TTM Success - AJ Hinch

I got a really cool TTM success from Astros manager, AJ Hinch.  I really wanted to get this Topps Now card done that I got at the end of the World Series.  It was a free card from Topps Now when I ordered a few cards from the World Series for my friend, Nick.

I also sent off this 1999 Topps, which turned out really nice.

Hinch (b. 1974) played in the majors from 1998 to 2004 for the A's, Royals, Tigers and Phillies.  He had 209 hits, 32 home runs and a .219 batting average.

He managed the Diamondbacks from 2009 to 2010 and the Astros from 2015 to 2018.  His career managerial record is 397-362 (.523 win %).  He won the World Series with the Astros in 2017.

I mailed to Hinch at Spring Training on February 10 and got the cards back on March 30, for a 48-day TAT.

June 2, 2018, Graphing the Rochester Red Wings

While at the Wood Ducks game last Thursday, I got to talking with my buddy Jackson about maybe taking a road trip this past weekend, since the Wood Ducks were on the road.  Originally, he and I were going to meet up at Buies Creek, his home stadium, and graph the Potomac Nationals and Buies Creek Astros.  After I saw that there was a possibility that Zach Britton would be at Norfolk for a rehab assignment, I talked Jackson into riding along to Norfolk.

Jackson got to my house around lunchtime on Saturday, which gave us some time to go through a few boxes and set up our autograph books.  He had found some cards for graphing at his house, and we polished it off with a bunch from my boxes.  I was able to find some old Topps cards of the Red Wings coaches, like the above Stu Cliburn Topps cards from 1986 and 1989.

I also found a decent amount of Joel Skinner Topps cards.  I was able to get them signed, and also got a 1985 Topps Father/Son card signed, then promptly sent it off to his dad to complete the card.  I hope it comes back signed.

A really cool thing about the trip was that I was able to knock a 1987 Topps off of my list.  It is especially gratifying to be able to find a card in your boxes and turn it into a set need.  Plus, the card turned out great.  I learned later than Skinner is a tough graph; he did walk by us three times in the rain delay, but as he was walking away that third time, I said, "Joel will you sign for us, PLEASE?", and he turned around and signed for us.  He also told me that the '85 Topps Father/Son was his favorite card from his career.

I got on the board at Norfolk when Nick Buss came out to assess the rain delay, and stopped to sign my card.  It was raining lightly when he came by, but it wasn't bad enough to discourage us.  The rain was off and on, and finally cleared up and the game started after an hour and a half rain delay.  Norfolk won the game, but Jackson and I decided to stick by Rochester's clubhouse instead of pursing Norfolk, since I was likely to see Norfolk another time.

I was able to get a bunch of cards signed outside of the stadium after the game.  The only player that I had cards of that I missed was Kennys Vargas.

Like I said above, it is a real gratifying feeling when you can pull a card out of your boxes and find a way to get it signed.  The above right Adalberto Mejia 2013 Bowman Chrome is part of a set that I really didn't have many cards of.  Luckily, I did have a Mejia card, and he was kind enough to sign it.

Chris Carter was really cool outside.  Chris and I were looking toward Kennys Vargas, trying to find a way to see if he would sign, without him ripping us in half, when I saw that Jackson was getting Chris Carter.  Chris said really loudly, "Who is that?".  I told him it was Chris Carter, and he told Jackson "He doesn't know who I am, that hurts my feelings!"  Chris walked up to him and asked him for his autograph, and Carter said "Are you sure it's me?"  He smiled and signed our stuff.  He laughed with us, so I know he was just messing with Chris.  Carter is a really down-to-earth guy, despite his size.

Before the game started, I was able to get Nick Gordon on the above right 2017 Topps Pro Debut.  We must have missed prepping that card, as the auto bubbled like crazy.  So much for a Staedtler pen being amazing...

Then I see the job my Staedtler did on the above Stadium Club of Trevor May.  This card WAS prepped, and it looks amazing.  The pen definitely does do a good job, but lesson learned, you do need to prep the cards.

