TTM Success - Tim Beckham

A private signing that I had been waiting a while for came along through a friend on Facebook. I had tried getting this 2018 Bowman Chrome gold refractor of Tim Beckham signed in person a couple times. Beckham isn't the easiest guy to get (ask my buddies Jackson and Dugan). I finally sas the private signing and went ahead and sent this card along. It turned out great.

Beckham (b. 1990) played in the majors in 2013, from 2015 to 2019 and 2022 for the Rays, Orioles, Mariners and Twins. He had 404 hits, 63 home runs and a .246 batting average. 

I mailed to the signing on May 29 and got the card back on July 12, for a 44-day TAT. I paid a fee of $15.00.

Another TTM Success From Jeff Conine

1993 Upper Deck has some nice cards, many of them the team checklists. I finally completed the 1993 Upper Deck Florida Marlins Inaugural Catch card. Jeff Conine was the last player that I needed. I started with a Bret Barberie private signing in 2024. I added Orestes Destrade and Dave Magadan afterward. It came down to Conine, and a private signing on SCN finished the job.

I mailed to the signing on May 20 and got the card back on July 12, for a 53-day TAT. I paid a fee of $15.00.

TTM Success - Ian Bladergroen

A nice 2005 Topps came back signed TTM from Ian Bladergroen. The card turned out well. I don't have many 2005 Topps anymore, so adding one was pretty nice.

Bladergroen (b. 1983) was a 44th round pick by the Mets in the 2002 June Amateur Draft out of Lamar Community College in Lamar, Colorado. He played in the minors from 2003 to 2006 in the Mets system and in 2009 in the Mariners system. He reached high A. He had 415 hits, 44 home runs and a .272 batting average. 

I mailed to Bladergroen on Match 13, 2024, and got the card back on June 24, 2026, for an 833-day TAT.

TTM Success - Paul DeJong

A really nice 2020 Topps Chrome blue refractor came back signed TTM by Paul DeJong recently. I had forgotten I had sent this, but was pleasantly surprised when it came in.

DeJong (b. 1993) played in the majors from 2017 to 2025 for the Cardinals, Blue Jays, White Sox, Royals and Nationals. He had 723 hits, 146 home runs and a .229 batting average. He was an All Star in 2019 and finished second in the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year voting. 

I mailed to DeJong on February 22, 2021, via Cardinals Spring Training and got the card back signed on June 20, 2026, for a 1,944-day TAT.

TTM Success - Sheng-En Lin

Another current player that I was able to get to sign TTM recently was Reds prospect. Sheng-En Lin. He signed my 2024 Bowman Draft (above) and my 2025 Topps Pro Debut chrome and base cards (below).

I had his blue foil parallel, but had misplaced it. Of course I found it after I sent these off. Typical of me.

Lin (b. 2005) was an international signing by the Reds out of Taiwan. He has played in the Reds system since 2023 when he was 17. He has reached A ball, but spent this whole season on the IL. He has 74 hits, 3 home runs and a .258 batting average. 

I mailed to Lin on May 18 via Daytona, and got the cards back on June 18, for a 31-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Whit Merrifield

A private signing I had been hoping for popped up recently. I had been trying to get Whit Merrifield on some cards since my dad poured his driveway back in 2021. My brother took some cards for me, but didn't see Merrifield after that. Since then, I pulled a couple nice parallels, which were the ones that I ended up sending out. Above is an awesome blue shimmer foil from 2024 Topps.

This one is a blue foil from 2025 Topps. In person, it is a darker shade of blue. My scanner kind of brightened it.

Merrifield (b. 1989) played in the majors from 2016 to 2024 for the Royals, Blue Jays, Phillies and Braves. He had 1,249 hits, 94 home runs and a .280 batting average. He led the league in hits in 2018 and 2019. He was an All Star three times (2019, 2021 and 2023). He finished 17th in the 2018 AL MVP race.

I mailed to the signing on May 2 and got the cards back on June 11, for a 37-day TAT. I paid a fee of $25/card.

TTM Success - Cam Eden

Another recent player that I found had been signing TTM was Cam Eden. Chris and I had met him when we were in Buffalo a couple years ago, but at that time, he had no cards. Fast forward a bit, and he got into some update sets.

I sent Eden a 2024 Topps Heritage High Number (top) and a 2024 Topps Update (above) for the TTM request, and they both look great.

