Jim Perry TTM Return and Tony Oliva Mail-In Signing Bobblehead

Former-Twin and 1970 Cy Young Award winner Jim Perry signed four cards for me in just over a week.  I included $20 with my request, and he included a note thanking me and noting it would go to charity.  This is the first time I've gotten a Milk Duds "card" signed.  They aren't super attractive, but it's a little different and thought I'd try one out.  Some are pretty expensive and more than I'm willing to pay, so I may not get many more, if any.

I received a Tony Oliva bobblehead I've been waiting for from a late July signing.  He did an amazing job signing it, especially considering his age.  I have three more of his bobbleheads out to Fan HQ for a signing coming up.  That might be all of his bobbleheads, at least the stadium giveaways and season ticket holder versions.  This one is the season ticket holder version from 2006.

Gaetti, Kaat and Morris Returns from Mail-In Signing

I received more of the Twins items that were signed over the weekend.

Gary Gaetti signed two of his bobbleheads.  One commemorates his induction into the Twins Hall of Fame, and the other is a Season Ticket holder version from 2008.

I purchased a row of four Metrodome seats back in 2014.  I posed about it here.

I was lucky to get some good numbers, 4 through 7.  I had Molitor sign #4, Oliva sign #6 and Mauer sign #7, which corresponds to their jersey numbers.  

There were no Hall of Famers that wore #5, so I decide to just have other Hall of Famers that played for the Twins sign it.  I just got back Kaat and Morris from the same signing event.  Now I need Blyleven, Carew and maybe Winfield.

I need to reassemble the seats back on to the bases now.

Greg Gagne Signing Return

When I posted earlier today, I forgot I had a package that I hadn't opened yet.  I sent a few items in to a Greg Gagne signing.

He signed his Twins Hall of Fame bobblehead for me.  It's interesting that he added his bible verse inscription even though it was a paid signing.  I hadn't seen that before.

I found a great copy of a 1987 Sports Illustrated for him to sign.  This copy is in better condition than most you'd find on the newsstand (back when there were newsstands).

And finally, after taking the time and effort to send one of these directly to him ttm and paying more than twice the cost of this signing, I sent another 1991 Twins World Series Championship print.  This time, I had him sign it in silver towards the top, instead of in blue towards the bottom.  I'm not sure which I like better, but I'm leaning towards the silver.

 

Amos Otis Grand Slam Print Return and a Couple Killebrew Purchases

Today I received another Grand Slam print ttm.  This time Amos Otis signed his nicely with the blue sharpie I had enclosed (presumably) along with $10.  He wrote me a brief thank you note on my letter as well.

I purchased a couple Harmon Killebrew autographs from my collecting friend Randy, who has the most amazing Twins collection you'll ever see.  I occasionally buy Twins items from him which are the highlights of my collection, and I know he isn't getting out of the hobby, so these must be dupes from his collection.  His dupes are even better than my collection!

I bought a 1963 Volpe Western Oil print signed nicely in gold.  I have 14 of these prints signed, which is maybe half of the set.  I have 9 of the 14 from the 1964 set, which are more colorful than this set.  I also bought an unsigned Oliva print from Randy that I intend to get signed at an upcoming Fan HQ signing, along with three bobbleheads.

I also bought a 62 Post-signed Killebrew card to add to my son's collection that I will give him for his birthday.  (I'm almost positive he doesn't read this blog so I'm not giving away any surprises).

I'm sending off two more Grand Slam prints to paid signings today: Chuck Knoblauch and Ozzie Smith.  I'm waiting on another 3 or 4 that I've previously sent out to paid signings.  I also ordered a bunch more to send out.  I have 16 now.  I can see getting 30-40 of these signed.

Elroy Face and Pete Hamm TTM Returns, Wilcox and Javier Signing Returns

Today is a good start to the week with four different players' returns.

(El)Roy Face signed his 1962 Post for me.

And Pete Hamm signed his 1971 and 1972 Topps cards, a 72 Twins team card, and a Rowe Picture Card.

I sent a blue Staedtler along with $20 with my request since I've sent to him multiple times and this one involved bubble envelopes and using my pen.  He typically uses a ballpoint pen, which doesn't look bad on these older cards, but these look even better.

I've posted about this before, but Mr. Hamm did not sign autographs for a long time.  Like, decades.  His autographs sold for $150+.  All of a sudden, last September, his ttm requests started getting returned.  20+ year old returns started showing up in people's mailboxes, and he's been a reliable signer since.  I'd love to know the story there.  He obviously wasn't against signing, or he probably wouldn't have kept the requests that long.  Anyway, I'm happy to add these to my collection.

I sent these Julian Javier cards back in October of 2024 for an arranged signing.  The signing involved the promoter gathering all the submissions and mailing them to his contact in the Dominican Republic.  This included several different players, but I just sent for Javier.  It took a long time for this contact to arrange and meet with everyone before sending them back, which was my assumption going into it, so no big deal.

Mr. Javier signs ttm pretty reliably but always seems to use a black ballpoint pen.  These are nice upgrades to my previous ttm returns.

Finally, I received seven cards back from a Milt Wilcox signing.  He doesn't sign ttm, so I took the opportunity to get a bunch of set cards completed.

Rollie Fingers and Dwight Gooden Grand Slam Prints and a Ron Blomberg Signing Return

Only one of my three returns today was ttm.

Rollie Fingers, who has charged $15 per autograph since I started this hobby 20+ years ago, signed his Grand Slam print exactly as I requested.

Dwight Gooden signed his as well, via a mail-in signing late last month.  It has a TriStar sticker on the back.  If TriStar was running this event, I'm surprised he was allowed to sign this non-licensed print.

I sent five cards in to a Ron Blomberg signing, covering most of the sets I am working on from the 70's.  He signs ttm for $15 per, and this signing was only charging $10.

Marty Keough TTM Return

One more return today.  Marty Keough is a very generous signer and always does a great job.  I've sent to him several times over the last 23+ years and every time he's used a blue sharpie.  I've never had a smeared card or any mix ups or anything negative occur.

He signed a card from my favorite card, a 1958 Topps.  I'm sure that's controversial since many people really don't like this set.  It's not my favorite on its own, but it's my favorite for getting autographs since the solid background helps the signature stand out as opposed to a busy background like a 1955 or 1956 Topps.

Mr. Keough also appears to use a different pen depending on the card.  The 58 Topps is signed with a bold, thick pen, while the busier cards which he signers with a smaller signature, are signed with a finer point pen. How impressive is that?  And this is from a guy who doesn't even charge a fee.  He must take great pride in signing these cards, and it shows and is appreciated!

He also signed a 1960 Topps and a 1962 Post.

I'm mailing out a handful of requests today, and am expecting some of my mail-in signings to be returned next week.

Rich Reese TTM Return

Just one return today, but a nice one from former-Twin Rich Reese who signed the 1967 Twins team card and three of his individual cards.