Friday, November 29, 2019

TTM Success - Kyle Petty

You have to look really closely, but this card is signed by Kyle Petty.  I believe I had actually met him way back when I was working at the Harris-Teeter in Huntersville.  Rusty Wallace used to shop at that store, and I'm sure Joe Gibbs did, as well, since his shop was nearby.  I remember a guy who looked just like Petty came up to the customer service counter and chatted with me for a while, as the folks he was with were shopping.  He was really friendly, asked me about where I was going to school, how long I had been working there, etc.  After he left, one of the guys who worked in the deli asked me if I knew I had been talking to.  I said "I think that might have been Kyle Petty."  He said "Yes, it was."  It was just a cool moment that I had for 15 minutes at a store I really enjoyed working at.  Even if it wasn't really Petty, I'd like to continue to believe it was.

Petty (b. 1960) raced in his first NASCAR Winston Cup race in 1979, toward the end of the season.  He would compete in the highest NASCAR series from 1979 to 2008.  His best points finish was 5th (1992 and 1993) and would finish his career with 8 race wins.

I mailed to Petty on October 22 and got the card back on October 31, for a 9-day TAT.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

TTM Success - Peter Bergeron

I added some more early 2000s cards to my album when I got this TTM success back from Peter Bergeron.  I had purchased some partial sets from my LCS that they were just going to toss in the recycling bin, and I ended up getting some good TTM subjects from the boxes.
I had the 2001 Topps already, and the 2002 and 2003 came from the LCS.  They had made a huge purchase of someone's collection.  In the collection was a lot of 2002, 2003 and 2004 Topps factory sets.  A lot of them were fused together from the super gloss, so the shop was just going to trash them.  I talked him into letting me have a couple, and the cards turned out to be in really good shape.  I kind of wish I had saved some more of the sets from the recycle bin.  Bergeron was one of the many players I found in the boxes that I could send TTM.

Bergeron (b. 1977) played in the majors from 1999 to 2002 and 2004 for the Expos.  He had 249 hits, 8 home runs and a .226 batting average.

I mailed to Bergeron on October 16 and got the cards back on October 29, for a 13-day TAT.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

TTM Success - Terry Harmon

Two more cards were removed from my box that I got in Columbia from Conrad when I sent them off to Terry Harmon.  Both cards turned out well.
Harmon has a nice, neat signature, and it looks great on my cards.

Harmon (b. 1944) played in the majors in 1967 and from 1969 to 1977 for the Phillies.  He had 262 hits, 4 home runs and a .233 batting average.

I mailed to Harmon on October 2 and got the cards back on October 29, for a 27-day TAT.

Monday, November 25, 2019

TTM Success - Danny Patterson

I made a little room in my early 2000s box with this TTM success from Danny Patterson.  The cards turned out well.
Patterson has a nice autograph.  I think it looks best on the 1998 Topps (right).

Patterson (b. 1971) played in the majors from 1996 to 2004 for the Rangers and Tigers.  He had a career record of 24-22 with 250 strike outs and a 4.14 ERA.

I mailed to Patterson on October 8 and got the cards back on October 28, for a 20-day TAT.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

TTM Success - Shane Youman

Shane Youman is another player with cards from the mid-2000s that I sent to last month.  I got some nice stuff back, like the above chrome 2007 Topps Rookie 52.  It looks even better in person.
I was also able to get a 2007 Topps and a 2008 Upper Deck signed.

Youman (b. 1979) played in the majors from 2006 to 2007 for the Pirates.  He had a record of 3-7 with 34 strike outs and a 5.13 ERA.

I mailed to Youman on September 30 and got the cards back on October 28, for a 28-day TAT.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

TTM Success - Max Muncy

I sent out a ton of Spring Training TTMs back in February and some are still slowly trickling in. I was very excited to get this success back from Max Muncy.

When I was sending the Spring Training TTMs, I was focusing on adding several 2019 Topps to my autograph album, and really hoped this 2019 Topps Dodgers card would come back signed. It turned out well.
I had also held onto this 2015 Topps for a while, waiting to send to Muncy.  After I got the TTM back, someone on Instagram offered to get Tyler Ladendorf for me. I'll have to take them up on their offer.

Muncy (b. 1990) has played in the majors in 2015 and 2016 for the As and since 2018 for the Dodgers.  He was an All Star in 2019. He has 268 hits, 75 home runs and a .244 batting average.  He finished 15th in the NL MVP voting the last two seasons.

