The Topps Autograph Project Page Is Now Live

A project that I started last year finally is complete now that I have gotten the final piece blogged.  I was able to get at least one card signed from each year of Topps cards.  This included both 1951 Red and Blue Back.  I had to buy up some cards to send TTM to be able to get some of the autos, but none of the autographs were purchased from a secondary market or collector.

I have created a page on this blog showcasing each year of Topps with the corresponding card that I chose for each year.  Some choices were easier than others.  Some cards were chosen because it showed a big name player, or a team that was no longer around.  The above 1953 Mike Sandlock was chosen because he was 100 years old and the oldest living former MLB player at the time he signed it.

Lots of the cards have stories, like the one I chose for 1970.  I took one look at this John Donaldson card and knew right away that it would represent 1970 in my project.  The card itself is sharp and in great shape.  The card also features the now-defunct Seattle Pilots.  It is only right that the Pilots would be the team I showed on whichever 1970 I picked.  Most of all, though, I chose this one because it was given to me by Donaldson himself when I lamented in my TTM request that I wished I had my own copy of the 1970 card to send to him.  He must have had one, and sent it back signed with the other cards I sent him.  This was an awesome gesture that makes me happy to be able to immortalize this card in my project.

Many of the older cards I have sent TTM have had some pretty outlandish jerseys.  I had to make sure I had the crazy Astros jersey show up somewhere in this timeline.  Luckily, I just got this Ken Forsch signed.

Some of the cards I have gotten signed are pretty awesome.  Some are even more than that.  This Wade Boggs might be my favorite and was the very first card I pulled for the project this morning when I was lining things up.  I was really excited when I got this Boggs signed and it definitely is one of the best looking cards in the bunch.

This 2008 Jamie Moyer is the final year that I needed in order to complete my project.  I use the term "complete" loosely, because I will always have a preference toward Topps issues before any other brand when I am sending cards TTM.  I don't know why 2008 was the more difficult series to get signed, but for some reason it was.

Finally, I had several 2016 Topps to choose from, but chose the more recent of the bunch in this Pat Neshek.  The other 2016s I got signed were 50/50s from my friend, Dilan.  Many of the cards I had to chose from for other years came from the help of my great friend, Max.  Ryan from the blog "O No Another Orioles Blog" was also a huge help.

I hope you all enjoy checking out the page for this project.  The tabs are at the top of the blog, just below the banner.  If you are on a mobile device, you can access the page by clicking on the little white down arrow to the right of the little ribbon that says "home".  I hope you all can access it and give me your feedback on this.  I'm really excited about it!

Also, what do you all think of the choices I made for each year?  Thanks for reading, everyone!

Rest in Peace, Mike Sandlock

I just saw on Facebook that former player, Mike Sandlock has passed away at age 100.  According to a post on the Baseball Player Passings page, his son confirmed that Sandlock had passed away at 11:18 PM last night, April 4.  At the time of his passing, he was the oldest living former baseball player.  I had just recently received a TTM success from Mr. Sandlock on March 18, and posted it here.  From everything I have read, and from my own experience of getting him TTM twice, Sandlock was a really good guy.  While you mourn his passing, he had a really full life and gave back to so many.  He definitely will be missed.

A TTM Success and My New Project

I hope folks who read my blog and follow me on Instagram aren't getting bored with all of the TTM successes that I have had coming in recently.  If so, I apologize in advance, because it is about to get crazy.

I have sent off a ton of TTMs over the last month, and I intend on continuing this for the foreseeable future.  I have enjoyed the repurposing of old cards, and seeing them come back to me signed after being sent out into the world.

That being said, after receiving a succession of Topps cards signed from some players a few weeks ago, I started thinking about how cool would it be if I could get at least one signed card from every year of Topps.  With that in mind, I went to Ebay and picked up a couple 52s, a 51 Red Back, a 51 Blue Back, and a 1955 to add to what I planned on sending out.

I kicked off the project by going into my personal vintage collection and finding the above 1953 Topps Mike Sandlock that I picked up a couple years ago after getting his signature on a baseball TTM.

