Al Kaline Return

Today I received a return from Al Kaline, who signed his 2010 Topps Heritage Then & Now card that also features Joe Mauer.

I hope to have Joe sign it at a future TwinsFest or other local signing.

Jimmie Schaffer and Russ Snyder

I received a two of returns over the last few days.

Jimmie Schaffer signed his 1968 Topps.

And Russ Snyder signed his 1960 and 1962 Topps.

I have just two more requests outstanding so I'll need to find some time to send out a few more.

Don Shaw - 1972 Topps

Yesterday I received a 1972 Topps signed by Don Shaw.  I included $5 with my request.  I have about 2 or 3 other requests out right now and hope to ramp up my requests this summer.

1965 All-Star Program

I recently received this program I purchased on Ebay.

The seller had sold one the previous week which went for a bit more than this one, and it was clean, meaning there was no writing on it.

This one is scored, which I think is incredible.  I consider it like a game-used item.  I imagine the fan sitting at the old Met, watching Willie Mays, Harmon Killebrew and Sandy Koufax.  How amazing that must have been!

Both Mays and Killebrew hit home runs, as did McAuliffe from the Tigers.

Another great thing in this program is the advertisement for the Western Oil Twins portraits that could be purchased for 10 cents at the gas station.  I've been collecting these as well.

Gary Gaetti Bobblehead

Today I received my 2007 Gary Gaetti Stadium Give Away (SGA) bobblehead back signed from a Tom Orr private signing.

Other SGA bobbleheads from that year included Joe Mauer (Batting Title), Justin Morneau (MVP) and Michael Cuddyer.  I have all four of these signed now.

John Ellis Return

I received the only outstanding request I had out over the weekend.

John Ellis signed both his 1972 Topps cards in a thick, black marker.  The marker appeared to start slow on the first card, and then it got smeared a bit on his jersey number.  I'm usually not one to complain when players sign through the mail, but I paid $10 to have these signed, so I'm a little disappointed in how they turned out.

I didn't send any cards to Twins spring training because, well, who are those guys?  I don't have cards for many of them and I prefer to get cards signed of the players in a Twins uniform.  The return rate has been pretty poor the last several years as well, so I've given up trying.

Gary Neibauer - 1972 Topps

Today I received one of my two outstanding requests for this year.

Gary Neibauer signed his 1972 Topps in ballpoint in about 10 days.