Set Complete - 1995 Topps

It took me long enough, but I finally have completed the 1995 Topps set.  I would have finished it sooner, but on a recent buying binge on COMC, I was buying the last 10 or so cards that I needed, and some assclown had this Wes Chamberlain listed at over $20.00.  Yeah, I didn't want to finish this set that badly, so I figured I'd wait til I remembered it while buying stuff on Ebay.

I had some Ebay Bucks to spend, so I used $2.00 on this card to go ahead and close out the set.  That dude on COMC will just have to keep on dreaming.

Completing this set also completes my Topps run of sets from 1973 to 2018.  I have opened up the pursuit of 1972, and if I can close that one, I will have 1969 to 2018.  Not bad.  I have posted my 1972 needs, as well as my 1967 needs on my wishlist, and the lists are all updated.  I haven't pushed too hard on my set building since I am graphing a ton now, but I still want to complete the entire run of Topps some day (I'll need a very poor grade 52 Mantle to do it, but it can be done).

Special thanks to P. A. for knocking a ton of these 95s out, and reminding me that this was still on my to do list.  Thanks man!

I also learned today that Chamberlain signs TTM.  Don't worry, this card isn't being mailed out to him.

TTM Success - Bob Henrich

While I was in Las Vegas in December, my son, Chris was responsible for getting my mail for me and putting it on my desk.  He called me the first day I was on my trip to tell me that I had gotten some TTMs, but one of the envelopes was soaked.  He knows how much I enjoy opening my TTMs myself, but he opened this one (and the other one that came that day, because he knew I wouldn't want the cards to get wet.  He called me and said "Dad. you got some TTMs in, but the mail got wet.  The cards are ok.  Do you want me to tell you who you got?"  Normally, I would want to be surprised, but I told him to go ahead and tell be, because I was expecting a big paid signing, and was praying that wasn't the card that got wet.

The cards turned out ok, but when I got home, I could tell this return from Bob Henrich had gotten wet.  You can see it in the autograph itself.  Still, it came back signed, and I am grateful it wasn't badly damaged.

Henrich (b. 1938) played in the majors from 1957 to 1959 for the Redlegs/Reds.  Gotta love that the political times of that era are reflected in the Reds name on the card.  He had 2 hits, no home runs and a .125 batting average.  His stats aren't much to look at, but he played at the ages of 18 to 20.

I mailed to Henrich on October 28, 2017 and got the card back on December 3, 2018, for a 401-day TAT.

TTM Success - Juan Beniquez

I entered another private signing on SCN, this time for former Oriole, Juan Beniquez.  I needed him on an 87 Topps, of course, but I also sent in this 1986 Topps Traded card.  I ended up with a bunch of 1986 Topps Traded, almost a full set, and figured I should add an Orioles card from there to my album.

Here is the 1987 that I got signed.  It looks really nice, and I'm glad to cross it off of my list (which is now posted as a link on my Wishlist tab).

Beniquez (b. 1950) played in the majors from 1971 to 1972 and 1974 to 1988 for the Red Sox, Rangers, Yankees, Mariners, Angels, Orioles, Royals and Blue Jays.  He had 1,274 hits, 79 home runs and a .274 batting average.  He was a Gold Glove Award winner in 1977 and finished a career-best 25th in the AL MVP voting in 1984.

I mailed to the private signing on October 25 and got the cards back on November 30, for a 36-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $15/card.

TTM Success - Carl Yastrzemski

That's right, I was able to get my 1987 Topps Turn Back The Clock Carl Yastrzemski signed.  It cost quite a bit, but it had to be done.  I was so excited to get the card back signed.  Given the price, though, I was kind of disappointed in how the signature turned out.  I wish it was a bit bolder, but it is crossed off of my list, so there isn't much I can do about it now.

This was a private signing through SCN that cost me $58.  I mailed on September 29 and got the card back on November 26, for a 58-day TAT.

TTM Success - Barry Larkin

Another private signing helped me land a Hall of Famer for my 1987 Topps set.  This time it was Barry Larkin.  I paid a fee of $50.00, but to me it was well worth it to go ahead and cross him off of my list.

I sent the card in on October 25 and got the card back signed on November 23, for a 29-day TAT.

TTM Success - Garry Templeton

I used PastPros to knock another card off of my checklist (which is now posted as a link on my wishlist tab).  I had been wanting to send to Garry Templeton for a long time, and finally got around to it.  The card looks really nice.

Templeton (b. 1956) played in the majors from 1976 to 1991 for the Cardinals, Padres and Mets.  He had 2,096 hits, 70 home runs and a .271 batting average.  He was a three-time All Star (1977, 1979 and 1985) and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner (1980 and 1984).  His best finish in the NL MVP voting was 13th in 1977.  He led the NL in hits in 1979 with 211.

I mailed to Templeton on November 6 and got the card back on November 19, for a 13-day TAT.  I paid the PastPros fee of $12.00.

TTM Success - Nick Solak

I hd this 2018 Bowman Chrome purple refractor of Nick Solak and was really glad to see that he signed TTM.  So, I powdered the card and sent a few others to him to get him to sign.  The card looks really nice.

He inscribed each card to me, which was a nice touch.  I was also glad to get my 2018 Topps Heritage Minors signed that shows him in a Biscuits uniform.

Solak (b. 1995) was a second round pick by the Yankees in the 2016 draft out of the University of Louisville.  He was traded to the Rays in a three-team trade also involving the Diamondbacks for Brandon Drury.

So far Solak has 350 hits, 34 home runs and a .296 batting average in 3 minor league seasons.  He has played as high as AA ball.

I mailed to Solak on October 22 and got the cards back on November 19, for a 28-day TAT.