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.

Some 2025 50-50 Returns From Andrew L

A guy named Andrew reached out to me this past season, asking if I could provide some cards to facilitate some 50/50s.  He took my cards and got a bunch of them done.  I didn't have very many 2016 Topps Pro Debut, so it was nice to add the above Dakota Chalmers to the album. 

I had gotten Aaron Altherr TTM a couple times.  It was nice to add a few more to the album. The Dustin Peterson 2013 Bowman (bottom right) was a card that I missed on one of my road trips, so it was nice that Andrew could help me with it.  He also got me a couple Kade Morris and a Colby Halter signed, as well.

Finally, this 2021 Topps Pro Debut of Jagger Haynes also turned out great.

I really appreciated Andrew getting these done for me.  I didn't have as many opportunities for 50/50s this past season.  Mostly, because I didn't have the time to search.  I also lost contact with quite a few guys who had helped me out in the past. That was likely because I don't see the same guys I used to see when I had season tickets to an affiliated club.

Some More 50-50s From Aidan W

My buddy, Aidan in Asheville, took a few cards for me recently to do a 50/50 on Bowling Green.  He got this 2024 Bowman Top 100 Colton Ledbetter signed, which looks pretty cool.

Aidan also got me Tre Morgan, Hunter Haas and another Colton Ledbetter; these three were 2023 Bowman Draft. 

I didn't send Aidan a whole lot, just a few cards to see if he could get them out of the box, and he nailed it. 

Thank you so much, Aidan, for getting these done for me!

A Quick 50-50 With Dante

A very small 50/50 I did with a guy on Instagram named Dante turned out nicely. He had put on his story that he needed Shelley Duncan when Scranton-Wilkes Barre came to his area.  He split the two Duncans with me; he sent me the above 2008 Topps Update back.

I also asked him if he would take my two Clayton Andrews Mudcats team cards.  He sent them both back, so I included a few extra autos that I had.

The 50/50 worked our great, so I'm hoping Dante asks for more stuff soon.

A Quick 50-50 With Patrick

My friend, Patrick recently took a couple Grant Gambrell cards that I found in my boxes.  I was glad to get them signed and into the autograph album. Patrick took two of them at his share of the 50/50.

Patrick sees Worcester, and Gambrell is there this year.  He signed a 2020 Heritage Minors and a 2020 Pro Debut. 

Gambrell (b. 1997) was a third round pick by the Royals in the 2019 June Amateur Draft out of Oregon State.  He has played in the minors since 2019 in the Royals and Red Sox systems, reaching AAA.  He has a record.of 14-23 with 255 strike outs and a 4.65 ERA.

A Few More Portland 50-50s

These three signed cards came in toward the end of the season from my friend, Gerard.  I wasn't sure who got them done for me, but Gerard spoke up.  Thanks for reminding me!

I got a 2021 Topps Update Sterling Sharp and these two Alex Binelas added to the autograph album. I was really glad to add the 2021 Bowman Chrome ray wave. 

Thank you Gerard for getting these signed for me.

Some 50-50s From Dylan

My friend, Dylan, returned the 50/50s that he got done for me this past season.  He took a bunch of stuff out of my prospects boxes and got them done for me.  The above 2019 Bowman Chrome Ethan Hankins was one that I wanted to get done for a while. 

Dylan hooked me up with these nice Sal Frelicks.  I was glad to see the Invicta get signed, finally.

I had gotten Branden Boissiere and Daylen Lile when I saw Fredericksburg.  I was also glad to get this parallel of Roismar Quintana added to the album. 

I had gotten Jimmy Crooks, III TTM back when 2022 Bowman Draft came put.  Dylan finished him off for me.

Here are some others he got done: Cooper Hjerpe, Maikol Escotto, Jose Salas, Victor Lizzaraga, Junior Sanquentin, Hendry Mendez and Luke Gold.

I was really glad to add a couple Jackson Merrill to the autograph album. I've heard good things about him.

Thank you so much for taking these cards and getting them done, Dylan!

Last Batch of 2023 50-50s From Logan

Here are some more 50/50s from this season.  These came back from my friend, Logan, who graphs Wichita.  He was able to take some guys I thought I'd never see.  The above 2018 Bowman Chrome gold shimmer refractor of Michel Baez sat in my Bowman box for years until I saw that Logan would be seeing him.  I'm so glad this card is now signed and in the album!

