A Bunch of Autos From Max

My good friend, Max, just sent me a nice stack of IP autos that he had gotten done recently.  I contributed some of the cards to his efforts, so it was nice to see some of them come back signed.  I like the above 2007 Topps CoSigners of Joe Crede.  I may have to send it off to Tadahito Iguchi, as well, and complete the card.

Max tossed in a couple minor league cards that I know I didn't contribute.  It will be cool to add them to the autograph album, for sure.

I was especially glad to move the several 2000 Topps Crede rookies and the 2007 Allen & Ginters that I had.  Some of that stuff can be hard to move, to when I get a chance to, I jump on it.

Here are a few more guys that Max added.  I'm pretty sure I didn't provide the 2013 Topps Geovany Soto, but if I had, then good, because I have a ton of 2013 Topps and I definitely am happy to thin out that box.

I know I sent Max some Rafael Furcal cards, so it is very likely the 2006 Topps, 2010 Topps and 2013 Topps came from me.  I like the minor league card, as well, because I wouldn't have had this one in my collection at all, if not for Max.

These two Jose Contreras cards appear to have gotten smudged a bit.  No worries, they still will have a good home in my album with the rest of the cards.

Finally, here are a couple Carl Everett cards.  I'm not sure if I sent any of Everett to Max in the past, but I have a ton of 1991 Bowman and don't often get much of a chance to move any.

Thank you so much for the signed cards, Max!  I look forward to the next list of names you send me so I can move some stuff out of my boxes again.

TTM Success - Dave Trembley

Dave Trembley may not be remembered as the best manager to ever helm the Orioles, but given the teams he was handed, I think he did an admirable job.  We met him back when he was managing the Orioles, and he was one of the nicest guys I've ever met.  I was really sad when he was let go, but he quickly latched on with the Braves.  I finally got around to sending to him TTM, and got some nice cards taken care of.  The above 1991 Classic Best came out of a bargain box my wife bought off of Ebay.  This might have been one of the highlights of the box, and I kept it with my Orioles stuff for over 10 years.  I have finally moved this card to my autograph album, where it should have been kept all along.

I have cards of Orioles managers all in succession in my Orioles box, so Trembley's cards weren't hard to locate.  I got a (from left) 2010 Topps Heritage, 2009 Topps Heritage and 2009 Topps signed.

Trembley also included this Orioles post card that he signed.  He also inscribed the back with his tenure as Orioles manager.

Trembley (b. 1951) managed the Orioles from 2007 to 2010 to a record of 187-283 (.398 win %).  His teams were plagued by a lack of pitching, which seems to be the case most times when talking about the Orioles over the last 10-15 years.  He was dealt a tough hand, and managed with class.  A lot of the Orioles players who would see some success under Buck Showalter broke in under Trembley.

Trembley began managing in the minors in Kinston (I didn't know that, until just now) in 1986.  Back then, they were the unaffiliated Kinston Eagles.  He moved to the Pirates organization from 1987 to 1989.  After a break from managing in 1990, he managed Charleston (in the Padres) organization from 1991 to 1992 and Wichita (also Padres org.) in 1993.  Trembley then spent time in the Cubs organization 1994 to 2002, managing Orlando, Daytona, West Tennessee and Iowa.  His first stop in the Orioles organization was in 2003, when he was tapped to manage AA Bowie.  He spent 2 seasons in Bowie, then 2 at the Orioles then-AAA team in Ottawa, before managing the Orioles in 2007.

I mailed to Trembley on October 12 and got the cards back on October 19, for a 7-day TAT.

TTM Success - Ryan Kohlmeier

My good friend, Max, sent me a huge box of Orioles cards.  I went through the box and found a ton of guys who sign TTM, so I sent a bunch of the stuff off.  I had completely forgotten about Ryan Kohlmeier's time as an Oriole.  I sent off some really nice cards; I got two of the four cards back, but I'll take it as a success.

