John Goryl - Nicholas Volpe portrait

I cam home from being away for the weekend to find a nice surprise in my mailbox. 

John Goryl signed the 1963 Western Oil Nicholas Volpe print I sent him back in early March.  I had enclosed $5 for his trouble, but he returned it, saying in a brief note that it was a privilege to sign for me and the gift wasn't necessary.

I have two more of these to get signed.  I have one out to Bernie Allen that I sent in early March.  The other is Jim Kaat.  I'll wait for a mail-in signing to try to get that one.

Tom Orr is having a mail-in signing with Jim Hart, who has been impossible to get.  I'm going to send in a 1965 and 1972 Topps for my sets.

Frank Robinson - 1958 Topps

My son sent in a 1958 Topps to Atommic to be signed by Frank Robinson.  This was actually signed at the Sports News Productions Show tat we attended, but we got a much cheaper price on this card by sending it in.

Johnny Bench and Pete Rose - In Person

Today my older son and I headed up to Brooklyn Center for the Sports News Productions Show.

I had an 11x14 of Ernie Banks and Johnny Bench that I had signed by Banks a couple of years ago.  So I had Johnny Bench sign it today to finish it off.

My son found a cool 8x10 on eBay of Pete Rose barreling over Dave Rader (I think), with Johnny Bench signaling safe in the background, so he had both of them sign it today.

Both players were very nice.  Johnny Bench shook everyone's hand.  Rose told my son that it looked like he was safe in the picture.

Also at the show were Meadowlark Lemon and Cal Ripken Jr.

Other players there included Jerry Rice, Eddie Murray, and Frank Robinson.  These shows are always well organized and run pretty smoothly.  It's about an hour drive for us, but about our only opportunity to see players of this caliber other than at TwinsFest.

1964 Bob Allison Auravision Record

Another eBay impulse buy.  This time, it's a 1964 Bob Allison Auravision record.  I didn't really know anything about these and ended up paying a little too much.   It is is really nice shape though, and it looks nice in my 1965 Twins display cabinet.

I can't imagine what this sounds like if you try to play it, but I don't really want to poke out the hole in the middle.  Maybe I'll try buying another that already punched and see if I can play it.

Hal W. Smith - 1956 Topps

Today's return is helping motivate me to send out a few more ttm requests.  Hal W. Smith signed his 1956 Topps in just 7 days.

I was surprised to do a quick directory scan on my collection and found out I have about 98 signed cards from the 1956 Topps set.  I've never really targeted as a set to collect, but send out cards to the better signers if I come across their cards for a reasonable price.  I may have to take a closer look and start sending out some more.


It's been a rough couple of weeks for ttm collectors.  Several great players and generous signers have passed away, including Virgil Trucks, Bob Turley and Gus Triandos.  They were all very kind to me when I sent them autograph requests.

Brooks Lawrence - 1958 Topps

It's been a long time since I added another card to my 1958 Topps set.  Today I received a Brooks Lawrence card that I bought on eBay from Mill Creek Sports.

This makes 363 cards I have signed from this set.  I'm watching a few more on eBay that I may add as well.

1970's Twins Pennant

I made an impulse buy on eBay a few days ago when I saw this old pennant for sale.  It was really cheap, under $6 including shipping.  It's smallish, about 12 inches long and 4 or 5 inches high.