Another TTM Success From Bill Russell

When I saw a recent private signing for Bill Russell, I had completely forgotten that he was in the 1987 Topps set, and that I had already gotten him through a signing in 2021. Oh well. I saw the name pop up, and I searched my vintage boxes for the above 1976 Topps. It's a nice card, and in the end, I'm glad I found it to send off.

I like the 1976 set, and it was fitting, since 1976 was the theme for this past year's Topps Heritage set. I believe i saw a post earlier today showing that 2026 Heritage is out, so I'll probably have to get myself a box.

I mailed to the Russell signing on November 12 and got the card back on December 30, for a 48-day TAT. I paid a fee of $15.00.

Another TTM Success From Bill Wertz

While looking through my 1993 Bowman box, I pulled this Bill Wertz to send out TTM. I had forgotten thatI had gotten him before, but it's ok; I hadn't gotten a 93 Bowman done. The card turned out nicely. 1993 Bowman is a sharp set, mainly due to its simplicity. 

I mailed to Wertz on November 3 and got the card back on December 29, for a 56-day TAT.

TTM Success - John Aiello

While looking through boxes at a recent show, I found this 2013 Panini USA card of John Aiello. I checked him on SCN and saw he had a high success rate for TTM, but no returns since 2021. I gave it a shot and sent to him anyway, and got the card back signed not too long after.

Aiello (b. 1997) was a 14th round pick by the Blue Jays in the 2018 June Amateur Draft out of Wake Forest University. He played in the minors in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 in the Blue Jays system, reaching AAA. He had 178 hits, 19 home runs and a .276 batting average. 

I mailed to Aiello on December 9 and got the card back on December 29, for a 20-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Ryan Tatusko

Yet another 2011 Bowman Chrome was pulled from the Bowman box and sent out TTM for signature. I found a working address for Ryan Tatusko and mailed the card out. The marker he used seems a little rough, but in the end, the card is still signed. It could very well have come from him putting the card back in the envelope while it was still wet. 

Tatusko (b. 1985) was an 18th round pick by the Rangers in the 2007 June Amateur Draft out of Indiana State University. He played in the minors from 2007 to 2014 in the Rangers and Nationals systems. He had a record of 45-53 with 627 strike outs and a 3.93 ERA. He would reach AAA before calling it a career.

I mailed to Tatusko on December 12 snd got the card back on December 29 for a 17-day TAT. 

Another TTM Success From Don Buford

Another 1991 Crown Orioles card was put into the autograph album when this one came back signed TTM from Don Buford. I originally got Buford to sign TTM back in 2016, well before I bought the Crown set off of Chandy at a card show. Chandy was a good man; i was very sad when he passed away a couple years ago. I'm glad the set was bought from him, since many of the cards from the set will live on in my autograph album. 

I mailed to Buford on December 15 and got the card back on December 27 for a 12-day TAT. I paid his fee of $5.00.

TTM Success - Jason Szuminski

This 2004 Bowman of Jason Szuminski was another card that came from Ryan. I sent it out TTM, and it came back signed in black Sharpie.

Szumimski (b. 1978) played in the majors in 2004 for the Padres. He had no record, 5 strike outs and a 7.20 ERA.

I mailed to Szuminski on December 17 and got the card back on December 27, for a 10-day TAT. 

Another TTM Success From Bill Lee

Bill Spaceman Lee is always a fun addition to the autograph album. I found this 2023 Panini Zenith in a box at a card show. The card is really cool, and turned out nicely, once it was signed.

I mailed to Lee on December 13 and got the card back on December 27, for a 14-day TAT. 

Another TTM Success From Rich Morales

Another 1971 Topps was added to the autograph album when this card from Rich Morales came back signed TTM. His marker looks like it may be about to dry out, but the signature still looks good. I had originally gotten Morales to sign TTM back in 2020 on two cards.

I mailed to Morales on November 25 and got the card back on December 27, for a 32-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Brian Dallimore

One of the 2004 Bowman Chrome cards that Ryan sent me came back signed TTM by Brian Dallimore. 2004 Bowman is a sharp looking set, and the card looks good signed (even though the signature is hard to see in the scan).

Dallimore (b. 1973) played in the majors in 2004 and 2005 for the Giants. He had 13 hits, 1 home run and a .260 batting average. 

