TTM Success - Jordan Brown

This is a random 2011 Topps Heritage card that was signed with the driest marker that Jordan Brown had in his possession.  Still, the card is signed and is now in the autograph album. 

Brown (b. 1983) played in the majors in 2010 and 2013 for the Indians and Marlins.  He had 23 hits, no home runs and a .225 batting average. 

I mailed to Brown on November 4 and got the card back on November 18 for a 14-day TAT. 

Mom Goes Graphing

Our trip to Winston-Salem this past week got a little interesting after Chris and I sat with Mom Friday morning during her chemo treatment.  We had planned to sit with her since she would be missing Chris's graduation.  After the treatment, we dropped Mom off so she could nap, and Chris and I went and sat with Grandma again for a little aver an hour and a half.  We went back to Mom's after, and my dad suggested that I tale Mom with us so she could go to Chris's graduation anyway, as she was feeling pretty decent after the chemo.  

There was one catch, Chris and I already had tickets to High Point to see them take on the Staten Island FerryHawks and try to get Pablo Sandoval on a couple cards.  Mom said she'd go with us to the game, so I jumped online and found a ticket right behind the two we had already purchased. 

Mom ended up taking a Sandoval card and got it signed.  Sandoval was doing one per, so it was nice to get an additional card done.  She hung with Chris and I for a bit until she got Sandoval, then she found our seats and rested.  Boy, did she rest...

Chris snapped this picture to me of Mom dozing off as he and I racked the FerryHawks.  Still, it was fun for her to see us in action.

I had spent a good bit of time searching cards for this game; I also picked up (most) of the Drew Maggi cards shown above, as well as the above William Kirwan card showing him on the Frederick ?s.

I was able to rescue a bunch of cards from my boxes for this game.  The Joe Dunand cards above were last-minute finds right before we left town.

The Jimmie Sherfy cards I found were previously pulled last season in hopes of seeing him, but I didn't get to a game he was at.  The Mike Shawaryn cards came from an old team bag of cards sent back by Gerard.  I think I pulled them for him, then Shawaryn was let go by the Red Sox (I tbink).

Mom did wake up and enjoy the game.  She thought it was cool that she knew who Frank Viola was, so I sent her and Chris over to the High Point side post-game to try and get him while I figured out who Kirwan was.  They both cleaned up on my Violas.

I'm so glad Mom got to come and experience graphing with Chris and I.  She was able to get to Chris's graduation and got to see him walk, which was great.  She also made it to the party and met our friends, even a couple from our graphing group at the Wood Ducks.

In all, we got the following autographs: Frank Viola x 13, Joe Dunand x 2, Nate Griep x 8, Korry Howell x 2, William Kirwan x 1, Drew Maggi x 8, Pablo Sandoval x 3, Mike Shawaryn x 6 and Jimmie Sherfy x 3 (46 total autographs).

TTM Success - Jon Niese

As the season approaches, I've had to go through a bunch of boxes to prepare for graphing and 50/50s.  Every time I do this, I check and see if players I come across are signing.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that Jon Niese is now signing, so I pulled a few of his cards and dropped them in the mail. The above 2009 Goudey turned out great.  I haven't sent one of these off in a while, so it was nice to get one out of that box and into the album.

I also found two Topps Heritage cards (2011 and 2016) and sent them along.

Niese (b. 1986) played in the majors from 2008 to 2016 for the Mets and Pirares.  He had a record of 69-68 with 914 strike outs and a 4.07 ERA.

I mailed to Niese on February 13 and got the cards back on February 29, for a 16-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Kevin Millwood

Another private signing popped up and immediately I thought of a card that I wanted to get signed.  This 2011 Topps Heritage retail black parallel of Kevin Millwood always jumped out at me when I would go through my Orioles box.  I don't know what it is, but I just wanted to get the card signed.  So, when I saw Millwood show up on SCN for a signing, I dug through my box and found the card.

I decided that I also wanted to send off this 2004 Topps Season Highlights card that I had rescued from a factory set that had been headed to the dumpster at my former LCS.  I just thought the card would look cool in my album, so I sent it along, as well.

Millwood (b. 1974) is a North Carolina native and played in the majors from 1997 to 2012 for the Braves, Phillies, Indians, Rangers, Orioles, Rockies and Mariners.  He had a career record of 169-152 with 2,083 strike outs and a 4.11 ERA.  He won the ERA title in 2005 (2.86) and was an All Star in 1999.  His best finish in the Cy Young race was 3rd (NL) in 1999.  His best MVP finish was 26th, also in 1999.

I mailed to the signing on September 11 and got the cards back on October 16, for a 35-day TAT.  I forgot what I paid in fees.

TTM Success - Charlie Manuel

It took me two tries, but I was able to get a TTM success from Charlie Manuel.  I believe I sent off the same cards in both attempts, but the second attempt was the charm here.  The cards turned out great.  This one is a 2010 Topps Heritage and the one below is a 2011 Heritage.

Manuel (b. 1944) played in the majors from 1969 to 1972 and 1974 to 1975 for the Twins and Dodgers.  He had 76 hits, 4 home runs and a .198 batting average.

