Last TTM Success of 2021 - Another One From Roy Face

My last TTM success from 2021 came in yesterday from former pitcher, Roy Face.  This 1982 TCMA Baseball's Greatest card has been in my box for some time now, so I figured I'd drop it in the mail and get it signed.  The card turned out pretty well, even though Face's marker is starting to fade.

I mailed to Face on December 22 and got the card back yesterday (12/31) for a 9-day TAT.  Now onto cleaning out 2021 stuff and moving to 2022 stuff.  Happy New Year!

Some Signed 1987 Topps For The Set

This past week,  visited the website for Under The Radar Sports Promotions and looked through their inventory to see if there was anyone on there for my signed 1987 Topps set.  Luckily, I found two cards that I needed, so I picked them up.

Bob Walk (b. 1956) played in the majors from 1980 to 1993 for the Phillies, Braves and Pirates.  He had a record of 105-81 with 848 strike outs and a 4.03 ERA.  He was an All Star in 1988 and won the World Series with the Phillies in 1980.

Bill Doran (b. 1958) played in the majors from 1982 to 1993 for the Astros, Reds and Brewers.  He had 1,366 hits, 84 home runs and a .266 batting average.  His best MVP finish was 11th (NL, 1986).

Both of these guys haven't popped up in any recent signings that I've seen, so I went ahead and crossed them off of the list so I can concentrate on other players.  The list is dwindling down to less than 90, so it will be harder and harder to get cards added.

Some Signed Cards From Dugan

My good friend, Dugan, hooked me up with a few signed cards recently.  I had gotten Grant Koch before, but needed to get some cards out of my box.  This 2018 Bowman turned out well.

Dugan sent me this nice 2003 Midwest League All Star signed by Juan Senreiso, which will look cool in my album.

Finally, Dugan let me have this 2016 Charleston Riverdogs card of Nestor Cortes, a former Oriole.  I remember Cortes when he was a Rule V pick by the Orioles, but didn't really pan out.  He has now found some success with the Yankees.

Thanks so much for the cards, Dugan.  Also, I just realized that my post from last night was my 5,000th post.  That's pretty amazing.  I started this blog in November 2008 and sometimes struggle to keep it going, but I push myself to continue with it.  It has been my "diary" for the last 13 years, and I appreciate everyone who reads and also those who comment.  Thanks again!

Some Signed Cards From Jackson

My friend, Jackson in Arizona, has been hosting private signings for a good while now, and seems to have found his niche and is pretty successful.  Recently, he has done a few and has sent me some cards as a thank you for helping him out over time.  Above is a nice 2007 Bowman Derrek Lee that Jackson sent me.  I'm pretty sure that I didn't provide the card, but it still is nice to see one get into my album.

Lee (b. 1975) played in the majors from 1997 to 2011 for the Padres, Marlins, Cubs, Braves, Orioles and Pirates.  He had 1,959 hits, 331 home runs and a .281 batting average.  He led the NL with 199 hits and 50 doubles in 2005, on his way to his best MVP finish (3rd).  He was an All Star in 2005 and 2007.  He was the NL Batting Champion in 2005 when he hit .335.  He was a Silver Slugger Award winner in 2005, and a Gold Glove Award winner 3 times (2003, 2005 and 2007).  He won the World Series with the Marlins in 2003.  He appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2017, but received no votes.

Jackson sent me these two Neal Cotts cards from a recent signing, a 2004 Bowman and a 2004 Topps Cracker Jack.  I love the Cracker Jack set; they look awesome when signed.

Cotts (b. 1980) played in the majors from 2003 to 2009 and 2013 to 2015 for the White Sox, Cubs, Rangers, Brewers and Twins.  He had a record of 21-24 with 421 strike outs and a 3.96 ERA.  He won the World Series with the White Sox in 2005.

Finally, I provided several Jack Spradlin cards to Jackson for a signing, and I was able to get this 2010 Topps Pro Debut back signed.

Spradlin (b. 1984) was an 8th round pick by the Nationals in the 2005 June Amateur Draft out of USC.  He played in the minors from 2006 to 2010 in the Nationals system, reaching AAA.  He had a record of 17-18 with 317 strike outs and a 3.91 ERA.

