TTM Success - Bill Swaggerty

It's always nice getting in a TTM success from a former Oriole.  This success from Bill Swaggerty was really cool, especially because had I kept the cards with me, I could have gotten them signed while I was in Baltimore.  Oops.  Could have saved two stamps!

Still, I got the three cards signed, which included the 1985 Topps at the top of the page, the 1986 Donruss (left) and 1985 Fleer (right).

Swaggerty (b. 1956) played in the majors from 1983 to 1985 for the Orioles.  He had a career record of 4-3 with an ERA of 4.76 and 28 strike outs.

I mailed to Swaggerty on September 14 and got the cards back on September 23, for a 9-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jim Walewander

Sometimes, when you send out a TTM request, the player will send their own cards along with what you sent.  This happened early on for me, when Virgil Trucks sent me a couple signed cards along with my baseball.  I wasn't expecting an extra card from Jim Walewander, I was just hoping the second time sending would be a charm since the first address didn't work.

Walewander sent this awesome art card along with the cards I sent, and it looks really cool!

I used the request to add some late 80s Topps cards to my album like this 1988.  I have a ton of cards from 1988, but the box was at the bottom of my stack of Topps boxes, so this set is often overlooked.

I sent out a 1990 CMC (top left) that I found in a box that Mom rescued from the attic, and the top right 1989 Pro Cards minor league card came out of a box that my wife got me a long time ago for my birthday.

Walewander (b. 1962) played in the majors in 1987, 1988, 1990 and 1993 for the Tigers, Yankees and Angels.  He had a 52 hits, one home run and a .215 batting average.

I mailed to Walewander on September 14 and got the cards back on September 23, for a 9-day TAT.  This was my second attempt, as his listed address has changed.

TTM Success - Mike Cubbage

I was able to add some nice older cards to my autograph album with this TTM success from Mike Cubbage.  I really liked this 1981 Topps, mainly due to the coloring on the card, but also at the face Cubbage is making in his photo.

The 1978 and 1980 that I sent came out of a box that I got from the Columbia antique shop.  Both cards were really nice; I'm digging that old school Twins helmet.

Finally, here is a 1982 Topps with Cubbage as a Met.  All of the cards turned out really nice.

Cubbage (b. 1950) played in the majors from 1974 to 1981 for the Rangers, Twins and Mets.  He had 503 hits, 34 home runs and a .258 batting average.

He also managed the Mets for 7 games in 1991, leading them to a 3-4 record (.429%).

I mailed to Cubbage on September 11 and got the cards back on September 23, for a 12-day TAT.

TTM Success - Scott Leius

I had a bunch of Scott Leius cards to choose from for this TTM success, and I'm happy with my selections that I sent out.  The above 1994 Collector's Choice turned out really well.  I like the Metrodome cameo in the background.

This 1993 Select also turned out really well.  I love horizontal cards, and this one looks good.

The 1991 Gold Leaf rookie looks better than the scan.  I also was able to add a 1995 Topps.

Leius (b. 1965) played in the majors from 1990 to 1996 and 1998 to 1999 for the Twins, Indians and Royals.  He had 375 hits, 28 home runs and a .244 batting average.  He won the World Series with the Twins in 1991.

I mailed to Leius on September 11 and got the cards back on September 23, for a 12-day TAT.

TTM Success - Trever Miller

I had Trever Miller's cards in my box for a long time before I finally got around to mailing to him.  I'm not sure what took me so long, but I'm glad I finally got around to sending these out.  His cards cover a wide range of years, beginning with this 1992 Pinnacle.

I also had this 1991 Classic Best that was in one of my boxes.  I don't think I have gotten any other cards from this set signed.  I remember way back when thinking that the Classic Minor League cards would be worth a lot.  It has just taken me 26 years to fully apperciate a minor league card, now that I'm graphing.

Finally, here are the two Topps cards that I was able to find in my boxes.  I'm glad I found the 2011 Topps, as I don't have many of those around to get signed at all. 

Miller (b. 1973) played in the majors in 1996, 1998 to 2000 and 2003 to 2011 for the Tigers, Astros, Phillies, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Devil Rays/Rays, Cardinals and Red Sox.  He had a career record of 18-17 with 434 strike outs and an ERA of 4.18.

I mailed to Miller on September 2 and got the cards back on September 23, for a 21-day TAT.

TTM Success - Oddibe McDowell

I waited a while for these to come in, and when they did, the only disappointment I had was that my 1987 Topps wasn't returned signed.  Oddibe McDowell signed three of the six cards I sent, and kept the three unsigned ones.  I will have to try him another time if I want the '87 back.  I like the cards he did return, though.  Nothing wrong with a 1986 like the one above.

He inscribed each card to me and included a bible verse, which was a nice touch.

McDowell (b. 1962) played in the majors from 1985 to 1990 and 1994 for the Rangers, Indians and Braves.  He had 715 hits, 74 home runs and a .253 batting average.  He finished 4th in the 1985 AL Rookie of the Year voting.

I mailed to McDowell on February 18 and got the cards back on September 21, for a 215-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jim Acker

I have sent out a bunch of TTM requests to guys who played in the mid-80s so I can add some more 1987 Topps to the album.  I still haven't officially declared that I am doing the set, but I'm still pulling them in.

This success from Jim Acker got me quite a few mid-to-late 80s and early 90s cards for the album.  This 1986 Topps turned out really nice.

I also added cards form 1987 (of course), 1990, 1991 and 1992 Topps.  The below 1991 Donruss also turned out really nice.  I don't recall discussing the 91 Donruss set on here much, but I like the "Saved by the Bell" look to it that was a staple of the early 90s.  That's right, I called it the Saved by the Bell set.  Look closely.  It looks like the graphics from the intro to the show.  You can thank me for the memories later ("I'm so excited! I'm so.... SCARED....").  Ok, I'm reminiscing too much about a show that has nothing to do with this TTM success.

Acker (b. 1958) played in the majors from 1983 to 1992 for the Blue Jays, Braves and Mariners.  He had a career record of 33-49 with 482 strike outs and an ERA of 3.97.

I mailed to Acker on September 11 and got the cards back on September 19, for an 8-day TAT.