TTM Success - Jeff Branson

Here are some nice cards that came back signed TTM by Jeff Branson. The above 1988 Topps Traded showing Branson in a Team USA uniform was pretty cool. 

He also signed a 1993 Topps and a 1994 Topps. Both of these also look nice.

Branson (b. 1967) played in the majors from 1992 to 1998, 2000 and 2001 for the Reds, Indians and Dodgers. He had 383 hits, 34 home runs and a .246 batting average. 

I mailed to Branson on January 3 and got the cards back on February 6, for a 34-day TAT. 

2025 National Free Signer - Hal Morris

Hal Morris was one of the Wednesday fewe VIP signers at the National.  I had gotten him TTM in the past, but I still had a bunch of his cards that I could get signed.  The above 1994 Topps turned out great.

They called Wild Cards on Morris, so I was able to get s few more cards signed.  The 1997 Bowman Chrome (left) turned out great.  The 1996 Topps Gallery (middle) was from the box of cards I busted a long time ago while visiting Andrew.

Finally, the card on the right is a 1996 Topps Finest.  These are also nice cards but they kind of blur or fade.  This one turned out fine and shouldn't fade since it'll be stored in my album.  By fading, I mean the actual card, not the signature.

Morris was really nice.  I was glad to meet him, and his line.moved pretty quickly. 

TTM Success - Mark Hutton

This TTM success from Mark Hutton was a cool one that came in from Australia.  I saw that Hutton was signing, so i sent this 1994 Topps.  Two 1994 Topps were added to the autograph album in one week.  A set that hadn't seen much action recently has popped up a good bit lately.

Hutton (b. 1970) played in the majors in 1993, 1994 and 1996 to 1998 for the Yankees, Marlins, Rockies and Reds.  He had a record of 9-7 with 111 strike outs and a 4.75 ERA.  Poor guy was traded away from the 1996 Yankees and 1997 Marlins mid-season both seasons; both teams went on to win the World Series. 

I mailed to Hutton on November 23 and got the card back on March 10 for a 107-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Wade Boggs

When I opened the silver packs from my 2025 Topps jumbo box, I pulled this awesome chrome 1990 Topps Wade Boggs.  I never considered how a 1990 Topps would look when chromed-out and I have to say, they look awesome.  I pulled the card and knew I had to get it signed by Boggs.  I sent it TTM along with the 1994 Topps below, and am really happy with the results. 

The 1994 Topps was in a box of stuff that I'd like to see get into the autograph album, so I included it in the request.  Most of my bulk 1994 Topps were ruined by the over-gloss, so there aren't as many in the album as other years.  There is some great photography in that set, so i want to add more to the album. 

I mailed to Boggs on February 15 and got the cards back on March 6 for a 19-day TAT. I paid his fee of $10/card.

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 - Curtis Pride

This TTM success from Curtis Pride took a long time to get here but the cards finally came back signed.  The above 2015 Topps Pride and Perseverance insert turned out great.  This was the whole reason I sent the TTM request in the first place.

I also got a 1994 Topps and a 1994 Donruss signed. 

Pride (b. 1968) played in the majors in 1993, from 1995 to 1998, 2000 to 2001 and 2003 to 2006 for the Expos, Tigers, Red Sox, Braves, Yankees and Amgels.  He had 199 hits, 20 home runs and a .250 batting average. He was the first deaf player to play in the majors since Dick Sipek in 1945.

I mailed to him on May 30, 2017, and got the cards back on February 2, 2025, for a 2,804-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Sid Fernandez

When I saw that Sid Fernandez was signing TTM, I scrambled to find some cards and sent them out.  I had gotten him on his 87 Topps via a private signing, so this time I took what I could find in a pinch.  The above 1994 Score Rookie and Traded card covers Fernandez's time as an Oriole, which was fine with me.

I found these two Topps cards (a 1993 and a 1994 Gold parallel) next, then gave up the search.

