TTM Success - Terry Clark

Some late 80s cards came back signed TTM when I got this TTM success in from Terry Clark.  I don't have many 1989 Fleer in the autograph album, so adding this one was nice.

I do have a bunch of 1989 Topps in the album, but another one didn't hurt. This is a sharp looking 89, and I'm glad it is signed.

Clark (b. 1960) played in the majors from 1988 to 1990 and 1995 to 1997 for the Angels, Astros, Braves, Orioles, Royals, Indians and Rangers.  He had a record of 10-23 with 109 strike outs and a 5.54 ERA.

I mailed to Clark on December 2 and got the cards back on February 18 for a 78-day TAT.

TTM Success - Steve Rain

This 1997 Bowman of Steve Rain came back signed TTM recently.  I pulled some random cards from my box to send out, and this was one that came back fairly quickly.

Rain (b. 1975) played in the majors from 1999 to 2000 for the Cubs.  He had a record of 3-5 with 66 strike outs and a 5.46 ERA.

I mailed to Rain on February 4 and got the card back on February 15 for an 11-day TAT. 

Consignment Autos From Loc

My friend Loc took a few cards from me to get signed at Frisco.  He helped me get my 2024 Down East Wood Ducks team setndown to one card when he got this one signed by Ryan Lobus.  I still need Luis Valdez, who has been hurt since early last season.  Hopefully he will be back on a team soon.

Loc also got these two Trey Supak team set cards done.  I had two each of these scattered across several boxes.  He got three of the four signed, so that last one will have to get done another time.

He also got a 2022 Heritage Minors Aaron Zavala signed for me, which was great.  I reappy appreciated Loc helping me out and getting these cards out of the boxes.

TTM Success - George Lombard Jr.

Here are some nice cards that I got signed TTM from Yankees prospect, George Lombard, Jr.  I got this awesome 2024 Bowman insert signed, even though you can't tell at first glance.  That's ok. 

I also added a 2024 Pro Debut to the album. The signature can be seen very easily on this one. 

Lombard (b. 2005) was a first round pick (26th overall) by the Yankees in the 2023 July Amateur Draft out of Gulliver Prep in Florida.  He has played in the Yankees system since 2023, reaching AA.  He has 151 hits, 6 home runs and a .248 batting average.

I to Lombard on January 18 and got the cards back on February 14 for a 27-day TAT. 

May 2025 Graphing of the Mud Monsters at Bird Dawgs

Last week, the other Frontier League expansion team (the Mississippi Mud Monsters) was in Kinston for a 6-game series.  I missed Tuesday's game for family reasons, and Wednesday's game was a day game, so I got to 4 of the 6 games. I only needed two to get all of the cards I picked up signed.

I used gosportscards.com to find most of the cards; I had three of them on my own.  I was really glad to get my 2010 Topps Pro Debut Jamie McOwen cards out of my box.  I also got my Luis Devers 2022 Myrtle Beach team set card done.

My 2023 Augusta team set card of Tyree Thompson also got done.  I was also pleasantly surprised at the quality of Rodney Theophile's autograph. He took his time and put a great signature on my stuff.

A highlight to Saturday's game was that my brother, Philip, brought his family to the game.  My nephew, Lonnie, was picked to be the 'Play Ball' kid.  He got to go on the field and yell play ball to start the game. 

Lonnie had a blast at the game.  Something tells me he will be back to another one soon.

In all, I got the following autographs: Last night's graphing recap of the Mud Monsters at Bird Dawgs: Chris Barraza x 2, Luis Devers x 3, Victor Diaz x 4, Ti'Quan Forbes x 1, Jamie McOwen x 2, Karell Paz x 3, Jay Pecci x 3, Sergio Sanchez x 11, Rodney Theophile x 8 and Tyree Thompson x 2, Kyle Booker x 11 and Davis Bradshaw x 1 (51 total autographs).

Another TTM Success From Kurt Stillwell

This 1991 Donruss Diamond King that came back signed TTM from Kurt Stillwell is such a great card.  Diamond Kings were a favorite of the Junk Wax Era.  I had found this card in a box and decided to send to Stillwell again after originally getting him TTM in 2019.

I found a few more cards to send along with the Diamond King.  The 1988 Donruss ALs Best was a cool find in one of the boxes from the former LCS.  I also got a 1989 Topps and 1994 Leaf signed.

