Wally Bunker TTM Return and Another Morneau Purchase

I sent out 11 requests today.  I've sent out 254 requests so far this year, which is a pretty good total for an entire year, based on my history.  I sent out 253 requests in all of 2020, but I purposely slowed down because I wasn't sure how players were going to react to COVID and if it would prevent them from signing.

The last four years I've sent out between 325 and 483 but am on pace this year to send out about 500. In my first year sending out ttm requests, I sent 506, and I didn't start until June!  And back then, I wrote most of my letters by hand.  Prior to 2020, I had about four non-consecutive years where I didn't even send out 100.  My lowest total was only 21 requests in 2017.

Anyway, today I received a disappointing return from Wally Bunker, who used my least favorite type of pen.  I don't know exactly what he used, but when players use a fine, black felt tip, there's a very high probability that the signatures will be smeared.  And that's what happened with this request.  Three of the four cards smeared quite badly.  Bummer.  The 1966 Topps also has a pretty good crease on it now.  I don't recall that being there when I sent it, but I can't be sure.  The other cards also have some warping and don't lie completely flat, so something also happened to these cards since early March when I sent them out.

The 1980 Fleer commemorating the 1966 World Series was previously signed by Jim Palmer.  It's a tough card to get signed because it's very busy and dark.  Maybe I should have just left it with Palmer's signature and called it done.

I also received an eBay purchase of a Justin Morneau signed 2024 Topps Archives on a 2012 Topps Heritage.  I don't know if they reprint the card, or if they simply stamp the Archives logo on it like they do with the Buy Back cards.  The copyright on the back of the card says 2012, so I think it might be an original card.

I'm not 100% sure why I bought this, which is a disturbing trend lately, because I have a 2012 Topps Heritage which I got signed by him at TwinsFest in 2013.  The one I got signed at Twinsfest (pictured below) has a much stronger, bolder signature.  I probably saw a few certified cards of his considerably cheaper on eBay than what I just paid to get a few cards signed by him at a FanHQ signing, so decided they were a bargain.  I paid about $23 for this 2024 Archives card.

Cecil Cooper TTM Return

Just one return today, but it was a nice one from Cecil Cooper, who signed a couple 1972 Topps rookie cards already signed by Mike Garman, as well as a couple of his 1982 Topps for my set.

Pete Vuckovich is not a willing signer and hasn't done a paid signing for several years.  His fee in the past had been about $30 per card, so I'm not sure I'd spring for it anyway, so this leader's card is probably done.

I plan to send out these 72 Topps cards to Carlton Fisk, but I'll probably do one at a time to reduce the risk of getting lost/damaged in the mail, or if he were to use a bad pen, etc.  All three of these players are great signers and do a really nice job on this card.  Here's one I've already completed.

Ken Tatum TTM Return

Ken Tatum was kind enough to sign his 1971 - 1973 Topps cards for my collection.  The 72 and 73 are upgrades for the request I sent him about 10 years ago when he returned them signed in faint black pen.  
Luckily, he signed them nicely in blue sharpie, which I did not include in my request, but saw his history on SCN showing a good chance he'd use one.

The 72 Topps is a high number card, so I'm glad to not have to buy another to try again.  I paid a little over $11 for this one.

Here is the 72 Topps I received back when I sent to him in 2015.

Tom House and Terry Hughes TTM Returns / Billy Martin and Robin Yount Purchases

Today I received a couple ttm returns after a quiet week. 

Tom House helped my finish two more of his 1972 Topps cards.  I posted two others completed by Rick Kester.  I think I have five or six of these cards completed now.  I either need to stop or get enough completed to fill up a 9-pocket page.  Just kidding, I have enough now.  

I recently completed four of these, because I sent two to Britton, didn't get them back, so sent two more, then got all four back.  So, I felt the need to get all four completed by the other two, and did so in two requests each, sending two cards each time.

Anyway, House also signed his 1969 Topps as well as the 1972 Topps Braves team.

Terry Hughes signed his 1974 and 1975 Topps.  My first attempt at this 1974 card got a little ruined by a bad pen used by Andre Thornton, but I finished it anyway.  I'll send this one off to John Knox next, who can be a little slow in returning his requests.  My last one took over 4 months.  But he is still reliable and generous.  Just a little slow sometimes.

Here's the previous attempt at this one.

I bought a slabbed 1971 Topps Billy Martin from an SCN member, and a 2013 A&G signed by Yount from Tom Orr's eBay sales.  I am still amazed I can buy these Ginter's signed by non-TTM-signing Hall of Famers for between $20 and $25.

Justin Morneau Bobbleheads

I got motivated enough to photograph the three Justin Morneau bobbleheads I got back from Fan HQ today.

One was an older Season Ticket, red base version, and the other two are the newer ones they put out to commemorate members of the Twins Hall of Fame.

I also bought another vintage bobblehead.  This time a Phillies Gold Round base version from 1967 to 1972.

Rick Kester, Dave Baldwin and Justin Morneau Fan HQ Signing Return

Today I received a very nice return from Rick Kester, despite having sent to him just a few weeks ago.  I ended up with several 1972 Topps Braves Rookie Stars when Jimmy Britton returned an old request I had given up on as well as a more current request.  Both requests had two 1972 Topps in them, so I ended up with four.

I split those four into two requests of two cards each to Kester and House.  House returned one request, and I sent those on to Kester.  I still have one request out to House to finish the other two.  Confused?  Yeah, me too.

Anyway, Mr. Kester was very generous and wrote me a nice note as well.  He also completed a 1971 Topps already signed by Ralph Garr.

I received a sad return from Dave Baldwin.  I sent three cards and received a note that he's been very ill and will be focusing on his health and no longer signing autographs.  However, one of my cards was signed, in a similar style that he has signed in the past, but much more fluid and legible.  I'm guessing a family member thought they were doing a fan a favor, but I would have preferred they not sign the card.

I can't imagine it was actually signed by him.  Here's his signature from a request I sent five years ago:

I received a lot of items back from Fan HQ that I sent in for a Justin Morneau signing.  I have three bobbleheads I haven't unpacked yet, but I did unpack and scan the cards.  I sent seven cards.  Unfortunately, one was smeared, but they are going to get it signed by him again soon.  They were kind enough to include the 2013 Archives for free.

The two 2010 Topps Heritage cards completed my Twins team set for that year.  Here are the other cards in that set.

I'll post the three bobbleheads once I get them unpacked and photographed.  Hopefully tomorrow.