TTM Success - Joe Nathan

I was really excited to add this success to my autograph binder from Joe Nathan.  Especially so, since I was able to get signed one of the limited edition 2015 Topps minis that my good friend, Ryan, gave me.  You can't tell from the scan, but it is a mini.  It turned out really nice, I think.

I also was able to get the 2007 Topps and 2012 Topps signed to help add a couple more recent Topps cards to the ledger.  I have noticed that it is a lot harder for me to get more recent guys to sign TTM, thus leaving me with a lot fewer autographs on cards from 1999 to 2017.  I'm working on adding more, though.

Finally, his 2009 Topps Update turned out really well.  I like the All Star logo on the card.  The only drawback is that the foil doesn't show up really well in the scan.

Nathan (b. 1974) played in the majors from 1999 to 2000, 2002 to 2009 and 2011 to 2016 for the Giants, Twins, Rangers, Tigers and Cubs.  He has a career record of 64-34 with an ERA of 2.87 and 976 strike outs.  His 377 saves rank 8th all-time.  He was an All Star 6 times (2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013) and finished 4th in the 2004 AL Cy Young voting (his best finish).  He also has finished 12th on the AL MVP voting (also 2004).  He is currently in the Nationals' system with the Syracuse Chiefs.

I mailed to Nathan on May 3 via the Syracuse Chiefs and got the cards back on May 13, for a 10-day TAT.

I also want to take a moment and change the subject away from baseball.  I am a huge Pearl Jam fan, so today's news of the passing of Chris Cornell cuts me really deeply.  I have listened to Call me a Dog from his acoustic album called Songbook (originally recorded with Temple of the Dog as a tribute to the passing of his close friend, Andrew Wood) at least 5 times already this morning.  You never know what someone is going through, so please, take the time to tell those close to you what they mean to you.  They may be gone tomorrow. #RIPChrisCornell

Recent Chris Davis PC Pickups

I use the term recent in the title loosely.  I got these Topps Mini Chris Davis cards a couple months ago, then buried them underneath some TTMs and Christmas gifts.  I had my Davis PC box out the other day and realized that these minis needed to get in there, and also get logged on my spreadsheet.

I actually have one other 2015 Topps Mini, numbered 4/5.  There was a third on Ebay, but I missed it.  I'm hoping I can catch it again soon and add it to the collection.  It would be kind of cool to have a monopoly on all of the /5 minis, but we'll have to see what gets posted.  The 2016 shown is numbered 4/5.  I have another on the way, and a third is listed on Ebay but the price is a bit much.  Maybe the seller will come down on it.

I also picked up this blue mini numbered 3/10.  I think the blues look nice, maybe better than the red.  I wish there was an Orange mini.  That would look great!

I have updated my Davis spreadsheet as of this post, so all of my "haves" are listed.  I'm glad I took the time to do the Davis spreadsheet.  It makes it so much easier to be able to see what I already have and work from there.

Recent Topps Mini Chris Davis Pickups

My saved searches on Ebay are paying off.  I picked up a few Chris Davis minis recently that I probably wouldn't have otherwise noticed.  I needed the base mini card, which I grabbed pretty cheaply.  I think this was 99 cents.  Not bad at all.

I found two more of the black parallels.  The above one is numbered 2/10.

This one is numbered 10/10.  I highly doubt I will find all 10.  It probably wouldn't be too fair to other Davis collectors if I owned them all.  It would be kind of cool to own all of the serial numbered versions of one card.  Unless it is a 1/1, I think it might be near impossible to own them all.  Worth trying, I suppose.  I already have three of these, 2/10, 6/10 and 10/10.

Ebay Pickup - 2015 Topps Mini Chris Davis Red Parallel

I signed up for EBay bucks recently at the behest on one of my Instagram friends (I think it was Nick S., but I'm not sure).  I got my first email from Ebay Bucks and was able to use the ones I had earned to get almost half price on this 2015 Topps Mini Chris Davis numbered 4/5.

The list price was $29.99 shipped, and I got $12 off, so I think I got a nice steal on it.  I think the card looks really cool, so I am glad I was able to pick it up.  I was more worried about not getting one because they are so short printed, so I really made my move pretty quick.  I probably would have bought it, even without the Ebay Bucks discount.

There is another red parallel of Davis listed on Ebay.  I have considered going ahead and getting that one, too, but I don't really have $30 to spend on a card I already have at the moment.  Maybe I will leave it for some other Davis super collector.

Ebay Pickup - 2015 Topps Mini Chris Davis Black Parallel

I made a purchase for myself off of Ebay recently for my Davis PC.  I hadn't really bought much for myself, so when I saw this, I jumped all over it, mainly because I wasn't sure if I would see another.  This is a 2015 Topps Mini black parallel that is numbered 6/10.  The Minis were an online exclusive from Topps, and were only sold as complete sets.  I guess each set came with a few random inserts, so I imagine getting these will be pretty tough, since I'm sure not a lot of people will be busting their sets.

The card looks really cool.  It isn't foil like the larger 2015 Topps inserts have been this year, but it still looks nice.  I got it for a great deal, as well, at only $5.