TTM Success - Brian Finch

The sole purpose of me sending out this TTM request to former Orioles minor leaguer, Brian Finch, was to get the above 2004 Bowman Heritage signed.  I really love this design, and was glad to add another of these to my autograph album.

I also got this 2003 Bowman Chrome signed, even though he signed it in ballpoint pen.  The card is still signed and will still be in my album.  It took me a while to find a good address to send to Finch, but I was glad I found the right one.

Finch (b. 1981) was a 2nd round draft pick by the Orioles in the 2003 June Amateur Draft out of Texas A&M.  He pitched in the minors from 2003 to 2007 in the Orioles system, reaching AA.  He had a record of 22-37 with 314 strike outs and a 4.16 ERA.

I mailed to Finch on October 1 and got the cards back on October 14, for a 13-day TAT.

TTM Success - Nick Gorneault

This TTM success from Nick Gorneault was cool in that these were not the cards I sent him.  I had sent him a 2007 Topps ROokie 52 and he exchanged it for the above 2004 Bowman Heritage and the below 2004 Bowman.  I was fine with the swap, as the Bowman Heritage is a really nice cards, and I have very few 2004 Bowmans in my boxes.

Gorneault (b. 1979) played in the majors in 2007 for the Angels.  He had no hits, no home runs and a 0.00 batting average.  He had appeared in 2 games, with 5 plate appearances and 4 at bats.  Hey, he made it to the majors.

I mailed to Gorneault on December 4, 2020, and got the cards back signed on July 9, 2022, for a 582-day TAT.

Hairston Brothers Signing With Jackson

When friends of mine message me and ask me to find all the cards I can find of a player, I actually really enjoy it.  It helps me move cards out of my boxes and almost always ensures that I will get a few back signed.  They aren't always free, but st least at some reduced rates.

My friend, Jackson, messaged me asking if I had any Scott Hairstons that I could send him, and I was able to find him quite a few.  After the initial package was sent, I found this 2013 Topps Update pink parallel in one of my plastic bins.  I was able to get the card to him before the signing, and got it back into my collection afterward.

I had no problem participating in Jackson's signing, so I went ahead and paid $20 to get the pink parallel and 3 other cards back, a 2012 Topps, 2013 Topps and 2013 Topps Update.

Hairston (b. 1980) played in the majors from 2004 to 2014 for the Diamondbacks, Padres, A's, Mets, Cubs and Nationals.  He had 589 hits, 106 home runs and a .242 batting average.

Jackson also had a signing going on for Jerry Hairston, and I missed the cutoff date to send anything in.  Jackson had leftovers, so I picked up two of the extra cards he ended up with.  The above card is a 2002 Topps 206 and the below card is a 2004 Bowman Heritage.

Hairston (b. 1976) played in the majors from 1998 to 2013 for the Orioles, Cubs, Rangers, Reds, Yankees, Padres, Nationals, Brewers and Dodgers.  He had 1,126 hits, 70 home runs and a .257 batting average.  He won the World Series with the Yankees in 2009.

The Hairstons are sons of former Major Leaguer, Jerry Hairston, Sr., and grandsons of former Major Leaguer, and Negro Leaguer, Sam Hairston.

2020 Wood Ducks Hot Stove Event Graphing Recap

The annual Down East Wood Ducks Hot Stove Event has come and gone.  This year, former Woodies manager, Corey Ragsdale; new manager, Joshua Johnson; Rangers pitcher, Jeffrey Springs and Rangers prospect, Tyler Phillips were on hand to share some BBQ and talk baseball in Kinston for a couple of hours.

I had to get on Ebay to get most of the cards that I brought to the event, since someone in Texas lost my Phillips team set cards, and I was out of stuff for Corey Ragsdale.  I had a couple Hickory team set cards for Johnson; and a couple Jeffrey Springs cards.  I also took a 50/50 for my friend, Gerard, and my friend, Drake, sent me his only Springs to get signed for him.

I had to get some help to finish all of the Springs cards, since I found so many.  I was able to finish my 2019 Heritage card alreay signed by Jose Trevino.  The Gypsy Queens turned out really well, also.

I found out that Rags will be in the dugout during Rangers games this season, which is really awesome.  I'll have to keep an eye out while watching their games and see if I can see him.

We had a really good time.  I didn't spend any money this year, as I got to talking and wasn't paying attention to the silent auction bids that I had laid out.  Oh, well, that might be for the best anyway.

The roundtable discussions were great.  Chris and I sat at a table with our friend, Billy, and also Jordan, a guy who writes for the Kinston newspaper.  We all were able to fire off a few questions for the panel, such as MLBs proposal to cut 42 MILB teams, who Phillips and Springs veteran influences were on the Rangers, etc.  That might be what I enjoy the most about the event.

Now, I'm ready for the 2020 season to begin!