Eden (b. 1998) played in the majors in 2023 for the Blue Jays. He had 1 hit, no home runs and a .167 batting average. 

I mailed to Eden on March 21 and got the cards back on June 5, for a 76-day TAT.

TTM Success - Cade Smith

An actual current player has been signing TTM recently. I was told that Cade Smith was signing, so I pulled a few cards and sent them to him via the Guardians. He signed the above 2025 Topps Heritage. That design looks really good, and even better in my autograph album. 

He also signed a 2024 Topps Heritage High Number and a 2024 Topps Update.

Smith (b. 1999) has played in the majors since 2024, for the Guardians. He has a record of 20-7 with 314 strike outs and a 2.26 ERA. He led the AL in saves this season with 41. He was an All Star this year. He finished 9th in the 2024 Cy Young Award voting and 5th in the AL Rookie of the Year race.

I mailed to Smith on May 18 and got the cards back on June 5, for an 18-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Gary Beare

A 1978 Topps was added to the autograph album when this card came back signed by Gary Beare. I don't have a lot of bulk 1978 Topps remaining. I think I sold off most of them way back in the day. Still, there are a few left that I could send out TTM. I just need to be a little more diligent when going through the box.

Beare (b. 1952) played in the majors in 1976 and 1977 for the Brewers. He had a record of 5-6 with 64 strike outs and a 5.15 ERA.

I mailed to Beare on November 12 and got the card back on June 1 for a 201-day TAT.

September 1-6, 2026, Graphing of the Otters at Bird Dawgs

This Bird Dawgs season ended on September 6, and with that, graphing for me this season has closed. I was going to go to Durham and then Norfolk, but I opted out in favor of resting and relaxing at home. It was a long season.

The Evansville Otters came to town with a few guys who had team set cards from across the minors. They also had teo guys with cards listed on their coaching staff, but I learned on the first night of the series that those two guys didn't make the trip. That was a shame, but we still enjoyed the series.

The Bird Dawgs were a much better team this season. They had several players hit over .300, even a couple hit over .330. That's pretty dang good. Stephen DiTomaso even broke the single season hits record for the Frontier League. That was something awesome to see that last series.

Stephen signed a ball for me with the hits record inscription, and then gave me a cracked bat after the final game. He's such a great guy. I really hope an affiliated club picks him up.

In all, we got the following autographs: Blake Barthol x 2, Mark Black x 2, Logan Brown x 2, Joan Gonzalez x 4, Marco Gonzalez x 4 and Anthony Tomczak x 4, Nate Wohlgemuth x 2, and Stephen Ditomaso x 2 (22 total autographs). 

Another TTM Success From Nate Schierholtz

While going through my boxes, I pulled a couple 2010 cards to send out to Nate Schierholtz. I had gotten him back in 2019, so it has been long enough to send to him again. The above 2010 Upper Deck turned out great.

I also sent out this 2010 Topps. It also looks good. 

I mailed to Schierholtz on January 39 and got the cards back on May 30, for a 121-day TAT.

TTM Success - Kris Benson

Here are some signed Orioles cards for the album that came in TTM from a private signing. I didn't think I'd be able to get Kris Benson, but the signing popped up. I had pulled and put aside the above 2007 Topps Heritage in hope that a signing would happen. So, when it did, it was really easy to find. The price point was good, so i searched the Orioles box for some other cards to send off.

I ended up sending a 2006 Fleer, 2006 Topps and 2007 Topps to the signing, as well. All of the cards turned out great.

Benson (b. 1974) played in the majors from 1999 to 2000, 2002 to 2006 and 2009 to 2010 for the Pirates, Mets, Orioles, Rangers and Diamondbacks. He had a record of 70-75 with 806 strike outs and a 4.42 ERA. He finished 4th in the 1999 NL Rookie of the Year voting. 

I mailed to the signing on March 7 and got the cards back on May 21, for a 75-day TAT. I paid a fee of $25/card.

TTM Success - Rick Wrona

A signed 1990 Topps made its way into the autograph album when I got this card back signed TTM by Rick Wrona. I found this card during a run through my boxes while trying to populate a stack of guys to send to. I need to do that again (and also clean up some that I pulled who aren't signing).

