TTM Success - Jake Cave

Here's another TTM success that finally came back from Spring Training.  I had sent 3 cards to Jake Cave, but got only one back.  The card is a nice one, a 2019 Panini Prizm red, white and blue parallel.  The card isn't numbered, but that doesn't matter.  It turned out great.

Cave (b. 1992) has played in the majors since 2018 for the Twins.  He has 182 hits, 28 home runs and a .240 batting average.

I mailed to Cave via Twins Spring Training on February 19 and got the card back on December 11, for a 295-day TAT.

TTM Success - Ryan Finan

A couple more cards were pulled from my Orioles box and put out in the world for signature, and came back.  These two cards from Ryan Finan turned out nicely.  I like how the 2007 Bowman Heritage looks.  I should have opened more from this set back in the day, but what did I know?

This 2007 Bowman Chrome also turned out well, and I am always happy to move these cards out, as I had a ton of them in my boxes over the years.

Finan (b. 1982) was a 21st round pick in the 2004 June Amateur Draft by the Orioles out of Lamar University.  He played in the minors from 2004 to 2008, all in the Orioles system, reaching AA.  He had 421 hits, 46 home runs and a .270 batting average.

I mailed to Finan on October 13 and got the cards back on December 11, for a 59-day TAT.

TTM Success - Willie Aikens

Here are some cards that I finally moved out of my TTM box when I got around to paying for a couple guys who charge TTM.  I had Willie Aikens's cards in my box for several years as I waited to spend the money on guys who charge fees.  I finally decided to clear some stuff out of there, and sent off these two Aikens cards, the above 1981 Topps and the below 1980 Topps.

Both cards turned out great, and I am glad I finally got them into my album.

Aikens (b. 1954) played in the majors in 1977 and from 1979 to 1985 for the Angels, Royals and Blue Jays.  He had 675 hits, 110 home runs and a .271 batting average.

I mailed to Aikens on November 15 and got the cards back on December 11, for a 26-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $5.00/card.

TTM Success - John Denny

Some may not count this at a TTM success, but this is my blog, and I'm going to count it.  I missed out on a John Denny private signing by a day or two and reached out to the promoter, who, thankfully had an extra 1987 Topps of John Denny that he was able to squeeze into the signing.  I would have sent my own, of course, so that's why I am counting it.  Anyway, the signing went fine, and I got a signed 87 back for the set.

Denny (b. 1952) played in the majors from 1974 to 1986 for the Cardinals, Indians, Phillies and Reds.  He had a record of 123-108 with 1,146 strike outs and a 3.59 ERA.  He was the 1983 NL Cy Young Award winner.  He won the ERA crown in 1976 (NL) and his best MVP finish was 13th in 1983.    He appeared on the 1992 Hall of Fame ballot, but received no votes.

I paid for the signing on November 8 and got the card back on December 10, for a 32-day TAT.  I paid a lot for the signing, but now can cross Denny off of the list.

TTM Success - Sherman Obando

Here is a nice TTM success that saw me get my Japanese card that my good friend, Ryan, gave me signed.  I had this Sherman Obando Japanese card in my Orioles box for a long time, and finally checked to see if he signed, and found out that he did.  So, I sent the card out, along with the below 1993 Stadium Club.  Both cards turned out great, and I have rescued the Japanese card from my box and put it in a better spot in the autograph album.

Obando (b. 1970) played in the majors in 1993 and from 1995 to 1997 for the Orioles and Expos.  He had 85 hits, 13 home runs and a .239 batting average.

I mailed to Obando on October 15 and got the cards back on December 9, for a 55-day TAT.

TTM Success - Chris Valaika

This 2008 Bowman Chrome was a card I found at a show that I was hoping I could get signed TTM.  The card is an orange refractor numbered 16/25, and I was able to send it to Wrigley Field to get it signed by Chris Valaika.

Valaika (b. 1985) played in the majors in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 for the Reds, Marlins and Cubs.  He had 59 hits, 5 home runs and a .238 batting average.  He is the brother of former Oriole, Pat Valaika.

I mailed to Valaika on August 7 and got the card back on December 4, for a 119-day TAT.

TTM Success - Tommy Richards

Here is another TTM success from a former Orioles minor leaguer; this time from Tommy Richards.  He signed my 2012 Bowman and 2012 Bowman Chrome.

Richards (b. 1991) was a 24th round pick by the Orioles in the 2012 June Amateur Draft out of Washington State University.  He played in the minors in 2012 in the Orioles system.  Playing in rookie level ball, he had 25 hits, no home runs and a .221 batting average.

I mailed to Richards on November 19 and got the cards back on December 4, for a 25- day TAT.