I was glad to get a few of his cards in the autograph album, since he seemed to be tougher in the past.

I mailed to Fernandez on November 23 and got the cards back on December 6 for a 13-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Jose Bautista

A while back, Jose Bautista was coaching for some team that was going to come through Kinston; I think maybe Myrtle Beach. For whatever reason, I didn't see him (COVID season, maybe?). I don't remember now.  Anyway, I had his cards pulled, then put away, then pulled again.  I finally sent to him TTM, and after quite a while, got the cards back signed.  I was glad to finally get his 1991 Crown Orioles card into the autograph album. 

I also got a 1989 Topps, 1994 Topps Finest and a 1994 Topps signed.

Bautista (b. 1964) played in the majors from 1988 to 1991 and 1993 to 1997 for the Orioles, Cubs, Giants, Tigers and Cardinals.  He had a record of 32-42 with 328 strike outs and a 4.62 ERA.

I mailed to Bautista on October 24, 2023, and got the cards back on November 25, 2024, for a 398-day TAT.

TTM Success - Greg Cadaret

Some Junk Wax era cards were removed from the boxes and added to the autograph album when I got this TTM success back from Greg Cadaret.  I had to dig to find the working address, but I was successful.  The above 1991 Donruss turned out nicely. 

I also added a few of his Topps cards; a 1988, 1989 and 1994.

Cadaret (b. 1962) played in the majors from 1987 to 1994 and 1997 to 1998 for the A's, Yankees, Reds, Royals, Blue Jays, Tigers, Angels and Rangers.  He had a record of 38-32 with 539 strike outs and a 3.99 ERA.

I mailed to Cadaret on October 16 and got the cards back on February 20, for a 127-day TAT.

TTM Success - Todd Zeile

This TTM success from Todd Zeile was one I was really excited about.  He was someone I grew up watching and hadn't seemed to.be someone who signed a whole lot.  Then, I saw some successes from him and realized he had been signing a good bit recently.  A couple trips through some boxes yielded a few nice cards, and I sent them along.  The above 1994 Topps turned out great.  Any time I can add a 94 to the album, I'm going to take it.  It is an underrated and underrepresented set in my autograph album. 

I also got this nice horizontal 2003 Topps done.  It turned out nicely.

I sent several other Zeile cards, including a 1990 Topps, 1993 Bowman, 1996 Pinnacle and 1990 Bowman.  All of them will look great in my album. 

Zeile (b. 1965) played in the majors from 1989 to 2004 for the Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies, Orioles, Dodgers, Marlins, Rangers, Mets, Rockies, Yankees and Expos.  He had 2,004 hits, 253 home runs and a .265 batting average.  He appeared in the 2010 Hall of Fame ballot, but received no votes.

I mailed to Zeile on September 30 and got the cards back on January 29, for a 121-day TAT.

TTM Success - Tim Spehr

The autographs look a bit sad, but I still got a TTM success from Tim Spehr.  He needs a new marker. The above 1994 Topps didn't turn out too well. Still, it's signed and in my album. 

The above 1995 Topps turned out a little better.  

Spehr (b. 1966) played in the majors in 1991 and from 1993 to 1999 for the Royals, Expos, Braves and Mets.  He had 110 hits, 19 home runs and a .198 batting average.

I mailed to Spehr on October 18 and got the cards back on November 28, for a 41-day TAT.

November 14, 2023, Wilson Baseball Hot Stove Event

Last night was the 48th annual Wilson Hot Stove event.  I had heard a lot about it, but had never troed to go.  I finally got there, and had a great time.  My good friend, Jesse, met me at the North Carolina Baseball Museum for the pre-event reception, then headed over to the community center for the night's dinner and awards ceremony. 

One of the big draws to this year's event was Reds prospect, Rhett Lowder.  He was there to receive the pitcher of the year award commemorating his season with Wake Forest.  He was really nice and signed cards for Jesse and I.