Trevor May was pretty cool.  He wouldn't sign for us coming off of the field, but said he would sign outside.  He was good on his word, and signed everything we had.

Finally, the player I wanted to get the most was Zack Granite.  I made sure to tell him that as a geologist, I love his last name.  He chuckled, and signed the above right 2018 Bowman.  After the game, he signed for us again outside, which got me the 2018 Topps Chrome '83 at the top of the page.  The above left 2018 Topps finally gets me on the board with 2018 in my album, even though I do have a couple Michael gave me that need to be posted, and some Gerard has for me that are on their way.

In all, I had a great time graphing with Jackson and Chris.  I know Jackson had a good time, and it was really nice to find a suitable road partner who may be willing to do a few of these trips.

TTM Success - Dennis Martinez

I took another look at PastPros, and decided to pay the fee to get Dennis Martinez for my 1987 Topps set.  It was worth the money, as the card came out great!

Martinez (b. 1954) played in the majors from 1976 to 1998 for the Orioles, Expos, Indians, Mariners and Braves.  He had a career record of 245-193 with 2,149 strike outs and a 3.70 ERA.  He led the league in wins in 1981 with 14.  His best finish in the Cy Young voting was 5th, in 1981 and 1991.  He was an All Star 4 times (1990, 1991, 1992 and 1995) and finished 23rd in the AL MVP voting in 1981.

He appeared in 2 World Series, 1979 with the Orioles and 1995 with the Indians, but his teams lost both times.  He missed the 1983 World Series, which the Orioles won.  He appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2004 and received 3.2% of the vote..

I mailed to Martinez on March 19 and got the card back on March 30, for an 11-day TAT.

Graphing the Astros At Wood Ducks on May 30, 2018

The Buies Creek Astros are the Carolina League team that I had the fewest cards of to get signed.  I also didn't have a whole lot in 50/50s to get done.  Add on top of that, the fact that I have finished a bunch of Wood Ducks, I wasn't too busy Thursday night.

Still, I got a few cards signed, and they all turned out great.  The above blue sparkle 2013 Topps Anthony Gose turned out so well.  I had bought the card off of COMC right when I saw that he was added to the roster.

These two Spike Owens came in the Goodwill boxes I bought in Winston-Salem back in April.  I especially like the Best of the National League 1990 Donruss.

Finally, the two guys I was able to get from Buies Creek, JJ Matijevic and Ronnie Dawson.  I tried to get Morgan Ensberg, but he wouldn't sign.

Graphing the Mudcats in the Rain

My friend Michael was visiting over Memorial Day Weekend, and we wanted to try to hit up another ballpark in the area before he left.  Since we had pretty muched tapped out all of the Keys and Wood Ducks we had, we decided to head toward Raleigh, and see the Carolina Mudcats on Memorial Day.

There was a pretty ominous forecast, but as of the time we loaded the car, 9:45 AM, the game was still a go.  I wanted to grab some coffee on the way to the park, so that's why we left early.

We got to the ballpark, and were informed that at 10AM, the call was made to cancel the game.  It was raining some, but it wasn't too bad, so we decided to watch the Mudcats swing in the cages, since they were out.

As tie went by, the rain intensified, but luckily, I had an umbrella in my car.  We waited by the player exit, and were able to get autographs of everyone we were looking for.  I'm glad we stuck around, because Keston Hiura was moved up to AA a couple days later.

The first auto we got was of former Oriole, Bob Milacki.  He was really nice, and signed everything we had.  Unfortunately, a drop of water hit one of the cards, and it messed my pen up.  You can kind of see in on the 1991 Topps (bottom right).

I did a 50/50 for my friend, Gerard, and these two Tucker Neuhaus were some that I was allowed to keep.  Since he braved the weather, and held the umbrella, Chris kept these cards.

