TTM Success - Jimmy Journell

2003 Upper Deck is a rare set in the autograph album. I didn't open any packs from that year, as I hadn't quite gotten back into collecting at that point.  I also never really saw much bulk from that set in any boxes I've searched. So, I'm not quite sure where this Jimmy Journell card came from, but I found it and sent it out TTM. It came back signed and is now in the album, so there's one more 2003 Upper Deck in there than I had before.

Journell (b. 1977) played in the majors in 2003 and 2005 for the Cardinals.  He had a record of 0-1 with 13 strike outs and a 7.43 ERA. I mailed to Journell on November 17 and got the card back on November 29, for a 12-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Luis Matos

When I saw that there was going to be a private signing with former Oriole, Luis Matos, I was excited.  I was never able to get him when he was an Oriole, and he hadn't been to an past Fan Fests that I had been so, so I would finally be able to get a few of his cards signed.  I couldn't settle on just a couple; I ended up sending out 6 cards.  The above 2005 Donruss Diamond Kings was the first card I thought of when I saw the news of the signing.  This card turned out nicely, even though the scan doesn't show Matos's signature as well as it looks in person.

I liked these two (a 2001 Fleer Futures and a 2005 Donruss Champions), and they turned out great.

Finally, I wanted a Topps card in the album, and settled on the 2006 (middle), but I really liked the 2004 Topps Chrome (left), so I added it to the pile.  When I went to scan the cards, I forgot why I had included the 2003 Upper Deck (other than the fact that I have very few 2003 Upper Deck anywhere) and I realized I had sent it because the card features Matos in a St. Louis Browns jersey.

Matos (b. 1978) played in the majors from 2000 to 2006 for the Orioles and Nationals.  He had 410 hits, 30 home runs and a .255 batting average.

I mailed to the signing on October 14 and got the cards back on December 8, for a 55-day TAT.

Ebay Pickup - 2003 Upper Deck Yankees Signatures - Virgil Trucks

I finally added a new card to my Virgil Trucks collection recently with this ebay pick up.  It is a 2003 Upper Deck Yankees Signature Series.  The autograph is on card, if that's something you focus on.  It does make the card look really sharp, even though pinstripes make me nauseous.    I really like it and was able to land it for $9.  I have seen them go for $20 most times, so I had to jump on this deal.

Also, I apologize for not posting for a few days.  I went out of town to hang with the in-laws for Father's Day.  I left the laptop at home, which is a rarity, but it was really nice to be without it.  I did have my smart phone, so I was keeping up with the Orioles games, but I still haven't mastered writing full sentences with the tough screen.  One day, I'll be adept at blogging with my phone.