I mailed to Muncy on February 5 and got the cards back on October 25, for a 262-day TAT.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Another Auto From Jackson T.

My friend, Jackson T. messaged me the other day and asked me if I needed Mark Langston for my 1987 Topps set.  I did need him, so Jackson sent this card my way.

Langston (b. 1960) played in the majors from 1984 to 1999 for the Mariners, Expos, Angels, Padres and Indians.  He had a career record of 179-158 with 2,464 strike outs and a 3.97 ERA.  His best finish in the Cy Young award voting was 5th in 1987.  He was a 4-time All Star (1987, 1991, 1992 and 1993) and a 7-time Gold Glove Award winner (1987, 1988, 1991-1995).

Thanks so much for the auto, Jackson!

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

TTM Success - Cecilio Guante

I crossed another card off of my 1987 Topps checklist when I got this card signed by Cecilio Guante via PastPros.  You have to love the old Pirates pillbox hat.  I never was a fan of the Pirate logo (top left of card), though.

Guante (b. 1960) played in the majors from 1982 to 1990 for the Pirates, Yankees, Rangers and Indians.  He had a career record of 29-34 with 503 strike outs and a 3.48 ERA.

September 28 and got the card back signed on October 25, for a 27-day TAT.  I paid PastPros fee of $12.00.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

TTM Success - Josh Banks

 I added some late 2000s cards to my album with this TTM success from Josh Banks.  The above 2008 Stadium Club turned out great.  I always liked this set, and it has been tough to get some of them signed.
I also added a 2009 Topps and a 2008 Upper Deck.  Both of them look really nice, as well.

Banks (b. 1982) played in the majors from 2007 to 2010 for the Blue Jays, Padres and Astros.  He had a career record of 4-8 with 55 strike outs and a 5.66 ERA.

I mailed to Banks on October 15 and got the cards back on October 25, for a 10-day TAT.

Monday, November 18, 2019

TTM Success - Ed Acosta

Two more of the cards I got from my friend, Conrad in Columbia, came back signed in this TTM success from Ed Acosta.  The above 1972 Topps is pretty beat up, but still turned out well.  I'm not quite sure what Acosta is doing with his signature, but it is pretty unique.
This 1973 Topps also looks pretty nice, especially with the old yellow and brown Padres jersey.

Acosta (b. 1944) played in the majors from 1970 to 1972 for the Pirates and Padres.  He had a career record of 6-9 with 70 strike outs and a 4.05 ERA.

I mailed to Acosta on October 17 and got the cards back on October 25, for an 8-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Jim Barr

I had been told in the past that Jim Gott was on the 1987 Topps Giants leaders card, so a friend of mine had gotten one signed by Gott in Arizona this past summer.  When I posted the card, I was told that it wasn't actually Gott on the card, but Jim Barr.

I had gotten Barr TTM back in 2017, and had no idea he was on the 87, so that card got left out.  Thankfully, I had another, so I sent it off.  It came back signed and now I just need to get Bob Brenly.

I mailed to Barr on October 15 and got the card back on October 4, for a 9-day TAT.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

TTM Success - Jaime Cocanower

Two more 1987 Topps were crossed off of my list when I was able to get these cards signed by Jaime Cocanower.
One of the toughest things to do in this set is try to get all of the guys shown on the team leaders cards.  There are a couple of them that I highly doubt I will finish, but as far as getting every card in the set signed, I think I still can do that.  We'll see, though.

Cocanower (b. 1957) played in the majors from 1983 to 1986 for the Brewers.  He had a career record of 16-25 with 139 strike outs and a 3.99 ERA.

I mailed to Cocanower on September 16 and got the cards back on October 23, for a 37-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Jay Bell

I had found quite a few Jay Bell cards while looking through boxes during several trips to the LCS and while at the National.  The above 1995 Stadium Club acetate card was just too cool to not send TTM.  I found that one in a dime box at the National.
Since Bell signs a bunch of cards when you send to him, I grabbed these from the LCS and sent them with the acetate card.  All of them turned out great.

The 2000 Topps Gallery (bottom left) is yet another set that I missed out on when I was in college and not collecting cards.  I found a stack of them at the LCS, so I grabbed a couple of some guys that I knew signed TTM.  While I was at the shop picking up the 2002 Chrome, the clerk sold me sets of 2002, 2003 and 2004 Topps that had been in storage for a while.  I was lucky enough that they weren't all stuck together, and got them for a great price.  Some of those cards will pop up in some later TTM posts.

