TTM Success - JC Martin

I added some more vintage cards to the album with this TTM success from JC Martin.  This 1962 Topps turned out ok, considering that there are a lot of dark spots on the card, and they kind of obscure the autograph.

These two, a 1966 and a 1973 Topps, both turned out really well.

Martin (b. 1936) played in the majors from 1959 to 1972 for the White Sox, Mets and Cubs.  He had 487 hits, 32 home runs and a .222 batting average.  He won the World Series with the 1969 Mets.

I mailed to Martin on March 18 and got the cards back on March 28, for a 10-day TAT.

TTM Success - Ted Kazanski

When I looked for older players who signed TTM, I saw that Ted Kazanski signed, and that he had some nice cards in 1954 and 1955 Topps.  I went ahead and bought the 54 and 55 to add to my album (and also a 1957 Topps).  I didn't pay a whole lot, which was great.  I feel like the 1954 Topps (above) came out the best of the three cards.

They all turned out really well, though.  Adding more 1955 Topps to my album was my ultimate goal, and I was really glad to add this one.

This 1957 Topps also looks really nice.

Kazanski (b. 1934) played in the majors from 1953 to 1958 for the Phillies.  He had 288 hits, 14 home runs and a .217 batting average.

I mailed to Kazanski on March 5 and got the cards back on March 28, for a 23-day TAT.

TTM Success - Nathan Eovaldi

I got a few nice recent cards back signed from Red Sox pitcher, Nathan Eovaldi recently.  The above 2011 Topps Heritage Minors turned out really nice, I think.  Eovaldi has a nice signature, and he personalized both cards.

Eovaldi (b. 1990) has played in the majors from 2011 to 2016 and 2018 to 2019 for the Dodgers, Marlins, Yankees, Rays and Red Sox.  He has a career record of 44-53 with 656 strike outs and a 4.21 ERA.  He won the World Series with the Red Sox in 2018.

I mailed to Eovaldi on February 7 via Red Sox Spring Training and got the cards back on March 28, for a 49-day TAT.  He kept my 2017 Topps.

TTM Success - Paul Molitor

I tried to get him when he was the manager of the Twins, but that TTM request came back unsigned.  I tried again recently, this time sending $20 with the card, and I am happy to say that I was able to cross Paul Molitor off of my 1987 Topps checklist.

I mailed to Molitor on February 23 and got the card back signed on March 28, for a 33-day TAT.  This card was well worth the $20 fee.

TTM Success - Dick Such

I added this 1971 Topps card to my autograph album when it came back signed from Dick Such.  I'm going to take the high road here and move straight to his stats.

Such (b. 1944) is from Sanford, NC and played in the majors in 1970 for the Senators.  He had a record of 1-5 with 41 strike outs and a 7.56 ERA.

I mailed to Such on March 23 and got the card back signed on March 27, for a 4-day TAT.

TTM Success - Gordie Richardson

I added this nice 1966 Topps to my autograph album when I got it back signed by Gordie Richardson.  He signed it in ballpoint pen, and it seems like the pen is about to give out.

Richardson (b. 1938) played in the majors from 1964 to 1966 for the Cardinals and Mets.  He had a career record of 6-6 with an ERA of 4.04 and 86 strike outs.  He won the World Series with the Cardinals in 1964.

I mailed to Richardson on March 5 and got the card back on March 25, for a 20-day TAT.

May 2019 Graphing of the Pelicans at Wood Ducks

The Wood Ducks returned from a long road trip for a brief three-game series at home this past week against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.  This was the last time that the Pelicans would come to Kinston this season, so I was eager to finish off what I had of them.  I had recently gotten my boxes of Bowman in, and pulled the above atomic refractor of Miguel Amaya.  The card is numbered 65/150, and looks really great signed.

I got all of the Aramis Ademan and Miguel Amaya that I had signed.  Ademan has such a nice signature, and it looks great on some 2019 Bowman.

I was glad to finally find some Steve Lerud cards.  I found them the day after the Pelicans left the last time, and got them into my book.  I also saw that Jake Stinnett was on the Pelicans roster for a rehab assignment, but realized that I had sent all of my Stinnett cards on to Max in Chicago.  Luckily, I had missed one, so I was able to get this 2014 Prizm signed.

There was a huge Rangers contingent on-hand during this series, so I was able to get a few rover cards signed.  I missed Dwayne Murphy last season because I had forgotten to put him in my book.  This year, I had him in there from Day One, and was able to get this 1979 Topps done, and also the A's Leaders card form 1986 Topps, below.

In addition to Murphy, Kenny Holmberg and Rick Strickland were on hand.  They had been here late last month, so I was able to Fins Holmberg's 2008 Bowman in my box, and I had found the above 1988 Cape Cod League card of Strickland on Ebay.  He was impressed that I had found the card and remarked that the card was "several pounds ago".  He also joked about how tight his pants were in the photo on the card.

I got a chrome 2019 Bowman done of JP Martinez, and this custom card of Bubba Thompson that my friend, John, sent me.

The Wood Ducks are on the road again, and will return home next weekend.