Another TTM Success From Jim Gentile

The above 1961 Nu-Card Scoops card of Jim Gentile enticed me to send another TTM request to him.  I thought I jad sent one already, but it appears that I hadn't.  So, when I saw this in one of my boxes, I decided to pair it with a 1964 Topps I pulled from Conrad's stuff and sent them on their way.

Both of the cards turned out great.  I've gotten Gentile several times.  His signature is starting to look shaky, so I'm glad I sent when I did and got them done.

I mailed to Gentile on February 2 and got the cards back on February 17, for a 15-day TAT. 

A Third TTM Success From Jim Gentile

In 2011 and 2016, I received TTM successes from Jim Gentile.  I went to the well again, this time for this 1991 Crown Orioles card.  I'm glad I sent it, as it turned out well.  I'm enjoying getting some of these older Orioles from this set, and it gives me something to send when I don't have much else of them.

I mailed to Gentile on November 17 and got the card back on January 25, for a 69-day TAT.

A Second TTM Success From Jim Gentile

I was able to turn a couple cards that had been lying dormant in my Orioles box into some TTM successes.  I got two cards back from former Oriole, Jim Gentile, today.  I sent him the above 1966 Topps that was fairly beat up and wouldn't have been a consideration for any 1966 set I would attempt to put together in the future.  So, I figured it would be a good candidate to send TTM.  It turned out really nice, regardless of the creases in the card.

I had two of these 1985 Topps All-Time Record Holder cards and sent both along.  I got one back, Gentile opting to keep the extra.  That's fine, this one still looks great.  This is the first of this kind of card that I have been able to get signed.  My plan, now, with TTMs is to just send along "different" stuff.  I'll still consider Topps base cards as a main option, but I now want to see cool inserts and other odd stuff come back signed and end up in my album.  I think it will keep the TTM game fresh for me if I am continuing to try to find different kinds of cards to include and not limit myself to just Topps stuff.

Gentile (b. 1934) played in the majors from 1957-58 and 1960 to 1966 for the Dodgers (both Brooklyn and LA), Orioles, Kansas City A's, Astros and Indians.  He had 759 hits, 179 home runs and a career batting average of .260.  1961 was his finest season where he finished third in the AL MVP voting (behind two prominent Yankees).  That season he hit 46 homers and led the league in RBI with 141.

I mailed to Gentile on October 24 and got my cards back today for an 11-day TAT.

Vintage Finds From the LCS

Chris and I went to the Local Card Shop yesterday to pick up a few supplies and discovered that the proprietor had a box of vintage cards that I have not gone through before.  In the box were some 1969 and 1971 Topps that I needed for my sets as well as a few other cards that I picked up for trades and for myself.  Some of the cards were in mint condition while others were probably VG-EX.  I had to have the above Mike Cuellar for my Cuellar PC.  It is a 1967 Topps, showing Cuellar with the Astros, just before he was traded to the Orioles and became a superstar.

Here is a 1964 Topps Jim Gentile that I picked up.  I grabbed all of the '64s that were in the box because I knew Wendell would give me a good price on the stack of cards (and I was right).

So, I was able to chip away at my sets.  1971 is looking like it might get completed this year.  I'm not so sure about 1969.  We'll have to be a bit more patient with that one, I think.

COMC Pickup - 1961 Nu Card Scoops Jim Gentile

I got this 1961 Nu Card Scoops Jim Gentile off of COMC near Thanksgiving mainly because it was the only Oriole card that I saw in the set.  Gentile was a monster for the O's early in their existence.  He went on to hit 46 home runs in 1961 (of course it was overshadowed by the shenanigans of two guys in the Bronx...).

Gentile signs TTM for free.  This would probably be a cool card to get signed, but I think I might go for the set, so I would have to leave it unsigned.  I probably should add more Gentile stuff to my PC, as I have only this one card (that I know of).  Might have to get on that soon.

Awesome Mail Day Part 2 - Jim Gentile TTM Success

The second baseball I got on Saturday was from former Oriole Jim Gentile.

Gentile (b. 1934) played in the majors from 1957, 1958, 1960-1966 for the Dodgers, Orioles, Astros and Indians.  He was runner up to former Oriole Ron Hansen (and was also tied with another Oriole Chuck Estrada) for the 1960 AL Rookie of the Year.  According to Baseball-Reference.com, three Orioles finished with voted for Rookie of the Year, Hansen was first and Estrada/Gentile were tied for second... no one else got votes.  Weird.

Gentile would have an amazing 1961 season where he would hit 46 home runs and would lead the league with 141 RBIs.  He finished third in the MVP voting behind Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle (Gentile didn't stand a chance did he?). 

Gentile played for only 9 seasons in the majors, but was productive for only 5 or so.  That 1961 Season would be good for MVP most other years, but that year was one for the ages in Maris and Mantle's pursuit of the single season home run record.

Gentile is my 35th TTM success.  I mailed to him on June 24th and got the ball back on October 15th.  He was a little under a 4-month TAT.