Another TTM Success From Ray Crone

This 1955 Topps Ray Crone card was in a box of rough vintage at the Chantilly show.  I searched the box for some nice vintage stuff to send TTM.  The card has the team scratched odd and "Giants" hand written on it in pencil.  Probably some kid keeping track of player movement at the time. 

I was glad to add another 55 to the autograph album. Crone signed it nicely in ballpoint pen, and it looks cool.

I mailed to Crone on October 24 and got the card back on November 7, for a 14-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Ryan Bradley

This 1999 Upper Deck Black Diamond is pretty cool.  I got it, along with a 1999 Bowman Chrome signed TTM by Ryan Bradley.  The black Sharpie doesn't show up too great, but the cards are signed. 

Bradley (b. 1975) played in the majors in 1998 for the Yankees.  He had a record of 2-1 with 13 strike outs and a 5.68 ERA.  His 1998 Yankees won the World Series that season, but he was left off of the playoff roster.

I mailed to Bradley on October 9 and got the cards back on November 7, for a 29-day TAT. 

November 14, 2023, Wilson Baseball Hot Stove Event

Last night was the 48th annual Wilson Hot Stove event.  I had heard a lot about it, but had never troed to go.  I finally got there, and had a great time.  My good friend, Jesse, met me at the North Carolina Baseball Museum for the pre-event reception, then headed over to the community center for the night's dinner and awards ceremony. 

One of the big draws to this year's event was Reds prospect, Rhett Lowder.  He was there to receive the pitcher of the year award commemorating his season with Wake Forest.  He was really nice and signed cards for Jesse and I.

John Roper was at the museum prior to the event and signed all of the cards I brought with me.  We talked about some of the big contracts that players were signing then also about his hometown of Raeford, NC.  That led to a conversation about his gas fireplace.  Ah, the things we converse about. He was a really cool guy, and seemed genuinely happy to be there. 

A surprise attendee at the event was Trot Nixon.  He had attended the event in years past, but more recently had not been able to come, due to other commitments.  I took a chance and brought some of his cards, and happily got them signed.

I got Jerry Narron on a 1987 Donruss, and upgraded my 1971 Topps Dick Such to blue Sharpie, as opposed to the one he signed in black Sharpie.

This 1970 Topps Senators Rookie Stars card turned out nicely.  Unfortunately, Dick Stelmaszek is no longer with us.  It also doesn't look like Gene Martin signs regularly.

The museum itself is really cool.  There is at least a card for every former major leaguer who came from NC.  There are a ton of signed baseballs and memorabilia.  I want to take some time and visit the museum during regular hours and really take some time to look at everything. 

I had a great time at the hot stove event and would love to go again next year.  There seem to be some big names that come from time to time.  A few years ago, Rod Carew was a guest speaker. I'll hold out hope that some big names come and I can get some great autos there in the future.

In all, I got the following autographs: Rhett Lowder x 3, Jerry Narron x 1, Trot Nixon x 5, John Roper x 16 and Dick Such x 2 (27 total autographs).

Another Blind Trade With Drake

After falling way behind on trade and 50/50 posts, there looks to be a light at the end of the tunnel.  I have a few stacks of cards that need to be scanned and uploaded, and with my laptop being on its last legs, scanning and uploading has become an arduous task.

That being said, I am not intentionally withholding scans.  It's just a huge pain in the butt.  I got this blind trade from my friend, Drake over the summer, and have just recently been able to scan the cards.  The Trey Mancini at the top of the post is a key highlight of the blind trade.  Drake also sent me a bunch of team set cards of some guys that he has seen, while I hooked him up with an almost complete Wood Ducks team set (where I sat those Julio Valdez cards, I cant seem to figure out).

The KeBryan Hayes 2019 Topps Heritage Minors card shown here was a big surprise.  Drake really hooked it up with what he sent. 

Je sent a good many Bowman cards, including a Kenen Irizarry 2018 Bowman.  I was going to send Drake a few of mine, since Irizarry was playing independent ball near Drake, but he talked me out of it.  It seems Irizarry is a tough auto still.

My niece could have saved Drake the trouble and signed Jacob Berry's card for him.  What a signature.  

I missed out on getting Kevin Made with Myrtle Beach, so Drake helped me out there as well.  He also got the above dual of Benny Montgomery and Jaden Hill signed.  I had someone else get one of these done for me as a 50/50 this season, also.

The above Dan Radison is different.  I keep looking at it, thinking it is a Starting Lineup card, but it isn't. 

Drake also added a couple Topps cards to the album in the above 2019 Topps Jakob Junis and the 2020 Topps Edwin Rios.

Thanks for the trade, Drake! I appreciate all of the work you put into it.

TTM Success - Hal Kolstad

This 1962 Topps that I recently got signed TTM by Hal Kolstad is a bit rough, but is still a nice addition to the album.  The card has a good bit of wax residue from the wrapper that encased the card some 60 years ago.  It didn't hinder the signature, though.

Kolstad (b. 1935) played in the majors from 1962 to 1963 for the Red Sox.  He had a record of 0-4 with 42 strike outs and a 6.59 ERA.

I mailed to Kolstad on October 23 and got the card back on November 6, for a 14-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Don Kaiser

The Chantilly show last month gave me an opportunity to find a handful of vintage cards to send out TTM.  The above 1957 Topps Don Kaiser was one that I was able to get back quickly.  1957 Topps is a great set, and I was glad to find one of someone who signed and that I didn't already have in the album.

Kaiser (b. 1935) played in the majors from 1955 to 1957 for the Cubs.  He had a record of 6-15 with 108 strike outs and a 4.15 ERA.

I mailed to Kaiser on October 23 and got the card back on November 6, for a 14-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Gary Kroll

Back in June, I received the above 1966 Topps Mets Rookie Stars card signed by Jerry Hinsley.  I saw that Gary Kroll also signed, so once the card was scanned and blogged in October, I sent it TTM to Kroll.  The card finally came in, along with a packet of information from Kroll about his career.  That was so cool to get.

Kroll (b. 1941) played in the majors from 1964 to 1966 and 1969 for the Phillies, Mets, Astros and Indians.  He had a record of 6-7 with 138 strike outs and a 4.24 ERA.

I mailed to Kroll on October 7 and got the card back on November 6, for a 30-day TAT.