TTM Success - Nick Maton

This TTM success from Nick Maton allowed me to get a 2021 Topps Pro Debut out of my boxes.  One of the most difficult sets to leaf through quickly, I find myself skipping over 2021 Topps and 2021 Pro Debut.  Still, I enjoy getting the cards signed, so I try my best to slow down and go through the boxes when I have the time.  They just hurt my eyes.

Anyway, I saw that Nick Maton was signing TTM, so I sent off two cards.  The came back looking great.

Along with the Pro Debut, I got this 2021 Bowman signed.  The signature really shows nicely on this card.

Maton (b. 1997) has played in the majors since 2021 for the Phillies.  He has 72 hits, 12 home runs and a .214 batting average.  He appeared in the World Series last year with the Phillies.  He had one at bat, but did not record a hit.  Fun fact, he is the older brother of Wood Ducks pitcher, Jacob Maton.  His brother, Phil, currently plays for the Astros.

I mailed to Maton on January 13 and got the cards back on February 14, for a 32-day TAT.  He kept two of my cards.

May-June 2023 Graphing of Fireflies at Wood Ducks

Scanning all of these cards has been an arduous task, but I finally got it done after my scanner had to be rebooted.  Anyway, I was able to get a lot more Columbia stuff signed this week, after getting a taste last week.

Several 2023 Bowman Chrome parallels that I had ordered finally came in, so I was able to get some cool stuff signed this week, like the above Andres Mesa pearl parallel.  It had a small scratch on the surface, so I guess the seller opted to not have it graded.  That's ok with me, since I wanted to get one signed and into my album.  The card looks amazing.

I also was able to get the base chrome, as well as an aqua Lunar Crater parallel and a green grass parallel signed.  They all look really cool.

Tommy Specht was finally brought up from Arizona, and I got my Perfect Game and Panini Prizm cards taken care of.  Specht is now the second youngest player on the team, behind Gleider Figuereo.

Wyatt Sparks finally is here, after getting injured after the team set came out in 2021.  I have a couple other of these cards somewhere, but I don't know were, at this moment.  A fellow grapher sent me two of the 2022 Bowman Chrome sapphire parallels of Danyer Cueva, so I got to keep one for myself.

I finally got the 1988 Topps John Habyan signed.  My friend, Billy, gave me the 1987 Classic, which looks really cool.

Habyan cleaned me out of all of the cards of his that I had pulled over the winter.  I was hoping he would be back, and I was glad that I got these taken care of.

I finished getting the 2023 Bowman paper of Lizandro Rodriguez.  I also got the chrome 2022 Bowman of Steven Zobac.  The 2017 Panini Stars and Stripes of Wesley Scott turned out nicely, as well.  I think he said he was 15 or 16 when that photo was taken.  He also said that his mom got a ton of the cards.

I was glad to almost finish off the 2023 Columbia Fireflies team set.  I was missing two players who were in the set, but not with the team.  That got me really close.  I may have to see where the other two guys are and try to get them TTM or something.

Scanning this set was a pain.  This was the reason why the scanner had to be rebooted, but I finally got everything done.  It was crazy that this team set was $18.00.  I was glad to get it, though, because a lot of the guys who signed their cards said that it was the first time they had signed any cards for anyone.

Also, the set looks pretty cool.  I like the Fireflies colors.  Having the extra cards made it so I had folks to look for at every game, which kept me engaged the whole week.

The Wood Ducks won the series 5-1, which was great.  We also welcomed a new face into our graphing group, a great guy named Jesse.  He wants me to teach him the ropes with graphing, which I enjoy doing.  It has also been nice having someone else to chat baseball with us at games.