I mailed to Dallimore on September 4 abd got the card back on December 27, for a 114-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jim Driscoll

This 1971 Topps Athletics Rookie Stars card was sitting in my to-be-TTMed box for quite a while until I finally sent it out to Jim Driscoll. I don't think the card came from Conrad's bulk 1971 box; I feel like I found it at a card show. I knew I wouldn't complete the card, as Angel Mangual passed away in 2021. Still, it's a cool card, and I'm happy to get some ink on it. 

Driscoll (b. 1944) played in the majors in 1970 and 1972 for the A's and Rangers. He had 10 hits, 1 home run and a .143 batting average. 

I mailed to Driscoll on December 8 and got the card back on December 24, for a 16-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Jace Brewer

Another Bowman card that Ryan sent me was sent out TTM to Jace Brewer for an autograph. He included his own card (the above 2000 Fleer Tradition), which was a nice touch.

The card Ryan gave me was the above 2001 Bowman. The card turned out great, as well.

Brewer (b. 1979) was a 5th round pick by the Devil Rays in the 2000 June Amateur Draft out of Baylor University. He played in the minors from 2000 to 2007 in the Devil Rays, Rangers and Royals systems, reaching AAA. He had 636 hits, 30 home runs and a .251 batting average. 

I mailed to Brewer on December 4 and got the cards back on December 23, for a 19-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Logan Moore

A couple more random Bowman cards were pulled from the box and sent out TTM. These two 2011 Bowman Logan Moore cards turned out nicely when they were signed. It's hard to believe 2011 Bowman was released 15 years ago. It's fun to find some guys from those older sets who sign TTM; it seems they're happy to hear from a fan these days.

Moore (b. 1990) was a 9th round pick by the Phillies in the 2011 June Amateur Draft out of Northeastern Junior College in Colorado. He played in the minors from 2011 to 2018 and 2021 in the Phillies system, reaching AAA. He had 387 hits, 28 home runs and a .217 batting average. He kept his career going into 2025 while playing in the independent leagues. He had played at High Point for a couple seasons, and I missed him.

I mailed to Moore on November 19 and got the cards back on December 20, for a 31-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Jim Cole

Another card from the 1996 Bowman hobby box that I busted at Andrew's house a long time ago came back signed TTM. Periodically, I go through those Bowmans and pull a few for TTMs. This Jim Cole was in this batch, and came back looking nice.

Cole (b. 1971) was a 27th-round pick by the Brewers in the June 1993 Amateur Draft out of Mercer University. He played in the minors from 1993 to 1995 in the Brewers system, reaching AA. He had a record of 27-13, with 269 strike outs and a 3.66 ERA. He was 18-5 with a 3.32 ERA for Single A Beloit in 1994. It looks like he struggled in the Texas League (AA) and his career ended.

I mailed to Cole on October 29 and got the card back on December 18, for a 50-day TAT.

TTM Success - Kevin Kiermaier

This 2018 Topps Fore was an easy.chpice to send when I saw that a private signing was posted for Kevin Kiermaier. These cards look cool, and I was able to add one to the autograph album. 

Kiermaier (b. 1990) played in the majors from 2013 to 2024 for the Rays, Blue Jays and Dodgers. He had 905 hits, 95 home runs and a .246 batting average. 

He was a 4-time Gold Glove Award winner (2015, 2016, 2019 and 2023). He finished 17th in the 2015 AL MVP race. He won the World Series in 2024 with the Dodgers.

I mailed to the signing on November 8 and got the card back on December 18, for a 40-day TAT. I paid a fee of $30.00.

TTM Success - John Pacella

Another TTM success came in from a former Oriole featured in the 1991 Crown Orioles set. John Pacella was also in the 1983 Topps set, so I sent this card off, as well.

It sucks that he isn't shown in an Orioles uniform, but this card is still signed.

Pacella (b. 1956) played in the majors in 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984 and 1986 for the Mets, Yankees, Twins, Orioles and Tigers. He has a record of 4-10 with 116 strike outs and a 5.73 ERA.

I mailed to Pacella on December 4 and got the cards back on December 17, for a 13-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Jim Gosger

Some well-loved vintage cards were added to the autograph album when I got these three cards back signed from Jim Gosger. I had them in my box for a long time, but kept holding off on sending since Gosger charged a fee.

