2026 National VIP Party Free Signer - Cecil Cooper

The next free signer at the VIP party at this year's National was Cecil Cooper. He was a free signer at two past Nationals that I had been to, 2015 and 2021.

At the past shows, I had gotten Cooper on a 1983 All Star Game ball, 1987 Topps and a 1986 Donruss. He also signed TTM for me, which added a  1976, 1984 and a 1988 Topps. I was running very low on Cooper cards, but found a few that I didn't already have.

Cooper was really nice and commented on my hat. I was glad to get him again. I'm out of his cards now, so if he comes back, I'll need to add some more. 

2026 National Free Pre Signer - Bill Madlock

The 2026 National started off several days early for me when I went to see Guns N Roses for the 5th time, followed by a trip to GalaxyCon in Raleigh to get two celebrities' autographs. I spent the weekend in Winston-Salem, then drove up to Pennsylvania to meet my buddy Nate at his place so the two of us to drive to Chicago. The map doesn't sound right, I know, but part of Nate helping me out with a sweet deal on the hotel was that he didn't want to make the drive alone. I didn't mind, so that's how we worked it out.

This year, the National did a signing for folks who picked up their VIP packages early. We could get Mitch Williams if we got there between 12-2 or Bill Madlock if we got there between 2-4. Nate is a Pirates fan, so we opted to get there during Madlock's time and got him.

I had gotten him several times before, so I was getting low on his cards, but found the above 1985 Fleer for myself and a 1982 Topps for Nate.

We were in and out of the line for Madlock in less than 5 minutes, so it worked out very easily for us. Madlock was nice, and commented on my WWE Joe Hendry shirt, which was cool. It set a very nice tone for the upcoming show. 

2024 National Free Signer - Len Barker

Len Barker was a free signer at the 2018 National.  I got the cards I had at the time signed.  I had to search a bunch of my boxes to find some Barker cards for this year's National when I found out that he was signing.  The above 1985 Fleer turned out nicely.  There's also a lot of blue on this card, which is actually pretty cool.

Barker was nice, as he had been in 2018 also.  I only got the one card signed; I wasn't waiting around for them to call wild cards on him, but I believe they did.

2024 National Free Signer - Doc Gooden

The 2024 National has come and gone.  I picked up a decent amount of stuff and still cake home with a little money in my pocket.  I wanted to lead off with the first free signer, Doc Gooden, who was one of the VIP party signers.  I wanted Doc on this 2000 Topps Chrome All Star Rookies card.  I thought the card was cool, since he only played one game with the Astros in 2000.

I also got a 1985 Fleer, 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen and a 2016 Topps Bunt signed after a couple trips through the line and a little help from Michael's Uncle Stanley.

Gooden was really nice, and it was cool to meet him.  It was a great way to start the show.

FYI, I don't plan on doing each and every signer/pickup in order.  I want to mix the posts up.  We'll see how it goes.

2023 National Free Signer - Bob Dernier

Bob Dernier was the next free signer on the last day of the National.  By the time I got through Dernier's line, most of the people had cleared out.  Still, I had two more signers to go after Dernier, but it was a far cry from earlier in the week.

I had sent all of my Dernier cards out to my friend, Max, in the past, so I picked these three cards up from the guy selling signer cards at the show.  I liked the above 1982 Topps Traded, even though I didn't realize it was a Traded until later on.

I also got a 1985 Topps and a 1985 Fleer signer by Dernier.

Dernier (b. 1957) played in the majors from 1980 to 1989 for the Phillies and Cubs.  He had 634 hits, 23 home runs and a .255 batting average.  He finished 17th in the 1984 NL MVP race abd won a Gold Glove that year.

Another TTM Success From Jim Clancy

There were a bunch of Jim Clancy cards that I had found recently while searching boxes, so I thought it would be a good time to send some more cards out to him for signatures.  The above 1989 Bowman turned out nicely.  This set looks good, but the larger size of the card makes it hard to store with other standard sized cards.  So, I have a bunch of 1989 Bowman that are pretty beat up.  This one is fine, though, and will fit into the 8-card album page that I have for vintage TTM successes.

I also got these four Clancy cards signed: 1989 Topps, 985 Fleer, 1988 Donruss Baseballs Best and 1987 Donruss Highlights.  I like adding some of these oddball sets to the autograph album.

I mailed to Clancy on November 3 and got the cards back on November 21, for an 18-day TAT.