I mailed to Stillwell on January 25 and got the cards back on February 14 for a 20-day TAT. 

May 18, 2025, Graphing of the Emperors at Grasshoppers

Last Sunday, I got a little bit of sunburn while knocking out some cards in Greensboro.  I went with the purpose of finally getting my 2022 Topps Pro Debut Maikol Escotto pink parallel signed.  I have missed that card several times and finally fot it signed.

The Rome Emperors were in town, and I got a few nice cards signed.  Unfortunately, the Emperors had several guys I needed on the IL.  It was still a productice trip.  

I had picked up the above 2022 Bowman Shalin Polanco (above, left) at the National a few years ago.  I remembered it last minute, and was able to locate it.  I was so glad to get it signed.  

In all, I got the following autographs: Garrett Baumann x 6, Herick Hernandez x 2, Justin Janas x 1, Adam Maier x 1, Ambioris Tavarez x 1, Maikoll Escotto x 2, Shalin Polanco x 1, Enmanuel Terrero x 3 and Lonnie White x 1 (18 total autographs). 

May 17, 2025, Graphing of the Legends at Rockers

On Saturday, I made a trip to High Point for the first time this season. I always enjoy graphing the Atlantic League, and was able to get some more cards out of my boxes.  I also picked up a 2022 High Point team set, just for fun. I only got two of the cards signed, but it doesn't matter.  With the amount of random team set guys I'm seeing these days, I figured $10 wasnt a bad price to pay.

I got a bunch of Jordan Luplow cards out of the Box Of Shame.  He signed 6 of the 9 cards I showed outside after the game. 

I mistook Tanner Tully for another pitcher, and even called him by that name, but their cards were beside each other on the page and Tully hooked me up.

A trip to High Point isn't complete until you can add more Frank Viola cards to the autograph album.  I got a bunch of him done, and a few will be headed to Max in Chicago.

A lot of the guys I got were ones I had gotten before, so this trip really was a "clean out the box" trip.

In all, I got the following autographs: Nick Laio x 1, Curtis Terry x 8, Tanner Tully x 2, Patrick Wicklander x 1, Ben Aklinski x 1, Tommy Doyle x 4, Luis Gonzalez x 2, Jordan Luplow x 6, Drew Mendoza x 3 and Frank Viola x 10 (38 total autographs).

TTM Success - Sean Conner

Here is a nice 2009 Bowman that I added to the autograph album.  This card of Sean Conner came back signed TTM in black Sharpie.  His signature looks very close to the facsimile autograph on the card, so i guess it hasn't changed much over the years.

Conner (b. 1987) was a 10th round pick by the Reds in the 2008 June Amateur Draft out of Palm Beach State.  He played in the minors from 2008 to 2010 in the Reds system.  He reached A ball.  He had 100 hits, 9 home runs and a .228 batting average.

I mailed to Conner on February 6 and got the card back on February 14 for an 8-day TAT. 

May 2025 Graphing of Jackals at Bird Dawgs

The New Jersey Jackals came to town last week and I was able to get some nice cards signed.  I had some help from Chris and Jesse.

It was cool that a former major leaguer was on the Jackals.  Miguel Gomez was really nice and signed everything we had.

Chris got a bunch of them done which helped me out since I missed the Wednesday day game.

I also had some nice 2018 Bowman Chrome Arbert Cipion.  I had gotten him a while ago when he was with the Mudcats.  I also got some team set cards of Colt Webb signed.

In all, we got the following autographs: Albert Cipion x 5, Miguel Gomez x 30 and Colt Webb x 4 (39 total autographs). 

TTM Success - Mike Frank

A couple more older Bowman cards were added to the autograph album when I got this TTM success back from Mike Frank.

These are a couple 1999 Bowman, and they turned out nicely.

Frank (b. 1974) played in the majors in 1997 for the Reds.  He had 20 hits, no home runs and a .225 batting average. 

I mailed to Frank on January 29 and got the cards back on February 13 for a 15-day TAT. 

Andrew Helps With a Mattingly

My buddy Andrew lives in Evansville, Indiana and has access to cheap signings with Don Mattingly.  He reached out to me and offered to take a Mattingly card of mine and get it signed for me if I wanted to pay the fee.  I was all for that, so I sent him this awesome insert from 1990 Bowman.  The card turned out great.

