August 5-10, 2025, Graphing of the Sussex County Miners at Down East Bird Dawgs

After getting a lot of the stuff posted from this year's National (with more on the way), I now have to catch up on some graphing that I have done recently.  The Sussex County Miners came through town earlier this month.  I had a bunch of cards for the team pulled and they all got signed.

Former Major League catcher Chris Widger was the manager of the team.  His son CJ used to play in Kinston, so we talked about that while he signed.  He was really nice and signed everything we had. 

Mahki Backstrom was also with the team.  I had a bunch of his cards and got them all signed.  I also got the above card signed by Will Zimmerman.

A couple new Bird Dawgs with cards were on the team, and some of the stuff I had ordered had come in like my Colby Backus University of Tennessee cards (bottom row, above).  My friend Josh also made a few customs, and I got a few of those done.

In all we got the following autographs: Mahki Backstrom x 21, Chris Widger x 13, Will Zimmerman x 2, Kalae Harrison x 2 and Colby Backus x 7, Ryan Sleeper x 10 and David Tiburcio x 1, Emmanuel Tapia x 1, Yassel Pino x 1, Trotter Harlan x 1 and Stephen Ditomaso x 1 (60 total autographs). 

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.

Another TTM Success From Jesse Orosco

Several passes through my boxes allowed me to find a handful of Jesse Orosco cards to send to him TTM for a second time.  I got his 1980 Topps Mets Future Stars taken care of.  I know getting Mike Scott is going to be tough.  I haven't looked Dan Norman up at all yet.

I'm getting close to 100 signed 1984 Topps; this one helped me push that number higher.  I also got a 1996 Fleer and a 2000 Topps signed so I'd have some Orioles cards represented in the album. 

I mailed to Orosco on March 18 and got the cards back on April 8, for a 21-day TAT.  I paid his fee of $5.00/card.

TTM Success - Matt Blank

The above 2002 Topps Total card that I found in a random box drove me to gather up a few cards and send to Matt Blank.  I didn't have very many Topps Total cards, so it was cool to get one of the few I had signed and into my album. 

I also got this 2000 Topps signed.  The signature is just a blob on the card, but it's there and I'll count it.

Finally, here os a 2000 Bowman that I got done.  It turned out better than the Topps. 

Blank (b. 1976) played in the majors from 2000 to 2001 for the Expos.  He had a record of 2-3 with 15 strike outs and a 5.15 ERA.

I mailed to Blank on October 19 and got the cards back on October 30, for an 11-day TAT. 

2022 National Free Signer - Mickey Morandini

Mickey Morandini was another of the free VIP signers at this year's National.  Like most of the others, he was someone that I had gotten in the past via TTM.  I also think I had sent my friend, Max, some of Morandini's cards, but I still had plenty that I was able to use for the National.

Morandini was announced as one of the VIP signers for the 2020 National that was canceled due to COVID.  So, I had most of these cards already put aside.  Thankfully, I found them quickly, and was able to be prepared for the show.  I had a lot of his vouchers, so I got a 1991 Fleer, 1991 Donruss, 1993 Triple Play, 1997 Pacific, 2000 Topps and a 1991 Studio signed.

All of the cards turned out great.  I used to have a friend who was working on the 1991 Studio set, but he took off, so I will just file this away in my album.  I like the set, but am definitely not going to try to complete it.  I have enough going on.

TTM Success - Brad Baker

A few more older Bowman cards came out of my box (along with a 2000 Topps and 2000 Topps Traded) and went into my album with thus TTM success from Brad Baker.  The above 2000 Bowman turned our nicely.

The 2001 Bowman Chrome and Topps cards also look nice.  I was glad to get a few cards out of the 90s-00s Bowman box I inherited from my former LCS.

Baker (b. 1980) was a first round (40th overall) pick by the Red Sox in the 1999 June Amateur Draft out of a Massachusetts high school.  He played in the minors from 1999 to 2007 in the Red Sox, Padres, Braves and Twins organizations.  He would end up making it to AAA.  He had a record of 47-44 with 769 strike outs and a 3.98 ERA.

I mailed to Baker on March 19 and got the cards back on April 18, for a 30-day TAT. 

A Bunch of Signed Cards From Gerard

My good friend, Gerard, spends a lot of time helping me move cards out of my boxes, much like my friend, Max, does.  Gerard graphs the Red Sox sometimes, and also the Sox minor league teams in his area (AAA and AA), so he helps me get a bunch of card signed.  He got Tom Goodwin for me a while back, who is now no longer coaching for the Red Sox.  I'm glad I was able to send out the cards that I had, and Gerard got some nice ones for himself as part of a 50/50.

There were a lot of Goodwin cards; three of which will go onto my Topps legder, 1993, 1999 and 2000 Topps (all bottom row).  The cards on the top row are a 1998 Topps Stadium Club, 1997 Pacific ad a 1997 Upper Deck.  The card at the top of the post is a 1997 Finest.