Logan got my 2017 SAL All Star card of Trevor Bettencourt signed.  My brother, Adam, gave me the set way back when, so I was glad to add it to the album.  Logan also took a ton of my Yusniel Diaz cards and got a couple signed for me.  He also took some Dodgers prospects and got them signed by Luke Little and Brandon Lewis.

I was really glad to get these two Henry Henry cards signed.  Another from my 2019 Midwest League All Star set got signed, which was great.

One of the last cards Logan took was my 2020 Bowman Marco Raya card.  It got separated from the rest of my stuff for some reason and almost didn't get to him in time.  Logan also took all of my Tanner Dodson cards and got them all done.  I had a bunch of his stuff; now they are all signed.

I had a ton of Kody Hoese stuff and sent Logan 2 or 3 packages with Hoese cards.  I was surprised that all of these got done, but it was great. 

I didn't realize until I went back through the package that Logan got new Yankee Jorbit Vivas for me on 4 cards.  He was just traded to the Yankees to make room on the 40-man roster for Shohei Ohtani.

I wish Logan could have gotten Michael Busch, but he didn't see him.  Still, the Kody Hoese end of the card got done, so I'm halfway there. 

Thank you so much for getting all of these cards signed for me, Logan.  I loom forward to what I'm able to send out for 2024.

Last 2023 50-50s From Max

A box of cards came in from Max recently that had the rest of the 50/50s he was able to take for me toward the end of the season.  He knocked out a bunch of cards that I sent to him, starting with the above 2022 Topps Chrome MLB Logo refractor of Jackson Kowar that I found at the National. This card is really cool and turned out great.  I'm glad I was able to find it and send it along. 

Max got one of my 1991 Crown Orioles cards signed; this one being of Rex Hudler.  

Max took the A's, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Royals and a couple other teams.  It was cool that he got the two World Series teams.  The 2006 Topps Diamondbacks team card is signed by Denny Stark, by the way.

Max also hit the Rockes and got a few guys I'd probably never see.  The German Marquez Topps Archives (bottom, middle) looks great.  I was also glad to get some 2023 Topps signed.  Kyle Freeland had signed for me TTM, but it was nice to get a few more of his cards out of the boxes and into the album. 

The Paul Blackburn cards at the bottom of this scan had been in my to-be-TTMed box for a long time.  He stopped signing when I pulled them, so it was great that Max could fi ally get some ink on them for me.  I'm surprised I still had some Jerry DiPoto cards left, but I did, and they got done.

The Rodolfo Castro on the 87 Topps design was a cool card.  I'm glad Max sent that one back. He knows how much I like that set.  Jack Suwinski lives or grew up near Max, so I think he actually knows him personally.  I forget what he told me, so I'll have to check again with me how that works.  I've sent him a few Suwinski cards, and the 2022 Topps Update that I got back looks sharp.

A couple more Bob Brenly cards were taken care of this time around. I like the 2004 Topps, a set that I have been trying to get more of into the album.  Those mid-2,000s sets were some that I unloaded my bulk at past shows, so there aren't as many of those in my stash as there are other eras.

I'm always happy to add one of my Midwest League cards to the autograph album. I got this set a while back from an old friend, and have been chipping away at it over the years.  Alek Thomas was a guy who I thought may be tough to get from that set, but Max hooked it up.  He also got me Zach Davies, a former Oriole farmhand who I haven't been able to graph.

The above 2015 Topps is signed by Tuffy Goeswich; the 2019 Topps Rainbow Foil A's card is signed by Lucas Erceg, and the 2023 Topps Diamondbacks team card is signed by Scott McGough. Max always helps put with the team issue stuff, in case he is out of anyone.  I have been putting more of these aside for future use with him, myself and other 50/50 stuff.  These team cards do come in handy.

Thank you as always for the awesome stack of signed stuff, Max.  I'm excited to see what we can get out of the boxes in 2024!

50-50s From Cam S

With still a lot of catching up to do from this past season, I really need to get some 50/50s scanned and posted.  Here is one from. This past season from my friend, Cam S.

Cam took a bunch of guys for me this year that helped me clear out a lot of space in my boxes.  The above Lucius Fox drove me crazy.  Cam told me that he could take Fox, and I had been waiting a long time to get this card signed.  I couldn't find it for a while after Cam messaged me. Finally, just as I stopped looking, I found the card while I was looking for something else.  It is finally signed and in my album. 