Thanks for getting the card done for me, Andrew.  If they keep these signings up in Evansville, I'll definitely send another along.

TTM SUccess - Brandon Williamson

Here are a couple recent cards that I was able to get signed TTM by Brandon Williamson.  The above 2024 Topps Heritage is a really nice card.  I loved that Heritage set, and was glad to get a few signed when I did.

I also sent off this 2023 Topps Update. The signature shows up a little better on this one than the Heritage.

Williamson (b. 1998) had played in the majors since 2023 for the Reds.  He has a record of 5-5 with 110 strike outs and a 4.39 ERA.  He hasn't pitched yet this season; he's on the 60-day IL.

I mailed to Williamson on January 13 and got the cards back on February 10 for a 28-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Dave Criscione

Here is yet another 1991 Crown Orioles card that I got signed TTM for the autograph album.  I had never heard of Dave Criscione.  He signed the card nicely and inscribed it with his uniform number. 

Criscione (b. 1951) played in the majors in 1977 for the Orioles.  He got into 7 games and had 3 hits, 1 home run and a .333 batting average. 

I mailed to Criscione on February 3 and got the card back on February 10 for a 7-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Andrew Owen

Here is a TTM success that was driven by my need to justify purchasing some cards.  A couple years ago, I bought a 10-card lot of 2019 Perfect game cards of Andrew Owen.  He had been drafted by the Rangers and I had hoped he would be a Wood Duck. He never made it to Kinston, and I was stuck with bis stuff (in the box next to Antonio Cabello, Bayron Lora and Kenen Irizarry.  I found an address for Owen and sent two of the 10 cards out TTM.  They came back signed.

Owen (b. 2002) was a 14th round pick by the Rangers in the 2022 July Amateur Draft out of Grossmont College in California. He went 1-2 with a 14.54 ERA and 4 strike outs at the Rangers Arizona complex league team.

I mailed to Owen on January 15 and got the cards back on February 7 for a 23-day TAT. 

Another TTM Success From Blas Minor

Back in 2017, I got Blas Minor TTM on some cards.  I found two more and finally sent them out recently.  I was glad to add another 1994 Topps to the autograph album. 

I also sent out this 1994 Scotr, which turned out great.  I've got a 5,000-count box of that year of Score and was happy to get one of them out.  

I mailed to Minor on January 7 and got the cards back on February 6 for a 30-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Hugh Quattlebaum

Here is a random 2001 Topps that I got halfway done when I sent it out TTM to Hugh Quattlebaum.

Quattlebaum (b. 1978) was a 25th round pick by the Tigers in the 2000 June Amateur Draft out of Amherst College in Massachusetts. He played in the minors from 2000 to 2003 in the Tigers and Orioles systems.  He would reach AAA.  He had 180 hits, 3 home runs and a .241 batting average. 

I mailed to Quattlebaum on January 21 and got the card back on February 6 for a 16-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Archie Manning

Here is a card I found in one of the boxes of cards from the former LCS.  I sent it out TTM to Archie Manning and it came back signed.

Manning (b. 1949) played in the NFL from 1971 to 1975 and 1977 to 1984 for the Saints, Oilers and Vikings.  He had 125 touch downs and 23,911 yards.  He is the father of Peyton and Eli Manning.

I mailed to Manning on January 11 and got the card back on February 5 for a 25-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Mike Paradis

A few Orioles cards got out of the box and into the album when I got this TTM success back from Mike Paradis.  It is kind of sad that these cards span two years, but Topps used pretty much the same photo (or close to it).

I got these three different 1999 Bowmans signed; a paper, chrome and a foil.  The card at the top was his 2000 Bowman Chrome.

Paradis (b. 1978) was a first round (13th overall) pick by the Orioles in the 1999 June Amateur Draft out of Clemson.  He played in the minors from 1999 to 2004 in the Orioles system, reaching AAA.  He had a record of 29-47 with 415 strike outs and a 5.24 ERA.  He was among a long string of failed first round draft picks by the Orioles during the "Dark Times".

I mailed to Paradis on January 17 and got the cards back on February 4 for an 18-day TAT. 

May 9-10, 2025, Graphing of Titans at Bird Dawgs

The Bird Dawgs had their opening series this past weekend versus the Ottawa Titans.  There were a few guys with cards on the Titans.  Lamar Briggs (above) had a team set card from the 2024 Tri-City ValleyCats.  I bought two of that card and they both got signed right away.

