TTM Success - Matt Williams

This was a TTM request that I had high hopes for, and I ended up with a nice success.  The autographs from Matt Williams didn't turn out like I had hoped, but the cards are still signed, and they have moved from being buried in my TTM box to my autograph album.  I can't complain a whole lot about that.  This 1996 Pinnacle Essence of the Game is an acetate card, and it looks a lot better in person.  I had prepped the card, but I think Williams used an old Sharpie on it.

This 1994 Fleer Ultra Homerun King card also looks a lot better in person.  I had this card floating around several piles of cards in my office/card room.  It seemed to be jumping out at me every time that I looked through cards, so I finally put it aside in my TTM box and ended up including it with my TTM request.  I am actually really happy to see this one make its way into my autograph album.

Williams (b. 1965) played in the majors from 1987 to 2003 for the Giants, Indians and Diamondbacks.  He had 1,878 hits, 378 home runs and a .268 batting average.  He was an All Star five times (1990, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1999).  He led the NL in home runs in the strike-shortened 1994 season with 43 homers.  He was a four-time gold glover and a four-time silver slugger.  His best MVP finish was 2nd (NL), in 1994 (to Jeff Bagwell).  He won the World Series in 2001 with the Diamondbacks.  Williams appeared on the 2009 Hall of Fame ballot, but only received 1.3% of the vote.

I mailed to Williams on February 15 via A's Spring Training and got the cards back on February 25, for a 10-day TAT.

On a personal note, Williams was a huge name in our house back in the 90s.  My older brother, Philip, was a huge Giants fan.  He loved Will Clark and Matt Williams.  Maybe Philip will send some cards off on his own and get back a few autos.  Maybe?

TTM Success - Steve Woodard

Here are some nice late 90s cards that I was able to get signed by Steve Woodard.  The above 1999 Topps turned out really well.  I liked the horizontal card and the shot of the dirt of the pitcher's mound.

Here are the other cards that I got signed.  I liked the 1998 Bowmans that I found at my LCS.  The rest came out of random card boxes that I have laying around.

Woodard (b. 1975) played in the majors from 1997 to 2003 for the Brewers, Indians, Rangers and Red Sox.  He had a career record of 32-36 with 464 strike outs and a 4.94 ERA.

I mailed to Woodard on February 11 and got the cards back on February 23, for a 12-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Roger Craig

I had gotten Tony LaRussa on this 1990 Score "Lights Out Candlestick" card commemorating the earthquake during the 1989 World Series and thought it would be cool to add in the opposing manager.  So, I sent off to Roger Craig and paid his $5.00 fee.  I'm really glad I sent it off.  I doubt I will add any other signatures to the card, but you never know.

I mailed to Craig on January 23 and got the card back on February 23, for a 31-day TAT.

Huge 87 Set Pickup - Donnie Moore

When I took on this 1987 set, I knew there were going to be some really tough guys to get.  Donnie Moore is one who I really thought I would have a hard time, because he died in 1989, only two years after the set came out.

Moore (b. 1954 - d. 1989) played in the majors in 1975 and from 1977 to 1988 for the Cubs, Cardinals, Brewers, Braves and Angels.  He had a career record of 43-40 with 416 strike outs and a 3.67 ERA.  He was an All Star in 1985 when he saved 31 games for the Angels.  That season he finished 7th in the AL Cy Young Award voting and 6th in the AL MVP race.

During the 1986 ALCS, Moore would give up a key home run in Game 5 that would put Boston ahead of the Angels.  The Angels would tie the game and go to extras, with Moore still on the mound.  He would end up giving up the game winning run on a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning.

Moore was released by the Angels following the 1988 season and signed with the Royals.  He only pitched in the Royals minor league system in 1989 before he was released.  On July 18, 1989, Moore would get into an argument with his wife.  While their three children were in the house, Moore shot his wife three times with a .45 pistol.  She and their 17-year old daughter would escape the house, with the daughter transporting her mother to the hospital.  Moore's wife would survive the shooting.  Meanwhile, in the presence of at least one of his sons, Moore would commit suicide by shooting himself in the head.

This is a terrible and tragic end to a ballplayer.  Thankfully, his wife survived.

TTM Success - Chris Bando

I finished this Indians Leaders card for my 1987 Topps set by sending off to Chris Bando via PastPros.  I had a couple of the unsigned cards out to a friend of mine in Arizona for signature, bur I held back the one I had already gotten signed by Jack Aker.  I sent it off to Phil Niekro and got it back pretty fast (sent on January 28 and got the card back on February 2, for a 5-day TAT) and included a $20.00 fee.

I also knocked out Bando's base card, so this was a really successful TTM submission.

Bando (b. 1956) played in the majors from 1981 to 1989 for the Indians, Tigers and A's.  He had 292 hits, 27 home runs and a .227 batting average.

I mailed to Bando on February 11 and got the cards back on February 22, for an 11-day TAT.

TTM Success - Blake Treinen

Another Spring Training TTM came in, this one from Oakland A's pitcher, Blake Treinen.  The cards came out looking great.

I got a lot more 2019 Topps cards right off the bat than I did last year with 2018.  I have already had better success this year than last, so I'm pretty happy.

Treinen (b. 1988) has played in the majors since 2014 for the Nationals and A's.  He has a record of 20-17 with 332 strike outs and a 2.64 ERA.  Last season, he was an All Star while posting a 0.78 ERA and racking up 38 saves.  He finished 6th in the AL Cy Young race and 15th in the AL MVP voting.

I mailed to Treinen on February 6 and got the cards back on February 22, for a 16-day TAT.

TTM Success - Mike Siani

I added another prospect's autograph to my collection with this TTM success from Mike Siani.  I saw that he was signing when 2018 Bowman Draft came in, so I sent the two cards that I had.  They came back looking really nice.

This one was really cool.  I saw that Jonathan India was signing prior to Spring Training, but I didn't get this card out to him in time.  I may see if he is signing during the season and try to complete this dual.

Siani (b. 1999) was a 4th round pick by the Reds in the 2018 June Amateur Draft.  He played in 46 games in the Appalachian League (rookie level) and had 53 hits, 2 home runs and a .288 batting average.

I mailed to Siani on January 14 and got the cards back on February 22, for a 39-day TAT.