Cubs Convention and Christmas From Max

Finding folks who "get me" as far as collecting goes can be tough at times.  One person who really does, is my good friend, Max.  Like me, he enjoys getting stuff signed, and our continued partnership has resulted in me passing off a ton of cards to him; with him returning several back to me signed, so I can add them to the autograph albums.  Max has been a tremendous help in getting my boxes condensed down every season.  I always enjoy his messages asking me for cards of lists of current and former players.  It keeps stuff cycling out of the boxes, and keeps me from being crushed under an avalanche of junk wax era stuff.  Recently, Max sent me the attendance list for this year's Cubs Convention.  I searched my boxes and came up with two large packages (and almost had a third, before we ran out of time) of cards for the event.  Additionally, Max took one of my ROMLBs that I have and got newly minted Hall of Famer, Pat Hughes, on a ball for my Hall of Fame collection.

Max took a lot of cards that I had tried to get signed via 50/50s this summer.  So, it was easy to go through the Box of Shame and try one more time to get a few of the guys that my 50/50 partners may have missed.  Owen Caissie was one of them.  I had held onto the above Panini Prizm for a while, hoping that I would see Caissie via Myrtle Beach.  I think I got this at a card show during COVID.

I pulled several Ray Burris cards (and found even more this week while going through my boxes I just got in from Conrad in Columbia).  I was glad to get some of these random Topps cards signed.

Max has gotten me Bob Dernier a few times before, so I wasn't sure which of these that I already had.  They'll all go into the album together, with the rest of this 2023 Cubs Convention stack.

I thought I would have had a lot more Carlos Marmol cards, but I didn't find nearly as many of them as I would have thought.  I did find a lot of Ryan Sweeney, so it was nice to move those out of the boxes.

Max hit some of the random Cubs team cards I sent; these two were signed by Jon Lieber.  Even though I will put these in the album with each other, they are labeled on the back with sticky notes, so I don't forget who signed them.

I had gotten Lieber TTM in the past, so I need to check and see what cards I already have.  I was glad to see the two older Bowmans in the stack; they are 2006 and 2007 Bowman.

I had tried Reed Johnson TTM, but never got my cards back.  It was nice to be able to pull these out of the TTM leftovers pile and get them out.  I wish the ones I had sent him would have come back, as well.  Still, these are nice.

I was really happy to get the 2005 Donruss Champions card back signed.  This product was one of the first I purchased when I got back into collecting back in 2005.  I don't have many of them left, and even fewer in my autograph album.

Mike Fontenot was another guy who I had gotten TTM in the past, but I had gotten a 2002 Topps Traded Chrome; so these should be new to the albums.  I believe Max had gotten me a Geovany Soto or two in years past, but I think these three are ones I don't already have.

Max sent me a Christmas gift back in December, as well.  Unfortunately, I had no way to coordinate my needs list with my friends who were helping me build the set, so I got doubles of Tim Flannery and Jeff Hamilton.  The Flannery is in blue, so I will upgrade the set with this one, and the other will go in the regular autograph album with the Hamilton that Max sent.

Thank you doesn't say enough for how much Max helps me with the collection.  We are pushing 10 years of knowing each other (next year, I think), and I am very happy that we have been able to keep this thing going.  He is an awesome guy, and it has been really cool watching him grow up.  He has always been one of the best friends that I made during collecting and graphing.  I can't wait til the National this summer in Chicago, when I can see him in person, again.  As always, thank you so much for the cards and the Christmas gift, Max.  Also, thanks for making it so easy to cut these deals, I know there is a mutual give and take with me providing cards and you providing signatures, and it is really appreciated on my end.  Thank you, buddy!

By the way, Hughes is Hall of Famer #168 in my collection.  I haven't added a broadcaster in a while (and I have one that I still haven't posted, or counted.  I need to get on that...).

TTM Success - Fred Breining

This mugshot of Fred Breining aside, I was happy to add a few 80s cards of the former pitcher to my autograph album recently.  I got these three cards back signed TTM.  The above 1985 Topps is a bit curious to me; the card looks airbrushed, and could have been taken the same time as Breining's portrait shot on the inset of the below 1983 Topps.  It looks like the same stadium in the background.  I believe they took an alternate shot from that photo session and airbrushed it in order to make the 1985 Topps card.  I could be wrong, but that's my theory.

