TTM Success - DJ Herz

Another 2025 Topps came back signed TTM from Spring Training by DJ Herz.  It's a little weird that I'm still covering Spring Training successes when today was the day between the end of the season and the playoffs.

Herz (b. 2001) is from Fayetteville, NC.  He played in the majors last season for the Nationals.  He went 4-9 with 106 strike outs and a 4.16 ERA.

I mailed to Herz on February 18 via Nationals camp and got the card back signed on May 21 for a 92-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Hunter Feduccia

Here is another Spring Training TTM success; this is from Hunter Feduccia.  He added a 2025 Topps to the autograph album.

Feduccia (b. 1997) has played in the majors since 2024 for the Dodgers and Rays.  He has 13 hits, no home runs and a .171 batting average so far in his career.

I mailed to Feduccia on February 20 via Dodgers Spring Training and got the card back on May 5 for a 92-day TAT.

TTM Success - Carson Speirs

Another Spring Training TTM success came in, this one from Carson Spiers.  He signed my 2024 Topps, and it turned out nicely.  I am a big fan of this set, and any time I can get one signed is a good time.

Spiers (b. 1997) has played in the majors since 2023.  He has a record of 5-10 with 103 strike outs and a 5.69 ERA.

I mailed to Spiers via Reds camp on February 12 and got the card back on March 22 for a 38-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Ryan Pepiot

Another Spring Training TTM success came back, this time from Ryan Pepiot on a 2025 Topps.  I had gotten him last year and tried again when Series 1 came out.  The card turned out well, as was expected. 

After Pepiot signed with the Rays, I thought I'd have a shot at seeing him with Durham.  He has stuck with the Rays all season, which is good.

I mailed to Pepiot on February 26 and got the card back on March 21 for a 23-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Tyler Phillips

My next Spring Training TTM success to come in was this signed 2025 Topps from former Wood Duck, Tyler Phillips.

Phillips (b. 1997) has played in the majors since last season for the Phillies and Marlins.  He currently has a career record of 5-1 with 48 strike outs and a 5.63 ERA.

He was a Wood Duck in 2018 and 2019.  I really thought he was there at the end of the 2017 season, but it must have been 2018.

I mailed to Phillips via Phillies Spring Training on February 14 and got the card back on March 3 for a 17-day TAT. 

Another TTM Success From JJ Hardy

A very exciting TTM success came in from Spring Training when this 2013 Topps wrapper redemption JJ Hardy came back signed. Hardy was a guest instructor at Orioles camp in February, and I took a shot at trying to get him TTM. I'm so glad I got this back signed.

I had gotten Hardy via a private signing before, but this was a straight-up TTM request.  I didnt get the other Orioles guest instructors, but I did try.  I missed sending to Brian Roberts, but did send to Adam Jones and Nick Markakis.  I saw some other folks had gotten Jones, but I wasn't one of them.  I'll take the Hardy, though!

I mailed to Orioles Spring Training on February 18 and got the card back on March 3 for a 13-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Bradley Blalock

My first Spring Training TTM success of the year came in from Bradley Blalock back in February. This was also the first 2025 Topps that I got in, which was also nice.  Since this one came in, and bunch more signed 2025 Topps have been put into the autograph album. 

Blalock (b. 2000) is not related to P. A. as far as I know.  He has played in the majors for the Brewers and Rockies since last season.  He has a career record of 1-5 with 28 strike outs and an 8.29 ERA.

I mailed to Blalock via Rockies camp on February 14 and got the card back on February 27 for a 13-day TAT. 

Spring Training 2025 Plus Other Autos From Max

As he always does, Max delivered a huge package of autographs a few weeks ago.  He went to Cubs Convention and Spring Training and took a bunch of my cards with him to get signed.  I was glad to get a bunch of room cleared in my boxes.  The above Topps Pro Debut relic card of Ryan Vilade was a big hit.

Here are cards sigbed by Riley Adams, Paul Bako, Moises Ballestros, Matthew Boyd, Rob Brantly, Alex Call, Dave Clark.  I liked getting the Winston-Salem Spirits card signed by Bako. I'm pretty sure I got to see him play at Ernie Shore Field.  

These cards are signed by Kenedy Corona, Ryan Dempster, Bob Dernier, Chris Devenski, Sean Doolittle, Joe Espada, Jose Fermin, Daxton Fulton.  I'm certain that I am out of Dernier cards at this point.  It was funny Max got Corona for me; I just got him myself while seeing Sugar Land last week.

I finally got my old Greensboro team set card back signed by Joe Espada.  That was a cool team set to pick up for $5.  Well worth it to have something for Espada to sign.  I was also glad to add a Jose Ferrer card to the album ince I saw him past year but had none of his cards on me at the time.

This group is Ryan Flaherty, Ben Gamel, Stone Garrett, Luis Guillorme, Ricky Gutierrez, Jon Jay.  I did a search and I didn't see that I had any Flaherty signed cards until this moment.  I'm glad I finally found these.  I think Max asked me for Flaherty stuff early last year and it took me forever to find when I had mine sitting.  My Ben Gamel Bulls team set card finally got done, as well.  I was afraid that one wouldn't get done. 