He managed in the majors from 2000 to 2002 and 2005 to 2013 for the Indians and Phillies.  He had a record of 1,000-826 (.548) and won the World Series with the Phillies in 2008.  His Phillies also appeared in the 2009 World Series, losing to the Yankees.

I mailed to Manuel on January 23 and got the cards back on February 11, for a 19-day TAT.

TTM Success - Manny Acta

Here are a few nice cards that I was able to get signed by former manager Manny Acta.  I always enjoy getting cards with the 1962 design signed, so this 2011 Topps Heritage was a nice one to add to the album.

I was also able to get Acta to sign this 2007 Topps.  Again, like I said yesterday, I really like the 07 design, so I was glad to add another to the album.  I just noticed that this one didn't have the facsimile signature on it like most 07 Topps do.  I remember there being some that had been short printed in error or something (Paul LoDuca's card comes to mind).  After a quick search, it just looks like they didn't put one on Acta's card.

Finally, I used one of my 2010 Upper Deck stadium cards for the Acta TTM as well.  I have a stash of these, and like to send them out here and there to get some signed.

Acta (b. 1969) managed in the majors from 2007 to 2012 for the Nationals and Indians.  He had a record of 158-252 (.418 win %).

I mailed to Acta on December 18 and got the cards back on February 6, for a 50-day TAT.

TTM Success - John Jaso

I added some pretty sweet cards to my album with this TTM success from John Jaso.  The above 2010 Topps Update is a card that I was really happy to see come back signed.  I love the horizontal shot, and the headfirst slide.  This card is really great!

I was also able to pull a couple old cards out of my boxes, the above 2009 Bowman has been in there since 09, and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get any more of those out of there.  The above 2011 Topps Heritage was something I threw in right as I was preparing my envelope for mailing, and it turned out really nicely as well.

Jaso (b. 1983) played in the majors in 2008 and from 2010 to 2017 for the Rays, Mariners, A's and Pirates.  He had 573 hits, 55 home runs and a .258 batting average.

I mailed to Jaso on January 14 and I got the cards back on January 28, for a 14-day TAT.

TTM Success - Casey Blake

I added some more recent cards to the bunder with this success from Casey Blake.  I didn't have any trouble finding his cards, as I had quite a few to choose from.  This 2008 Topps was a nice one to add to the Topps Autograph Project.  I like that it is a horizontal card, even though there isn't much to the background of the photo.

These two cards were some really cool ones to get signed.  I like the 1962 Topps design on the 2011 Heritage.  I didn't have any signed 2010 Topps Attax, so this one is pretty cool.

Finally, I added two Topps cards to my ledger.  These ae two sets of Topps that I have very few of, so getting these really helps.

Blake (b. 1973) played in the majors from 1999 to 2011 for the Blue Jays, Twins, Orioles, Indians and Dodgers.  He had 1,186 hits, 167 home runs and .264 batting average.  His time with the Orioles lasted 6 games during the 2001 season when he was a waiver claim from the Twins.  After that season, he was placed on waivers and the Twins picked him up again.

I mailed to Blake on February 20 and got the cards back on May 12, for an 81-day TAT.

Thoughts on 2011 Topps Heritage

I picked up a box of 2011 Topps Heritage from my local hobby shop today mainly because I was totally bored out of my mind. Anyway, I busted the box and here is a little bit of what I pulled:

Here is the best Oriole I got, a Nick Markakis base card. I love the design, the 1962 design is one of the best out there and I was really looking forward to Heritage this year for that reason.

Here is my one hit from the box, a Francisco Liriano relic. I was a bit underwhelmed with this pull, but it will be a little something to put in my display case at the next card show.

Here is a great pairing on the Then and Now insert. Usually Topps throws anything at the wall to see what sticks with their duos cards, but in this case, Spahn and Halladay is a great matchup. I like this card, for sure.

I was able to pull a card of one of my favorite Orioles' prospects, Brandon Snyder. I've met Snyder several times and each time, he has been really awesome to talk to. I hope to see him in the majors more this year.

One of the cool things in Heritage is seeing players in their new uniforms. I think that Topps Flagshhip comes out so early, you don't always get to see a player in the new uniform, so you have to wait til heritage comes out. You can see how strange Manny looks in the Rays uniform above. I also pulled new Orioles Derrick Lee and Mark Reynolds.

I'm always happy when I get a new Brooks Robinson card. I think pulling this card is what ended up satisfying me with this box break. It doesn't take much, haha.

I really thought this was a cool card. I keep forgetting that Babe Ruth coached for the Dodgers for a time. It is kind of weird seeing the Bambino with a number other than 3 on the back of his jersey, and seeing Dodger blue makes it even weirder.

Overall, I really like the design of this year's offering of Topps Heritage. I didn't have any great pulls (the Koufax auto would have made me pee myself), but in all, I was happy. I'm not sure if he is in the set, but pulling a Brian Roberts would have definitely made my day, but in the end, I got a good bit of trade bait and some stuff to sell at the next show.