Breining (b. 1955) played in the majors from 1980 to 1984 for the Giants and Expos.  He had a record of 27-20 with 260 strike outs and a 3.34 ERA.  Breining was traded to the Expos on February 27, 1984, along with Max Venable, for Al Oliver and a player to be named later.  That player is my current insurance rep, Andy McGaffigan.

I mailed to Breining on October 27 and got the cards back on December 5, for a 39-day TAT.

TTM Success - Mel Roach

Another 1955 Topps came back signed recently; this one is from Mel Roach.  I had seen that he was signing, so I used a 1955 that I had, and it turned out ok.  Roach's pen seems to be drying up, but the card is still signed.

Roach (b. 1933) is days away from turning 90 years old.  He played in the majors from 1953 to 1954 and 1957 to 1962 for the Braves (Milwaukee), Cubs and Phillies.  He had 119 hits, 7 home runs and a .238 batting average.  He won the World Series with the Braves in 1957, although he didn't play in the series.

I mailed to Roach on November 2 and got the card back on December 5, for a 33-day TAT.

TTM Success - Joe Pettini

Pretty rockin' stache that Joe Pettini has on this 1982 Topps that I got back signed TTM.  I enjoy the 70s and 80s cards that show some of the hairstyles, facial hair and throwback uniforms.  This 1982 Topps is a pretty nice card.

I also got this 1983 Topps signed.  It turned out nicely as well.

Pettini (b. 1955) played in the majors from 1980 to 1983 for the Giants.  He had 70 hits, 1 home run and a .203 batting average.

I mailed to Pettini on September 19 and got the cards back on December 3, for a 75-day TAT.

Set Pickup - Signed 1987 Topps John Butcher

There was a post a few days ago on Facebook in a group about the signed 1987 Topps set where a dealer that I've used for signings in the past was offering up some signed John Butcher 1987 Topps cards.  Butcher hasn't signed in a long time, so I took advantage of the deal.  I was able to cross his card off of my list, and am down to 48 cards to finish the set.  I am hopeful that I can locate some of the tougher cards, but may have to call it done when I get down to Ricky Wright, Roy Lee Jackson and Dick Howser.

Butcher (b. 1957) played in the majors from 1980 to 1986 for the Rangers, Twins and Indians.  He had a record of 36-49 with 363 strike outs and a 4.42 ERA.

TTM Success - Royce Clayton

There is a drawer in my card room that has a stack of cards that I just want to get signed.  It's more than just getting someone's autograph, it is that the card is either a cool parallel, or has nice photography on it, that I think would look cool in my album.  This 1995 Topps of Royce Clayton is one of those cards.  I like this action shot of former Padre, Tim Hyers sliding into Clayton.  It doesn't look like Hyers signs regularly, because if he did, I'd get him to sign this card, as well.  I saw that Clayon signed TTM through PastPros now, so I sent the card on its way, and got it back fairly quickly.

Clayton (b. 1970) played in the majors from 1991 to 2007 for the Giants, Cardinals, Rangers, White Sox, Brewers, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Nationals, Reds, Blue Jays and Red Sox.  He had 1,904 hits, 110 home runs and a .258 batting average.  He was an All Star in 1997.  He appeared on the 2013 Hall of Fame ballot, but received no votes.

I mailed to Clayton via PastPros on November 14 and got the card back on December 3, for a 19-day TAT.

TTM Success - Brian Duensing

Here are a couple cards that came back signed TTM from former pitcher, Brian Duensing.  The above 2015 Topps turned out nicely.  This set is a really nice one to get signed, and I have gotten quite a few into my album.

I was also able to get a 2007 Bowman signed, which turned out well.  I have a ton of 2007 Bowman, so it is always nice to get at least one of them out of my box.

Duensing (b. 1983) played in the majors from 2009 to 2018 for the Twins, Orioles and Cubs.  He had a record of 46-38 with 523 strike outs and a 4.19 ERA.

I mailed to Duensing on May 11, 2020, and got the cards back on December 2, 2022, for a 935-day TAT.