TTM Success - Jeff Reardon

I have gotten some nice TTM returns lately from guys who played quite a while in MLB.  This success from Jeff Reardon was one of them.  I had a ton of cards to choose from of him, and narrowed it down to 6 cards.

This 1991 O Pee Chee turned out really nice, and I don't believe I have any in my autograph albums.  I think this came out of a repack box that I got recently, so it may have been a late addition to my "to be TTMed" box.

Of course I had to add a 1987 Topps to the binder.  I'm pushing closer to 100 signed cards from that set, which is pretty nice.  It means I was able to get at least 100 cards out of my bulk box!

Here are the other cards that I got back.  I chose to do base and additional of 1986 and 1992 Topps.  Top row we have the 1986 base and 1986 All Star and bottom we have 1992 base and 1992 record breaker.

Reardon (b. 1955) played in the majors from 1979 to 1994 for the Mets, Expos, Twins, Red Sox, Braves, Reds and Yankees.  He had  record of 73-77 with 877 strike outs and 3.16 ERA.  He had 367 saves in his career, leading the NL in 1985 with 41 while with the Expos.  He was an All Star in 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1991.  His best finish for the Cy Young Award was 5th (NL) in 1985 and for MVP was 11th (AL) in 1987.  He finished 6th in the 1980 NL Rookie of the Year Award voting.  Reardon won the World Series with the Twins in 1987.  His 367 saves rank 10th all-time.

I mailed to Reardon on August 29 and got the cards back on September 29, for a 31-day TAT.

TTM Success - Mark Kotsay

Amidst all of the TTM returns I have gotten lately from players with cards from the 70s and 80s was this return from Mark Kotsay.  I had some nice early-to-mid 2000s cards of Kotsay, and it was a nice change to get those in.

The above 1999 Topps Gold Label really looks great, and scanned really well.  I found this at my LCS in one of the boxes in the back of the shop.

I added a few Topps cards that were needed in the album, like the above 2006 Topps.  This was a nice set, which I had a bunch of cards, but sold off all of my extras a long time ago.

I also had Topps cards from 2007 and 2012 for this return, as well as a 2000 Topps Chrome and a 2002 Upper Deck (89 design).

Kotsay (b. 1975) played in the majors from 1997 to 2013 for the Marlins, Padres, A's, Braves, Red Sox, White Sox and Brewers.  He had 1,784 hits, 127 home runs and a .276 batting average.  He finished 14th in the 2004 AL MVP voting. 

I mailed to Kotsay via the Oakland A's on May 8 and got the cards back on September 29, for a 144-day TAT.

Birthday Gift and Some Autos From Nick H.

My buddy, Nick H. has been doing some 50/50s for me this season, and has been talking with me for a couple years now.  He's a really great guy, who graphs the Columbus Clippers.  He surprised me with a nice little package for my birthday, which had a nice assortment of Orioles.

I didn't have this 1962 Topps Brooks Robinson All Star card, to my recollection.  It has seen a lot of love over the years, but will now be retired to a top loader and a home in my Brooks box.

I did have the above 1967 Topps Orioles champions card, but I took it and added it to my 1967 set.  I'm pretty sure I didn't have the 1968 Topps Frank Robinson All Star card.

These two Orioles relics were really nice.  I believe Nick had just recently went to a card show, which means that he was thinking of me while he was there, which is always a nice feeling.

I liked these Donruss Orioles as well.  Kind of odd seeing the last two posts showing the last two Orioles to wear #10.  Interesting, I suppose.

Nick has been getting me autos all season of Columbus players, as well as other guys who have come by.  These were the last of the cards that he was due to send me.  Jerry Owens is a coach for Columbus, and Nick has gotten his auto for me on some nice cards.

Finally, here is a Richie Shaffer that I had sent Nick a while back.  He was finally able to get it signed before the season ended.

Thank you so much for the birthday package, Nick.  I feel bad that it took me this long to get it posted, but I am slowly catching up on my stacks.

TTM Success - Bill Campbell

I had a nice assortment of cards come in signed TTM from former pitcher, Bill Campbell.  I had to add his 1987 Topps (above) to the album, and ended up choosing several other Topps issues to send out.

I liked this 1976 Topps, and it came out really well.  This looks like a Spring Training shot, based on the size of the bleachers in the background.  Those look like they could be palm trees in the background as well.

Here are the other cards I got back, left to right top 1979, 1980, bottom 1982 and 1983.

