November 11, 2023, Virginia Beach Card Show Recap

On Saturday, my friend, Josh, and I went to a card show in Virginia Beach.  I had heard about the show from my friend, Ryan, since a couple former Orioles were going to be there doing signings.  I had a very limited budget, but was still able to come away with a few cards for each vintage set I'm working on (lists have been updated). I also picked up a lot of stuff for TTMs.  The coolest thing I found was the above 1983 Donruss Diamond King signed by Hall of Famer, Carl Hubbell.  I got the card for $20. I couldn't pass that up.

The signers at the show were Mickey Tettleton and Rudy May (there were some other signers, but May and Tettleton were the ones we were going after).  I got Tettleton on a nice 1999 Topps Gallery (above).  I had to get May on a card showing him as an Oriole, so the above 1977 Topps fit the bill.

I was going to settle on two May cards, but then found this 1971 Topps that I had to get done.  I loved the action shot on this card, and it looks great in the album. 

The above 1991 Crown Orioles card was the main one that I wanted to get May on, and it turned out great.

This 1988 Topps Big was the other card that I got Tettleton on.  I wanted to continue to fill out some of the 8-card pages that I have, so this helped that cause. 

I didn't realize, but May has been living in NC.  I heard him talk about being near Edenton, so I naturally had to talk to him about the sandwiches at Westover General Store.  It was so cool that he knew where I was talking about and had lunch there last week.

Tettleon was really cool, as well.  He commented on my Hartford hat.  The hat made me stand out at the show, which is why I bought it.

I got the following (in person) autographs: Rudy May x 5 and Mickey Tettleton x 2 (7).

A Whole Bunch of Autos From Gerard

My good friend, Gerard, hooked me up with a ton of autos in a recent package.  He knocked 5 cards off of my 1987 set, including this Charlie Leibrandt.  I joined a private signing with Leibrandt a while back and the promoter lost my cards, so I got screwed on that.  I

I'll never use those folks again.

He also knocked off Alfredo Griffin, who for some reason I have missed on several private signings.  I sent TTM to Ray Fontenot, but never got anything back, and also Curt Wilkerson and Domingo Ramos.

Gerard also saw Mickey Tettleton at a recent Cape Cod League game.  He knew in advance, so I was able to send him some cards.  They all turned out great.  This 1994 Upper Deck really looks good.  That really might be an underrated set, in my opinion.  The cards tend to look really sharp when signed.

These Tettletons also turned out great.  I especially like the 1993 Topps Finest.  Those cards really look amazing when signed, especially in person.

I rarely get the opportunity to get any 2001 Heritage signed, as I don't have many, but this one of Tom Goodwin really looks good.  I love Heritage and this one really will look cool in my album.

Gerard also got me a few other Goodwins signed; just a few randoms that I found in my boxes.

He also got me Max Rajcic from the Cape League on a coupld Stars and Stripes.

My green parallels turned out really great.  I was super happy he was able to get Triston Casas for me, since I missed him.  The Feltman also looks awesome.

Finally, Gerard finished off a bunch of cards I had sent him for Portland.  I was glad to be able to get him a few Hudson Potts cards once he got with the Red Sox.  Along with all of these other guys.

Thanks so much for the cards, Gerard!

Another Private Signing Success From Mickey Tettleton

I dropped the ball a few months ago when I sent to a private signing with Mickey Tettleton on SCN.  I sent a couple cards and was all excited because I had already gotten his 1987 Topps.  I completely missed that he is on this 1987 Topps A's team leaders card.  I already knew that I messed up by not sending it to Carney Lansford.  So, I took advantage of another signing that popped up, and was able to get Tettleton.  I'll have to keep an eye out for another Lansford signing, as well as Dave Von Ohlen (the guy on the left).

I mailed to the signing on October 21 and got the card back on November 7, for a 17-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $14.00.

TTM Success - Mickey Tettleton

Another private signing came up on SCN; this one of former Oriole, Mickey Tettleton.  I had bought his 87 Topps already, so I went with a 1991 Crown Orioles, and the 1994 Leaf Medalists for the cards I would send.

I noticed after I paid for the signing and sent my cards that I missed sending the A's Leaders card from the 87 set.  I also missed it when I sent to Carney Lansford.  I really screwed up on that one.  I'll have to hope that those two do signings again, and maybe I can finish that card.

I was happy with this 94 medalists card though.  All I need now is to catch Chris Hoiles.  I hope he is at Fan Fest, soon.

Tettleton (b. 1960) played in the majors from 1984 to 1997 for the A's, Orioles, Tigers and Rangers.  He had 1,132 hits, 245 home runs and a .241 batting average.  He was an All Star in 1989 and 1994 and a Silver Slugger Award winner in 1989, 1991 and 1992.

I mailed to the signing on July 24 and got the cards back on August 30, for a 37-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $15/card.

Ebay Pickup - Some Tougher Autos For The 87 Set

BBC Exchange had a bunch of signed 1987 Topps cards for sale in their Ebay store at great prices, so I picked a few out of the list and added them to my set.  I picked some of the seemingly tougher ones and went with those.  I started out by looking for a signed Tom Seaver, but his signed 87s have been near impossible to find.  So, I grabbed a few other guys that I hadn't seen and crossed them off of my list.

I had been holding out hope that Andres Galarraga would do a signing sometime soon, but it always seemed like I missed out.  I think he has done Expos Fest a few times, but at the price that BBC Exchange had this card at, I went ahead and got it.

I really need John McNamara on a Red Sox Team Leaders card (and Seaver too).  I just received a signed 84 Topps from McWilliams after waiting for over 2 years, so I grabbed this one so I wuldn't have to wait again.

Tommy John had been signing, but I learned that his ex wife was taking the money sent to her address and signing his cards herself.  Mickey Tettleton seems to be a tough get, so I went ahead and bought this one.  I have something else I want to get him on anyway, so if he pops up on a private signing, I'll do that card instead and will already have the 87 out of the way.

Birthday Gift and a Trade From Jake

I don't like ranking people that I know, but if I were to make a top 5 of people I've met while trading on Instagram, my buddy, Jake Ignaszewski, would be at or near the top.  He surprised me with a birthday package on Saturday that he really didn't have to send me.  In the package was a nice note from him thanking me for being a good friend to him and helping him with his collection.  Also in the package was every Orioles card that he had.  I had to chuckle a bit when I went through the cards because Jake sent me 11 copies of the above 1989 Mickey Tettleton.  In the past, one would say I had been Bipped.  I'm so glad that phase of the trading world has passed.  I know Jake included them all because he is a nice guy.

Also in the package were several different Orioles stickers from various sets over the years.  I didn't have this Fleer sticker, so I'll be putting this into my Orioles binder that I started putting together in 2005 and completely forgot about until now.

Jake and I also had completed a trade recently where I sent him back the Derek Jeter minor league card, since I had discovered that I already had one and he was having seller's remorse for letting his go.  He swapped it back for this Manny Machado RC, which I already had, but that's ok, because I don't mind hoarding Manny RCs.

I really appreciate Jake leaning on me for help with his collecting goals.  I'm hoping that I will continue to have the opportunity to help him out when I am able.  Thanks so much for the stuff, Jake, and thanks again for the trade!