TTM Success - Trey Mancini

A private signing with former Oriole, Trey Mancini popped up that I jumped on.  I wanted to finish the above 2017 Topps Heritage rookie card that I had already gotten signed by Donnie Hart at Orioles Fan Fest years ago.  I had hoped to get the card signed sooner, but at least it's done.

I found the 2017 Topps Chrome refractor in my Orioles box and decided to add it to the submission.  I sent the two cards off, then found the green ice foil parallel from 2021 Topps.  I reached out to the signing promoter and he allowed ke to add the foil card to the submission.  So, this was kind of a dual TTM.  Not that it matters.

Mancini (b. 1992) is attempting a comeback for the 2025 season after opting out of his minor league deal with the Marlins this past Spring Training.  He has played in the majors from 2016 to 2019 and 2021 to 2023 for the Orioles, Astros and Cubs.  He missed the 2020 season while battling stage 3 colon cancer.  He had 801 hits, 129 home runs and a .263 batting average.  

I mailed the first two to the signing on August 12; the foil card on August 30.  I got all three cards back on October 7 for 38 and 56-day TATs.  I paid a fee of $20/card.

Another TTM Success From Pat Neshek

I've told myself a few times that I'm done sending TTM to Pat Neshek, and then I find a card like the above 2018 Topps Heritage Chrome purple refractor.  I had the card for a while, and put it in a box somewhere.  I missed it when I sent the 2019 Heritage to him to sign, but found it buried in a box a few months ago.  I gathered up some other nice cards, along with a few extra autos for his collection, and sent them out.

Of Neshek's Topps base autos, I didn't yet have his 2017 Topps, so I was glad that he sent this one back to me.  It looks really nice, especially since it is a horizontal card.

I mailed to Neshek on October 20 and included 2 cards he needed for his 87 Topps set.  He signed the cards I sent and added the 2017 Topps I mentioned before, and the 2017 Topps Chrome (bottom, right).  I got the cards back on October 31, for an 11-day TAT.

Several Months Worth of Chris Davis Pickups

My "to be blogged" stack consists of a lot more than just TTM successes.  I figured it was a good time to try to knock it down a bit, so to speak.  If I really knocked the stack down, I'd be in trouble, since I would have a huge mess to straighten up.

I have toned down my PC pickups recently, and it is a direct correlation to how the Orioles, and also Chris Davis performed this season.  Davis is still my guy, but since he had a pretty crappy year, other things took precedent.

Of all of the Davis cards that I had picked up that hadn't been blogged, the above 2017 Topps Chrome red parallel may be my favorite.  It is numbered 3/5 and looks so awesome in person.

This reverse negative from 2017 Chrome looks really cool, too.  I like this concept and wonder if a photo editing program can reverse the reverse negative.  Has anyone tried it?

This 2017 Topps Museum Collection quad patch card is a very close second to the red chrome parallel.  I got this card pretty cheaply, which is one benefit to Davis having a down year.

Finally, I picked up my third Chris Davis Sketches Swatches card from 2017 Diamond Kings.  I really like these, which is why I now have three of them.

I'll probably start adding to the PC again soon, maybe after Christmas, so keep a look out!

Birthday Gift From Gerard

My birthday was fairly low key this year.  I didn't tell too many people that it was coming up, but a couple of my friends knew anyway and sent a few things along.  My good friend, Gerard, picked up a few things for me and sent them along with the last 50/50 batch for the season.

I didn't have a signed mini helmet yet of Nolan Reimold, but now I do.  I will put this in my display case with some of my other Nolan stuff.

Gerard also sent this Zach Britton relic along, which I really like.  I haven't picked up much of Britton's stuff, so this was a nice item to add to the collection.

Gerard has been the person that I have leaned on the most for 50/50s this season.  He has sent me a ton of stuff to get signed, and I have sent him some cards for Pawtucket.

Gerard worked on these cards for the bulk of the season, and came away with some nice autos.

I need to find some more cards of Pawtucket guys so that he has more options.  I, obviously, will wait until the new year when rosters are set.

Gerard had asked me for Mike Olt cards a few times, so at the National, I picked up a few from the dime boxes.  I thought they were all going to be for him, but he sent two of them back to me signed.

Finally, he hooked me up with these signed cards.  I liked the Castillo, since I wasn't sure he would be able to get one signed for me.  Luckily, Gerard came through, as always!

Thank you so much for the birthday package, Gerard!  I enjoyed it!