Wrona (b. 1963) played in the majors from 1988 to 1990 and 1992 to 1994 for the Cubs, Reds, White Sox and Brewers. He had 41 hits, 3 home runs and a .244 batting average. 

I mailed to Wrona on February 28 and got the card back on May 19, for an 80-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jeremy Hazelbaker

My stack of incoming TTMs that need to be posted is getting smaller. I'm so far behind posting, but at least I have content to last me for quite a while. This next TTM success came in from Jeremy Hazelbaker on a 2016 Topps Update. He signed the card in silver Sharpie; the scan helps the signature stand out. It is a little tougher to see in person.

Hazelbaker (b. 1987) played in the majors in 2016 and 2017 for the Cardinals and Diamondbacks. He had 65 hits, 14 home runs and a .258 batting average. 

I mailed to him on July 18, 2025, and got the card back on May 18, 2026, for a 304-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jimmy Britton

Completing a multi-player card is a lot of hard work, but it can also be rewarding. I completed this 1972 Topps Braves Rookie Stars card recently when it came back TTM from Jimmy Britton. The best part is that all of the guys signed it in blue.

Britton (b. 1948) didn't actually crack the majors. He played in the minors from 1968 to 1973 in the Braves system, reaching AAA. He had a career record of 22-16 with 267 strike outs and a 3.75 ERA.

I mailed to Britton on Match 2 and got the card back on May 18, for a 77-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jordan Leasure

A couple cards from 2024 Topps Heritage High Number came back signed TTM from Jordan Leasure. One of the cards was this green parallel. I enjoyed busting Heritage in 2024; I got boxes of Heritage, Heritage Mini and Heritage High Number that year, and used a good bit of it for graphing.

I also sent along his base card from Heritage High Number, and it came back signed too.

Leasure (b. 1998) has played in the majors since 2024 for the White Sox. In his career, he has a record of 7-9 with 125 strike outs and a 4.96 ERA. 

I mailed to Leasure via White Sox Spring Training on February 9 and got the cards back on May 15, for a 95-day TAT.

TTM Success - Johnny Briggs

These signed cards from Johnny Briggs took a while to come back to me. They eventually did, after I had forgotten that I had sent them out. He signed my 1972 Topps (above) and my 1973 Topps (below).

Briggs (b. 1944) played in the majors from 1964 to 1975 for the Phillies, Brewers and Twins. He had 1,041 hits, 139 home runs and a .253 batting average. He finished 23rd in the AL MVP race in 1973.

I mailed to Briggs on April 28, 2021, and got the cards back on May 9, 2026, for a 1,837-day TAT. I paid a fee of $5/card.

TTM Success - Victor Robles

When I found out that Victor Robles was signing TTM earlier this season, I had to search my boxes for this 2017 Carolina League top prospects card. I had missed him when Potomac came through Kinston that season (I missed Juan Soto, too). I finally got my card signed and into my album, 9 years later.

Robles (b. 1997) has played in the majors since 2017 for the Nationals and Mariners. He has 515 hits, 36 home runs and a .248 batting average. He finished 6th in the 2019 NL Rookie of the Year voting. He won the World Series with the Nationals in 2019.

TTM Success - Javier Vazquez

Here is another card that I got signed recently through a private signing on SCN. I sent this 2010 Topps National Chicle, and it turned out great. I forgot how cool this set looked. I'm glad I was able to find this one to send out to the signing. 

Vazquez (b. 1976) played in the majors from 1998 to 2011 for the Expos, Yankees, Diamondbacks, White Sox, Braves and Marlins. He had a record of 165-160 with 2,526 strike outs and a 4.22 ERA. He was an All Star in 2004 and finished 4th in the NL Cy Young race in 2009.

I mailed to the signing on March 21 and got the card back on May 5, for a 45-day TAT. I paid a fee of $20.00.

Another TTM Success From Rich Harden

Back in 2020, I git a TTM success in from Rich Harden. Six years later, I got him again. This time, I sent out a 2003 Bowman Heritage (above), 2003 Topps 205 (below, left), 2003 Bowman (below, center) and a 2008 Topps Chrome refractor (below, right).

All of the cards turned out great. I'm not even sure how I got a few of them, as I didn't open much 2003 stuff at all.

I mailed to Harden on July 18, 2025, and got the cards back on May 5 of this year, for a 291-day TAT.