Wal Mart Blue rookie card.  I had been wanting an Altuve RC for a while and Caleb helped facilitate a deal.

I really liked the season that Altuve had last year.  Seeing him win the batting title and being shorter than I am it really cool.  He'd not Eddie Gaedel short, but he is a little guy.  He is someone that kids can look up to (no pun intended) and see that not al successful athletes have to be hulking monsters.

I hope Altuve can repeat last year's performance during the 2015 season.  If he can, the Astros will be very interesting to watch.

Instagram Trade With Caleb - Frank Thomas Game Used Bat Relic

I completed a trade recently with my friend, Caleb, when I sent him a multitude of Braves cards and in return he sent me this nice 2000 Upper Deck SP bat relic of Frank Thomas.  This is from the early stages of game used relics, and is a very nice card.  I agreed on it pretty fast when Caleb offered it in trade.  I wish I could remember what I sent him, I think it was an Evan Gattis card, but I forget.

In the package with this card was a few cards that Caleb sent along as a Christmas gift.  There were a few Orioles parallels in there, along with a diamond parallel from 2011 Topps of Sandy Koufax.

That actually wraps up the Christmas gifts that I got, well into January.  Thanks for the trade and gifts, Caleb!