2022 National Free Signer - Al Bumbry

He has signed at Camden Yards as part of the Orioles Alumni; he has signed at Orioles Fan Fest (back before the Orioles killed that); he signs through the mail, but I still had some Al Bumbry cards that I hadn't yet gotten signed.  I started with this 1991 Crown Orioles, which was a good one to carry with me.

I also had a 1983 Donruss, 1985 Fleer and a 1985 Topps.  All of the cards turned out great.  I don't think I have anything else of him that is unsigned.

Bumbry was nice, as always, and I was glad he was one of the signers.  It is always nice to see him, and I feel like it has been a bunch of times, now.

2022 National Free Signer - John Montefusco

John Montefusco is another player that I had gotten TTM previously who was one of the free signers at this year's National. The problem is, I never posted the TTM success from him. It was a ball that I had mailed in 2012 and got back signed in 2018, 6 years later.

Anyway, I added a bunch of his cards to my album and they turned out great.

Montefusco (b. 1950) played in the majors from 1974 to 1986 for the Giants, Braves, Padres and Yankees.  He had a record of 90-83 with 1,081 strike outs and a 3.54 ERA.  He was the 1975 NL Rookie of the Year and finished 4th in the Cy Young race that season. He was an All Star in 1976.

TTM Success - Bruce Berenyi

For the longest time, Bruce Berenyi didn't sign TTM.  I know, because I went ahead and bought his signed 1987 Topps at The National a few years ago.  I coud have gotten him way back in the day, since a good friend of mine actually worked with Berenyi up in New Hampshire.  That was before I was focusing on getting cards signed.

So, I went ahead and sent some cards out TTM, and got them back.  Berenyi has a really nice signature.  I mentioned my friend in the letter I sent, but he didn't write back.

Berenyi (b. 1954) played in the majors from 1980 to 1986 for the Reds and Mets.  He had a record of 44-55 with 607 strike outs and a 4.03 ERA.

I mailed to Berenyi on September 19 and got the cards back on October 2, for a 13-day TAT.

TTM Success - Joe Cowley

I crossed another name off of my 1987 Topps checklist when I received this TTM success from Joe Cowley.  He signed my 87 and also a 1985 Fleer in black Sharpie.

Cowley (b. 1958) played in the majors in 1982 and from 1984 to 1987 for the Braves, Yankees, White Sox and Phillies.  He had a career record of 33-25 with 332 strike outs and a 4.20 ERA.

I mailed to Cowley on May 11 and got the cards back on May 23, for a 12-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $5/card.

TTM Success - Bret Saberhagen

I had a chance to get an autograph from Bret Saberhagen a few years ago as part of the VIP free signing at the National in 2015, but I got in late and missed out.  Luckily, I learned that Saberhagen signs TTM for a small fee to the Make a Difference Foundation.

For $5/card, I got some nice cards signed.  The aboce 1990 Bowman promo card was a really good one to send off.  It turned out great, and I am glad I sent it.

I also sent off two 1985 cards of Saberhagen (top left - Fleer amd top right Topps) that turned out great.  The card on the bottom right is a 1990 Starline Coca Cola.  I'm pretty sure I got it out of a repack box; that is the only explanation I can come up with as to where it came from.  The 2013 Topps Postseason Heroes card on the bottom left was a cool insert to add to my album.

Finally, with the success from Saberhagen, I added my 100th 1987 Topps to my binder.  That means I was able to get at least 100 cards out of my 5,000-count (and then some) box of 87s.

Saberhagen (b. 1964) played in the majors from 1984 to 1995, 1997 to 1999 and 2001 for the Royals, Mets, Rockies and Red Sox.  He had a career recrd of 167-117 with 1,715 strike outs and a 3.34 ERA.  He was a 2-time AL Cy Young Award winner (1985 and 1989) and finished third in the NL Cy Young voting in 1994.  His best MVP finish was 8th in the AL voting in 1989.  He was also a 3-time All Star (1987, 1990 and 1994).  He also took home the Gold Glove Award in 1988.  He won 20 or more games twice (1985 and 1989) and was the AL ERA leader in 1989 with a 2.16 ERA.  He won the World Series with the Royals in 1985.

I mailed to Saberhagen on September 19 and got the cards back on October 28, for a 39-day TAT.  I paid his fee of $5/card with a check to the Make a Difference Foundation.

TTM Success - Bill Swaggerty

It's always nice getting in a TTM success from a former Oriole.  This success from Bill Swaggerty was really cool, especially because had I kept the cards with me, I could have gotten them signed while I was in Baltimore.  Oops.  Could have saved two stamps!

Still, I got the three cards signed, which included the 1985 Topps at the top of the page, the 1986 Donruss (left) and 1985 Fleer (right).