I found several more Luis Guillorme to take with me to the Durham game while Sugar Land was there but Guillorme wouldn't stop and sign for us.  He was in a hurry to catch their flight.

These are Chris Johnson, Reed Johnson, Matt LeCroy, Bill Madlock, Brice Matthews, CHas McCormick, Victor Mesa, Jr., Noble Meyer.  That 2024 Panini Crusade of Meyer turned out nicely.  I had heard that Chris Johnson was a tough graph but Max got him on several cards, which helped get a good many out of my boxes. 

The next batch is of Brian McRae, Jake Meyers, Drew Millas, Rodery Munoz, Connor Norby, Glenn Otto.  That Diamond King Otto is pretty cool.  I didn't even know I owned that card before.  Max really helped to get some older team set cards signed.  That's great because they just end up sitting in a box unsigned otherwise. 

Daniel Palencia, Mitchell Parker, Nate Pearson, Konnor Pilkington, Cal Quantrill, Ethan Roberts, Drew Rom are in this next group.  I love the 2019 Topps Holiday Cal Quantrill.  Those are fun cards to add to the album.  I finally have Drew Rom, a former Oriole farm hand who is in the majors with St. Louis.

Here are Jackson Rutledge, Jon Singleton, Mike Soroka, Geovany Soto, Caleb Theilbar, James Triantos.  Thay 2010 Topps Pro Debut says Kyle Heckathorn on the card but it is actually Caleb Thielbar pictured.  That was a cool novelty card to get done.

These are Keegan Thompson, Luis Vazquez. Christian Walker, Donovan Walton, Ryan Weathers, Forrest Whitley.  Another 2019 Midwest League All Star Card got done.  Im down to just a handful of these.  I couldn't believe I didn't have the 2015 Topps Chrome Christian Walker in the album yet.  He's really gone on to have a good career.

The Jacob Young above is a really cool card.  I didn't know I sent that one also or maybe Max gifted it to me because he's such a great guy. I was also surprised I had and Jordan Wicks cards left in the boxes to send out.

These are 2024 Topps Heritage minis of Rilety Adams, Jose Ferrer and Dane Myers.  I loved last year's Heritage.  Hopefully this year's using the 1976 design looks good as well.

These horizontal cards of Ron Coomer, Stone Garrett, Reed Johnson, Konnor Pilkington, Cesar Salazar, Jesus Tinoco mixed upky alphabetization of the signatures, but that's ok.  They all look great.

Max also helped with several generic cards by getting Paul Bako, Anthony Bender, Declan Cronin, Joe Espada and Calvin Faucher to sign.

Here are more team cards: Colton Gordon, Ronny Henriquez, Ryan Ignoffo, Bryan Lavastida, Andrey Lara, Jon Lieber, Riley O'Brien, Javier Sanoja.

Finally Eric Wagaman and Carlos Zambrano signed a bunch of these. 

Again, thanks so much for taking the cards from me and getting some signed, Max.  I always appreciate it, even though it seems like it takes me forever to scan and upload them.  Here's to another season of graphing!

TTM Success - Eli Morgan

A Spring Training TTM success came in recently from Eli Morgan on this nice 2022 Topps Stadium Club Chrome.  This set looks nice and I was glad to add one of them to the autograph album. 

Morgan (b. 1996) made his debut in 2021 for the Guardians.  He was traded to the Cubs in November of this year.  He has a record of 18-12 with 262 strike outs and a 3.97 ERA.

I mailed to Morgan on February 21 and got the card back on November 12 for a 265-day TAT.

TTM Success - Drew Rasmussen

The card probably got put back in the return envelope while the ink was still wet, but this is a TTM success from Drew Rasmussen.

I had gotten Rasmussen at a Durham Bulls game a while back, and asked him if he had seen my mailer.  I guess he finally found it and returned the card. 

Rasmussen (b. 1995) has played in the majors since 2020 for the Brewers and Rays.  He has a record of 20-12 with 301 strike outs and a 2.95 ERA.

I mailed to Rasmussen on February 9, 2021, and got the card back on November 1, 2024, for a 1,361-day TAT.  He kept the 4 cards I sent and sent me this one.

Another TTM Success From Ryan Feltner

A TTM success from Spring Training came back when I got these two cards in from Ryan Feltner.  I really liked the above 2022 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary that u got.  These are just cool cards, and I've had fun busting those boxes.

I also got this 2023 Topps Update, which turned out well.

I mailed to Feltner via Rockies camp on February 12 and got the cards back on October 23, for a 254-day TAT.

TTM Success - Joe Jacques

A couple nice 2024 Topps came back signed TTM via Spring Training from Joe Jacques.  The above foil parallel looks pretty cool. 

Jacques (b. 1995) has played in the majors since 2023 for the Red Sox and Diamondbacks.  He has a record of 2-1 with 22 strike outs and a  5.46 ERA.

Originally drafted by the Pirates, I had gotten Jacques in person back when he was with Greensboro. 

