Despite already having one and having it authenticated and slabbed, I decided to send Bobby Shantz another 1950 Bowman rookie card. My opportunities for sending vintage cards ttm are dwindling, so even if they are duplicates, I continue to send out what I can.
He did a great job, as always, especially for someone 100 years old!
I don't collect too many signed cards after the 1980's but there are a few sets I like, including the 2000 Fleer Tradition set. They can be a little busy and aren't always the best for autographs, but I like them anyway. I sent Wage Boggs his card and he signed it in about 2.5 weeks for his $10 per card fee.
It's not often that I add a card to my 1958 Topps set anymore since the ones I need are pretty tough and/or expensive. I was able to pick up this Harry Byrd card recently, bringing the number of cards I need to complete the set down to 76. The only living player that I still need is Sandy Koufax. I tried him ttm a while ago but received a RTS, which was no surprise.
I forgot to post these two return from last Wednesday. It was a slow week, so I'm not sure why I forgot.
I sent Lee Smith his 1982 Topps rookie card ttm.
And I received a Jose Canseco Grand Slam print back from a paid signing.
I had mentioned to my wife that I planned to spend less on this hobby this year. Then she picked up the mail today and said it doesn't look like I'm spending less. I had no argument, especially since I also went to the post office to mail off a bobblehead, a couple Metrodome seatbacks and some cards for signings.
Oh well. These were things I committed to last year. That's my only excuse.
Anyway, I received four ttm returns.
Rick Dempsey signed my four cards, included a signed 89 Upper Deck and also a signed and personalized photo of an SI cover. He included a long note about charging for signing and some fees that look like he's including in all his returns. Due to the photo, he had to return all of it in his own manilla envelope with $5 postage. I had enclosed $20 ($5 per card) with my request. He seems to appreciate the gesture of including a fee. He also answered a couple questions I had in my letter and wrote me a nice thank you note, wishing me a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
In the form letter he enclosed, he noted that he signs his mail for about three hours per day. Based on just my return, I can see that to be true.
Bill Zepp signed a few cards for me, including a 1971 Twins team card.
Tom Satriano signed four cards with his typical ballpoint. I think I had intended to send these along with a pen but forgot to. Maybe I'll send another request later this year to get some nice blue sharpie signatures from him.
And Bill Mazeroski signed six cards for me, a few vintage and a few modern. The 1961 World Series card is a minor upgrade over the two I already have. It is nearly impossible to find that card nicely centered. Despite working on the 1965 Topps set (I'm at 454 out of 598 cards in the set), I don't usually send out the embossed cards. But I am running out of unique cards to send Mr. Mazeroski, but will keep tracking them down. I have 72 signed Mazeroski cards, but that includes several duplicates.
I received six cards back from a Justin Morneau signing in an attempt to fill some holes in my Twins team sets for the Heritage and Allen & Ginter sets.
Finally, I purchased a 1982 Topps Jerry Koosman signed card slabbed by PSA/DNA. Normally, I would just mail this to him ttm to sign, but he recently announced his fee has increased to $40. So most of his cards can be found for sale cheaper than that fee. His signature has become very shaky, so I'm guessing this fee increase is an attempt to reduce the demand.
I received a mix of returns today.
Beginning with the ttm returns, Tony Kubek signed his 1957 Topps rookie card. I had requested he add an inscription as "1957 AL ROY", and he switched it up a bit so it says, "1957 ROY AL". At first glance it looks like it says "ROYAL". A minor detail. He also wrote a nice thank you note letting me know how my donation would be used.
My other through the mail return was from Manny Sanguillen, who signed a 1971 Topps NL Batting Leaders card already signed by Rico Carty, and a 1972 Topps Pirates team card. The team card was purchased already signed by Bill Virdon (twice), Steve Blass, Gene Clines and Dave Giusti. I then had Mazeroski sign it before sending it to Mr. Sanguillen.
I sent six cards in for a Bill Russell signing with Tom Orr to fill some holes in my sets. I paid a couple dollars less per card than his normal ttm fee for sending in six cards.
I bought a Jorge Polanco signed 2022 Topps Heritage card. I have a lot of signed Twins cards from this set. I need to get a checklist to see how many I have left to get.
Finally, after posting a while ago about how I just realized Roger Clemens signed ttm for $100 per card, I came across this 2003 Topps Heritage. I was just a bit more than sending it in and getting it slabbed myself, but this way I guaranteed a grade of 10 and a reasonable signature in blue.
I received one return today, which was one I mailed via Pirate Ship because I included a pen. I was able to track it but this morning's tracking was very confusing and made it seem as if it was being sent back through the system after it was out for delivery today.
Anyway, it showed up and included four 1972 Topps signed by Steve Brye. He completed one copy of the 1972 Topps Twins Rookie Stars card and signed another buy back copy.
He added the 15th signature to one of my 1972 Topps Twins team cards, and just the second signature to the buy back copy.
That team card now has signatures of:
- Jim Strickland
- Ray Corbin
- Eric Soderholm
- George Mitterwald
- Phil Roof
- Leo Cardenas
- Jim Perry
- Tom Hall
- Rick Renick
- Rich Reese
- Steve Luebber
- Steve Braun
- Pete Hamm
- Bob Gebhard
- Steve Brye
There are still several players I could add (Nettles, Blyleven, Kaat, Oliva, etc) but am hesitant to keep sending this one out. Maybe I'll send it to Nettles. I'm working on another card with the bigger names only.
This 1972 Topps is a nice upgrade over the other one I have, since Brye signed it in thick black marker. But that one I completed ttm for all three players, as opposed to this one, which I purchased with Haydel's signature on it.
I had enclosed $10 with my request although he doesn't normally charge. But he returned the $10 with the cards, and also answered some questions in my letter.
I forgot to post this earlier today. I received this back from a mail-in signing today.
I received all sorts of returns today.
I received a through the mail return from Jake Gibbs, who signed his 1967 Topps and a couple Yankees team cards.
I sent a couple cards to a Dave Concepcion signing to fill some holes in my 1975 and 1978 sets.
I also sent in a couple rookie cards to a Cal Ripken Jr. signing, including his 1982 rookie card, as well as his 1982 Topps Traded which is his first solo card. I don't get why he was in the Traded series, since he was drafted by, and played for, the Orioles his entire career.
An SCN contact got a Tyler Clippard card signed for me at a golf tournament in Florida.
I made a few purchases lately, including a Yastrzemski baseball and 1976 Topps Vic Albury card from Mill Creek, and a Nolan Ryan 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game card. Ryan recently doubled his fee through his foundation, so this was cheaper than sending a card to him. $150 per card now? Yikes. I'll try to buy any remaining cards I need already signed. There aren't currently any cards I need, but would buy a few if the price was right, such as a 1973 Topps.
I also received five cards back from Beckett grading. A collecting buddy of mine let me include these in his submission. I was happy and surprised that all five came back with grades of 10. All five of these autographs were obtained ttm.