I mailed to Bell on October 15 and got the cards back on October 22, for a 7-day TAT.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

TTM Success - Tommy Boggs

This one took a while to come back, but I was glad to add Tommy Boggs to my autograph album.  The old Rangers jersey on the above 1977 Topps looks really cool.
I also got Boggs on 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1983 Topps cards.  His signature looks pretty great on all of the cards.

Boggs (b. 1955) played in the majors from 1976 to 1983 and 1985 for the Rangers and Braves.  He had a career record of 20-44 with 278 strike outs and a 4.22 ERA.

I mailed to Boggs on October 22, 2018, and got the cards back on October 22, 2019, for a 365-day TAT.  I don't think I could pull an exactly a year TAT again if I tried.

TTM Success - Bob Patterson

I added some nice junk wax cards to my autograph album when I got this TTM success from former pitcher, Bob Patterson.

I have a huge box of 1993 Fleer that I rarely get into, since it is buried at the bottom of my stack of 5,000-count boxes.  I was able to pull this Patterson and include it in my TTM request.  The card turned out really well.
Patterson has a good many Topps issues, so I sent cards from 1988, 1991, 1992 and 1993.  I really like the 1988.  I have 1993s coming out of my ears, so I was glad to get one of them out and signed.
Finally, I sent this 1996 Fleer.  These have the matte finish on the cards.  They are a pain to leaf through, but they look really cool when signed.

Patterson (b. 1959) is an ECU alum and played in the majors from 1985 to 1987 and 1989 to 1998 for the Padres, Pirates, Rangers, Angels and Cubs.  He had a career record of 39-40 with 483 strike outs and a 4.08 ERA.

I mauled to Patterson on September 23 and got the cards back on October 21, for a 28-day TAT.

Friday, November 15, 2019

TTM Success - Alan Bannister

I added some 80s cards to my album with this TTM success from Alan Bannister.  This 1984 Topps really looks nice, and it isn't usually a set that I enjoy.
I also got his 1978, 1980 and 1981 Topps signed.

Bannister (b. 1951) played in the majors from 1974 to 1985 for the Phillies, White Sox, Indians, Astros and Rangers.  He had 811 hits, 19 home runs and a .270 batting average.

I mailed to Bannister on September 25 and got the cards back on October 19, for a 24-day TAT.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

TTM Success - Andy Hassler

I had Andy Hassler's cards in my box for a long time, and recently, I finally got around to mailing to him.  I sent him 5 cards, and they all turned out well!
Hassler (b. 1951) played in the majors in 1971 and from 1973 to 1985 for the Angels, Royals, Red Sox, Mets, Pirates and Cardinals.  He had a record of 44-71 with 630 strike outs and a 3.83 ERA.

I mailed to Hassler on October 2 and got the cards back on October 19, for a 17-day TAT.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

TTM Success - Rick Asadoorian

I found this 2000 Topps Gold Label of Rick Asadoorian at my LCS and saw that he signed TTM.  I bought the card, took it home, prepped it, and sent it on its way.  It came back signed (and I guess I didn't prep it enough) with an inscription.  In all, the card look good, even though the signature bubbled some.

Asadoorian (b. 1980) was a first round pick (1999, 17th) by the Red Sox out of a Massachusetts high school.  He played in the minors for 9 seasons in the Red Sox, Rangers and Reds systems.  He also played 4 years of independent ball before hanging up his spikes at the end of the 2011 season.

I mailed to Asadoorian on October 7 and got the card back on October 18, for an 11-day TAT.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

TTM Success - Mark Wagner

I added some more 80s (and a 70s) cards to my autograph album with this TTM success from Mark Wagner.  I really like the 1981 Topps, and it turned out great.
I also added 1979, 1980 and 1985 Topps to the album.

Wagner (b. 1954) played in the majors from 1976 to 1984 for the Tigers, Rangers and A's.  He had 205 hits, 3 home runs and a .243 batting average.

I mailed to Wagner on September 24 and got the cards back on October 18, for a 24-day TAT.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Corey Ragsdale Promoted to Rangers MLB Field Coordinator

I just learned a couple minutes ago that Corey Ragsdale would not be returning as the Wood Ducks manager for the 2020 season.  While I am really sad to hear this, I am super excited because he has been promoted to the Rangers MLB staff as their MLB field coordinator.