I had these Phil Bickford cards in my box for a while, since he was hurt for most of last season.  I got almost everything done, which was nice.  He was a really nice guy.

Finally, we had gone to the LCS and picked up some nice cards for graphing.  Some of the cards were of Nathan Kirby, since I didn't find any of him in my box.

In all, we did pretty well, and it was worth the hour drive to Zebulon.

TTM Success - Sandy Vance

I added a nice 1971 Topps auto to my album with this TTM success from Sandy Vance.  This was a card that I found at my LCS, and sent it off to get signed.

Vance (b. 1947) played in the majors from 1970 to 1971 for the Dodgers.  He had a record of 9-8 with 56 strike outs and a 3.83 ERA.

I mailed to Vance on March 14 and got the card back on March 30, for a 16-day TAT.

May 25-27, 2018 Graphing of Keys at Wood Ducks

I had a visit from my good friend, Michael this past weekend, and used that time with him to see three games between the Frederick Keys and Down East Wood Ducks.  I knocked out a bunch of cards while we were there, from both the Keys and Wood Ducks.

I finished all of the custom cards that Rangersautos made of the Wood Ducks, and I completed his 50/50s.  It was nice to get one out of the way.

I also knocked out a bunch of 50/50s for Gerard, including a couple of the above 3-way cards that include Eric Jeknins, and I also had last year's bat boy and now clubbie, Matt sign the Wood Ducks team card.  Matt stops and talks with Chris and I at every game, so I felt it was right to get him on a card.

I also finished off all of my Walker Weickels, and also Gerard's Wood Ducks team set.

I added a few new Anthony Gose, coming from a 50/50 from Gerard.  I was also glad to get the Hickory team set card of Spike Owen done.

I had ordered this 2016 Anthony Gose from COMC, but it didn't come in time.  Luckily, Gerard let me keep this one as part of the 50/50.

Gerard also let me keep this 2013 Topps Mini Gose.

I finally remembered to add the DEWD disc card to my autograph book and get it signed.  It may be goofy, but I thought it was cool to get him to sign it, especially since he couldn't see the card and signed my book instead.

Since the Keys don't come to town often, I made sure to knock out as much as I could.  I had been waiting for Jomar Reyes for a long time, since he was injured when the Keys came last year.

I finished off almost everything I had of Reyes.  I think I only had 2 cards left when the series ended.

I also used up every card I had of Ryan Minor.  I may try to get the triple rookie done, if one of my Texas buddies can get Adrian Beltre for me.

I also was lucky enough to get cards signed by Ryan McKenna.  He only would sign 2-per, and as the weekend went on, he kept refusing to sign for me, but would sign for Chris and Michael.  It was weird, but I guess it was because I was older.  It's ok, though, I have only 3 cards of him left.  The 2015 Bowman paper was a Christmas gift from my good friend, Anthony, and is numbered to 5.

I was able to get a couple of the regular Wood Duck fans that I see at every game to help me get my other McKennas signed.  The didn't mind, and I was able to add these to my album, as well.

Michael and I went to the card shop on Saturday, and I bought a pack of 2017 Elite Extra Edition.  The first card in the pack was the above Michael Baumann.  I prepped the card and got it into my book for that night's game.  I was also happy to add Alex Wells.  He was pretty nice, even though I only got to see him one time.

I also was able to get three cards done from my 2017 South Atlantic League All Star set done.  I picked this set up in Columbia a couple weeks ago, and three of the guys ended up being with the Keys.

It was also nice being able to knock out a bunch of the Ironbirds team set cards that I got at the end of the season last year.

One of the cool things about the Keys was that Preston Palmeiro (son of Rafael) was playing.  I got to speak to him, and had him sign a Carolina League ball, as well as the above team set card.

 I got a lot of this team set done.  Some of the autos didn't turn out too great, but I figured it out early, and prepped the rest.

In all, Chris, Michael and I had fun.  I hate that McKenna kept denying me, but that's what happens with graphing sometimes.