A Couple Old 50-50s From Gerard

Oof. These Christian Vazquez signed cards were sitting in a team bag, in a box that I had put aside a while back and forgot about. The cards were taken as a 50/50 by Gerard some time ago, and I never scanned them.  Above is a 2019 Topps Heritage. Below is a 2008 Bowman.

If I had to guess, I probably sent these to Gerard in 2021.  I'm sure he will tell me.

I feel bad that they sat for so long without being scanned and added to the autograph album.  However, this has been rectified and the cards are safely locked in the album.

Thanks for getting these done, Gerard.  As always, I appreciate it, even though it took me so long to get them posted.

Another TTM Success From Shane Greene

Shane Greene is a pretty reliable TTM signer.  I had gotten him a while back, then I found the above 2019 Topps Chrome sepia refractor.  I sent to him again, and got the card, along with some others, back signed.

I sent a 2015 Topps gold, 2019 Topps Heritage and a 2020 Topps.

Greene (b. 1988) has played in the majors since 2014 for the Yankees, Tigers, Braves, Dodgers and Cubs.  He has a record of 24-29 with 442 strike outs and a 4.50 ERA.  He was an All Star in 2019.

I mailed to Greene on June 14 and got the cards back on October 7, for a 115-day TAT.

TTM Success - Cedric Mullins

Finally, this 2019 Topps Heritage Orioles Rookie Stars card is complete.  It has been sitting off to the side of my desk for a couple ears as I waited for a signing with Cedric Mullins to pop up.  One finally did, and I was able to complete the card.  I had gotten Paul Fry in April 2019 when I went up for a Yankees/Orioles game, then Austin Wynns at a Norfolk game in September 2019.  It took that long, with the card buried under a bunch of other stuff on my desk, to get the card completed.  A private signing popped up on SCN, and I sent the card off.

Mullins (b. 1994) has played in the majors for the Orioles since 2018.  He has 416 hits, 53 home runs and a .263 batting average.  He was the Orioles first 30/30 (30 homers and 30 steals) player ever.  That is kind of strange that the Orioles hadn't had a 30/30 player prior to that.  He finished 9th in the AL MVP voting last season.  He was also an All Star and Silver Slugger Award winner last season.

I mailed to the signing on September 16 and got the card back on October 13, for a 27-day TAT.

TTM Success - Craig Stammen

Here are some nice cards that I came across in my boxes.  I saw that Craig Stammen signed TTM, so my 2009 Topps Update, 2010 Topps Heritage and 2019 Topps Heritage were sent off for autographs.  All of them turned out great, I think.

It is kind of cool to see the two Heritage cards lined up beside each other.  I find it interesting sometimes to do that with a player's early-career and late-career cards.  It just seems cool.

Stammen (b. 1984) has played in the majors since 2009 (with the exception of 2016) for the Nationals and Padres.  He has a record of 48-39 with 625 strike outs and a 3.69 ERA.

I mailed to Stammen on November 3 and got the cards back on November 16, for a 13-day TAT.

TTM Success - Isiah Kiner-Falefa

I was able to get another current MLB player via TTM when I got these cards back from Isiah Kiner-Falefa.  I had held some of his cards when I thought I could get a couple folks to get him at Rangers AAA (either Round Rock a couple years ago, or Nashville), but he has been sticking around the majors now.

I love those silver pack chromes from Topps; the above right one being a 1983 design.  I have been getting them lately with my Topps boxes, and they are some really cool cards to get signed.

Kiner-Falefa (b. 1995) has played in the majors since 2018 for the Rangers.  He has 200 hits, 8 home runs and a .262 batting average.

I mailed to him on February 29 at Rangers Spring Training and got the cards back on July 7, for a 129-day TAT.

TTM Success - Steve Pearce

 

The 2020 Harvey Address Book came in handy again when I saw tha folks had started to get back TTM successes from Steve Pearce.  I hadn't gotten him when he was an Oriole, but now had a chance to get him TTM!  I sent off some nice cards, and got some great autos in return.  The above 2019 Topps came with the 2018 World Series MVP inscription, which was a nice bonus!

I added a signed 2016 Topps Mini that my friend, Ryan, had given me a while back.  This card really looks great, and will be a nice addition to my album.

Finally, the 2015 Topps and the 2019 Topps Heritage really turned out well!

Pearce (b. 1983) played in the majors from 2007 to 2019 for the Pirates, Orioles, Astros, Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays ans Red Sox.  He had 572 hits, 92 home runs and a .254 career batting average.  Pearce was the 2018 World Series MVP, and won the World Series with the Red Sox that season.

I mailed to Pearce on May 22 and got the cards back on June 4, for a 13-day TAT.

TTM Success - Aaron Civale

I didn't get many signed cards back from Spring Training, but some did come in like this TTM success from Indians pitcher, Aaron Civale.  I sent off a 2020 Topps (above) and a 2019 Heritage (below) and they look great.

Civale (b. 1995) made his Major League debut last season with the Indians.  He was an Indians 3rd round pick in the 2016 June Amateur Draft out of Northeastern University.

Last season Civale went 3-4 with 46 strike outs and a 2.34 ERA.  This was in 10 games (10 starts).

I mailed to Civale on February 10 and got the cards back on May 9, fr an 89-day TAT.

TTM Success - Brad Keller

I added some really cool 2019/2020 cards with this TTM success from Brad Keller.  The above 2019 Topps silver pack 1984 chrome really turned out well.  I was so glad to be able to get this signed, and Keller put a good signature on there for me.

The blue parallel of the 1984 insert isn't numbered, but really turned out well.  I also added Keller's 2020 Topps base, and a 2019 Heritage.

Keller (b. 1995) has played in the majors since 2018 for the Royals.  He has a career record of 16-20 with 218 strike outs and a 3.68 ERA.

I mailed to Keller on February 22 via Royals Spring Training (I actually had to send to him twice after figuring out that I was sending to the wrong place) and got the cards back on March 1, for a 21-day TAT.

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!

Another TTM Success From Pat Neshek

When 2019 Heritage came out, I had to get the Pat Neshek from the set signed.  The card is cool as it is, but when you read more into it, it is even better.  Topps wanted to throw some subtle winks into the set, like they always do, and this card pays homage to the original set in that it resembles the Lowell Palmer card from 1970.  Neshek, himself, is a huge fan of that set, and was apparently elated when Topps approached him about recreating the Palmer card.

The card turned out really when when signed, and I am happy to be adding it to my album.

I got these two cards back from Neshek, as I always send him autos for his collection.  These were really nice cards to get back from him.

I had originally thought I was done sending to Neshek, but since the Heritage came out, I tossed this 2018 Topps in as well.

I mailed to Neshek on March 5 and got the cards back on March 14, for a 9-day TAT.  I sent to him via Phillies Spring Training.