I knew something like this was coming.  All Rags did this season was impress me on how he managed the Wood Ducks and also continued his other job as Rangers Minor League Field Coordinator.

The Minor League Field Coordinator is the person who determines where each minor league player is assigned, who moves up (or down), etc.  He also made sure my beard was up to par this season.

At the final regular season home game, Rags hugged Chris and I and thanked us for coming out this season.  I told him that it was my first season as a season ticket holder, and he was probably the biggest reason why I would be renewing my package.

I had also ran into him outside the stadium a few games before where, during the game, he had been ejected.  He went so far as seemingly apologizing to Chris and I for being ejected.  Rags is just a great guy.  I really hope that we can run into him in the future, as he may be one of my most favorite people I have come across in all of the MiLB games that I have gone to.  I can easily say that Chris and I love Rags.

I'll also miss saying this before every game, "Go get em, Rags!"

TTM Success - Jeremy Sowers

In my efforts to add some more recent cards to my autograph album, I saw that Jeremy Sowers was signing TTM.  I was able to get some late 2000s cards done, like the above 2007 Topps CoSigners.  I don't think I had any signed cards from this set in my album, so it provided a little something different.
I also got a 2006 Topps Rookie 52 and a 2009 O Pee Chee signed.  He kept two of the cards that I sent.

Sowers (b. 1983) played in the majors from 2006 to 2009 for the Indians.  He was a 1st round pick (6th overall) in the 2004 June Amateur Draft.  He had a career record of 18-30 with 174 strike outs and a 5.18 ERA.

I mailed to Sowers on September 30 and got the cards back on October 16, for a 16-day TAT.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

TTM Success - Rafael Santana

Here is another autograph that I got from the recent private signings that I saw on SCN.  I assume there was some kind of Mets alumni event, because the guys I got recently were all Mets.  This success came from Rafael Santana, and when I saw his name pop up, I had to check his list of cards to see if he was even in the set.  I admit, I had never heard of him.

Santana (b. 1958) played in the majors from 1983 to 1988 and 1990 for the Cardinals, Mets, Yankees and Indians.  He had 497 hits, 13 home runs and a .246 batting average.  He won the World Series with the Mets in 1986.

I mailed to the signing on September 19 and got the card back on October 15, for a 26-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $29.00.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

TTM Success - Sid Fernandez

Another of the recent private signings was for former pitcher, Sid Fernandez.  I had needed him for quite a while, and finally got his 87 Topps done.  I actually have an old Sports Illustrated that I need him on, too, but I had to wait to send that.

Fernandez (b. 1962) played in the majors from 1983 to 1997 for the Dodgers, Mets, Orioles, Phillies and Astros.  He had a career record of 114-96 with 1,743 strike outs and a 3.36 ERA.  He was a two-time All Star (1986 and 1987) and his best Cy Young Award finish was 7th (1986, NL).  He won the World Series with the Mets in 1986.  He appeared on the 2003 Hall of Fame ballot, but only received 0.4% of the vote.

I mailed to the signing on September 19 and got the card back on October 15, for a 26-day TAT.  I paid a $29.00 fee (which is why I didn't send the Sports Illustrated).

TTM Success - Dave Magadan

I knocked off several 1987 Topps recently when I took part in a few private signings on SCN.  There were a bunch back to back to back, so I had to expand the budget a bit, but I was able to get a couple tough guys off of my checklist and into my binder.

I had sent TTM to Dave Magadan in the season, since he is a hitting coach somewhere.  I never did get those cards back, so I went ahead and sent to the signing and am happy with the card.

Magadan (b. 1962) played in the majors from 1986 to 2001 for the Mets, Marlins, Mariners, Astros, Cubs, A's and Padres.  He had 1,197 hits, 42 home runs and a .288 batting average.  He finished 22nd in the 1990 NL MVP voting.  He was a part of the World Series Champion New York Mets, but did not appear in the post season that year.

I mailed to the private signing on September 19 and got the card back on October 15, for a 26-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $29.00.