Kohlmeier (b. 1977) played in the majors from 2000 to 2001 for the Orioles.  He had a record of 1-3 with 46 strike outs and a 5.37 ERA.

I mailed to Kohlmeier on October 12 and got the cards back on October 19, for a 7-day TAT.

Benny Ayala Cards From Jackson

My friend, Jackson, recently went on a graphing trip to Puerto Rico recently, and came back with several signed Benny Ayala cards for me.  I cleaned out my boxes of Ayala stuff and took these 6 cards back.  The above 1981 Topps turned out great.

I got a couple old Fleer cards (1981top left; 1983 top right), an older Donruss (1984, bottom left) and a 1985 Topps buyback (bottom right).  I was really glad to get the buyback signed, since I had it in my box for a while since I pulled it out of the pack.

I also got this 1991 Crown Orioles card signed, and it turned out well, also.

Ayala (b. 1951) played in the majors in 1974, 1976 to 1977 and 1979 to 1985 for the Mets, Cardinals, Orioles and Indians.  He had 217 hits, 38 home runs and a .251 batting average.

Jackson really hooked me up with these.  I'm hoping I can send him back to Puerto Rico with some cards of other guys the next time he goes back.

TTM Success - Jamie Westbrook

Moving 2014 Bowmans out of my box is always nice, and the stack I have of them is getting smaller.  I really enjoyed this set and all of the parallels in it, but it is nice to reduce things down and make room for more stuff.  So, periodically, I go through the box and look for guys who I can send to TTM.  I was successful in getting these two cards back from Jamie Westbrook.

Westbrook (b. 1995) was a fifth round pick by the Diamondbacks in the 2013 June Amateur Draft out of Basha High School in Arizona.  He he has played in the minors from 2013 to 2021 in the Diamondbacks and Brewers systems, reaching AAA.  He has 905 hits, 88 home runs and a .280 batting average.

I mailed to Westbrook on May 6 and got the cards back on October 18, for a 165-day TAT.

TTM Success - Kevin Millwood

Another private signing popped up and immediately I thought of a card that I wanted to get signed.  This 2011 Topps Heritage retail black parallel of Kevin Millwood always jumped out at me when I would go through my Orioles box.  I don't know what it is, but I just wanted to get the card signed.  So, when I saw Millwood show up on SCN for a signing, I dug through my box and found the card.

I decided that I also wanted to send off this 2004 Topps Season Highlights card that I had rescued from a factory set that had been headed to the dumpster at my former LCS.  I just thought the card would look cool in my album, so I sent it along, as well.

Millwood (b. 1974) is a North Carolina native and played in the majors from 1997 to 2012 for the Braves, Phillies, Indians, Rangers, Orioles, Rockies and Mariners.  He had a career record of 169-152 with 2,083 strike outs and a 4.11 ERA.  He won the ERA title in 2005 (2.86) and was an All Star in 1999.  His best finish in the Cy Young race was 3rd (NL) in 1999.  His best MVP finish was 26th, also in 1999.

I mailed to the signing on September 11 and got the cards back on October 16, for a 35-day TAT.  I forgot what I paid in fees.

TTM Success - Chris Bassitt

Here are some nice cards that I was able to get signed by A's pitcher, Chris Bassitt.  The above 2015 Topps turned out really well.  I like the green border on this card and think it was one of the best color combinations out of this set.

I also got a 2020 Topps and a 2020 Topps rainbow foil signed, and they both turned out great.

Bassitt (b. 1989) has played in the majors from 2014 to 2016 and 2018 to present for the White Sox and A's.  He has a record of 31-25 with 504 strike outs and a 3.47 ERA.  He was an All Star this season and finished 10th in the AL Cy Young race.  That wasn't his best finish, though, he finished 8th last season.

I mailed to Bassitt on March 4 via A's Spring Training and got the cards back on October 14, for a 224-day TAT.