I was really happy that Gerard was able to get my 2018 Carolina League Top Prospects card and my 2019 Pro Debut green parallel signed by Bobby Dalbec.  I saw Dalbec play when the Salem Red Sox came through Kinston, and got Dalbec on a few cards, but he was gone by the time the Top Prospects card came out.  He has gotten increasingly tougher, so I was lucky that Gerard was able to hook me up.

Here are a few other cards that Gerard sent me, a signed 2000 Bowman of Alex Cora, a 2015 Bowman signed by Tate Matheny and a 2017 Bowman signed by Brett Netzer.

Finally, here's another signed Alex Cora (a 2008 Upper Deck) and a 2016 Heritage Cubs team card signed by John Andreoli.

Thanks for all of the signatures, Gerard.  I hope we can knock out more cards in the 2022 season!

TTM Success - Kevin Barker

Here are a couple early 2000s cards that I was able to get signed TTM by Kevin Barker.  I had actually sent him three cards but he didn't sign my 1999 Bowman.  This 2001 Topps turned out nicely.

I liked getting this 2000 Topps signed at well. I have a bunch of 2000 Topps rookies in my boxes, so I was glad to get one out of there. 

Barker (b. 1975) played in the majors in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2009 for the Brewers, Padres, Blue Jays and Reds. He had 71 hits, 6 home runs and a .249 batting average.

I mailed to Barker on 0ctober 22 and got the cards back on December 18, for a 57-day TAT.

TTM Success - Mark McLemore

This is the second TTM success that I have gotten from someone named Mark McLemore, but they are two different people.  This McLemore was the one I remembered from my teenage years, and was happy to see that he, too, was signing TTM.  The above 2000 Topps turned out nicely, and adds another of this set to my binder.  For a while, I hadn't added any from this set, but recently, I have added a few.

I also sent McLemore a 1993 Topps, 2001 Topps, 2002 Topps and a 2003 Topps.  All look great, and have been put away.

McLemore (b. 1964) played in the majors from 1986 to 2004 for the Angels, Indians, Astros, Orioles, Rangers, Mariners and A's.  He had 1,602 hits, 53 home runs and a .259 batting average.

I mailed to McLemore on September 13 and got the cards back on November 10, for a 58-day TAT.  I mailed to him via Rangers Stadium.

TTM Success - Armando Rios

Here are a few nice early 2000s cards that I was able to clear out of my boxes with this TTM success from Armando Rios.  I actually sent these in too quickly, as I had found them and wrote to Rios right after, forgetting that I had put a couple other cards of his aside earlier in the year.  So, I missed those cards, and I will have to send to him again.  Still, what I got signed turned out well, and I was able to add a 2000 Topps to the album, since I don't have many in the autograph album.

I also added a 2001 Topps and a 2002 Topps, as well.  I wish I had waited to find the other cards I had pulled, but it is what it is.

Rios (b. 1971) played in the majors from 1998 to 2003 for the Giants, Pirates and White Sox.  He had 275 hits, 36 home runs and a .269 batting average.

I mailed to Rios on September 11 and got the cards back on November 5, for a 54-day TAT.

TTM Success - Woody Williams

Woody Williams is a player who I had cards set aside to send TTM for quite a while.  Something like 3 or 4 years, I believe.  I finally found a working address and mailed some cards to him and got a nice return.  This 2003 Topps turned out great and is a nice set to get signed.

I also sent off a 1998 Topps, 2000 Topps and 2004 Topps.  All of the cards look great and have made it into my album.

Williams (b. 1966) played in the majors from 1993 to 2007 for the Blue Jays, Padres, Cardinals and Astros.  He had a record of 132-116 with 1,480 strike outs and a 4.19 ERA.  He was an All Star in 2003.  He appeared on the 2013 Hall of Fame ballot, but received no votes.

I mailed to Williams on April 27 and got the cards back on May 8, for an 11-day TAT.

TTM Success - Mike Lansing

This TTM success from Mike Lansing had some nice cards that I found in some of my boxes, the one above I don't believe I had seen before.  I think it came from the old card shop, and appears to have faded a bit.  Still, it is a cool card; a 1994 Stadium Club Members Only.  It turned out pretty well, even with the faded coloring on the card.

I also got a 1997 Bowman Chrome and a 2000 Topps signed by Lansing.

Lansing (b. 1968) played in the majors from 1993 to 2001 for the Expos, Rockies and Red Sox.  He had 1,124 hits, 84 home runs and a .271 batting average.

I mailed to Lansing on January 28 and got the cards back on April 20, for an 82-day TAT.

TTM Success - John Snyder

There aren't too many 2000 Topps in my boxes, because I never opened a lot of those packs back then, and I had gotten rid of a lot of my bulk years ago.  So, when I can add one of them to my autograph album, that makes me happy,  I got this one signed TTM by John Snyder a while back, and it turned out fairly well.

