TTM Success - Wes Helms

I received a TTM success today from former player, Wes Helms.  I was able to get him on some nice cards, like the above 1996 All Sports Plus.  I can't remember where this card came from, but it is a set of football, baseball and basketball players, kind of like Classic 4-Sport.  I was glad I was able to turn this into a card for my TTM/IP album.

The 1997 Bowman (top left) came from a box at my local card shop that I have been going through periodically.  I have been able to find some great late 90s inserts and parallels in there that have helped me with my TTM project.  The three other cards are Topps cards from 2005, 06 and 07.  I already had these years represented as far as my Topps Autograph project is concerned, but I was happy to add some more.

Helms (b. 1976) is from Gastonia, NC and played in the majors from 1998 and 2000 through 2011 for the Braves, Brewers, Marlins and Phillies.  He had 694 hits, 75 home runs and a .256 batting average.
I mailed to Helms on October 26 and got the cards back today for a 15-day TAT.

TTM Success - Wayne Comer

I received a TTM success in the mail today from another former Seattle Pilot.  This time, I got cards back from Wayne Comer.  This 1970 Topps came from a buying trip at the antique shop in Columbia back in April, and I am glad I picked it up.  My goal was to add a few autographs of former Pilots players (and other defunct teams) and I feel like I have done pretty well.

My friend, Caleb, helped me out with the project when he sent me about five or so cards from a Pilots team set that he had.  Comer's signature is kind of tough to see on this card, but it is there.  This card shows the Pilots uniform a lot better than the 1970 Topps does.

Comer (b. 1944) played in the majors from 1967 to 1970 and 1972 for the Tigers, Pilots, Brewers and Senators.  He had 157 hits, 16 home runs and a career average of .229.  He made one plate appearance in the 1968 World Series with the Tigers and collected a hit (and a ring).

I mailed to Comer on November 1 and got the cards back today for an 8-day TAT.

Birthday Gift From Anthony

I figured my birthday was long gone, but I have still seen a couple gifts trickle in here and there.  That has made it so I could stretch my big day out for almost two months.  Definitely nothing wrong with that!  I was surprised last week when I got a gift in the mail from my friend, Anthony.  He has kept with a theme in his gifts in sending me an Orioles card numbered to 5.  I like this theme, actually, as he has found me some pretty sweet cards.

This time, Anthony hooked me up with this red parallel of Orioles prospect, Ryan McKenna from 2015 Bowman,  I like the red parallel, it really pops.  McKenna is 19 and was a 4th round pick by the Orioles in the 2015 amateur draft.  He spent this past season at Low A Aberdeen and had 53 hits, 1 home run and a .241 batting average across 62 games.  He probably will see more time in Aberdeen next season, with a chance to be moved up to Delmarva later in the year.

Thank you so much for the gift, Anthony!  I love the card and really appreciate the thought!

A Surprise Package From Max

I was surprised the other day when there was a large bubble mailer in my mailbox from my good buddy, Max.  I wasn't expecting anything from him, so I was happy to see what was inside.  He hooked me up with some nice Orioles cards and a few other cards for various PCs.

This Sonny Gray MLB debut coin card was pretty nice.  I have had a nice side PC of Gray going lately, and it has been easier to pick up some of his stuff, since he had such a terrible year this year.  I have confidence that he will bounce back, I just hope it is with the A's and not after he is traded somewhere like the Yankees, as has been rumored.

This purple parallel from 2016 Bowman of Jomar Reyes is also a nice card.  It is numbered 119/250 and looks really sharp in person.  Reyes also had a down year this year, but should bounce back.  He is one of the Orioles top prospects and hopefully will contribute to the MLB club soon.

Finally, Max included these two 2012 Topps IP autos of former Oriole, Josh Bell.  Bell was acquired (along with Steve Johnson) from the Dodgers in 2009 for former closer, George Sherrill.  He never really got going with the O's, batting only .200 across 79 games.

Thanks so much for the package, Max!

Chris Davis 2016 Topps Ebay Pickups

I picked up a few versions of the Chris Davis 2016 Topps/Topps Chrome recently for an attempt at a rainbow.  I always try to get what I can whe I see it on Ebay, even though I know the rainbow is almost impossible.

This 2016 Topps Factory Set Exclusive Foil Sparkle was something I didn't even know existed.  When I saw it on my Ebay feed, I picked it up for a great price.  This one is numbered 71/177 (why they're numbered to 177, I have no idea, but that's ok.  The card looks great!

A more traditional offering from Topps, here is a black parallel numbered 29/65.  This one was pretty cheap, considering how much black parallels can end up going for.

Finally, here is a green refractor from 2016 Topps Chrome.  This is numbered 6/99.  These parallels always look great.  I just wish Topps would bring back the bubble refractors.

TTM Success - Nate Snell

I received a TTM success yesterday from Nate Snell, a former pitcher for the Orioles.  I had a couple of his cards set aside in my "to be TTMed" box and finally got around to mailing them out.  I sent out two 1986 Topps and two 1987 Topps.  I figured I could use the extras as gifts for friends later on, if needed.  I don't sell TTM autographs, usually, but I will gift some sometimes.

Snell (b. 1952) played in the majors from 1984 to 1987 for the Orioles and the Tigers.  He had a career record of 7-6 with 96 strike outs and a 3.29 ERA.

I mailed to Snell on October 24 and got the cards back yesterday for an 11-day TAT.

A Second TTM Success From Jim Gentile

I was able to turn a couple cards that had been lying dormant in my Orioles box into some TTM successes.  I got two cards back from former Oriole, Jim Gentile, today.  I sent him the above 1966 Topps that was fairly beat up and wouldn't have been a consideration for any 1966 set I would attempt to put together in the future.  So, I figured it would be a good candidate to send TTM.  It turned out really nice, regardless of the creases in the card.

I had two of these 1985 Topps All-Time Record Holder cards and sent both along.  I got one back, Gentile opting to keep the extra.  That's fine, this one still looks great.  This is the first of this kind of card that I have been able to get signed.  My plan, now, with TTMs is to just send along "different" stuff.  I'll still consider Topps base cards as a main option, but I now want to see cool inserts and other odd stuff come back signed and end up in my album.  I think it will keep the TTM game fresh for me if I am continuing to try to find different kinds of cards to include and not limit myself to just Topps stuff.

Gentile (b. 1934) played in the majors from 1957-58 and 1960 to 1966 for the Dodgers (both Brooklyn and LA), Orioles, Kansas City A's, Astros and Indians.  He had 759 hits, 179 home runs and a career batting average of .260.  1961 was his finest season where he finished third in the AL MVP voting (behind two prominent Yankees).  That season he hit 46 homers and led the league in RBI with 141.

I mailed to Gentile on October 24 and got my cards back today for an 11-day TAT.