TTM Success - Ed Wojna

I am fairly caught up on posting my TTM successes (even though I got 5 in today).  This one came last week, and I was really happy with it.  I was able to get a card signed that came out of Mom's attic box of minor league cards.  I had this Ed Wojna card sitting in my TTM box for a while.

I also got a 1986 Topps, 1986 Donruss and also a 1987 Topps for my set.

The best part of the TTM success was this long hand-written note from Mr. Wojna, himself.  He provided his testimony, and I am very appreciative of him taking the time to write all of this out.

Wojna (b. 1960) played in the majors from 1985 to 1987 and 1989 for the Padres and Indians.  He had a career record of 4-10 with 60 strike outs and a 4.62 ERA.

I mailed to Wojna on January 2 and got the cards and letter back on January 11, for a 9-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Dusty Baker

I guess he was catching up on his mail, but I finally got these cards back from Dusty Baker long after I sent them to the Nationals ballpark, and after I had sent a second request to a different address.  I had seen that after he was dismissed from the Nationals, Baker was signing elsewhere, but these came in early this month.  I was glad to get them back and add them to the album.

At the time that I sent them, I had very few 1973 Topps.  Since then, I got some bulk cards and have boosted my numbers from that set.  I still have very few 1974s, so I may be seeking some bulk of those next.

I mailed to Baker via the Nationals ballpark on April 3, 2017, and got the cards back on January 4, 2019, for a 641-day TAT.  This was my first success for 2019.

TTM Success - Mike Greenwell

I added a really tough auto to my 1987 set through another private signing on SCN.  My friend, Jacob, told me about the signing with Mike Greenwell, which I had somehow missed seeing.  Thankfully, I got in the signing in time, and got this card back.  It turned out really well.

Greenwell (b. 1963) played in the majors from 1985 to 1996 for the Red Sox.  He had 1,400 hits, 130 home runs and a .303 batting average.  He was a two-time All Star (1988 and 1989) and won the Silver Slugger Award in 1988.  His best (and only) finish in the AL MVP voting was 2nd in 1988 (to Jose Canseco).

I mailed to Greenwell on December 1 and got the card back on December 26, for a 25-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $15.00 for the autograph.

A Stack of Autos From Michael

We haven't talked like we used to, but I still hear from my friend, Michael here and there.  I got a package in the mail from him back in December that had some autos that he said he would get for me, highlighted by the above 1987 Topps Pat Tabler for my set.

I think we got the Lincoln Henzman together at the Wood Ducks, but I could be wrong.  I needed the above 1986 Rich Dauer, which is a nice card.

I had a few Brian Gonzalez cards left over from back when I got him when he was with Frederick.  Michael hooked me up with these to finish me off with him.

Finally, he got me the 1986 Topps League Leaders Mini Harold Baines and a nice 2015 Bowman Chrome shimmer mini Christian Binford.

Thanks for the cards, Michael!

TTM Success - Paul Assenmacher

Toward the end of 2018, most of what I was sending out for TTM was for private signings that I had read about on SCN.  This was another one, a TTM success from Paul Assenmacher.

Assenmacher (b. 1960) played in the majors from 1986 to 1999 for the Braves, Cubs, Yankees, White Sox and Indians.  He had a record of 61-44 with 807 strike outs and a 3.53 ERA.

I mailed to the private signing on November 28 and got the card back on December 26, for a 28-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $5.00.

TTM Success - Chris Davis

I wonder if Chris Davis's hoffiric season last year prompted him to revive his TTM signing habits.  He used to sign a while back, but stopped.  Now, he has picked up again, and folks all over are benefiting from it.  I couldn't resist, so I sent three cards that I had earmarked for Fan Fest, and they all came back signed.  My son, Chris, even sent some that he is waiting to see come back.

The above 2018 Topps Chrome blue shimmer refractor was a card that I really wanted to get signed, ever since I pulled it from my box.  I am not planning on trying another rainbow with Davis, but these cards are really nice.

I also got the above 2017 Topps Gallery and 2014 Allen & Ginter Pastime's Pastimes signed and they both look great.

Davis (b. 1986) has played in the majors since 2008 for the Rangers and Orioles.  He holds a career batting average of .238 with 1,099 hits and 283 home runs.  Last season was abysmal for him; he batted .168 and had a -2.8 WAR (if that stat is important to you).  My hope is that the new analytically-minded regime in Baltimore can help fix what ails Davis.  Unfortunately for him, they didn't sign him to his contract, so they could be more inclined to release him if he starts off the 2019 season poorly.  It's sunken money anyway, so it will be interesting to see what happens.

That being said, let's not take away from the fact that Davis is human.  He is a husband, father, son, brother, friend, so I truly wish he gets it together.  I know being booed in his own ballpark has to hurt.  My hope is that he can fix his swing and get back to being the productive first baseman that we as Orioles fans grew accustomed to back in 2012 to 2016.

I mailed to Davis on December 11 and got the cards back on December 26, for a 15-day TAT.

TTM Success - Steve Crawford

I keep adding cards to my signed 1987 set.  I was glad to get Steve Crawford done, and move on to other players.  He sat in my box for a while before I mailed to him, but I finally got my cards out and then back signed.

I also got 1985, 1988 and 1991 Topps cards signed by Crawford.

Crawford (b. 1958) played in the majors from 1980 to 1982, 1984 to 1987 and 1989 to 1991 for the Red Sox and Royals.  He had a record of 30-23 with 320 strike outs and a 4.17 ERA.

I mailed to Crawford on September 19 and got the cards back on December 21, for a 93-day TAT.