Cam hooked me up with a bunch of Robert Hassell, III autos, as well as guys that I had sent to others in past 50/50 attempts. Domingo Leyba had been in the Orioles system, and I had a bunch of cards put aside somewhere. Those were a pain to find, but I got them out, as well.

I had sent my Cole Henry cards out to someone else for Spring Training, but he wasn't able to get him. I was told Henry was tough, but Cam was able to get several of Henry's cards signed for me.

I was really.glad to get these old Rouglad Odor Kinston Indians cards signed.  I had a bunch of them pulled for someone's 50/50 last season (2022), but they didn't get done.  Cam finished off Hunter Goodman for me.  I had also pulled Jon Nunnally for someone, but he got missed.  He's taken care of now.

Here are the other Hassell cards that Cam helped me with.  I was glad to get my numbered refractor done, finally.

I had hoped to see Trey Lipscomb this summer either with Fredericksburg or Wilmington, but he moved up right before I saw each team.  I got a couple extras back to give to my friend, Jordan, since he is a big Tennessee fan.

Finally, I wasn't able to get Aaron Shortridge with Greensboro, so it was nice to get these three cards signed. 

I appreciate the help, Cam! I plan to continue this 50/50 relationship next season.

Quick 50-50 Of Parker Messick

Every year, I send out cards for 50/50s.  Every year I fall behind and don't post stuff until.way later than I should.  In this case, I got a nice Parker Messick signed from someone who took a 50/50, only for me to completely forget who got it done.  I know it was someone I sent to late, and this was the only card I had of ant guys that they would have seen.  I also didn't log it on my spreadsheet.

Oh well, it'll come to me. Still, this 2022 Panini Prizm Draft turned out nicely.

Messick (b. 2000) was a 2nd round pick by the Guardians out of Florida State in the 2022 June Amateur Draft. He played at Low and High A this season and has a 5-6 record with 136 strike outs and a 3.77 ERA.

Eventually, I'll figure out who got the card signed for me. It doesn't mean I'm not thankful, though.  It just means that I send out a LOT of 50/50s.

50-50 Return From Isaac

A small 50/50 return came back from Isaac, who graphs the Tennessee Smokies. I sent him a few Cubs guys who I had left over from when I saw Tennessee and also a couple Myrtle Beach team set cards from last year. 

I was glad these got signed and out of my box.  I should have sent Isaac more stuff, but I got busy during the season and didn't take the time to search for more cards. 

I hope to get Isaac some more 50/50s next season.  I don't have much left from Myrtle Beach, but still may need some stuff done.

More 50-50 Returns From Joseph

Here are some more 50/50 returns; these being from my buddy Joseph, who graphs Portland.  I got to meet Joseph this summer and he's a nice kid.  He took some Hartford guys for me, and a Portland player.  The main card I wanted back was the above blue shimmer refractor from 2020 Bowman Chrome of Grant Lavigne.  I found the card at the National, and it looks great.

Joseph finished my TJ Brock cards for me.  I missed Brock completely when I was in Hartford.  So, it was nice to get these signed and not have to put them in the Box Of Shame. 

Joseph got a 2019 Bowman of Leo Jimenez done for me, along with a 2020 Bowman Lavigne and an Alex Binelas that I found at the National. 

Thanks so much for getting these done, Joseph!

West Coast 50-50 Return From Ryan

Usually, I have a hard time getting 50/50 offers from folks on the west coast; there are quite a few teams who's prospect cards just reside in my boxes.  I finally found someone who could take some cards for Spokane and their opponents.  This helped me get some Benny Montgomery cards signed, as well as some other Rockies guys.  Ryan is the guy who helped me with these cards, and he got this dual of Benny Montgomery and Jaden Hill done for me this season.

He also got my blue refractor taken care of.

I was glad to get some Rockies stuff done, since I had a lot of it and it was piling up.

Ryan also took some Giants guys and knocked out a bunch for me.  It always seems like the Giants don't have much as far as prospects go or they just don't send them to Richmond.  Also, when I go to Richmond, I usually only focus on the away side. 

Anyway, I appreciate Ryan getting these done for me.  I hope I can send him some more stuff next year.