TTM Success - Stuart Levy

Soon, old team set cards will be dominating this space since the Frontier League has come to town and it seems that most of the guys who have cards are in random team sets.  In that vein, I started cleaning out my boxes and looked toward moving some old team set stuff.  I sent off some TTM and started getting a few back.  One player who returned his cards signed was former Orioles minor leaguer, Stuart Levy.

I got Levy on his cards from Aberdeen and Frederick.

Levy (b. 1992) was a 27th round pick by the Orioles in the 2015 June Amateur Draft out of Arkansas State University.  He played in the minors from 2015 to 2019, all in the Orioles system.  He wound up reaching AAA.  He had 157 hits, 12 home runs and a .207 batting average. 

I mailed to Levy on January 15 and got the cards back on February 3 for a 19-day TAT.

Levy also included a hand-written letter that said: Dear William, I appreciate you reaching out.  It is not often anymore that I get asked for autographs for anything baseball related.  It was a very special surprise. It brought back a lot of memories seeing these cards.  I hope they add nicely to your  collection, even from a nobody like me.  Sincerely, Stuart Levy.

A Team Set Auto From Ryan Y

This a quick look at a card that I was able to send off this past season and get signed.  A guy from Instagram named Ryan graphs the Washington area and got this 2019 Frederick Keys team set card of Cameron Ming signed for me. 

Ming is now the pitching coach for the Everett Aquasox now that he has wrapped up his playing career.  I had a chance to get Ming in person, but missed out. Thankfully Ryan was able to take care of the card for me. 

August 2019 Graphing Recap of Keys at Wood Ducks

The Frederick Keys made their last stop in Kinston on August 26-29, culminating with a meet and greet with the Wood Ducks team on August 29, since that was the final home game of the regular season.

During this series, I got everything I had of Cadyn Grenier signed, which turned out to be a ton of cards.

I had help from Chris and a few other folks who were at the games.  Grenier was really nice, but if you had multiples of the same card on a page, he would not sign more than one of them.

He also wouldn't call you out if you got him more than once in the series, which really helped.  So, I got a lot of stuff done, and also helped out a bunch of folks with their 50/50s.

I got cards from a couple different Delmarva team sets, along with the Carolina League All Stars from the Keys, and this season's Keys team set.

I really like this season's Keys team set, and was able to get a bunch of the cards signed.

Chris and I enjoyed talking with the Keys players, as always, and one of the best was Brenan Hanifee.  He was really cool the last time I saw him come through, and this time around, Chris was there, and spoke with him at length.

I was surprised at all of the team set cards I was able to get done.  I don't think I missed anyone, save for one Bobby Rose card from the Carolina League All Star set.

I was disappointed to learn a couple days ago that all of the coaches for the Keys will not be retained for next season.  While that may provide an opportunity to see some new faces coaching them, I liked Ryan Minor, and will miss talking to him next season.

I was glad to get a lot of these cards signed, so I won't have to keep up with many unsigned ones from the sets for next season.  I don't necessarily mind, as a lot of the guys will show up at Orioles Fan Fest, or be at other MiLB stops in their system.

This series marked the last home series of the Wood Ducks regular season.  I knew Chris and I would be out of town for the first round of the playoffs, so he and I treated it like it would be the last seried of the year.  Unfortunately, we turned out to be correct.  I am glad we were able to meet and greet the team during that last game.

July 4, 2019, Graphing Recap of Keys at Mudcats

Chris and I found ourselves at Five County Stadium on July 4 to see the Mudcats take on the Keys.  It rained most of the time we were there, and eventually, the game was called.  We did, however, manage to get a few autographs, which was nice.  The rain did affect two of my cards, but the rest turned out ok.

The highlight, as has been usual this season with the Keys, was a long conversation we had with Ryan Ripken.  He is just a good dude.  I really enjoy talking with him, and this time around was no different.  We talked about the weather, of course, and some other baseball-related topics, as he waited on word about whether or not the game would be played.  He even gave Chris and I a heads up that the game would be called, so we could beat the traffic.

I had recently picked up some Delmarva team sets, so those gave me some cards to get signed.  The two Will Robertson cards got wet, and the signatures suffered.  He tried to sign them again for me later, but they couldn't be helped.  I told him that it was not a big deal, as I don't sell my cards, and I would have the story of the rain to go along with them.