Brandon Marklund had a card in 2020 Topps Heritage Minors, but I didn't have any of those in my boxes. My buddy Gerard had several, and I was able to take a 50/50 for him.

Prior to the season, I bought a lot of 15 Tom Carcione minor league cards off of Ebay.  Carcione was really cool and signed everything we had.  He took my book and was showing the cards off to one of the Titans players.

I got one more Bird Dawg, Carter Raffield, on his 2019 Leaf Perfect Game card.  There's one more guy who signed with the Bird Dawgs in the offseason that hasn't been here yet, if I get him, all of the Perfect Game cards I bought for the team will be done.

I took some photos from Opening Day.  Grainger Stadium has changed a bit, but it still has the same charm.  Attendance for Opening Day was 2,666; a sellout.

Here is Carcione signing for us.  My friend Jimmy Kilpatrick took this awesome picture.

Saturday was Star Wars night.  I didnt get his autograph, but I did get a picture with Darth Vader.

Finally, I won a jersey auction.  I got Tyler Blaum's jersey (I also won Cameron Masterman's).  Blaum practices with former Wood Duck, Josh Trentadue in the offseason and had heard of us prior to us meeting him at the first exhibition game. I was glad to win his jersey and get this picture with him post-game.

In all, we got the following autographs: Lamar Briggs x 2, Tom Carcione x 15, Brandon Marklund x 5, Carter Raffield x 10, Tyler Blaum x 1 and Brandon Fields x 2 (35 total autographs).

TTM Success - Joel McKeon

A random 1988 Topps made it into the autograph album when this one came back signed TTM from Joel McKeon.  A true Junk Wax Era cards, but it is still a nice addition. 

McKeon (b. 1963) played in the majors in 1986 and 1987 for the White Sox.  He and a record of 4-3 with 32 strike outs and a 5.17 ERA.

I mailed to McKeon on January 8 and got the card back on February 4 for a 27-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Clay Bruner

This 1998 Bowman Chrome of Clay Bruner turned out nicely when it came back signed TTM. I've got a bunch of these cards and have been trying to get some of them signed and into my album.

Bruner (b. 1976) was a 4th round pick by the Tigers in the 1995 June Amateur Draft out of Weatherford High School in Oklahoma.  He played in the minors from 1995 to 1999, all in the Tigers system.  He reached AA.  He had a record of 40-18 with 402 strike outs and a 3.24 ERA.

I mailed to Bruner on January 25 and got the card back signed on February 3 for a 9-day TAT.

May 7, 2025, Graphing Recap of the War Dogs at Bird Dawgs

Last night, the Down East Bird Dawgs hosted the US Military War Dogs in an exhibition game at Grainger Stadium. This was the second of two exhibition games the Bird Dawgs had scheduled prior to tomorrow's opening day.

The Bird Dawgs won the game 10-3.  I.almost didn't make it to the game, as work i traded, but I got to the park just in time for the gates to open.  I got autographs from one of the three players I had left for the Bird Dawgs, Yeniel Laboy.  He signed 10 2021 Perfect Game cards for Jesse and I.

The Frontier League season starts tomorrow and I am excited to see the next generation of baseball in Kinston.  I've got extra box tickets for a good price if anyone wants to sit with us.

TTM Success - Steven Moya

Here are a bunch of cards that had a lot of frequent flyer miles on them.  I had these Steven Moya cards pulled when he was in the Atlantic League, but missed him.  Then, the cards were sent to a couple different people to try for 50/50s and they didn't get done because Moya wound up playing in Japan for a few seasons.  I saw that he was back in the states, so i figured I'd try to get him TTM, and that worked out.

I was glad to get a couple of these Bowman Chrome minis out of my boxes and have them signed.  They can be a pain to deal with, but it doesn't matter now that they are locked into the autograph album. 

I also got an older team set (I believe a 2016 International League All Star) card, a 2013 Bowman and a 2015 Topps signed with this TTM request.  Moya also included a nice note.

Moya (b. 1991) played in the majors from 2014 to 2016 for the Tigers.  He had 31 hits, 5 home runs and a .250 batting average.

I mailed to Moya on January 22 and got the cards back on February 3 for a 12-day TAT.