TTM Success - Hugh Quattlebaum

Here is a random 2001 Topps that I got halfway done when I sent it out TTM to Hugh Quattlebaum.

Quattlebaum (b. 1978) was a 25th round pick by the Tigers in the 2000 June Amateur Draft out of Amherst College in Massachusetts. He played in the minors from 2000 to 2003 in the Tigers and Orioles systems.  He would reach AAA.  He had 180 hits, 3 home runs and a .241 batting average. 

I mailed to Quattlebaum on January 21 and got the card back on February 6 for a 16-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Archie Manning

Here is a card I found in one of the boxes of cards from the former LCS.  I sent it out TTM to Archie Manning and it came back signed.

Manning (b. 1949) played in the NFL from 1971 to 1975 and 1977 to 1984 for the Saints, Oilers and Vikings.  He had 125 touch downs and 23,911 yards.  He is the father of Peyton and Eli Manning.

I mailed to Manning on January 11 and got the card back on February 5 for a 25-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Mike Paradis

A few Orioles cards got out of the box and into the album when I got this TTM success back from Mike Paradis.  It is kind of sad that these cards span two years, but Topps used pretty much the same photo (or close to it).

I got these three different 1999 Bowmans signed; a paper, chrome and a foil.  The card at the top was his 2000 Bowman Chrome.

Paradis (b. 1978) was a first round (13th overall) pick by the Orioles in the 1999 June Amateur Draft out of Clemson.  He played in the minors from 1999 to 2004 in the Orioles system, reaching AAA.  He had a record of 29-47 with 415 strike outs and a 5.24 ERA.  He was among a long string of failed first round draft picks by the Orioles during the "Dark Times".

I mailed to Paradis on January 17 and got the cards back on February 4 for an 18-day TAT. 

May 9-10, 2025, Graphing of Titans at Bird Dawgs

The Bird Dawgs had their opening series this past weekend versus the Ottawa Titans.  There were a few guys with cards on the Titans.  Lamar Briggs (above) had a team set card from the 2024 Tri-City ValleyCats.  I bought two of that card and they both got signed right away.

Brandon Marklund had a card in 2020 Topps Heritage Minors, but I didn't have any of those in my boxes. My buddy Gerard had several, and I was able to take a 50/50 for him.

Prior to the season, I bought a lot of 15 Tom Carcione minor league cards off of Ebay.  Carcione was really cool and signed everything we had.  He took my book and was showing the cards off to one of the Titans players.

I got one more Bird Dawg, Carter Raffield, on his 2019 Leaf Perfect Game card.  There's one more guy who signed with the Bird Dawgs in the offseason that hasn't been here yet, if I get him, all of the Perfect Game cards I bought for the team will be done.

I took some photos from Opening Day.  Grainger Stadium has changed a bit, but it still has the same charm.  Attendance for Opening Day was 2,666; a sellout.

Here is Carcione signing for us.  My friend Jimmy Kilpatrick took this awesome picture.

Saturday was Star Wars night.  I didnt get his autograph, but I did get a picture with Darth Vader.

Finally, I won a jersey auction.  I got Tyler Blaum's jersey (I also won Cameron Masterman's).  Blaum practices with former Wood Duck, Josh Trentadue in the offseason and had heard of us prior to us meeting him at the first exhibition game. I was glad to win his jersey and get this picture with him post-game.

In all, we got the following autographs: Lamar Briggs x 2, Tom Carcione x 15, Brandon Marklund x 5, Carter Raffield x 10, Tyler Blaum x 1 and Brandon Fields x 2 (35 total autographs).

TTM Success - Joel McKeon

A random 1988 Topps made it into the autograph album when this one came back signed TTM from Joel McKeon.  A true Junk Wax Era cards, but it is still a nice addition. 

McKeon (b. 1963) played in the majors in 1986 and 1987 for the White Sox.  He and a record of 4-3 with 32 strike outs and a 5.17 ERA.

I mailed to McKeon on January 8 and got the card back on February 4 for a 27-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Clay Bruner

This 1998 Bowman Chrome of Clay Bruner turned out nicely when it came back signed TTM. I've got a bunch of these cards and have been trying to get some of them signed and into my album.

Bruner (b. 1976) was a 4th round pick by the Tigers in the 1995 June Amateur Draft out of Weatherford High School in Oklahoma.  He played in the minors from 1995 to 1999, all in the Tigers system.  He reached AA.  He had a record of 40-18 with 402 strike outs and a 3.24 ERA.

I mailed to Bruner on January 25 and got the card back signed on February 3 for a 9-day TAT.

May 7, 2025, Graphing Recap of the War Dogs at Bird Dawgs

Last night, the Down East Bird Dawgs hosted the US Military War Dogs in an exhibition game at Grainger Stadium. This was the second of two exhibition games the Bird Dawgs had scheduled prior to tomorrow's opening day.

The Bird Dawgs won the game 10-3.  I.almost didn't make it to the game, as work i traded, but I got to the park just in time for the gates to open.  I got autographs from one of the three players I had left for the Bird Dawgs, Yeniel Laboy.  He signed 10 2021 Perfect Game cards for Jesse and I.

The Frontier League season starts tomorrow and I am excited to see the next generation of baseball in Kinston.  I've got extra box tickets for a good price if anyone wants to sit with us.