Swaggerty (b. 1956) played in the majors from 1983 to 1985 for the Orioles.  He had a career record of 4-3 with an ERA of 4.76 and 28 strike outs.

I mailed to Swaggerty on September 14 and got the cards back on September 23, for a 9-day TAT.

TTM Success - Buck Martinez

I added an autograph to my collection of a former catcher, manager and MLB Network Radio commentator.  Buck Martinez is a TV commentator for the Blue Jays, but I know him from his days on XM Radio.  I listen to XM in my truck every morning, and I miss the days when Buck was on there.

He once told a story on the radio about how someone gave him a Nissan (or Datsun) Z that had his face painted on the hood.  The way he told it was hilarious.  That was probably back in 2009 or so when I heard that.  I've had my XM since 2007, so who knows.

I got Martinez on some nice Topps cards, starting with his second year card (1971 at the top) followed by the 1976 (left) and 1986 (right).

This 1985 Fleer also turned out pretty well.  The blue on the card looks nice, I think.

Martinez (b. 1948) played in the majors from 1969-1971 and 1973-1986 for the Royals, Brewers and Blue Jays.  He had 618 hits, 58 home runs and a .225 batting average.  He managed the Blue Jays in 2001 and 2002 to a record of 100-115 (.465 winning %).

I mailed to Martinez on February 9 and got the cards back on February 21, for a 12-day TAT.

TTM Success - Tippy Martinez

I was able to send off a 5x7 photo for a TTM, along with some cards to former Orioles reliever, Tippy Martinez.  I got the photo signed and four of the five cards that I sent, signed.  One of the cards, a 1978 Topps appeared to be stuck to one of the others, so that is probably why he didn't sign it.

This photo is from the October 2009 "Evening With Brooks" event that I attended with my brother, Andy.  We met Martinez, Chris Hoiles and Brooks at the event.  I now have my photos with Martinez and Brooks signed.  I need to get my photo with Hoiles signed as well.  The photo turned out pretty well, I think.

I was able to get two Topps and two Fleer cards signed.  They are: 1977 Topps, 1983 Topps, 1985 Fleer and 1986 Fleer.

Martinez (b. 1950) played in the majors from 1974 to 1986 and 1988 for the Yankees, Orioles and Twins.  He had a career record of 55-42 with an ERA of 3.45 and 632 strike outs.  He was an All Star in 1983 and finished 27th in the AL MVP voting.  He won the World Series with the Orioles in 1983.

I mailed to Martinez on September 27 and got the cards back on October 7, for an 11-day TAT.

Some Card Shop Purchases

Last week, I went to my LCS for a few supplies and went through some of the boxes of old cards.  In one of them, I picked up some cheap vintage for my son, Chris, and I also got some cards for a couple fellow bloggers.  I did manage to get one card out of the vintage for myself.  The above Joe Morgan 1985 Fleer jumped out at me because I completely forgot that Morgan played for the A's at the end of his career.  He looks so funny in that green and yellow jersey.

I've met Joe Morgan twice now and was impressed with him both times.  Because of that, I may start a PC of him pretty soon.  I'm seriously considering it.  As for the Fleer card itself, I really like it in its simplicity.  The early to mid 80's Fleer offerings were pretty basic, but don't mistake that for a lack of quality.  Some of those cards are pretty sharp-looking.  Case in point, above.

Here is a card of a guy who I have a PC of.  A very small PC, but a PC nonetheless.  Brandon Snyder is another player whom I've met a few times.  He is a really nice guy.  I was happy to see him get a ring for being on the 2013 Red Sox part of the season.  I'm assuming he's going to get a ring.  Anyway, he doesn't have too many cards so, I was happy to find one in a bargain bin that I didn't already own.

Here is another guy who I am considering starting a PC of.  I have heard quite a bit about Alex Murphy and so far, it has all been good.  He is a local product (local as in he is from Baltimore).  I love the 'Wave' refractors in Bowman Chrome.  I just learned that there are black, red and silver versions as well.  I'm smelling a rainbow.  I'd say I was tasting a rainbow but I don't have any skittles.

Finally, here is a 2013 Panini Prizm Kevin Gausman RC.  Gausman is someone I started a PC of last year and have been slowly adding to it ever since.  In a perfect world, Gausman starts the year in AAA Norfolk (meaning the O's signed a decent starting pitcher so Gausman isn't needed in the rotation at the beginning of the year).

So, there you have it, some PC stuff of guys not named Chris Davis.  I know one fellow blogger who will appreciate that.