TTM Success - Alejandro Freire

Here is a Spring Training TTM success from this year. I had held onto these Alejandro Freire cards in my to-be-TTMed box for a while once I realized he was a good TTM signer through the Rays. He was among the first batch I sent out to Spring Training this year, and one of the few that came back.

I got a 2006 Upper Deck and a 2006 Topps Rookie 52 signed. He is a firmer Oriole I can add to the autograph album and cross off of the list of former Os.

Freire (b. 1974) played in the majors in 2005 for the Orioles. He had 16 hits, 1 home run and a .246 batting average. 

I mailed to Freire via Rays camp on February 9 and got the cards back on February 27, for an 18-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Jason Bulger

A couple mid-2000s cards of Jason Bulger were added to the autograph album when the above 2006 Upper Deck and below 2006 Topps Rookie 52 came back signed TTM.  Bulger signed both cards in black Sharpie. 

Bulger (b. 1978) played in the majors from 2005 to 2011 for the Diamondbacks and Angels. He had a record of 7-2 with 138 strike outs and a 4.33 ERA.

I mailed to Bulger on November 3 and got the cards back on January 17, for a 75-day TAT.

December 6, 2025, Markakis-Johnson Signing

On Saturday, Jesse, Ryan and I made the trip to Prince Frederick, Maryland to attend a toy drive and signing with former Orioles Jim Johnson and Nick Markakis.  Markakis hasn't done any private signings and from what I can remember, hasn't done an in person signing in probably over 10 years or so.  I jumped at the chance to make the trip when I found out about the signing.  I dug through my Markakis PC box and pulled some good stuff.  This 2007 Topps Turkey Red Chrome refractor is numbered 29/99.  It wasn't on my radar, but when I found it, it jumped to the top of the list.

The above 2008 Topps Chrome Target T205 (above left) was the original card that I wanted to get done.  It turned out great.  I was also able to get a 2009 Topps done, as well.  I appreciate Jesse for getting the T205 chrome done.  He got a Topps Propaganda Markakis done for himself.

I had gotten Johnson on a card recently through a private signing, so I had to really dig to find more of his cards.  I went through my Orioles boxes and found some Johnsons.  The above (left) 2006 Ropps Rookie 52 was a cool card to dig out of the box. The card on the right is a 2012 Topps Heritage. 

The guys were really friendly.  They look super serious in the photo above, but they really were cool.

The toy drive looks like it brought in a bunch of stuff for the kids.  I had a great time with my friends, and hope we can get to some more signings soon.

TTM Success - Jeff Bajenaru

Here is a 2006 Topps Rookie 52 that I was able to get signed TTM recently by Jeff Bajenaru.  The card turned out well; I thought it had a great retro look to it, even though the Diamondbacks are one of the newest baseball teams.

Bajenaru (b. 1978) played in the majors from 2004 to 2006 for the White Sox and Diamondbacks.  He had a record of 0-2 with 11 strike outs and an 11.02 ERA.

I mailed to Bajenaru on March 11 abd got the card back on April 20, for a 40-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Jeff Karstens

Here is another TTM success that I got on some cards that took me a while to send out. I had this 2009 Topps Gold parallel of Jeff Karstens that I wanted to get signed, and finally dropped it in the mail.  The card turned out well.

I also sent off a 2006 Topps Rookie 52 and a 2012 Topps. 

Karsten (b. 1982) played in the majors from 2006 to 2012 for the Yankees and Pirates.  He had a record of 26-40 with 330 strike outs and a 4.44 ERA.

I mailed to Karstens on March 8 and got the cards back on April 17, for a 40-day TAT.  

TTM Success - Chris Britton

Here is a TTM success from a former Oriole that took me a couple times to get right. I finally was able to get a couple cards back signed from Chris Britton. I think this was the third attempt at getting him and the wait finally paid off.

I was able to get Britton's signature on a 2006 Topps Rookie 52, a 2007 Upper Deck and a 2006 Upper Deck.

Britton (b. 1982) played in the majors from 2006 to 2008 for the Orioles and Yankees. He had a record of 0-3 with 58 strike outs and a 3.83 ERA.

I mailed to Britton on January 21 and got the cards back on April 25, for a 94-day TAT. Britton is not related to former Orioles closer, Zach Britton.

TTM Success - Jason Bergmann

 I used my 2020 Harvey book to my advantage by getting a type of card I really wanted in my album, signed.  I had been trying to get a 2006 Upper Deck Ovation signed but have missed out, then I saw this one of Jason Bergmann in my rookies box, so I tried again.

The card turned out great, I think, and will look really cool with the other cards in my album.

I also got a 2006 Flair Showcase and a 2006 Topps Rookie 52 signed.  Those Flair Showcase are really nice.  I've been able to get a few of the Rookie 52s done.  I remember busting a box of those back when they came out.  This was way before Heritage Minors.  I kind of wish Topps would bring back Bowman Heritage to the mainstream.

Bergmann (b. 1981) played in the majors from 2005 to 2010 for the Nationals.  He had a career record of 12-24 with 299 strike outs and a 5.04 ERA.

I mailed to Bergmann on May 7 and got the cards back on May 30, for a 23-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jeremy Sowers

In my efforts to add some more recent cards to my autograph album, I saw that Jeremy Sowers was signing TTM.  I was able to get some late 2000s cards done, like the above 2007 Topps CoSigners.  I don't think I had any signed cards from this set in my album, so it provided a little something different.

I also got a 2006 Topps Rookie 52 and a 2009 O Pee Chee signed.  He kept two of the cards that I sent.

Sowers (b. 1983) played in the majors from 2006 to 2009 for the Indians.  He was a 1st round pick (6th overall) in the 2004 June Amateur Draft.  He had a career record of 18-30 with 174 strike outs and a 5.18 ERA.

I mailed to Sowers on September 30 and got the cards back on October 16, for a 16-day TAT.

TTM Success - Brandon Fahey

A trip through my Orioles boxes afforded me the opportunity to find a couple cards of Brandon Fahey and send them TTM.

The cards turned out really well, even though Fahey used a fading Sharpie to sign them,

Fahey (b. 1981) played in the majors from 2006 to 2008 for the Orioles.  He had 92 hits, 2 home runs and a .224 batting average.

I mailed to Fahey on March 25 and got the cards back on April 27, for a 33-day TAT.