April 18, 2026, Graphing of the Tides at Bulls

On Saturday, Jesse and I headed to Durham to graph the Norfolk Tides for the first time this season. I had hoped to get a couple Orioles who were on rehab assignments, but Jackson Holliday had been sent to Frederick to reset his rehab stint. The other person I was excited to try and get was Keegan Akin. 

Fast forward to outside after the game, Akin refused to sign saying "Inside only, sorry guys." That's fine that he wants to only sign inside, except he looked right at us beside the bullpen, INSIDE, and couldn't be bothered to come over and sign my one card. The same guy who told me at Orioles Fan Fest years ago that he was not happy to be there. Sorry to put you out, Keegan. Really. I'll never bother you again.

Now, had that been my only experience on Saturday, I might be a bit upset. Thankfully, we got to interact with several other Todes players, and got a bunch of stuff signed.

I was a bit embarrassed that I kept telling Jesse about the snow globe card of Jose Barrero; except that I realized a ways through the day that it is a crystal ball card. Not a snow globe. Oof. We'll, the card is signed and in my album. 

I got a couple nice Panini Enrique Bradfield, Jr. cards signed, which turned out great. I was also glad to get a Christian Encarnacion-Strand 2025 Topps done.

I finally was able to get Jackson Kowar to sign some cards that had been in the Box-of-Shame for a long time. I also love the Cade Povich Topps Now that I got signed. It looks awesome.

I finally got another Willy Vasquez signed for the album. He was a bit tough when he was with Bowling Green. Now he is in the Orioles system, and I cleared out a 2023 Topps Pro Debut. 

The card above that, though, is a 2021 Topps Heritage Astros Rookie Stars card that I got signed by Enoli Paredes. I had gotten him last year when he was with Gwinnett, but failed to pull everything that I had. I found my 2019 Carolina League All Star card in my box, and got it signed. 

We sat beside the bullpen and talked with Paredes for most of the game. He was really awesome. My experience with Akin later did nothing to ruin my night. Paredes was so cool. He also talked to a dad witg two kids near us, giving them advice and talking about life in the minors. There needs to be more guys like him.

In all, we got the following autographs: Silas Ardoin x 4, Jose Barrero x 3, Enrique Bradfield x 6, Christian Encarnacion-Strand x 2, Jud Fabian x 2, Maikol Hernandez x 4, Jackson Kowar x 7, Enoli Paredes x 6, Cade Povich x 2, Bryan Ramos x 2, Willy Vasquez x 1, Cooper Bowman x 2, Carlos Colmenarez x 2 and Logan Davidson x 2 (45 total autographs). 

Another TTM Success From Mark McGwire

Anither 1991 Fleer ProVisions card was added to the autograph album when I got this one back signed TTM from a private signing with Mark McGwire.

I always thought this set was cool, so i really enjoy getting these signed when I can. I saw the signing with McGwire pop up, and had already pulled the card to send out.

I mailed the card to the signing on November 12 and got the card back signed on January 20, for a 69-day TAT. I paid a fee of... a lot.

Another TTM Success From Jerry Browne

Here are some mid-90s cards I cleared out of my box to send out TTM to Jerry Browne. The above 1993 Topps turned out great.

I also got a 1993 Pinnacle and a 1994 Score. Both of these cards are very similar, and turned out well.

I mailed to Browne on January 6 and got the cards back on January 17, for an 11-day TAT.  

TTM Success - Jack Savage

What a cool name. Jack Savage. It sounds like a wrestler's name. I saw that I could get Savage to sign TTM, so I pulled some junk wax era cards and sent them off. The above 1989 Donruss turned out nicely. 

I also sent out a 1990 Topps Traded (above, left) and a 1991 Topps (above, right).

Savage (b. 1964) played in the majors in 1987 and 1990 for the  Dodgers and Twins. He had a record of 0-2 with 12 strike outs and a 7.67 ERA.

I mailed to Savage on January 6 snd got the cards back on January 17, for an 11-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Jason Bulger

A couple mid-2000s cards of Jason Bulger were added to the autograph album when the above 2006 Upper Deck and below 2006 Topps Rookie 52 came back signed TTM.  Bulger signed both cards in black Sharpie. 

Bulger (b. 1978) played in the majors from 2005 to 2011 for the Diamondbacks and Angels. He had a record of 7-2 with 138 strike outs and a 4.33 ERA.

I mailed to Bulger on November 3 and got the cards back on January 17, for a 75-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Ryan Church

Here is another 2010 Topps Update that has been added to the autograph album. I got this one back TTM from Ryan Church. I had sent to him back in 2019, so it was time to add another of his autographs to the album. 

I mailed to Church on December 23 and got the card back on January 16, for a 24-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Jeff Heathcock

1986 Fleer is a nice set that often gets forgotten. The dark blue border looks nice. This 1986 Fleer of Jeff Heathcock came back signed TTM recently.

Heathcock (b. 1959) played in the majors in 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1988 for the Astros. He had a record of 9-9 with 64 strike outs and a 3.76 ERA.

I mailed to Heathcock on December 18 and got the card back on January 16, for a 29-day TAT.