He signed a 1966 Topps (top), 1971 Topps (above, left) and a 1967 Topps (above, right). The 1967 was a card from my set that I upgraded, since someone crossed out Athletics and wrote in Seattle.

Gosger (b. 1942) played in the majors in 1963, from 1965 to 1971, and 1973 and 1974 for the Red Sox, A's (Kansas City and Oakland), Pilots, Mets and Expos. He had 411 hits, 30 home runs and a .226 batting average. He appeared on the 1980 Hall of Fame ballot, but received no votes.

I mailed to Gosger on December 5 and got the cards back on December 17, for a 12-day TAT. I paid a fee of $5/card.

Another TTM Success From Charles Nagy

Another TTM success came in from former Indians pitcher, Charles Nagy. This time around, he signed the above 1998 Topps, which looks great.

He also signed a 1991 Donruss The Rookies (above, left), which came out of a cheap set i picked up at the National last year. Above, middle, is a 1995 Topps Cyberstats and above, right is a 1996 Topps.

I mailed to Nagy on December 2 and got the cards back on December 16, for a 14-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Rick Kester

Here are two cards that came back signed TTM recently that I should be able to complete. Actually, both have been mailed back out for completion, so i really hope they come back. I sent to Ricl Kester with the thought that I had a good shot as getting them done, and am almost there.  He has a nice signature, and signed quickly.

Kester (b. 1946) played in the majors from 1968 to 1970 for the Braves. He had a record of 0-0 with 31 strike outs and a 5.98 ERA.

I mailed to Kester on December 4 and got the cards back on December 15, for an 11-day TAT. 

TTM Success - BJ Upton

A private signing that I was pretty excited about came up recently where I was able to add BJ Upton to the autograph album. This 2010 Toppa 206 was tge card I was going to send all along. This was a nice set that I enjoyed opening back then, and it looks good when signed. 

Upton (b. 1984) played in the majors in 2004 and from 2006 to 2016 for the Rays, Braves, Padres and Blue Jays. He had 1,260 hits, 164 home runs and a .243 batting average. 

I mailed to the signing on November 8 and got the card back on December 15, for a 37-day TAT. I paid a fee of $30.00.

TTM Success - Colin Young

2002 Upper Deck is another of those underrated early 2000s sets that I remember fondly. I ended up with quite a few cards from that set back then, but a lot of them were sold off as lots back when I was doing shows. One card that remained was this of Colin Young. I saw that he signed TTM, so I sent it out.

Young (b. 1977) was a 9th round pick by the Rockies in the 1999 June Amateur Draft out of Fordham University. He played in the minors from 1999 to 2004 in the Rockies and Red Sox systems. He reached AA. He had a record of 12-13 with 333 strike outs and a 3.09 ERA.

I mailed to Young on November 24 and got the card back on December 13, for a 19-day TAT. 

February 27, 2026, Kinston Hot Stove Dinner

On Friday, Jesse and I attended the Down East Bird Dawgs hot stove banquet, which featured Ross Atkins being inducted into the Kinston Baseball Hall of Fame. I had known about the event for some time, so I picked up a few older minor league cards to take with me to have signed.

One of the cards, which was the actual card used to create his over-sized card for the ceremony, was missed when he was signing. Oh well. I'll be fine.

I found some old Akron Aeros team sets from the mid 90s. I believe there are two different 1998 and a 1999.

The event was fun. I'll never turn down King's BBQ. I could have gotten a couple cards signed by Chris Hatcher, but i didn't pull his cards. He was there, and talked to me for a bit. The best conversation I had was with Ross Atkins's mom. She was very nice, and was happy to chat.

I got 6 total autographs from Atkins at the event. A decent start to graphing season.

TTM Success - Mitch Nay

Some of my different years of Bowman are slowly whittling down as I pull cards fir graphing and TTMs. One such set is 2013 Bowman. I don't have many left, so it is always nice to pull one of a guy that signs and send it out. This card of Mitch Nay turned out ok; his pen looks like it is dying.

Nay (b. 1993) was a first round (58th overall) draft pick by the Blue Jays out of Hamilton High School in Arizona. He played in the minors from 2013 to 2019, 2021 and 2022 in the Blue Jays, Reds and Angels systems. He reached AAA. He had 700 hits, 79 home runs and a .257 batting average. 

I mailed to Nay on March 27 and got the card back on December 13, for a 261-day TAT.