Thanks for the signed cards, Jackson!

2021 50/50 From Brian - Delino DeShields Jr

Delino DeShields, Jr. came to the Wood Ducks Hot Stove event a couple years ago and signed some cards for Chris and I.  So, when my friend, Brian, messaged me asking if I had any DeShields cards, I was a bit worried that I wouldn't be able to find any for him.  Thankfully, I had some in the boxes I got from my former LCS, and also some newer stuff that I was able to find.  The above 2010 Bowman turned out great.  I ended up with several of these, so I will have a few as trade bait.

I also found the above 2015 Topps Heritage, a 2019 Topps and a 2020 Topps.  All of the cards turned out great.

DeShields (b. 1992) has played in the majors since 2015, for the Rangers, Indians and Reds.  He has 450 hits, 19 home runs and a .246 batting average.

Thanks for taking the cards, Brian!

2021 50/50s From Jack

Slowly, I am catching up on my 50/50s from this past summer and filing cards into my album.  I spent a good part of today going through a box I had by my side with a bunch of stuff I wanted to post.  I wanted to make sense of what was in there, and try to get some stuff moved along.

This 50/50 was with a fellow Instagrammer named Jack, who hit me up and asked if I could help him out with cards from some Phillies and Blue Jays minor league teams.  I was able to move out a bunch of cards, and get some decent stuff back, like the above 2016 Bowman Platinum Jhailyn Ortiz.  This card came from a bunch of packs my mom got me for Christmas, so it was cool to be able to get at least one of the cards signed.

I was also able to move some of these Team USA cards that were in the boxes that came from my former LCS.  I had a bunch of Cole Stobbe and Kevin Gowdy cards, and was happy to send them along.

It is always a good time when I can continue to thin out my 2017 cards; the first period of minor league stuff that I bought into heavily.  I have not renewed my boxes of 2017 Pro Debut or 2017 Heritage Minors, instead opting to let the stacks dwindle down to make room for more recent stuff.

I was glad that Jack was able to get me some Kevin Gowdy cards signed.  Gowdy actually showed up on the Down East Wood Ducks roster for a bit, but didn't appear in Kinston at all.  I ordered Gowdy cards, anyway, but ended up having to box those, since he never came here.  I think his placement on the roster was a procedural move, or maybe he was here while I was out of town.  I don't remember.

Thanks for taking the 50/50, Jack.  I hope we can do more next season.

A Bunch of Signed Cards From Gerard

My good friend, Gerard, spends a lot of time helping me move cards out of my boxes, much like my friend, Max, does.  Gerard graphs the Red Sox sometimes, and also the Sox minor league teams in his area (AAA and AA), so he helps me get a bunch of card signed.  He got Tom Goodwin for me a while back, who is now no longer coaching for the Red Sox.  I'm glad I was able to send out the cards that I had, and Gerard got some nice ones for himself as part of a 50/50.

There were a lot of Goodwin cards; three of which will go onto my Topps legder, 1993, 1999 and 2000 Topps (all bottom row).  The cards on the top row are a 1998 Topps Stadium Club, 1997 Pacific ad a 1997 Upper Deck.  The card at the top of the post is a 1997 Finest.

I was really happy that Gerard was able to get my 2018 Carolina League Top Prospects card and my 2019 Pro Debut green parallel signed by Bobby Dalbec.  I saw Dalbec play when the Salem Red Sox came through Kinston, and got Dalbec on a few cards, but he was gone by the time the Top Prospects card came out.  He has gotten increasingly tougher, so I was lucky that Gerard was able to hook me up.

Here are a few other cards that Gerard sent me, a signed 2000 Bowman of Alex Cora, a 2015 Bowman signed by Tate Matheny and a 2017 Bowman signed by Brett Netzer.

Finally, here's another signed Alex Cora (a 2008 Upper Deck) and a 2016 Heritage Cubs team card signed by John Andreoli.

Thanks for all of the signatures, Gerard.  I hope we can knock out more cards in the 2022 season!