TTM Success - Jeff Schmidt

A random 1993 Pinnacle came back signed TTM recently by Jeff Schmidt. I had gotten a bunch of these 1993 Pinnacles in a box from a card show a while back, and sent a few out for TTM. This one came back looking nice. It is a simple set, but looks good nonetheless. 

Schmidt (b. 1971) played in the majors in 1996 for the Angels. He went 2-0 with 2 strike outs and a 7.88 ERA. 

I mailed to Schmidt on November 6, 2024, and got the card back on April 20, 2026, for a 530-day TAT.

TTM Success - Josh Trentadue

Jesse and I got close to Josh Trentadue when he was a Wood Duck during the 2024 season. It hurt having to pay for a Hub City Spartanburgers team set in 2025, as I really didn't want to give them any of my money. However, I really wanted Josh's card, so I did buy a team set. I still haven't lifted my boycott of Spartanburg, since they took my team from me, but I'll go eventually. Maybe.

Tremtadue (b. 2002) was a 14th round pick by the Rangers in the 2023 July Amateur Draft out of the College of Southern Idaho. He has played in the Rangers system since 2023. He has reached AA Frisco so far. In his minor league career, he has a record of 8-10 with 283 strike outs and a 4.07 ERA.

I mailed to Trentadue on February 7 via Rangers Spring Training and got the card back on April 14, for a 66-day TAT.

TTM Success - Marty Castillo

A huge addition to the 1987 Topps set happened for me a few months ago. I saw a private signing with Marty Castillo pop up, much to my disbelief. Castillo has been a rare signature up to this point, but recently, he has done a few private signings. He was the last guy I needed on this Togers Leaders card. I wasn't about to chance it with a TTM, so I had to wait for a private signing. 

Castillo (b. 1957) played in the majors from 1981 to 1985 for the Tigers. He had 67 hits, 8 home runs and a .190 batting average. He won the World Series in 1984 with the Tigers. It shows that Topps used an old photo, since Castillo didn't play for the Tigers in 1986.

I mailed to the signing on February 28 and got the card back on April 14, for a 45-day TAT. I paid a fee of $15.00.

TTM Success - Corey Madden

Here are a couple 2026 Bowman cards that came back signed TTM from Corey Madden. I believe these came from my Christmas gift from Ryan. Madden signed a 2006 Bowman Chrome and a gold parallel.

Madden (b. 1984) was a 21st round pick by the Marlins in the 2006 June Amateur Draft out of St. Mary's College of California. He played in the minors from 2006 to 2012 in the Marlins system. He reached AAA. He had a record of 19-13 with 355 strike outs and a 3.05 ERA.

I mailed to Madden on November 13 and got the cards back on April 13, for a 151-day TAT.

August 29, 2026, Graphing of the Tides at Bulls

The Norfolk Tides were back in Durham two weeks ago. Jesse and I went that Saturday to try and see a couple Orioles who were on rehab. Felix Bautista was the big (pun intended) target for us. Bautista is coming back from his second major surgery (shoulder). He was actually the first player we got when we got inside the ballpark. I was glad to get a 2026 Topps done.

He also signed a 2024 Topps. We almost finished all of the Enrique Bradfield cards that I had. I finally got Juaron Watts-Brown and Payton Eeles. I jad cards put aside for them for a little while now. I also got Yaramil Hiraldo on a 2025 Topps Update.

We finally got Heston Ljerstad at a game. He's usually pretty tough, but came right over for us. I finally got my 2024 Norfolk team set cards done of Kjerstad and Albert Suarez.

It was a nice surprise to get Joe Boyle. He was in a good mood for once, so my team set card from last year got done. I had picked up several Oliver Dunn cards at the National, and they all got signed, so I'm out of him again. Jake Fraley was down in Durham on rehab, so Jesse and I got him, as well. Mason Englert was in a hurry, but stopped for me and signed my negative parallel. He's such a great guy, and I'm always glad to get him.

Finally, I got two more cards from the National done (the 2023 Topps Chrome refractor of Michael Grove, and the 2023 Topps Chrome negative parallel of Blake Sabol). I also had no shame in asking the handler of Champ the Bat Dog to sign his team set card. 

In all, we got the following autographs: Silas Ardoin x 4, Felix Bautista x 2, Enrique Bradfield x 5, Juaron Watts-Brown x 7, Payton Eeles x 1, Jud Fabian x 2, Yaramil Hiraldo x 1, Heston Kjerstad x 2, Albert Suarez x 2, Jeff Ware x 1 and Yosver Zulueta x 2, Joe Boyle x 2, Keoni Derenne x 2, Oliver Dunn x 11, Mason Englert x 1, Jake Fraley x 2, Michael Grove x 2, Blake Sabol x 3 and Champ the Bat Dog('s handler) x 2 (54 total autographs). 

Another TTM Success From Jason Johnson

Back in 2018, I sent to Jason Johnson TTM and got three signed cards back. I had been told later on that those cards probably weren't signed by him. Compared to these two cards that I got back in April, yeah, I'm pretty sure someone else signed those. Maybe it was his wife, or someone else. Who knows. Oh well. 

I had seen that folks were getting Johnson back recently, so I found a couple cards and tried him again. At some point, I may get duplicates of the others and replace those signatures. 

I mailed to Johnson on March 23 and got the cards back on April 11, for a 19-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Evan Gattis

Here is another fairly recent player who I discovered (via Gerard, I think) was signing TTM. Evan Gattis signed this 2018 Topps for me and it turned out nicely. There are a few more guys he told me about that I need to search cards for.

Gattis (b. 1986) played in the majors from 2013 to 2018 for the Braves and Astros. He had 605 hits, 139 home runs and a .248 batting average. He finished 7th in the 2013 NL Rookie of the Year voting. He won the World Series in 2017 with the Astros.

I mailed to Gattis on March 16 and got the card back on April 11, for a 26-day TAT.