John Roper was at the museum prior to the event and signed all of the cards I brought with me.  We talked about some of the big contracts that players were signing then also about his hometown of Raeford, NC.  That led to a conversation about his gas fireplace.  Ah, the things we converse about. He was a really cool guy, and seemed genuinely happy to be there. 

A surprise attendee at the event was Trot Nixon.  He had attended the event in years past, but more recently had not been able to come, due to other commitments.  I took a chance and brought some of his cards, and happily got them signed.

I got Jerry Narron on a 1987 Donruss, and upgraded my 1971 Topps Dick Such to blue Sharpie, as opposed to the one he signed in black Sharpie.

This 1970 Topps Senators Rookie Stars card turned out nicely.  Unfortunately, Dick Stelmaszek is no longer with us.  It also doesn't look like Gene Martin signs regularly.

The museum itself is really cool.  There is at least a card for every former major leaguer who came from NC.  There are a ton of signed baseballs and memorabilia.  I want to take some time and visit the museum during regular hours and really take some time to look at everything. 

I had a great time at the hot stove event and would love to go again next year.  There seem to be some big names that come from time to time.  A few years ago, Rod Carew was a guest speaker. I'll hold out hope that some big names come and I can get some great autos there in the future.

In all, I got the following autographs: Rhett Lowder x 3, Jerry Narron x 1, Trot Nixon x 5, John Roper x 16 and Dick Such x 2 (27 total autographs).

TTM Success - Shawn Boskie

This TTM success from Shawn Boskie added some 90s cards to the autograph album, including a run of his Topps cards from 1991 to 1994.  The above 1991 Donruss also turned out nicely. 

Here are the Topps cards that came back signed from the TTM request.  I got a Bible inscription on the 1992 Topps.

Boskie (b. 1967) played in the majors from 1990 to 1998 for the Cubs, Phillies, Mariners, Angels, Orioles and Expos.  He had a record of 49-63 with 494 strike outs and a 5.14 ERA.

I mailed to Boskie on October 18, 2021, and got the cards back on January 23, 2023, for a 462-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jerry DiPoto

A couple cards from 1994 and a nice Stadium Club card were sent out TTM and came back signed back in December.  The above 1994 Score Jerry DiPoto turned out nicely.

I really liked the above 1998 Stadium Club, and was glad I could get it signed.  Stadium Club always seems to be a nice product, and this set is pretty high quality.  The card is a bit thicker than a normal card and it super glossed; it almost seems shallacked.

DiPoto (b. 1968) played in the majors from 1993 to 2000 for the Indians, Mets and Rockies.  He had a record of 27-24 with 352 strike outs and a 4.05 ERA.

DiPoto has been a general manager for the Diamondbacks (2010), Angels (2011 to 2015) and Mariners (2015 to 2022).  He was promoted to President of Baseball operations by the Mariners in 2022.

I mailed to DiPoto on December 2 and got the cards back on December 12, for a 10-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Bob MacDonald

When I can get a 1994 Topps signed, it's always kind of nice.  Not because it is a special set to me or anything, it's because I have so few of them left, the options are thin.  I don't want to buy a bulk box, because the cards will be stuck together, so I just take what I can get.  The card, signed TTM by Bob MacDonald, turned out great.

I also got a 1992 and a 1993 Topps signed.

MacDonald (b. 1965) played in the majors from 1990 to 1993 and 1995 to 1996 for the Blue Jays, Tigers, Yankees and Mets.  He had a record of 8-9 with 142 strike outs and a 4.34 ERA.

I mailed to MacDonald on October 22 and got the cards back on November 4, for a 13-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Tim Mauser

Another TTM success came in from a request that had been out for a while; Tim Mauser.  I was able to get a 1994 Topps (above) and a 1995 Topps (below) signed.  Both turned out great.  I have found that I like 1994 Topps, even though sorting through them is a pain.  This is, of course, due to the overgloss on them that causes the set to be bricked.  Otherwise, the individual cards look really nice when signed.

