TTM Success - Pat Hentgen

I waited a while for this one, but I finally got a return from former Oriole, Pat Hentgen.  There were quite a few failures listed for Hentgen, but I figured I would send to him anyway.  I sent two cards, this 1997 Upper Deck SP and a 2001 Topps, but the SP was the only card that he signed.

Hentgen (b. 1968) played in the majors from 1991 to 2004 for the Blue Jays, Cardinals and Orioles.  He had a career record of 131-112 with an ERA of 4.32 and 1,290 strike outs.  He was an All Star in 1993, 1994 and 1997.  He was the 1996 AL Cy Young Award winner when he went 20-10 with a 3.22 ERA.  He won the World Series with the Blue Jays in 1993.  He was a member of the Blue Jays when they won in 1992, as well, but he didn't pitch in the postseason.

I mailed to Hentgen on November 12 and got the card back on March 20, for a 128-day TAT.

Surprise Care Package From Michael

After the conclusion of Fan Fest in January, I figured Michael and I had exchanged all of the O's cards and items that we would be exchanging for a good while.  I was surprised to learn the Monday following Fan Fest, that Michael had dropped a package in the mail to me.

In the package were some Orioles autographs for my various albums.  A few cards for the card album and a couple post cards for the post card album (wherever I sat it).

I have had someone pick up a Dariel Alvarez auto for me, but I didn't have the 2015 Bowman Chrome.  Felix Pie would be a great TTM subject, but he doesn't sign, from what I can tell  I don;t know much about Chris Snyder, but the 2010 Topps is a nice card.

Here are the backs of the post cards that Michael sent; signed by Pat Hentgen and Jerry Hairston, Jr.  Hairston is someone I really would like to get TTM, but I know he doesn't sign.  Hentgen is someone I have sent to, but I havent gotten anything back as of today.

Thank you so much for the care package, Michael!  I appreciate it!

Birthday Package From Scott

I got a nice birthday package today in the mail from my good buddy Scott.  Inside the package was a good bit of Orioles cards from various years.  The highlight of the package was the below Wei-Yin Chen purple rookie refractor from 2012 Topps Chrome.

This is a really pretty card.  I like the different colored refractors, so getting one of Chen (and a RC) was a plus.

I'm pretty sure I didn't already have this Cut Above Cal Ripken.  I may have pulled one from 2012 Topps Series 2, but I can't remember.  It is a nice card and it is nice to be able to continue to add new Cal cards each year, long after he has retired.

Here is a nice 2010 Topps Chrome Mark Reynolds.  I'm sure I had several of these cards, but probably traded them away long before Reynolds was complacently devouring sunflower seeds as an Oriole.  I'm glad I have it now and will add it to my Reynolds PC.

Finally, you can file this one under 'blast from the past.'  I forget sometimes that former Cy Young Award winner Pat Hentgen pitched for the Orioles.  Hentgen was signed before the 2001 season to be a part of the Orioles' rotation, but injuries ruined his time in Baltimore.  It would have been nice for him to be healthy in Baltimore, but it wasn't meant to be.

So, thanks for the birthday package, Scott!  I really appreciate it!