Finally, I was able to get a few more DL Hall cards signed.  He is always really nice, and has been accommodating to Chris and I.

As the season is winding down, my stash of cards is getting smaller and smaller, which I like.  I'm hoping I don't have much left over when the season is done.

June 2019 Graphing of Frederick Keys at Down East Wood Ducks

The Frederick Keys come to Grainger Stadium three times this season.  I will miss one of the series when I am at the National in August, so I was really hoping that I could get as much signed as I could when they came through the first time.

I feel like Chris and I did really well, even though I missed Dillon Tate and Yusniel Diaz.  I had been holding onto this purple Cole Billingsley since last season, and I finally got it signed.

I added a few more Michael Baumanns to the album.  The purple shimmer in the middle turned out so nice.

Ryan Ripken was awesome.  He stopped to talk to Chris and I each time he came by.  I could talk to him about baseball for hours.

I was able to get Orioles 2017 first round pick, DL Hall.  He was really nice.  He only signed 2 cards at a time, but I was able to get the ones I really wanted right off the bat.

Brenan Hanifee was super nice.  He had pitched one of the games, and as he was walking off of the field, I asked if he would come back out and sign.  He came out a bit later, signed my cards, then watched some of the game with me.  While he was watching, he asked me about where I was from, etc.  He was really personable and is the kind of guy you'd want to root for.

We also had good conversations with Ryan Minor.  I finished off everything I had of him, and I had a lot.

Speaking of having a lot of someone's cards, I had a ton of Cody Sedlock.  He missed last season, so I was unable to get any of his stuff signed.  He signed for us a ton, so I was able to get most of what I had signed this series.

I got a bunch of team set stuff done, as well.

I had found this Jomar Reyes at a card show, and had hoped that he would be back.  I was lucky that he was, and got it signed.  Chris had some of his cards, as well.  He asked Jomar if he was Jomar Reyes, and he said no.  Then he smiled and signed Chris's cards.  Chris was so confused.

I got some more Hickory and Spokane team set cards done, along with some customs that a fellow instagrammer made.  I think it is about time for him to replace his ink in his printer.  The customs do look better in person.

I was glad that he made an extra Ryan Dorow, as I don't have much of him, and I would venture to say that Dorow is this year's team MVP.  He plays great defense and is batting pretty well for a 30th round pick.

Here is the long horizontal card that I got signed, the newly arrived Hasuan Viera.

I always run with Darren Oliver cards in my book, and I was fortunate that I do so, because he was subbing for Steve Mintz at pitching coach.  He is one per, so Chris and I both got one done.

Finally, my friend Jackson, let me in on a little secret.  There was a famous spectator at Grainger Stadium, former NASCAR champion, Dale Jarret.  He was there watching his son, Zach.  Zach is a fellow Charlotte 49er, so I had to make sure I talked to him.

The Wood Ducks are off until Thursday, when the second half starts.  I'll be seeing them play Salem.

July 28-29, 2018 Graphing of the Keys at Wood Ducks

Before I left for the National, I caught two Wood Ducks vs Keys games with my cousin, Andreas.  He came over from Germany on his vacation, and accompanied me to the National, then on to Boston.  Before we left, I wanted to give him a game or two at historic Grainger Stadium, which I think he enjoyed.

I was getting low on Keys stuff, since I saw them at Wood Ducks already, then another game at Mudcats.  Still, I was able to get some cool stuff signed, and into my album.  The above Guilder Rodriguez turned out really well.  It was a card from my amazing friend, Max, and he told me to keep it in exchange for one of Rodriguez's Topps base cards from 2015.  Max is the best.

I finally got hold of Alexander De La Cruz, who had been on the DL for what seemed like all season.  I got this team set card from the Ironbirds done, finally.

I got a few 50/50s done for my buddy, Gerard.  He let me keep these two Blaine Beatty cards, which I didn't have in my collection.

Finally, here are a few of the 2018 Hickory Crawdads cards that I was able to get signed.  They have to be prepped beforehand, but turned out well.