1995 Topps also looks nice when signed; the set had some good photos in it, and I have gotten a few of those signed in the past.

Mauser (b. 1966) played in the majors i 1991 and from 1993 to 1995 for the Phillies and Padres.  He had a record of 2-6 with 93 strike outs and a 4.37 ERA.

I mailed to Mauser on November 22, 2021, and got the cards back on September 12, 2022, for a 294-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Matt Williams

Another TTM success came back from Matt Williams after I waited a long time for him to get on with another team here stateside.  I had this 1995 Leaf Slideshow insert that I really wanted to get signed, and my patience paid off.  The card looks really cool, and has a nice place in my album.

I still have very few 1994 Topps in the album, so I kept this one with the Slideshow card so I could send it along.  It turned out great, as well.

Finally, here ae two other nice cards that I sent along.  A 1991 Upper Deck checklist and a 1997 Upper Deck SP.

I mailed to Williams on March 11, via Padres camp and got the cards back on March 24, for a 13-day TAT.

TTM Success - Steve Dreyer

Here are a couple nice cards that I got back signed TTM from Steve Dreyer.  I had the above 1994 Topps in my box for a while, but I never got around to sending it out.  Good thing, because I found the below 1992 Upper Deck Minors card in my boxes from the former LCS.  Once I found that one, I got around to sending off to Dreyer, and the cards turned out well.

Dreyer (b. 1969) played in the majors from 1993 to 1994 for the Rangers.  He had a record of 4-4 with 34 strike outs and a 5.71 ERA.

I mailed to Dreyer on November 17 and got the cards back on November 29, for a 12-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jack Voigt

Here are some cards from the mid-90s that I was able to get signed TTM from former Oriole, Jack Voigt.  For the longest time, these kinds of cards were almost invisible to me when I would be looking through boxes.  I had seen so many cards from this era because that was the era I grew up in, card-wise.  So, while I would be digging out some nice vintage, or looking for more contemporary inserts and parallels to get signed, these cards would just sit.  I have gotten a new appreciation for these lately, and cards like the above 1995 Topps Stadium Club turn out really well when signed.

I had raided my Orioles box for TTM subjects, since returns had all but dried up the last few months.  In that search, I found several guys from this era who sign, and I was able to move a lot of cards out and create some space.  Cards like the above 1994 Score Select and 1995 Score look really great.

I was also able to add a 1994 Topps to my album, as well as a 1995 Fleer Ultra.  The worst part about cards from the mid 90s is the over-gloss, but fortunately, none of these cards had stuck together with others, and all are in great shape.

Voigt (b. 1966) played in the majors from 1992 to 1998 for the Orioles, Rangers, Brewers and A's.  He had 138 hits, 20 home runs and a .235 batting average.

I mailed to Voigt on October 12 and got the cards back on October 22, for a 10-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jim Gott

Some late 80s to mid-90s cards were added to my autograph album with this TTM success from pitcher, Jim Gott.  I had held his cards in my "to be TTMed" box for a while, then finally got them in the mail.  I was glad to get the above 1994 Score Gold Rush card signed.  I have a ton of 1994 Score, but that box is at the bottom of my stack of boxes.  I should get in there sometime soon and pull some cards.

I got a coupld cards signed out of Gott's Topps run, a 1989 and a 1994.  I also had a really nice 1993 Flair.  Flair is such a nice set; I always enjoy getting those signed.  Finally, I had a 1994 Topps Finest, which also turned out great.

Gott (b. 1959) played in the majors from 1982 to 1995 for the Blue Jays, Giants, Pirates and Dodgers.  He had a record of 56-74 with 837 strike outs and a 3.87 ERA.

I mailed to Gott on May 21 and got the cards back on September 11, for a 113-day TAT.