Matt F With 50-50 Returns

There should be a bunch of 50/50 returns coming in soon now that .inor league seasons are wrapping up. I'm glad that I'm getting a handle on my posts, because that means a ton of cards are headed back (hopefully).

A friend of mine from Instagram (Matt F) took some 50/50s last season and this year, we expanded further and sent out a ton of stuff to each other. Matt may have gotten me the most out of everything I sent to everyone, as far as 50/50s go. I had pulled these Joe Boyle cards when I busted 2020 Bowman Draft and had hoped I could send them TTM. It's never able to fi d a good address for him, but got lucky when I saw that Matt could take him.  The cards look awesome and now I don't have to worry about getting them signed.

Parker Meadows was another guy I had held cards for TTM, but sent them to Matt, instead. I'm glad he got these done for me, as well.

I love getting random cards out of my boxes and sent out for TTMs and 50/50s.  I've become a bit of a hoarder, as far as cards go, and making room for new stuff is always good.  I kept running into the 2015 Heritage Chi Chi Gonzalez in my box, so it was nice to finally get it signed and into my album.  I was also tired of seeing these two James Marinans in the Bowman boxes, and now they're done, as well.

Matt really hooked me up with some guys this season, and it is really appreciated.  I moved a bunch of recent Bowman stuff out of my box.

Matt's home minor league team was Dayton, but I ust found out that he moved. I'm hoping he can take 50/50s next season, since he does so well with getting my stuff signed. It is going to be tough not being able to knock out Dayton guys as easily as I had with Matt. I guess I'll have to find someone else who sees them.

Matt hit me up on a bunch of the coaches for Dayton and some other guys from that league.  He also sent me a few extra autos he had, as I had done with him. 

He was able to get Bryan LaHair for me on a few cards, which was great.  I was also glad to move a few Jimmy Jones out of my Topps boxes.

Finally, Matt got a couple Juan Samuel cards signed for me.  He had gotten a little difficult the last couple of years, as far as signing his mail.  I think I opted for a private signing to ensure that I got my 1987 Topps Phillies leaders card signed; I should have waited. Thing is, had I have waited, he may not have signed for Matt.

Thanks so much for getting all of these cards signed for me, Matt.

Another TTM Success From Juan Samuel

Juan Samuel used to signed TTM quite a bit, but stopped a couple years ago.  I missed the opportunity to get him to sign a 1987 Topps Phillies Leaders card back then, so I had to wait until he popped up in a private signing.  I didn't want to take a chance and lose this card that had already been signed by Von Hayes and Glenn Wilson.  Thankfully, a signing did pop up, and I was able to get Samuel to complete the card.

I mailed to the signing on December 21 and got the card back on February 7, for a 48-day TAT.

Some New Signed 1987 Topps For The Set

Recently, I added a ton of 1987 Topps to my collection.  The above Larry Parrish was a purchase from PastPros from their leftovers  from the recent signing in Montreal.  My good friend, Jacob, tried to get Parrish for me, but he wasn't able to.

These three came from blog reader, Ray.  He saw that I was working on the set and was kind enough to send along these three that I needed.

I took some 50/50s for a guy named John on Instagram, and he sent these three that I needed.

Finally, my amazing friend, Gerard, sent me these 8 cards for my set.  The Dwight Evans was the biggest surprise.  I was planning on getting two vouchers for him at this year's National, but now I only will need one!

Thank you so much for the cards, guys!  I now have 223 signed 1987 Topps out of the 792 card set.  I'm a lot farther along than I thought I would be, so I feel like I am doing really well with it!

TTM Success - Juan Samuel

 I feel like horizontal cards look the best when signed.  When it is an action horizontal card, they really shine.  This 1992 Upper Deck Juan Samuel that I got recently might be one of the all-around best looking autos/cards that I have seen so far.  Samuel's signature looks awesome, and really fits the card well.  This is a great example of being able to take a junk wax era card and reapply putting some purpose behind it.

The top left 1985 Topps Glossy All Stars turned out really well, also.  I was able to add a 1985 Topps, 1988 Topps (All Star) and a 1989 Topps of Samuel to my autograph album on top of the 1992 Upper Deck.

Samuel (b. 1960) played in the majors from 1983 to 1998 for the Phillies, Mets, Dodgers, Royals, Reds, Tigers and Blue Jays.  He had 1,578 hits, 161 home runs and a .259 batting average.  He was a three-time All Star and finished as high as 13th in the NL MVP voting (1987).  Samuel appeared on the 2004 Hall of Fame ballot and received 0.4% of the vote.

Samuel also managed 51 games for the Orioles in 2010 where he went 17-34.  He was replaced by Buck Showalter, who has managed the Orioles since.

I mailed to Samuel on April 20 and got the cards back on May 20, for a 30-day TAT.  I sent the cards to Citizens Bank Park.

The Most Fun I've Ever Had During a 5-0 Loss

Oh man. I never thought I would enjoy a 5-0 loss by the Orioles like I did yesterday. It all started with umpire Gary Darling blowing a call at first base. J.J. Hardy botched a stolen base attempt and it appeared that Ty Wigginton applied the tag at least twice, but the ump still called Hardy safe...
Then Wigginton goes off. He snapped like Ken Shamrock. He looked like he wanted to fold the ump in half. I'm serious. They got chest to chest and Juan Samuel had to forcefully push Wiggy away from the ump. Of course, Wiggy goes right back to the ump and gets his money's worth. He, then, fired a ball into the stands, untucked his uniform and walked into the dugout.

Hardy, then scores on a later play and (which I didn't see) pitching coach Rick Kranitz gets tossed for yelling from the dugout. Oh boy, here we go again as Juan Samuel storms out of the dugout and really lays into the home plate ump...

Samuel went off for a good bit of time, throwing his hat to the ground, kicking the dirt, and then picking up his hat and throwing it like a frisbee toward the pitcher's mound.

I don't think Samuel is telling the ump that candlesticks are a nice gift...

Finally, some assclown ran onto the field. He ran around the outfield, to second base, back to the outfield, to third base, you get my point...

The fan spent more time on the basepaths than the Orioles did during the game. The cops didn't look too interested in apprehending him, they just kind of followed him until he finally relented and allowed them to carry him off to jail. I was screaming 'Get the tazer' the whole time, that would have sent my entertainment level into overdrive...

I spoke to a Baltimore police officer after the game and he said that they can charge the guy with: trespassing, resisting arrest and entering a playing field. If the court commissioner charges the guy with every charge that he can, the guy will face a fine of close to $1,000.00, and of course, a night in jail. He probably ended up spooning with a big hairy guy named Lance last night...

A season's worth of frustration overflowed onto the field last night. We were all able to blow off some steam. Maybe, now, the listless Orioles can play with a little fire. Wigginton, for sure, is facing a fine and suspension. Samuel probably is too. I, for one, have a newfound respect for Wigginton and Samuel.