TTM Success - Brooks Carey

I got this card at the National a few years ago when I bought the 1981 TCMA Cal Ripken.  THe sell gave me this card as a throw in, and I have had it in my box for a long time.  I finally found an address for Carey and sent it on its way.

Carey (b. 1956) was a 10th round pick by the Orioles in the 1978 June Amateur Draft out of Florida State University.  He played in the minors from 1978 to 1982 in the Orioles and Reds systems, reaching AAA.  He had a record of 37-38 with 437 strike outs and a 3.75 ERA.

I mailed to Carey on August 27 and got the card back on December 15 for a 110-day TAT.  Carey also included a note apologizing for the delay.

TTM Success - Ryan LaMarre

Here are a couple nice cards I got signed TTM by Ryan LaMarre.  I had the 2016 Topps with my stuff, and I found the below 2010 Bowman at my LCS a while back.  Both cards turned out really well.

LaMarre (b. 1988) played in the majors from 2015 to 2019 for the Reds, Red Sox, A's, Twins and White Sox.  He had 53 hits, 4 home runs and a .236 batting average.

I mailed to LaMarre on October 27 and got the cards back on December 14, for a 48-day TAT.

I Met WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson

Some of my earliest memories are of watching wrestling at my cousin, Lynn's house when she used to come and pick me up on weekends when I was 3 or so.  I remember Ric Flair, of course, who could miss him?  I also remember seeing Arn Anderson.

I have seen some wrestlers pop up here and there as special signing guests at the Raleigh card show, and sometimes I put some money down so my son, Chris, could meet them, but when I saw Arn Anderson's name pop up, I decided I was going to make sure I got in as well.

I look back fondly on my time at Lynn's house on those weekends.  That was my thing.  Especially since my family was so large, her place, and those weekends were for me.  That feeling of nostalgia is something I will always have when I watch wrestling.  I've had people pick on me for watching it.  I ignore it.  I take breaks from watching it from time to time, but I always find myself checking back in.  Just recently, Chris has gotten back into it, and I have followed suit.  I usually sit there and have to ask him "Now, ok, who's this asshole?" and he will tell me.  It's kind of cool that I can pass that feeling on to him.

Anderson (b. 1958) is now affiliated in the AEW wrestling organization as a manager, but is more widely known for his time in WWE/WWF, WCW, Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling, NWA and others.  He has held countless titles since his career began in 1982, but he will always be associated with Ric Flair.  Flair, Anderson, his "uncle" (in storyline only) Ole Anderson and Tully Blanchard would form one of the all-time greatest wrestling stables, the Four Horsemen.  He would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member of the Four Horsemen in 2012.

Anderson was super nice when we met him at the show today.  He asked if Chris and I watched AEW, which we haven't, yet.  I plan on tuning in, and I was so happy I was able to get to Raleigh today to meet him.

TTM Success - Ed Asner

One of the cooler non-sports autographs that I've gotten back recently was from Ed Asner.  I had the above 2019 Allen & Ginter Incredible Equipment card of Santa's Sleigh, and thought it would be cool to get it signed.  I sent it to Asner because he played Santa in the movie, Elf.  The card looks really cool, and will be an interesting addition to my album.

I also had Asner sign this 2011 Topps American Pie Debut of the Emmys card.  He signed the back of it and explained that he won subsequent Emmys, which was really cool.

Asner (b. 1929) is the most honored male performer in Primetime Emmy history, having won 7 Emmys.  He appeared on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, and countless other TV shows in the past.  He is also known for appearing in the movies, El Dorado, Elf, Up and TV mini-series, Roots and Rich Man Poor Man.

I mailed to Asner on November 30 and got the cards back on December 14, for a 14-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Clay Dalrymple

Sometimes, I go through my boxes and just try to pick out random stuff to mail off to change things up a bit.  Every so often, I'll pull 4 or 5 1991 Crown Orioles cards out and mix them in with my TTMs.  I pulled some of the older guys from that set who I knew signed (or I had gotten before) and sent out another round.  Clay Dalrymple was among the latest that got sent out.  I had gotten Dalrymple before, back in 2017 on 4 cards.  At that time, I hadn't picked up the set of 1991 Crown Orioles.

I mailed to Dalrymple on December 1 and got the card back on December 14, for a 13-day TAT. I paid his fee of $5.00.

TTM Success - Mike Cosgrove

I was able to get a cool older card signed when this 1976 Topps came back from Mike Cosgrove.  He signed the card in red, but it kind of fits in with all of the colors on the card anyway.  The Astros in the 1976 set are probably some of the best cards.  I enjoy their colorful uniforms, and the cards stand out.

Cosgrove (b. 1951) played in the majors from 1972 to 1976 for the Astros.  He had a record of 12-11 with 122 strike outs and a 4.03 ERA.

I mailed to Cosgrove on December 3 and got the card back on December 14, for an 11-day TAT.

TTM Success - Mark McLemore

I got a couple more cards out of my rookies box when I received this TTM success from Mark McLemore.  Not to be confused with the former Mariners/Orioles second baseman, this Mark McLemore was a pitcher.  The above 2007 Topps Rookie 52 turned out great.  I wish I had held onto more of those cards back then, but I let a bunch go at card shows.  Now, I am enjoying seeing them get signed.

I also got this 2007 Bowman signed, which looks really nice.

McLemore (b. 1980) played in the majors in 2007 for the Astros.  He went 3-0 with 35 strike outs and a 3.86 ERA.

I mailed to McLemore on November 20 and got the cards back on December 12, for a 22-day TAT.