July 4, 2018, Keys at Mudcats

The Wood Ducks were out of town on July 4, so I did what I have done the last several years, and caught a game in Zebulon.  This year, the Keys were in town, and I did a lot better graphing than I did when Salem was there last year.

I had to do the game without my wife (she had to work) and my son (he was at Boy Scout Camporee)., but I was able to hang with my friends Jackson and Dugan.  We graphed a ton, and had a great time.

I got a bunch of cards done that included cards from last year's Mudcats team set and the 2018 All Star set.

I also got a few Phil Bickford cards done.  He seems like a great guy, and has been really cool to us when we have graphed.

I was happy to add Orioles pitching prospect, Zac Lowther to the autograph album.  He was charting pitches pre-game, but I happened to catch him on his way to his seats.  He was really friendly, and signed everything I had.

I found the blue parallel Randolph Gassaway when I was going through my Orioles box looking for Rafael Palmeiro.

The fireworks were really cool, but the next to last one went off too soon, and we had to duck and cover, since we were right by the outfield wall.

May 25-27, 2018 Graphing of Keys at Wood Ducks

I had a visit from my good friend, Michael this past weekend, and used that time with him to see three games between the Frederick Keys and Down East Wood Ducks.  I knocked out a bunch of cards while we were there, from both the Keys and Wood Ducks.

I finished all of the custom cards that Rangersautos made of the Wood Ducks, and I completed his 50/50s.  It was nice to get one out of the way.

I also knocked out a bunch of 50/50s for Gerard, including a couple of the above 3-way cards that include Eric Jeknins, and I also had last year's bat boy and now clubbie, Matt sign the Wood Ducks team card.  Matt stops and talks with Chris and I at every game, so I felt it was right to get him on a card.

I also finished off all of my Walker Weickels, and also Gerard's Wood Ducks team set.

I added a few new Anthony Gose, coming from a 50/50 from Gerard.  I was also glad to get the Hickory team set card of Spike Owen done.

I had ordered this 2016 Anthony Gose from COMC, but it didn't come in time.  Luckily, Gerard let me keep this one as part of the 50/50.

Gerard also let me keep this 2013 Topps Mini Gose.

I finally remembered to add the DEWD disc card to my autograph book and get it signed.  It may be goofy, but I thought it was cool to get him to sign it, especially since he couldn't see the card and signed my book instead.

Since the Keys don't come to town often, I made sure to knock out as much as I could.  I had been waiting for Jomar Reyes for a long time, since he was injured when the Keys came last year.

I finished off almost everything I had of Reyes.  I think I only had 2 cards left when the series ended.

I also used up every card I had of Ryan Minor.  I may try to get the triple rookie done, if one of my Texas buddies can get Adrian Beltre for me.

I also was lucky enough to get cards signed by Ryan McKenna.  He only would sign 2-per, and as the weekend went on, he kept refusing to sign for me, but would sign for Chris and Michael.  It was weird, but I guess it was because I was older.  It's ok, though, I have only 3 cards of him left.  The 2015 Bowman paper was a Christmas gift from my good friend, Anthony, and is numbered to 5.

I was able to get a couple of the regular Wood Duck fans that I see at every game to help me get my other McKennas signed.  The didn't mind, and I was able to add these to my album, as well.

Michael and I went to the card shop on Saturday, and I bought a pack of 2017 Elite Extra Edition.  The first card in the pack was the above Michael Baumann.  I prepped the card and got it into my book for that night's game.  I was also happy to add Alex Wells.  He was pretty nice, even though I only got to see him one time.

I also was able to get three cards done from my 2017 South Atlantic League All Star set done.  I picked this set up in Columbia a couple weeks ago, and three of the guys ended up being with the Keys.

It was also nice being able to knock out a bunch of the Ironbirds team set cards that I got at the end of the season last year.

One of the cool things about the Keys was that Preston Palmeiro (son of Rafael) was playing.  I got to speak to him, and had him sign a Carolina League ball, as well as the above team set card.

 I got a lot of this team set done.  Some of the autos didn't turn out too great, but I figured it out early, and prepped the rest.

In all, Chris, Michael and I had fun.  I hate that McKenna kept denying me, but that's what happens with graphing sometimes.