Campbell (b. 1948) played in the majors from 1973 to 1987 for the Twins, Red Sox, Cubs, Phillies, Cardinals, Tigers and Expos.  He had a career record of 83-68 with 864 strike outs and an ERA of 3.54.  He also had 126 saves in his career, leading the league in 1977 with 31.  His best finish for the AL Cy Young was 5th in 1977 and his best finish in the AL MVP voting was 8th in 1976.  He was an All Star in 1977.

I mailed to Campbell on September 20 and got the cards back on September 28, for an 8-day TAT.

IP Autos From Michael

I am really behind on my posts.  It also doesn't help that my desk is a mess and I sat this stack of cards in a spot that conveniently made me forget about them.  About a month ago, I got a package from my buddy, Michael.  He had gone to a bunch of Orioles and Orioles affiliate games this summer.  I sent him some cards to 50/50, and he hooked me up!

From what Mike says, Mark Hendrickson is a tough signer, so I was really happy to get this 2009 Topps back.

I had sent Michael a few generic Orioles cards, just in case he had something to get signed if he ran into any Orioles alumni who he might not have cards of.  Conveniently, he ran into Ron Hansen, and got these done for me.

 I was able to add two more Ryan Ripken cards to my album, thanks to Michael.  Ripken actually had a decent year at low A Aberdeen.  The Orioles sent him to the  AFL, so maybe he can continue in the organization.  I wouldn't mind meeting him.  I know it is a very long shot for him to make the majors, but it is still cool to see him in the organization.

Michael is close personally with Adrian Marin, so it is a bit easier for him to get autos from Marin, as opposed to some other players.  He hooked me up with some nice cards.

Finally, here are two autos from DJ Stewart and Tim Berry.  Berry returned to the organization last year, and I was surprised that he didn't get called up when the rosters expanded.  Surely, he could have done better than Ubaldo.

Thanks for the cards, Michael!

TTM Success - Willie Horton

I made a concerted effort recently to clean up my TTM box.  I spent several days organizing it, and alphabetizing it.  Another thing I wanted to do to help manage the box, was to finally take the plunge and send off to some more of the players who charge for their autos.  I had a separate section in my box devoted to such players, and many of them have been sitting in there for over a year.

Finally, I got around to sending to a few of them.  One of the players I had been waiting to send to for a long time was Willie Horton.  I kept putting it off, and decided that when I was going to pay the money, he would be one of the first I wou;d sent to.

I had some really nice cards of Horton to send.  The 1992 Action Packed (right) was one I really wanted to add to the album.  I have since added a Boog Powell to the album, so this isn't the first, but I meant for it to be!  I also got this nice 1976 Topps card done.  I had a few of Horton's Topps cards available, but I thought that the 1976 would look the best out of what I was going to send.

Horton (b. 1942) played in the majors from 1963 to 1980 for the Tigers, Rangers, Indians, A's, Blue Jays and Mariners.  He had 1,993 hits, 325 home runs and a .273 batting average.  He was an All Star 4 times in his career, and his best MVP finish was 4th (1968).  He won the World Series with the Tigers in 1968.

I mailed to Horton on September 16 and got the cards back on September 28, for a 12-day TAT.  I paid his fee of $10/card.

TTM Success - Jim Rice

I decided to push a little bit harder with the 1987 set, mostly because I have two boxes of them, and need to find something to do with all of these extra cards.  I spent the money on finally adding Jim Rice to my list of TTM successes.

I already have Rice's autograph on a ball for my HOF collection, but I figured at $10/card, it wasn't a bad idea to add him to my autograph album as well.  Also, I will forever remember searching the two boxes with my son Chris for just one card, the above All Star version.  We finally found this one in the last row of the second box.  Full disclosure, though, I went into my boxes a couple weeks later and found one almost immediately.

Rice (b. 1953) played in the majors from 1974 to 1989 for the Red Sox.  He had 2,452 hits, 382 home runs and a .298 batting average.  He led the league in home runs in 1977 (39), 1978 (46) and 1983 (39).  He led the league in RBI in 1978 (139) and 1983 (126).  He had over 30 home runs 4 seasons and over 100 RBI in 8 seasons.  He batted over .300 in 7 seasons.  Rice was the AL MVP in 1978.  He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009, his 15th and final year of eligibility and received 76.4% of the vote.

I mailed to Rice on September 16 and got the cards back on September 25, for a 9-day TAT.  He charges a fee of $10/card, and will only accept cash.