TTM Success - Branden Florence

A random 2003 Topps that I found in my box came back signed TTM by Branden Florence. Normally, here is where I say the card tur ed out nicely. However, Florence needs a new Sharpie, as it seems his is on the way out. Still, the card is signed, and I can't really complain. I'm still appreciative that he took the time to sign for me.

Florence (b. 1978) was an undrafted player who played in the minors from 2001 to 2007 and 2009 in the Giants, Orioles, Phillies and Angels systems. He reached AA. He had 684 hits, 57 home runs and a .310 batting average. While his batting average was pretty good, he was generally one of the older players in each league he played in, which could have skewed his numbers.

I mailed to Florence on February 6 and got the card back on February 18, for a 12-day TAT. 

June 6, 2026, Graphing of the Knights at Bulls

Yesterday, Jesse and I made another trip to Durham, this time to see Charlotte. I hadn't seen the Knights in a long time, so it was nice to get some White Sox guys into my autograph album. 

Scott Aldred helped me get some older Topps cards out of my boxes. The 1992 Topps gold turned out great. I was also glad to finally get Dustin Harris on something other than team set cards.

Chad Pinder was one of the best "gets" we got. I had been told that he would be one per, but he did almost whole pages for us.

I had pulled almost every Pinder card I had last season when he was managing Kannapolis. I missed him, and had to dump his cards into the Box-of-Shame. 

It was nice to get almost all of his cards done. Now they don't have to go back in the box.

Hagen Smith was another guy who almost signed everything we had. I think I have one extra card of his left. Jesse impressed everyone when he was the only person who was able to get Everson Pereira to sign. He only signed for Jesse, but it was cool.

Finally, I chipped away at the Bulls team set. I also got a handful of other cards signed by the Bulls guys.

I was kind of disappointed that a good many Knights guys were on the IL. I have a lot of stuff left over. 

In all, we got the following autographs: Scott Aldred x 4, Dru Baker x 4, Dustin Harris x 4, Braden Montgomery x 2, Ben Peoples x 1, Everson Pereira x 1, Chad Pinder x 16, Hagen Smith x 10, Reid Brignac x 2, Bryan Broecker x 2, Michael Grove x 1, Brody Hopkins x 2, Cooper Kinney x 3, Austin Slater x 2, Chase Solesky x 2 and Owen Wild x 2 (58 total autographs).

Another TTM Success From Dave Trembley

This winter, I searched for some old Kinston sets because I was going to see former Kinston Indian, Ross Atkins, at the Kinston Baseball Hall of Fame banquet. While I was looking for his cards, I found a website that had a ton of old team sets; one of which was a 1986 Kinston Eagles set. Prior to (1979 to 1981) their time as the Kinston Blue Jays and between the Blue Jays and Kinston Indians (1986), they were the Eagles. I thought it would be cool to pick up the 1986 Eagles set. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that the manager card was of none other than former Orioles manager, Dave Trembley.

I had gotten Trembley TTM before, but I wanted to get him on the Eagles card, so I sent it out.

He sent me a signed post card and this sogned 2009 Topps bacl with my signed Eagles card, which was really nice of him.

I mailed to Trembley on February 5 and got the cards back on February 17, for a 12-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Max Belyeu

Another signed 2025 Bowman Draft came in; this one is from Max Belyeu. He signed my card in black Sharpie not too long after I sent it out.

This year, I didn't spend the money on 2025 Bowman Draft. Instead, I took the free box of base cards from the Winston-Salem card shop. I'm not a big fan of breakers, but in this case, it helped me get TTM stuff for free.

Belyeu (b. 2003) was a second round pick by the Rockies in the 2025 July Amateur Draft out of the University of Texas Austin. He has played at High A Spokane in the Rickies system since last season. He has 46 hits, 8 home runs and a .190 batting average. 

I mailed to Belyeu on February 4 and got the card back on February 17, for a 13-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Caleb Leys

Another signed 2025 Bowman Draft came in back in February when I got this one in from Caleb Leys. 

Leys (b. 2003) was a 4th round pick by the Tigers in the 2025 July Amateur Draft out of the University of Maine. He made his professional debut this season at single A Lakeland. He has a record of 0-2 with 26 strike outs and a 5.14 ERA.

I mailed to Leys on January 23 and got the card back on February 17, for a 25-day TAT. 

A Signed Sammy Sosa From Max

My buddy, Max, reached out recently to let me know that a private signing was going on with Sammy Sosa for a really good price. The problem was, most of my Sammy Sosa cards were already at Max's house. So, he showed me several of them, and I picked this 1997 Topps to get signed. I have very few 1997 Topps cards in my autograph album, so it was an easy choice. 

The card looks great. I really appreciate how Max always looks out for me. Thanks for helping me get my card signed!

Another TTM Success From Phil Regan

After a long wait, these cards came in from former Orioles manager, Phil Regan. It was funny, though, that two other requests to him that I sent after these cards came back quickly, with no problem. I guess this TTM request fell between the seats.

I had these two Topps cards that I sent along, a 1965 and a 1966 Topps. He also signed a Pacific Orioles logo card (top) and a blank 1991 Crown Orioles card.

I was really surprised to get these back, as I had thought that they jad been lost a long time ago. 

I mailed to Regan via the Mets on June 21, 2019, and got the cards back on February 17, 2026, for a 2,433-day TAT, easily the longest wait I have had.