TTM Success - Joe Strain

I got some cards out of my "to be TTMed" box that had been in there for a while.  I sent four cards to Joe Strain.  The above 1981 Topps Traded really looks sharp.  I've said it a lot, but the 1981 set is a really nice set.  I believe 1981 is the set that I have the second most signed card of.  I'm in no way pursuing that set, but I definitely would have a head start if I was.

The above 1980 and 1982 Topps turned out well.  I have a bunch of signed 1980s, as well.  That would also be a good set to take a look at, since that is my birth year.

Finally, I got this 1979 Topps Giants rookies card signed.  I don't think I am going to try to complete the card, as I haven't looked up the other two guys.

Strain (b. 1954) played in the majors from 1979 to 1981 for the Giants and Cubs.  He had 130 hits, 1 home run and a .250 batting average.

I mailed to Strain on January 6 and got the cards back on February 1, for a 26-day TAT.

TTM Success - Ken Williams

Here are some nice late 80s cards that I got back signed from Ken William.  The above 1988 Score is really nice.  That is a pretty good year of cards if you like bright, bold colors on your borders.

Actually, every card I picked of Williams was pretty bold in color.  A lot of blue on this post.  The 1987 Fleer Update and 1988 Donruss both look really cool when signed.

Williams (b. 1964) played in the majors from 1986 to 1991 for the White Sox, Tigers, Blue Jays and Expos.  He had 252 hits, 27 home runs and a .218 batting average.

I mailed to Williams on May 9, 2019, and got the cards back on February 1, 2020, for a 268-day TAT.

TTM Success - Enos Cabell

I added cards to two different sets by answering a signing with Enos Cabell.  I knew I needed Cabell for my 1987 Topps set, but I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that he was a former Oriole and he had a card in the 1991 Crown set.

Cabell has a great signature, and it showed up very well on both cards.  I was happy with how sharp that 1987 Topps looked.

Cabell (b. 1949) played in the majors from 1972 to 1986 for the Orioles, Astros, Giants, Tigers and Dodgers.  He had 1,647 hits, 60 home runs and a .277 batting average.  His best MVP finish was 22nd in 1978 (NL).  Strangely, though, for someone who had as long a career as he had, Cabell never appeared on a Hall of Fame ballot.

I mailed to the private signing on January 3 and got the cards back signed on January 31, for a 28-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $15.00/card.

TTM Success - Bobby Grich

I added some nice cards of a former Oriole to my album with this TTM success from Bobby Grich.  I wanted to make sure I got the above 1991 Crown Orioles card done when I sent to him, and it turned out really well.

I also sent these (1973 Topps, 1981 Topps and 1987 Topps) cards that I had been sitting on for a long time, and finally got around to sending.

Grich (b. 1949) played in the majors from 1970 to 1986 for the Orioles and Angels.  He had 1,833 hits, 224 home runs and a .266 batting average.  He was an All Star in 1972, 1976, 1979, 1980 and 1982.  His best MVP finish was 8th in 1979.  He was a 4-time Gold Glove Award winner (1973 to 1976) and a Silver Slugger Award winner (1981).  He was tied with three other players (Tony Armas, Dwight Evans and Eddie Murray) for the AL Lead in home runs in 1981 (22).  He was on the 1992 Hall of Fame ballot, but only received 2.6% of the vote.

I mailed to Grich on October 28 and got the cards back on January 31, for a 95-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $5/card.

TTM Success - Ron Pruitt

I added some nice cards to my album when I received this TTM success from Ron Pruitt.  The aboce 1978 Topps looks really cool.  That Indians uniform is something else!

The above 1980 and 1981 Topps cards look great.

Pruitt (b. 1951) played in the majors from 1975 to 1983 for the Rangers, Indians, White Sox and Giants.  He had 214 hits, 12 home runs and a .269 batting average.

I mailed to Pruitt on January 20 and got the cards back on January 30, for a 10-day TAT.

A Bunch of Autos From Max

My good friend, Max, hooked me up yet again with some great autos that I got from Cubs Convention.  I had sent him several recently, and some were ones that I had been perpetually sending him over time.

I really like the above 2003 Topps Gary Matthews.  I had gotten him TTM a while back, but at that time, only had a handful of 2003s.  I finally got the bulk cards from my LCS, and this one was in that batch.

The above 2007 Topps Matthews is beat all to hell, and if I had to guess, it was in a lot of cards that someone sent me a while back as a care package.  I can't remember who, but the card is one that most people would have just thrown out.  I kept it, and upgraded it with a signature.  Now, the beat up card will take residence in my autograph album and will remain there.

I felt like I had gotten some Larry Biittner cards signed before, but I couldn't find where that had happened.  I was able to get all of these out of some boxes, which is always nice.

I'm pretty sure that the Classic Jon Lieber was from a box of cards that Mal got me maybe 10 years ago, and still insists that I didn't like.  That's far from the truth, as I love looking through it here and there, and pulling cards out to get signed.  It's the gift that keeps on giving all year round, Clark.

Finally, if Max had a dollar for every Ron Coomer card that I have sent him over the years, he would have a lot of dollars.  He got three more back to me, and they look great.

The sad part of all of this is that over the last 6 years or so, I've watched Max grow up.  He is about to graduate high school and go off to college.  His graphing days are going to be coming to an end for a while, as he embarks on the next journey in his life.  Thankfully, as things have gotten busier and busier for him, he still thinks of me, and messages me when he can.  I'm hoping we can get together and do some graphing at a Wood Ducks game in the future.  In the meantime, I'll keep an eye on him from afar, and know that he's going to do some great things.  Thanks, as always, for everything you do, Max.

TTM Success - Monty Montgomery

I dipped into my box of cards that I picked up from Conrad a while back, and added two of the cards to my autograph album.  Monty Montgomery really dug his pen into the above 1972 Topps.  The card was already a little beat up, so it doesn't really matter.  It's kind of funny, actually.  I won't be able to finish this card, as Lance Clemons passed away in 2008 at the age of 60.

Montgomery also signed this 1073 Topps, which turned out really well.

Montgomery (b. 1946) is from NC, and graduated from Pfeiffer University, which is located northeast of Charlotte.  He made his debut on my birthday (way back in 1971, before I was born).  He played in the majors in 1971 and 1972 for the Royals.  He had a record of  6-3 with 36 strike outs and a 2.78 ERA.

I mailed to Montgomery on January 20 and got the cards back on January 29, for a 9-day TAT.