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. 

TTM Success - Joel Brewer

A couple years ago, I hastily bought Perfect Game cards of several Wood Ducks players. One of whom didn't actually have cards. I had searched Michael Brewer and bought a lot of 10 Joel Brewer cards because Ebay suggests stuff even when a search should reveal nothing. So, in my haste, I accidentally bought the lot of 10 Joel Brewer cards and was stuck with them for quite a while. 

I finally found an address for Joel Brewer and sent three of the cards out TTM to give it a shot. I got the correct address, as the cards came back signed. 

Brewer (b. 1999) played one season in college at the University of South Carolina. He had 4 hits, no home runs and a .235 batting average.

I mailed to Brewer on March 14 and got the cards back on April 11 for a 28-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Corey Knebel

A more-recent card came back signed TTM when this 2023 Topps came back from Corey Knebel. The card turned out great. 

Knebel (b. 1991) played in the majors from 2014 to 2018 and 2020 to 2022 for the Tigers, Brewers, Dodgers and Phillies. He had a record of 13-16 with 407 strike outs and a 3.26 ERA.

I mailed to Knebel on March 11 and got the card back on April 11, for a 31-day TAT. 

August 18-23, 2026, Graphing of the Aigles at Bird Dawgs

The Bird Dawgs season is quickly coming to a close. I missed a month of baseball at Grainger Stadium due to two big trips overlapping the Bird Dawgs home schedule, so when I got back from the National, there were only two home series left. Trois-Rivieres came to town on August 18, and Ibwas excited to get former Yankee, Greg Bird on a ton of cards. Except, he didn't travel with the team. I did get Evan Rutckyj to sign his 2013 Bowman. I was glad I had one of them in the box.

I also got Lizandro Rodriguez to sign some cards of his that I had left over from when I saw him with Columbia a couple years ago. Then, I had new Bird Dawg, Wes Albert on a Tri City team set card. I have accepted the sad fact that the Bird Dawgs won't have a team set again this year. Boo.

In all, I got the following autographs: Wes Albert x 2, Evan Rutckyj x 1, Lizandro Rodriguez x 7. (10 total autographs).

TTM Success - Justin Hagenman

Finally, I can chip away at posting some TTMs since I have gotten through most of what I plan to post from this year's National. There are a bunch to show off, beginning with this return from Justin Hagenman on a couple 2025 Topps Update. I had pulled the above green foil parallel when I broke my box right when it came out. I was glad to see it come back signed. 

He also signed my base card, which turned out great.

Hagenman (b. 1996) played 9 games last season and 1 game this season for the Mets. He has a record of 0-1 with 25 strike outs and a 4.39 ERA.

I mailed to him on January 14 and got the cards back on April 11 for an 87-day TAT.