In all, I got the following autographs: Danyer Cueva x 6, Gleider Figuereo x 2, Carlos Maldonaldo x 1, Andres Mesa x 4, Wyatt Sparks x 1, Tommy Specht x 10, Omar Florentino x 1, John Habyan x 30, Omar Hernandez x 1, Brennon McNair x 1, Ben Kurdna x 8, Frank Mozzicato x 9, Shane Panzini x 5, Erick Pena x 15, Lizandro Rodriguez x 4, Brett Squires x 1, Levi Usher x 1, Daniel Vazquez x 7, Marcus Olivarez x 1, Tony Pena Jr x 3, Enmanuel Pire x 1, Lizandro Rodriguez x 2, Matt Schmidt x 1, Wesley Scott x 3, Steven Zobac x 16, Ian Moller x 1, Ari Adut x 1, David Hollie x 1, Cooper McKeehan x 1, Jean Ramirez x 1, Oscar Rayo x 1, Dionmy Salon x 1, Yeison Morrobel x 1, Luis Ramirez x 2, Taylor Bloye x 1, Junior Calderon x 1, Roger Leyton x 1, Shane Panzini x 2, David Sandlin x 1, Ben Sears x 1 and Samuel Valerio x 1, Kevin Varitek x 1, Nevan Dominguez x 1, Ted Elsner x 1, Eduardo Herrera x 1, Chazz Martinez x 1, Mauricio Veliz x 1 and Cam Cauley x 3 (161 total autographs).

TTM Success - Bobby Jenks

This TTM success from Bobby Jenks took some time to come in, but I was glad when it finally did.  I got the above 2008 Topps signed, which turned out well.  Even though the signature doesn't match how he signed the card.  I imagine his signature changed over the years.

I also got a 2007 Topps Update, 2007 Upper Deck, 2006 Allen and Ginter, and a 2010 Allen and Ginter signed by Jenks.

Jenks (b. 1981) played in the majors from 2005 to 2011 for the White Sox and Red Sox.  He had a record of 16-20 with 351 strike outs and a 3.53 ERA.  He also had 173 career saves.  He was an All Star in 2006 and 2007 and won the World Series with the White Sox in 2005.

I mailed to Jenks on May 13, 2021, and got the cards back on February 13, 2023, for a 641-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jerry Bell

This TTM success from Jerry Bell was interesting in that it appears that the photo on the above 1974 Topps and below 1973 Topps are so very similar.  I'm not sure that they're the exact same photo, but they could be.

The sideburns are petty awesome.  Bell also has a really nice signature.

Bell (b. 1947) played in the majors from 1971 to 1974 for the Brewers.  He had a record of 17-11 with 89 strike outs and a 3.28 ERA.

I mailed to Bell on February 2 and got the cards back on February 13, for an 11-day TAT. 

Another TTM Success From Steve Brye

Here is another player who I got to sign TTM a while back, Steve Brye.  I found some more of his cards and sent to him again.  The above 1975 Topps Mini turned out really well.

I also got a 1975, 1976 and 1977 Topps signed by Brye.

I mailed to Brye on February 1 and got the cards back on February 13 for a 12-day TAT. 

Another TTM Success From Billy Grabarkewitz

Back in 2018, I sent off to Billy Grabarkewitz TTM and got a couple cards signed.  I found a couple more in the boxes from Conrad and decided to send to him again.

I got a 1975 (top) and a 1971 (above) Topps signed by Grabarkewitz this time.  Both of the cards turned out nicely.

I mailed to Grabarkewitz on January 31 and got the cards back on February 13, for a 13-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Joe Gaines

This TTM success from Joe Gaines was a nice success.  Gaines's 1964 Topps is a nice old school looking card.  His signature is also nice.

I also enjoyed this 1991 Crown Orioles card.  Gaines looks like he is about to tell a good baseball tale.

Gaines (b. 1936) played in the majors from 1960 to 1966 for the Reds, Orioles, Colt .45s and Astros.  He had 186 hits, 21 home runs and a .241 batting average.  I mailed to Gaines on January 20 and got the cards back on February 13 for a 24-day TAT.