National Gift From Noah

I'm just about done with all of my pickups from the National.  Of the things I have left to show, one is this awesome Bowman auto of Chance Sisco that my friend Noah gave me when we met up.

The card looks amazing anf is numbered 74/99.

Sisco hasn't had the best of years, so here's hoping he can bounce back and do better next season.  I think he was a bit rushed.

Thanks so much for the card, Noah!  I love it!

Destin Hood Auto From John

My friend, John, from instagram hooked me up by taking this 2008 Razor Destin Hood and getting it signed for me at Frisco.  I had realized when I was in Frisco that I forgot this card, so John said I could send it to him to be signed.

The card is  numbered 43/200 and has been sitting in my boxes for 10 years now.  I'm glad to get it signed and into my binder.  Thanks John!

TTM Success - Dave Roberts

Here are some cool cards that I received signed TTM from Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts.  I had heard he signed, so I sent off a few cards and was glad to get them back.  You can never go wrong with a signed Allen & Ginter.

I added a couple Topps cards to my Topps Autograph ledger, and these are two years that are very under-represented.  I need to find some bulk 09 Topps.  I got rid of all of my bulk years ago, but now I regret letting it go since I now use it for TTMs and stuff.

Roberts (b. 1972) played in the majors from 1999 to 2008 for the Indians, Dodgers, Red Sox, Padres and Giants.  He had 721 hits, 23 home runs and a .266 batting average.  He won the World Series with the Red Sox in 2004.

Roberts managed the Padres for one game in 2015, then became the Dodgers manager in 2016.  He led the team to the World Series last year, losing to the Astros.  He holds a career managerial record of 280-198 and won the NL Manager of the Year Award last season.

I mailed to Roberts on February 10 at Spring Training and got the cards back on June 18, for a 128-day TAT.

TTM Success - Bronson Arroyo

I was really excited to receive a TTM success from fellow Pearl Jam fan, Bronson Arroyo recently.  I had heard he was signing TTM, so I sent these two 2014 Topps, which turned out really great.

Arroyo (b. 1977) played in the majors from 2000 to 2014 and 2017 for the Pirates, Red Sox, Reds and Diamondbacks.  He had a career record of 148-137 with 1,571 strike outs and a 4.28 ERA.  He won the World Series in 2004 with the Red Sox.  He was an All Star in 2006 and his best Cy Young Award finish was 12th in 2010.  His best MVP finish was 23rd in 2006.

I mailed to Arroyo on May 23 and got the cards back on June 16, for a 24-day TAT.

I Made A Friend, And He Hooked Me Up With Some Autos

I never did get to Buies Creek this season for a game.  I really wanted to, but never got the chance.  Instead, I went elsewhere and got autos.  During the season, however, I made friends with a few of the graphers who come regularly to Wood Ducks games.  One of them, Ben, also came to the Mudcats while we were there.  The more and more we chatted at games, the more and more we enjoyed ourselves.  At the end of the season, while I was in Kinston catching the Wood Ducks against the Dash, Ben went to Buies Creek.  He was more than willing to take a few cards for me, and hooked me up with a few autos.

Unfortunately, the game ended early due to rain, so Ben's graphing was limited, but he was able to get me the above cards.  He missed out on JB Bukauskas, since he had been promoted a few days prior.  Still, I was happy with the cards that Ben got done for me.

Thanks so much, Ben!  I can't wait to graph the Wood Ducks with you next season!

TTM Success - Michael Mader

I did fairly well this year with TTMs from prospects and current major leaguers.  I didn't send too many before this year, but now I have gotten quite a few back this season.  I wanted to put a few of my 2014 Bowmans to use, so I sent off these two to Michael Mader via the Mississippi Braves and got them back signed.  The blue parallel is numbered 118/399.

Mader (b. 1994) reached as far as AAA Gwinnett this season in the Braves system.  He did a lot of bouncing back and forth between AA and AAA.  This season he went 7-4 with a 3.71 ERA.  The Braves acquired Mader and outfielder Anfernee Seymour in 2016 for reliever Hunter Cervenka.

Mader was a third round pick by the Marlins in the 2014 June Amateur Draft out of Junior College.

I mailed to Mader on April 11 and got the cards back on June 15, for a 65-day TAT.

TTM Success - Charlie Maxwell

Another of my 1958 Topps that I sent out came back signed TTM, and it turned out to be a really nice one.  Charley Maxwell signed this in thin blue marker, and his signature looks really nice.

Maxwell (b. 1927) played in the majors from 1950 to 1952 and 1954 to 1964 for the Red Sox, Orioles, Tigers and White Sox.  He had 856 hits, 148 home runs and a .264 batting average.  He was a two-time All Star (1956 and 1957) and finished a career-best 18th in the 1957 AL MVP voting.

I mailed to Maxwell on June 4 and got the card back on June 14, for a 10-day TAT.