TTM Success - Bernie Williams

This 1997 Zenith Bernie Williams is a card that was at the very top of my list of cards I really wanted to get signed and into my autograph album.  I had found it a while back at my former LCS when they allowed me to look through boxes in the back room.  Since then, I was able to get all of the 1997 Zenith cards that they had, but I didn't know that I would be getting them at the time I found this Bernie.

The card is amazing, and frankly, the set is awesome.  There may be one or two cards in the set that I probably wouldn't spend money on to get signed, but most of them have great shots, and would be worth sending off.  So, I put this card aside and waited until I saw a Bernie signing, and when I did, I jumped all over it and sent the card off.

Williams (b. 1968) played in the majors from 1991 to 2006 for the Yankees.  He had 2,336 hits, 287 home runs and a .297 batting average.  He was the 1998 AL Batting Champion.  He was a 5-time All Star (1997 to 2001) and a 4-time Gold Glove Award winner (1997 to 2000).  He won the Silver Slugger Award once (2002).  His best finish in the AL MVP race was 7th (1998).  He won the World Series with the Yankees in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000.  He appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2012 and 2013, but only received a high of 9.6% of the vote.

I mailed to the signing on March 4 and got the card back on May 8, for a 65-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $50.00.  My good friend, Aidan, spotted the signing and let me know about it right away.

TTM Success - Randy Johnson

I wasn't going to buy in on the Randy Johnson signing that my friend, Jackson, was hosting.  It was too rich for my blood, but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to send off a card.  I wanted to support my friend, but I also had a card in mind that I wanted to send to the signing.  It wasn't the above 1997 Pinnacle Zenith.  It was the green chrome parallel below.  It wasn't until I found the Zenith in a box from my former LCS that I really wanted to send in.  Pair that with the National finally being canceled for 2020, I took some of the money I had saved for the National and put it toward the signing.  Since I couldn't decide on one card, I sent both.  The Zenith turned out amazing and may be one of my favorite signed cards in my collection now.

The 2020 Topps Silver Pack 85 Chrome green parallel also looks awesome.  It is numbered 18/99 and was a really nice pull from a pack back when I busted my 2020 Topps boxes.

Jackson has been doing a ton of signings lately, and I hope to join in on some more.  I mailed to the signing on November 14 and got the cards back on January 19, for a 66-day TAT.

TTM Success - Javy Lopez

I recently took part in a private signing for former catcher, Javy Lopez.  I had one specific card in mind, but couldn't find it.  I gave up the search when I found the above 2005 Topps Cracker Jack, and the below 1997 Pinnacle Zenith.  I ended up finding the card I had been looking for, after this signing took place.  Lucky for me, there was another one not too long after, so I got what I wanted done (and I will show off the other card in a later post).

Man, I really love 1997 Zenith.  I actually think I have the set in a box I had gotten from the LCS, so I may try to get a few more of these signed.  I have one from the set out for a private signing right now, and I'm hoping it comes back after the holidays.  If it does, it will be a huge get.

Lopez (b. 1970) played in the majors from 1992 to 2006 for the Braves, Orioles and Red Sox.  He had 1,527 hits, 260 home runs and a .287 batting average.  He was an All Star 3 times (1997, 1998 and 2003), and a Silver Slugger Award winner in 2003.  His best MVP finish was 5th, in 2003 (NL) when he mashed 43 home runs for the Braves.  He won the World Series with the Braves in 1995 and was the 1996 NLCS MVP.

Lopez appeared on the 2012 Hall of Fame ballot, but received only 0.2% of the vote.  Lopez was hailed as a huge free agent signing for the Orioles back in 2004.  He his .316 his first season in Baltimore, but only managed 23 homers, when he had hit 43 the prior season for the Braves.  His production fell off quickly, and he was traded to the Red Sox in 2006 for a PTBNL (the player turned out to be Adam Stern, who appeared in 2 games for the Orioles in 2007).  I remember a brief experiment where the Orioles tried Lopez at first base, which failed miserably.  I also think that the experiment was performed without Lopez fully buying into the idea.

I mailed to the signing on September 5 and got the cards back on October 5, for a 30-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $20.00/card.

Another TTM Success From Juan Gonzalez

I sent to Juan Gonzalez a few times already, but I had compiled several cards that I really wanted to get signed, so I finally sent more to him recently.  The above 2019 Panini Prizm is what started me with picking up more Gonzo cards.  This one is numbered 348/399.  I wish he had used a better Sharpie, but it is signed, and I can't really complain.

I really love the 1997 Zenith set (top left).  I looked at picking up a box of it, and it turns out, it is a very small set.  I may pick some more up and try to get a few more signed for my album.  Top right is a 2001 Topps Heritage.  I like that 1952 design, and also a photo of Gonzalez as a Tiger.  The 2002 Stadium Club (bottom left) is the only one from that set that has made it into the album as of yet.  The photo is really nice and glossy.  I might have to look into a box of those, as well, depending on price.  Finally, the 1998 Topps Picture Perfect insert turned out well and finishes off the success.

I mailed to Gonzalez on January 6 and got the cards back on March 17, for a 71-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Mike Mussina

While I was going through boxes at my LCS a few months ago, I found some late 90s cards that I thought would look really cool when signed.  The above 1997 Pinnacle Zenith is such a sharp card.  I was so glad to get it signed, and I was even happier with how it turned out.  There were a few cards from the set in the box, but only a couple of guys that signed TTM were in there.  I'm glad Mike Mussina was one of them.

I also really liked this 1999 UD Ovation that Moose signed for me.  I always liked Ovation, but hadn't been able to get any signed.

I mailed to Mussina on January 6 and got the cards back on February 11, for a 36-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $10/card.