The significance of Sandlock doesn't stop at the fact that I had gotten him TTM before, or because I had a 53 Topps of him sitting here available to be sent.  His main significance is that he is 100 years old and is still signing TTM.  To me, that is amazing.  At this moment in time, he is the oldest living former MLB player.  That is a really cool accomplishment.  As you can see, his signature is really nice, and looks cool on the 53 Topps.

Sandlock (b. 1915) played in the majors from 1942, 1944-46 and 1953 for the Boston Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates.  As you can see, two of those teams have relocated since his playing days.  When Sandlock was born, Woodrow Wilson was president, the Red Sox had just won the World Series and Ted Williams hadn't even been born yet.

In his career, Sandlock had 107 hits, 2 home runs and a .240 batting average.  I mailed to Sandlock on March 11, 2016 and got the card back signed on March 19, 2016, for an 8-day TAT.

For my signed Topps project, this is my first signed 1953 Topps card.  I am missing signed cards from 1951 RB, 1951 BB, 1952, 1954-57, 1961, 1962, 1964-69, 1973, 1974, 1977-79, 1982, 1983, 1994-97, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2015 and 2016.

My goal is to obtain the signed cards by either TTM or IP autos.  I have accepted a bunch of IP autos from friends like Max, who I send cards to and they get signed.  I plan on not buying any signed cards, if I can help it.  1951 will be tough, but I think I can get one or two from some of the few living players who remain in those sets via TTM.  I have a couple pending that I am really excited about.  I intend to put the signed cards, in order, in either an album or some kind of display.  For years that I have multiples of, I plan on picking the one that I feel looks the best, or has the best story, player, etc to represent that year.  Right now, I have 11 different signed 1987 Topps, the leader among years I have gotten signed.  I plan on playing a little game of this in my head as well in seeing which year I have the most of when I finish this project.

I also would be interested in seeing other folks' attempts at this same project.  I would like to see which cards that others choose to represent what years, and what years they end up with the most signed cards.  I think that would be a lot of fun, and would make for some interesting blogs!

Ebay Pickup - 1953 Topps Mike Sandlock

I like being able to put a face with a player that I got TTM and Mike Sandlock was a really good one I got on March 21, 2012.  You can read my TTM success here.  Sandlock is the third oldest living former baseball player at 97 years of age.

I really like the 1953 set.  I like the artwork of the set and the backs are really nice as well.  I got this card fairly cheap, at around $6.

One day, I would love to tackle the '53 set, but I think that might be a long time from now.  The set is 60 years old and there are some huge names in the set that command a hefty price tag.  I have always wanted the Satchel Paige from the set.  I'm hoping I can find that one for a steal sometime soon because I have had my eye on it for several years now.

TTM Success - Mike Sandlock

I spent most of the day today sorting cards and pricing stuff for next Saturday's card show.  If any of you plan on attending, let me know.  If you mention this blog, I'll give you 10% off at the show.

I also went to the post office this morning to send off some packages to some friends who get free cards.  The lady behind the counter knows me, finally, and told me that I would be getting a ball back today because she recognized one of my mailers.  She said she would have gone to the back to get it had it not already gone out for delivery.

The ball I received was this one from Mike Sandlock.  Sandlock, at 96 years old, is 3rd oldest living former baseball player behind Connie Marrero (100) and Ace Parker (99).

Sandlock played in the majors in 1942, 1944-1946 and 1953 for the Boston Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates.  In his career, he had 107 hits, 2 home runs and a .240 batting average.

He played 2 games in the 1942 season for the Boston Braves, and that season the Braves were managed by Casey Stengel.  I sent Mr. Sandlock a note asking about his experience with Stengel and here is what he wrote:

William,
Old Casey - He didn't have a very good club with Boston Braves but he did a great job with the Yanks.  He was a jokester.

Mike

I really enjoy getting notes back from the players.  I mailed to Sandlock on March 24 and got my ball back today, March 31, 2012 making him a 7-day TAT.  This was my 50th TTM success.  Mr. Sandlock didn't charge a fee.