TTM Success - Yusniel Diaz

When I heard that Yusniel Diaz was doing a private signing, I was excited to get some of the cards I had pulled in the past signed.  In addition, I had pulled the above green foil parallel out of 2023 Topps series 2.  I was afraid it wouldn't get signed, but here we are.  The card turned out great!

I pulled a handful of my cards from the Box Of Shame and sent them along. I'd have sent more, but I felt like 5 cards was plenty.

Diaz (b. 1996) had one at bat for the Orioles in 2022.  That at bat ended in a strike out.  Diaz was the key piece coming from the Dodgers in the Manny Machado trade in 2018.  He didn't really pan out and has been surpassed by Dean Kremer, who has settled into a role at a back end starter for the Orioles.

I mailed to the signing on July 22 and got the cards back on August 7 for a 16-day TAT. I paid a fee of $5/card.

September 12, 2023, Graphing of the Bats at Bulls

Last week was Birthday Week, so I kicked off my days off starting on Tuesday by hitting Durham all day for some graphing.  I got there at noon to do arrival and did pretty well.  I was by myself until time to get in line to get in pregame.  The goal of the trip was pretty simple; get the above 2020 Bowman Chrome orange refractor of Niko Hulsizer signed.  I got it done on arrival, so the rest of the day was gravy.

Jalen Beeks forgot his code to get in the clubhouse door, so he was a bit of a captive audience.  He signed all 8 cards i had in my book.  I had two cards left over, so i asked him if he wanted those for his family, and he happily accepted.  I thought i had Nick Dini already, but it looks like i had forgotten his cards the last time I was in Durham.  So, I finally got his card signed.  I was able to get Javy Guerra inside during stretching. I had to wait for him to finish stretching and warming up, but he did come over, climb the steps and ask "ok, let's see what you have got there..."  I imagine he was expecting me to have cards of the other Javy Guerra, but no, I had his 2016 Bowman!  He was impressed and signed both of my cards.

I only had the one 2022 Topps Update Cole Sulser, but got it signed during stretching.  He was really nice.  Silvino Bracho was with Louisville and signed all of the cards I had.

I didn't have a whole lot for Louisville, but did well, nonetheless.  Matt Reynolds was the guy who put me on the board on this trip when he signed his 2016 Topps rookie card.  It was good that I went out there on a Tuesday, the first game of the series. The Louisville players were unsure of which door to go in, and would ask me for directions.  That let many of them let their guard down and they would sign for me.

I had to leave the game early due to rain.  I had to make sure I got home at a decent time so I could get up early Wednesday for the next day of Birthday Week.

In all, I got the following autographs: Jalen Beeks x 8, Steve Chase x 2, Cooper Criswell x 1, Nick Dini x 4, Javy Guerra x 2, Niko Hulsizer x 2, Tsutomu Kamiya x 2, Cole Sulser x 1, Silvino Bracho x 8, Alejo Lopez x 1, Alec Mills x 3, Matt Reynolds x 1 and Teddy Stankiewicz x 1 (36 total autographs).

50-50 Returns From Cam

More 50/50 returns came in over the last few days (along with some more TTMs), so I have some nice cards to show off.  A package came in from Cam, who got a few Pennsylvania teams for me.  The above 2020 Bowman Chrome of Bryson Stott turned out nicely, and is a huge addition to my autograph album.

Cam hooked me up with several former Greensboro Grasshoppers who have moved on, so these were able to come out of my boxes.  I love the Nick Gonzalez from 2020 Bowmans Best, as well as the Heritage Minors cards he helped me with.

I'm pretty sure I'm officially out of Tim Cate cards.  I had split them between Cam and my friend, Patrick, and I believe all have come back signed.

The Hoy Park cards went out to my friend, Gerard, earlier in the season with the hope that he would get them done, but a change in his plans cause them to not get signed.  Thankfully, he sent them back fast and I was able to get them on to Cam.  I had forgotten that Cam was going to pick me up a Myrtle Beach set, so he got Kevin Made for me and also a couple guys I got on my own.  So, now, I have two Myrtle Beach team sets I can pull from.

Finally, here is another 2021 Heritage Minors that Cam was able to get done for me, Ji-Hwan Bae.  I really enjoyed this set, and have gotten a ton of them signed.  I'm not pursuing the entire set as of yet, but it would be a fun one to try.

Thank you so much for the 50/50 returns, Cam.  I hope we can do this again next season.

A Couple Signed Cards From Connor

Having leftovers from a team that you see can be frustrating.  That's why I've worked to have a decent network of folks who see other teams; this helps me finish off some cards.  I had picked up this 2020 Bowman Chrome Sapphire parallel of Zavier Warren at a card show in Richmond, thinking I would see him again.  He was moved up shortly thereafter, so I was stuck with the card.  I found someone on Instagram, a guy names Connor, who was willing to take the card, without me having to send 50/50s or pay a consignment fee.  The card got signed, and turned out nicely.

He also took this Russell Smith that I had pulled from 2021 Bowman Draft.  When he said he could also take this card, I was excited, as it looks awesome when scanned.

I really appreciated Connor taking these for me and getting them done.  He sees the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, so I may now have a hookup for guys after they leave the Mudcats.

TTM Success - Shane McCarthy

With all of the 2021 Bowman Draft TTM successes coming in, I found a guy on 2020 Bowman that I could add to the autograph album in Shane McCarthy.

McCarthy (b. 1996) was an 18th round pick by the Indians in the 2018 June Amateur Draft out of Seton Hall.  He has played in the Indians organization since 2018, reaching AA.  He has a record of 7-6 with 140 strike outs and a 2.94 ERA.

I mailed to McCarthy on January 6 and got the card back on February 2, for a 27-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jarren Duran

There are some cards, when I pull them, I just think to myself "I'd love to get this signed."  When I pulled this Jarren Duran 2020 Bowman Chrome Applied Pressure, I was upset that the season was not to be and he had already moved up a level in the Red Sox system.  Thankfully, I saw a private signing pop up on Facebook, and I jumped at the chance to get this signed.

Duran (b. 1996) made his major league debut with the Red Sox earlier this season.  He was a 7th round pick in the 2018 June Amateur Draft out of Cal State Long Beach.  This season, he has 23 hits, 2 home runs and a .215 batting average.

I mailed to the signing on February 6 and got the card back on April 15, for a 68-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $20.00.