Snyder (b. 1974) played in the majors from 1998 to 2000 for the White Sox and Brewers.  He had a record of 19-24 with 188 strike outs and a 6.01 ERA.

I mailed to Snyder on December 17 and got the card back on February 2, for a 47-day TAT.

TTM Success - Bill Spiers

Here are a bunch of Bill Spiers cards that I was able to get signed TTM after waiting quite a while for them to come in. 

I really like this 1990 Score. I used to have a bunch of these, but I don't have nearly as many years anymore.

Spiers also signed a 1993 Flair, 1993 Fleer, 2000 Topps and a 2001 Topps.

Spiers (b. 1966) played in the majors from 1989 to 2001 for the Brewers, Mets and Astros.  He had 922 hits, 37 home runs and a .271 batting average. 

I mailed to Spiers on October 8, 2019 and got the cards back on January 23, 2021, for a 473-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Todd Greene

I got Todd Greene TTM back in February 2017, and he was another former player who I kept finding cards of, so I sent to him again and got some really nice stuff signed.  The above 1998 Topps Finest really looks nice in person.

He also signed a 1997 Studio, 2000 Topps, 96 Upper Deck SP Premier Prospects and a 1997 Leaf Limited Counterparts.  All of these look really nice.

Finally, here is a 1998 Stadium Club that really looks good.  Stadium Club almost always has the best photography, and they look great when signed.

I mailed to Greene on December 21 and got the cards back on January 11, for a 21-day TAT.

TTM Success - Ben Christensen

Here are some cards that came out of the boxes that I got from my LCS.  The above 2000 Bowmans Best is a beautiful card.  It looks even better in person. I saw it in the box and had to send it to get signed TTM.  All of the other cards followed, and I was really happy with how everything turned out.

He also signed a 2000 Topps Gold Label, 2000 Topps Gallery and a 2000 Topps.  I haven't seen anywhere that Richard Stahl signs, but I will keep an eye out for him.

Christensen (b. 1978) was a first round pick (26th overall) by the Cubs in the 1999 June Amateur Draft out of Wichita State University.  He played 6 seasons in the minors between 1999 and 2004 in the Cubs and Mariners systems.  He reached as high as AA and finished his minors career with a record of 12-19 with 241 strike outs and a 4.64 ERA.

I mailed to Christensen on October 6 and got the cards back on October 19, for a 13-day TAT.

TTM Success - Andy Sheets

I had held onto these two Andy Sheets cards for a long time, and finally got around to sending them off.  I had hoped I would find some other cards of his, but I never did.  That's ok, because a 2000 Topps Chrome (above) and 2000 Topps (below) were some pretty nice cards to send.

Sheets (b. 1971) played in the majors from 1996 to 2002 for the Mariners, Padres, Angels, Red Sox and Devil Rays.  He had 207 hits, 19 home runs and a .216 batting average.

I mailed to Sheets on August 26 and got the cards back on September 4, for a 9-day TAT.

TTM Success - Russ Davis

Here are some nice 90s cards that I was able to get signed TTM by Russ Davis.  Ok, some 90s and one 2000.  Anyway, the above 1995 Collectors Choice SE turned out pretty great, I think.

I had a ton of Davis cards, and had to narrow it down to just 4 to send to him, so I went with cards and sets that were underrepresented in my albums.  Not bad choices, I think.

Davis (b. 1969) played in the majors from 1994 to 2001 for the Yankees, Mariners and Giants.  He had 508 hits, 84 home runs and a .257 batting average.

I mailed to Davis on July 20 and got the cards back on July 30, for a 10-day TAT.

TTM Success - Charles Nagy

He was one of the tip pitchers of the mid-90s, leading the Indians to a couple playoff berths, and has recently been a major league pitching coach.  When I saw that Charles Nagy was signing TTM, I was very excited and picked up some nice cards of his to send off.

The 1999 Stadium Club (above) turned out really well, and was a card that I had found at my LCS a while back.

I don't have many signed 1997 Topps and even fewer 1997 Topps Chrome in my album, so adding these was nice.

Finally, I had him sign a 1997 Finest Hurlers, 1997 Studio and a 2000 Topps.

Nagy (b. 1967) played in the majors from 1990 to 2003 for the Indians and Padres.  He had a record of 129-105 with 1,242 strike outs and a 4.51 ERA.  His best finish in the AL Cy Young race was 4th (1996).  He was also a three-time All Star (1992, 1996 and 1999).

I mailed to Nagy on October 15 and got the cards back on April 17, for a 185-day TAT.

Chris is Getting Some TTMs

My son, Chris, has been sending out TTMs here and there, and has gotten a couple back so far.  He was going to send to Luis Gonzlez, so I added a couple cards to his mailer.  I wanted him to have a few more options that the two cards he had found.  He ended up getting five cards back and let me keep these two.

The cards turned out well, and Chris didn't have to wait the two years that I had to, to get my cards back.

He wants to do more, but he doesn't want to put in the work of searching for cards.  Maybe he will start doing that more, and can get more of a return.