2021 National Pickups - Signed 87s For The Set

Six cards were crossed off of my 1987 Topps checklist when I found a few cards at different tables.  A few of them were purchased from the Signatures For Soldiers booth, which has the proceeds go to a good cause; helping veterans and wounded soldiers.

I had someone set to get me this Keith Hernandez card signed, but COVID messed that up.  I went ahead and bought this one, since it helped out a good cause, and it got the card out of the way.

I joined a private signing for Mitch Williams the same time I joined one for Charlie Leibrandt, and I have to say, I will never use that promoter again.  They have stopped answering my emails, and my cards never came back.  I'm out the $25 or so that I sent in for that signing.  They say that they sent me my cards, but that was supposedly over a year ago.  They would have gotten here by now.

I had sent to Mike Krulow TTM, and if that card comes in, I will upgrade this one.

Someone had told me they had the Mike Boddicker for me, but I haven't seen that, either, and I'm not about to pester someone to get it, so if that one comes in, it will be an upgrade, as well.

Finally, I added Tracy Jones and Jorge Orta, and both cards look pretty decent.  Both are signed in thin marker, so if the TTMs I sent out ever come back, maybe those signatures will be better.

These 6 cards put me well within 100 remaining for the set (actually, I need 97 more to complete the set.  They are going to be fewer and farther in between, unfortunately.  I think I can get close, but there are still several that I don't think I have a chance of completing.

TTM Success - Mike Krukow

A TTM success came in on April 28 from Giants commentator and former pitcher, Mike Krukow.  I remember Krukow for being the commentator on EA's MVP Baseball from 2003 to 2005.  The 2005 version of the game might be my favorite baseball video game of all time.  The pitching mini game was so addictive, I would sit on the bed and play it for hours while my wife would listen to the soundtrack and fall asleep.  I think it was all downhill from there (granted, I haven't really gotten into ANY video games since around 2006 or so, who has the time?).

The above 1977 Topps rookie card turned out pretty cool.  I need to look and see if the other guys sign.  I'm not sure if I will pursue getting them all signed or not.

This 1980 Topps card is a really sharp card, it's too bad Krukow used a dead pen on it, or it would look even better.  The signature looks ok in person, but it would have been nice to have it a little bolder.  Oh well.

Krukow (b. 1952) played in the majors from 1976 to 1989 for the Cubs, Phillies and Giants.  He had a record of 124-117 with an ERA of 3.90 and 1,478 strike outs.  He finished 3rd in the 1986 NL Cy Young voting when he went 20-9 with a 3.09 ERA, the only season where he won more than 13 games.  Krukow appeared on the 1995 Hall of Fame ballot where he received 0.2% of the vote.

I mailed to Krukow on April 11 and got the cards back on April 28 for a 17-day TAT.