Alex Kirilloff Signing Return, and Mussina and Rice Grand Slam Prints

I sent five cards in to a signing for Alex Kirilloff.  I had purchased some certified cards, but never received any returns from him ttm and haven't been to TwinsFest for several years, so this was a good opportunity to get his Ginter and Heritage cards signed. 

Kirilloff seemed like a promising player for the Twins, but injuries seemed to always find him somehow.  I think he's selling real estate in Florida now.

I also received two more Grand Slam prints ttm.  Mike Mussina and Jim Rice returned theirs in 10 days each.

Tom Hutton, Gary Jones and Gary Neibauer TTM Returns

One of these three was supposed to have been delivered on Tuesday, according to my Informed Delivery email.  But it showed up in that email again for today and was actually delivered.

Earlier this month I had one of my sases not get delivered after appearing in my email, but several days later my wife found it stuck in the front door, so it must have been delivered to a neighbor who was kind enough to drop it off.

Tom Hutton, who I have not written to before, signed his 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1978 Topps nicely in blue sharpie.  John Milner is deceased, and Rick Miller signs for a small fee, so the 72 off to Miller next.  I haven't sent to him in the past, so it will be nice to add another player to my collection.

Gary Jones signed a couple of his 1971 Topps, one unsigned and one already signed by Gogolewski, as well as the Yankees team cards from 1971 and 1972.

Terry Cox, the last player needed on the 71 Topps, is a very spotty signer.  I'm not sure I'll risk a signed card.  I sent to him once in 2021 and never heard back.  I just sent a single 71 Topps to him at that time, not signed by either of the other two.

And Gary Neibauer signed his 1970, 1971 and 1972 Topps for me.  The 71 and 72 are nice upgrades over the ballpoint signatures I've received from him in the past, and this is the first 1970 Topps I've sent him.

I continue to buy some of the old school bobbleheads.  These are the paper mache type that were sold at stadiums in the 60's and 70's.  I've had some of the Twins versions for quite a while but decided to expand my collection.  I've gone a bit crazy but really enjoy collecting these.  I especially like the mini versions, that have a magnet on the bottom and were intended to be place on your car's dashboard, back when dashboards were made of metal.

There are plenty of variations and errors in these bobbleheads which can drive a person crazy if you want them all.  Some of the rarer ones go for well over $1000, and there are a few that go for well over that as well.  Most of the ones I buy go for $40 - $150 each, and a few I've paid over $200, such as the minis that go for more than the full-sized ones.

Most of them have "little boy" faces, with a couple different looks, including some with the hair sticking out the front, as opposed to being hidden by the cap.

Some have mascot faces instead of the little boy faces.  Some of them are outdated in terms of their representation of Native Americans (I'm talking to you, Braves and Indians), but some are animals or mascots like the Pirates, Tigers and Reds.

Here are some of the minis:

Jerry Koosman Grand Slam Print and a Tony Oliva Jersey Purchase

Minnesota born and raised Jerry Koosman signed a Grand Slam print for me in just 11 days.  He lives just one state over, so the mailing went pretty quickly.  He's 82 years old and his signature has been shaky for a while, but he did a great job on my print.  He charges $10 per autograph.  

He's probably best known for being part of the 1969 Miracle Mets, but he did play in Minnesota from 1979 through part of 1981.  I don't have any cards signed by him in a Twins uniform, so I need to correct that.  He won 20 games for the 1979 Twins and another 16 games in 1980.  

I have his 1969 card signed, which has the Topps All Star Rookie Trophy on it.  I also have a 69 Mets postcard signed, and several sets cards from 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1978.

Although I don't collect the 1970 set, I did have him sign his World Series and All Star cards from the set.

He's also on my 1970 Mets team card, which actually commemorates the 1969 Mets.

Fan HQ had a sale on Sunday for Tony Oliva's birthday, who turned 87.  All of his autographs were $87 or less.  I took the opportunity to buy a signed jersey.  

It's not a real jersey.  It says "'Sota" on the front, but from the back it appears like a real jersey, which is good enough for display purposes.  I have several empty jersey display cases, but no wall space to hang them.  I bought a similar jersey signed by Kent Hrbek about a year ago.

Harold Baines and Carlton Fisk TTM Returns

I received another Grand Slam print back today.  Harold Baines did a very nice job and signed exactly where I asked.  I don't remember if I sent a sharpie or not, but he appears to have used one and it looks great.  He added his jersey number without me asking as well.

I think I'll get at least one more of these prints back this week.

I also received a couple Carlton Fisk rookie cards back from him today, completing them both for me.  I have three of these completed now, and one copy with just Fisk's autograph on it.  It's a pretty affordable Hall of Fame rookie card to complete.

Here are the two I received back today.

A Few TTM Returns - Cisco, Hamm, Law and Spangler, as Well as a Blyleven Purchase

I was away for a few days and saw a mysterious return in my Informed Delivery email for Saturday.  It was my sase, with a stamp I haven't used for many months, and a small check mark by my return address which is my super-double-secret code for, "there's something really good inside".  With no postmark, I had little to no clues as to who it could be from.

I was surprised to open it today and find out it was my first attempt with Pete Hamm after I saw he began signing last year.  I sent this to a California address, which I thought was current at the time, but later found out he's living in Washington state.  When the California request didn't come back, I sent it to his Washington address and received that one back.  But now, 299 days later, I also received my original request back.

He has been signing in ballpoint, which looks pretty good on these older cards.  But this 1971 Topps came back in what looks like a Staedtler, perhaps?  It looks great, and despite having already received Jim Nettles sign one in ballpoint to complete it, I will send him this one as well, along with a Staedtler for him to use.

Galen Cisco signed a 1964 Mets team card as well as his 1967 Topps.

Vern Law signed a 1962 Post and also included a nice card commemorating his induction into the Pirates Hall of Fame this year.  Congratulations, Mr. Law!

Al Spangler signed a 1962 Post, a couple 1962 post, and a 1966 Angels team card for me.  Unfortunately, my sase had become sealed shut and he had to send this all back in his own envelope and stamp.  I will write him back and include some envelopes, stamps and pens as a thank you.

Finally, I received a Hall of Fame postcard signed by Bert Blyleven and authenticated by J.S.A., which I bought from Tom Orr on eBay.  I paid a little less for this than I would have paid if I sent it directly to Bert to have signed, plus it's authenticated.  Although he signs cards for $20 and photos for $30, he charges $40 to sign these postcards, which is why I haven't sent one to him yet.

I am looking forward to receiving some more Grand Slam prints back this week, as well as some private signing returns.