Another TTM Success From Orlando Cepeda

While initially assembling my partial 1962 Topps set, I found this Orlando Cepeda card that my buddy Carson sent me back in 2014.  I thought it would be cool to get the card signed since Cepeda is such a good TTM signer now. 

The card looms great.  I'm glad I could take the card out of a box and put it in my autograph album. It was even better when I realized that Carson had given the card to me so long ago.

I mailed to Cepeda on July 18 and got the card back on August 1, for a 14-day TAT.  I paid his fee of $20/card.

Signed Custom Cards From Carson

I've met a lot of really awesome people during my time trading cards on Instagram.  One of the first people I met on there, along with his dad and older brother, was an 11-year old Pirates fan, Carson Butler.

I've talked to Carson virtually every day (it seems) since.  I've met his dad and hung out at the National.  I've watched Carson grow up, and now he is graduating and heading off to college.  A couple years ago, Carson sent me a really awesome photo someone took of him playing baseball for his high school, so I screenshotted the photo and made a custom card through Topps' website.  The card above is the result, and I felt like it turned out great.  I ordered a batch and sent them to him as a gift.  He was blown away.

Last year, Carson sent me another photo, but this time, we worked together to make a custom card that he could give out to his family and friends, since the first batch was so well-received.  He really liked the 1952 Topps design (above, left and middle), bur I liked the 1973 design, because you could see his feet as he was coming set to make a throw.  I went with what he wanted, but as an added bonus, I went ahead and created a "short print" using the 73 design.  He loved them both.

Carson signed a few of each card and sent them back to me as a thank you for making the customs, and also for being his friend all these years.  A lot of the folks I've talked to on Instagram (and even this blog) have come and gone, but a few of them have stuck around.  Carson has always been good to me; he has given me advice almost as much as I have given him.  He is one of my best friends that I have made in the Instagram community, and one of my favorite people in life.  I'm certain that Carson will go far in life.  He comes from a great family and has a good head on his shoulders.  I really love that he took the time to sign these cards for me, and I am really happy to add them to my autograph album, along with an autograph he sent me on one of our first trades, back in 2014.  It is posted on this blog; you should check it out.

Thanks so much, Carson!

Awesome Mail From Carson

I haven't gotten mail from him in a long time, but that doesn't mean much.  I talk to my good friend, Carson, pretty much every day.  Recently, I had some really cool Topps custom cards made for him, which he seemed to really enjoy.

Carson messaged me a few months ago and asked me if I had Jose Canseco on a ball.  I didn't, since I had gotten him on some baseball cards when he was a free signer at the National.  Carson said that his dad (Tim, who I also have dealt with quite a lot) was going to see Jose, and would hook me up with a baseball.

The ball came out great.  Carson didn't want anything in return for the ball, which really made my day.  He has always been good to me.  I've always tried to help him out with his collection, as well.

Recently, Carson told me he was working on the 1972 Topps set, so I had him send me a needs list, since I had a bunch of extras from my box that I got from Conrad.  He, too, had some extras, so we made a swap.  He sent me 24 cards that I needed, and I sent him a stack (I forgot the count).  I was really nice being able to help each other work on the same set.

Finally, Carson tossed this signed 2013 Perfect Game Sean Reid-Foley auto in the box.

Thanks so much for the package, Carson!  Moreover, thank you for your friendship!

Quick Trade With Carson

I made a quick and easy trade with my buddy, Carson recently, that landed me an auto that I can't show, because I gifted it to someone else.  I liked the above Nolan Reimold, which I had already, but I didn't mind adding another.

Carson also added this 2013 Bowman Chrome mini refractor of LJ Hoes.  It is a nice little card that I may be able to get signed if he ends up back in the O's system.

Thank you for the deal, Carson.  All I had to send him was a vintage card that I picked up at the Greenville card show.  I hope he enjoyed it!

April 20, 2017, Graphing the Wood Ducks

While Chris was out of town for Easter break, my wife and I were able to catch a game at Historic Grainger Stadium on Thursday, April 20.  Before the game, my wife and I did a little graphing.  I got Howard Johnson on two cards (one of which was a 50/50 for my buddy, Carson).  My wife actually got this 1995 Stadium Club Ring Leaders card signed for me (the auto is by his hip).

I also did some 50/50 graphing for my good friend, Max.  He sent me a few Bobby Rose cards, and I got them all signed, and split them with him.

The Howard Johnson that I got signed for Carson was a 1987 Fleer, which looked really nice in blue Sharpie.  The Rose was another from Max.  I was also able to get the above 1994 Topps Howard Johnson signed.  I think I have gotten just about everything that I had of Johnson that I really wanted to get signed.  I think most of what I get after this will probably be gifts for friends and/or trade bait.

We were also able to get a few of the Hickory Crawdads team set cards signed.  A lot of the players in this set have moved up to the Wood Ducks this season.  Steve Mintz went to nearby Mount Olive College, and is now the Wood Ducks pitching coach.

The Wood Ducks lost the game, but we had to leave early, since my wife had to be up really early for work.  It was nice to go out and spend some time at a game with her, though.  I know the ballpark isn't her ideal spot, but we seem to enjoy going to games together.  Now that Chris is home, though, he and I will be doing some more graphing, I'm sure.

Surprise Package From Carson - 1959 Topps Brooks Robinson

I got a nice surprise package in the mail the other day from my little buddy, Carson, whom I trade with regularly on Instagram and Kik Messenger.  Carson sent me several Orioles cards and included this sweet Brooks Robinson 1959 Topps card that he meant to send in my birthday package.

I already had this card in my Brooks PC and my 1959 set, but one more version definitely doesn't hurt.  I was happy that he thought to send it to me.

Thanks for the package, Carson, as always, I appreciate the cards you, your brother and your dad send me.  I know we will be trading again, once I find some suitable cards for the three of you.