2021 National Signer - Ted Simmons

Another of the signers I paid to see was newly minted Hall of Famer, Ted Simmons.  I had already gotten on my 1987 Topps, but I needed him on a baseball for the Hall of Fame collection.  My 153rd Hall of Famer, Simmons was really nice.  I wish there wasn't an additional fee for him to put HOF on the ball, but Tristar likes their money.

Simmons (b. 1949) played in the majors from 1968 to 1988 for the Cardinals, Brewers and Braves.  He had 2,472 hits, 248 home runs and a .285 batting average.  He was an 8-time All Star (1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1983) and his best MVP finish was 6th (NL, 1975).  He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2020 by the Veterans Committee.  He had previously appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 1994, but received only 3.7% of the vote.  That is a huge change of heart.  It seems that the writers didn't feel he deserved to get in, but other Hall of Famers thought otherwise.

TTM Success - Ted Simmons

Another private signing that was going on the same time I got Maury Wills was for Ted Simmons.  He was someone I really wanted, especially on my 1987 Topps for my set.  Thankfully, I went ahead and sent to him and got two cards taken care of.  In addition to the 87, I really liked this 1981 Topps, so I went ahead and included it.

Simmons doesn't sign much TTM, so taking advantage of the private signing for the set was a must.  Plus, he is one of those players who had a great career that I was really looking forward to posting about on here.

Simmons (b. 1949) played in the majors from 1968 to 1988 for the Cardinals, Brewers and Braves.  He had 2,472 hits, 248 home runs and a .285 batting average.  He was an 8-time All Star (1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1983), and a silver slugger once (1980).  His best finish in the MVP voting was 6th (1975, NL).

I mailed to the private signing on February 12 and got the cards back on March 6, for a 24-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $20/card.