Friday, November 8, 2019

TTM Success - Shane Rawley

I had Shane Rawley cards in my TTM box since 2016.  It just took me forever to decide to pay his PastPros fee and send the cards off.  I finally got around to it, and sent three cards.  The above 1988 Tops All Star looks great.  I like the design, and it scanned really well.
I also sent off a 1983 Fleer, and of course, I got the 1987 Topps that I needed for my set.

Rawley (b. 1955) played in the majors from 1978 to 1989 for the Mariners, Yankees, Phillies and Twins.  He had a career record of 111-118 with 991 strike outs and a 4.02 ERA.  He was an All Star in 1987.

I mailed to Rawley on September 28 and got the cards back on October 15, for a 17-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $9.00/card (including PastPros fees).

Thursday, November 7, 2019

TTM Success - Terry Harper

I added a couple more hockey cards to my autograph album with this TTM success from Terry Harper.  Harper has a really nice, clean signature, and it shows up well on the cards that I had.
These vintage hockey cards are really cool, and I probably will go back through the box that Max gave me so I can sent off some more cards.

Harper (b. 1940) played in the NHL from 1962 to 1981 for the Canadiens, Kings, Red Wings, Blues and Rockies (no, not the baseball team; there was a hockey team called the Colorado Rockies).  He scored 35 goals, with 221 assists, for a total of 256 points.  He was a 5-time Stanley Cup winner (64-65, 65-66, 67-68, 68-69, 70-71) with the Canadiens.

I mailed to Harper on August 22 and got the cards back on October 12, for a 51-day TAT.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

TTM Success - Nate Schierholtz

I got a different card back than what I sent, but I did get a TTM success from Nate Schierholtz recently.  He also signed the card with a dead Sharpie, but it is still signed.  I was more disappointed in the signature itself than my card being switched out, but I do like the photo on this 2014 Topps.  The card I sent was a 2014 Topps red foil parallel, so I at least got a similar card back.  Still, the red foil would have looked a lot better; even with the dead Sharpie.

Schierholtz (b. 1984) played in the majors from 2007 to 2014 for the Giants, Phillies, Cubs and Nationals.  He had 529 hits, 52 home runs and a .253 batting average.  He won the World Series in 2010 with the Giants.

I mailed to Schierholtz on September 20 and got the card back on October 12, for a 12-day TAT.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

TTM Success - Michael Aubrey

I was able to move some late 2000s cards out of my boxes with this TTM success from Michael Aubrey.  These are cards that I have had floating around in my boxes for over 10 years, and I was kind of getting tired of seeing them.  When I saw that Aubrey was signing, I was glad to get a few of these moving, and they all turned out great.  I don't have very many signed 2008 Bowman (above), but Aubrey did a great job matching the facsimile auto that is on the card.
I also got a 2008 Topps Update and a 2008 Stadium Club First Day Issue signed.

Aubrey (b. 1982) played in the majors from 2008 to 2009 for the Indians and Orioles.  He had 35 hits, 6 home runs and a .259 batting average.  He was the 11th overall pick by the Indians in the 2003 June Amateur Draft.

I mailed to Aubrey on September 30 and got the cards back on October 12, for a 12-day TAT.

Monday, November 4, 2019

TTM Success - Ted Power

I have held onto my Ted Power cards for a long time because one of the guys from Instagram had told me he would get them signed for me, and then never came through.  I finally got tired of seeing his name on my needs list, so I went ahead and sent the cards to him, myself.  They finally came back signed, and I can now cross him off of my list for my 87 set.
I also got Power on an 87 Fleer and an 89 Topps.

Power (b. 1955) played in the majors from 1981 to 1993 for the Dodgers, Reds, Royals, Tigers, Cardinals, Pirates, Indians and Mariners.  He had a career record of 68-69 with 701 strike outs and a 4.00 ERA.

I mailed to Power on October 1 and got the cards back on October 12, for an 11-day TAT.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

TTM Success - Dave Tomlin

 Here are some late 70s-early 80s cards that I added to my album with this TTM success from Dave Tomlin.
Tomlin signed the cards vertically, which is a different touch, but they still look nice.  The cards  had him sign were Topps from 1978, 1979 and 1980.

Tomlin (b. 1949) played in the majors from 1972 to 1980, 1982 to 1983 and 1985 to 1986 for the Reds, Padres, Expos and Pirates.  He had a record of 25-12 with 278 strike outs and a 3.82 ERA.

I mailed to Tomlin on October 4 and got the cards back on October 12, for an 8-day TAT.