I mailed to Jacques via Red Sox camp on February 20 and got the cards back on October 11 for a 234-day TAT.

TTM Success - Brenton Doyle

Once the season ended, a couple Spring Training TTM submissions came back; one of them was this return from Brenton Doyle.  He signed a 2023 Topps Heritage and the below 2023 Topps Update.

The Topps Update didn't come out all that well.  He probably put it in the envelope before the ink dried.

Doyle (b. 1998) made his debut last season for the Rockies. He has 222 hits, 33 home runs and a .236 batting average. He won a Gold Glove Award last season.

I mailed to Doyle on March 2 and got the cards back on October 7, for a 219-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Trevor Williams

A TTM success from Spring Training came in recently that saw me add a couple more Trevor Williams cards to the autograph album. I had found the above 2013 Bowman Chrome refractor in one of the card shop boxes that I got and sent it out.

I had also sent this 2023 Topps gold parallel with the TTM request. Both cards turned out great.  

I had gotten Williams back once before, during 2019 Spring Training.  He's on the IL right now, but was having a good season.  He's 5-0 with a 2.22 ERA.

I mailed to Williams on February 12 and got the cards back on June 25, for a 134-day TAT.

TTM Success - Danny Hultzen

Slowly, some past Spring Training TTM requests are trickling in, like this one from Danny Hultzen.  The above 2020 Topps Fire was a nice card to get back signed.

I also got a 2013 Bowman Chrome mini refractor.  Hultzen kept my 2020 Topps.

Hultzen (b. 1989) played in the majors in 2019 for the Cubs.  He got into 6 games for 3.1 innings and allowed no runs with 5 strike outs.  He didn't register any wins or losses.  He was the second overall pick by the Mariners in the 2011 June Amateur Draft out of the University of Virginia. 

I mailed to Hultzen on February 9, 2021, and got the cards back on May 2, 2024, for a 1,178-day TAT.

TTM Success - Tim Melville

Here is another TTM success that took a long time to come in.  I sent this 2008 Tristar Prospects Plus card of Tim Melville out to Rockies Spring Training in 2020.  It's kind of weird to think, this was sent prior to the World of Light becoming the World of Ruin.  I just hope someone stopped and waited for Shadow.

Anyway, this request sat out there for a long time.  I was glad to get it back.  I sent off 1,001 TTM requests during 2020, and have accounted for 72% of them, so only 28% remain out there.  That's not too bad, really.  What else was I going to do during COVID?

Melville (b. 1989) played in the majors in 2016, 2017 and 2019 for the Reds, Twins, Padres and Rockies.  He had a record of 2-5 with 39 strike outs and a 6.75 ERA.

I mailed to Melville on February 19, 2020, and got the card back on April 16, 2024, for a 1,518-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jace Peterson

This TTM success from Jace Peterson came in from Spring Training the other day, and was a nice surprise. I hoped the cards would come back signed, and I wasn't disappointed. I especially liked adding the above 2019 Topps, which shows Peterson as an Oriole .

I also got one of the several 2012 Topps Pro Debut cards that I jad of Peterson out of the box. 

Finally, Peterson signed a 2016 and a 2017 Topps to cap off the return.

Peterson (b. 1990) has played in the majors since 2014 for the Padres, Braves, Yankees, Orioles, Brewers, A's and Diamondbacks. He has 545 hits, 42 home runs and a .228 batting average. 

I mailed to Peterson via Diamondbacks camp on March 2 and got the cards back on April 1, for a 30-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Samad Taylor

Another Spring Training TTM success came in, this one from Samad Taylor.  I got another 2024 Topps added to the autograph album. 

Taylor (b. 1998) made his debut last season with the Royals.  He had 12 hits, no home runs and a .200 batting average. He was traded from the Royals to the Mariners for Natanel Garabitos in January. 

I mailed to Taylor via Mariners camp on February 24 and got the card back on April 1, for a 37-day TAT. 

Carson Sends Some Spring Training Autographs

My friend, Carson W. took some cards from me for some Spring Training 50/50s.  We missed the boat pretty much, however, when his mail carrier didn't deliver the box on time.  What would have been a nice haul ended up being bare bones. Still, Carson hooked me up with some autos, and I've got some new stuff to add to the autograph album.  Former Oriole, Jack Flaherty was a highlight of the package.

Carson got my Zach McInstry 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary card signed, along with my Spencer Torkelson Hi-Fi Futures card.  I believe the Jimmy Crooks III, Cooper Hjerpe  Brandon Marsh and Shelby Miller were Carson's cards that he sent to make up for the mail snafu.

Thanks for hooking me up with these autos, Carson.  Let's hope next Spring Training goes a little better. 

Another TTM Success From Andrew Abbott

Another TTM success from Spring Training came in when I got this nice 1989 Chrome back signed from Andrew Abbott.  The card turned out nicely. Abbott kept my 2024 Topps base card. 

Abbott (b. 1999) made his MLB debut last season with the Reds.  He had a record of 8-6 with 120 strike outs and a 3.87 ERA.

I mailed to Abbott via Reds camp on February 20 and got the card back on March 21, for a 30-day TAT.