Returns Starting to Come Back

I sent out a few requests last week and now they're coming back.

Yesterday I received a 1952 Sport Magazine signed by Al Dark.  I included $10 with my request.

Yesterday I also received a couple of 1972 Topps rookie cards.  Bob Reynolds signed his card, already signed by Jerry Bell (the card has the pictures of Bell and Porter switched, so he signed his picture).

And Tom Ragland signed a 1972 Topps already signed by Bill Fahey.

Today I received a 1958 Topps signed by Charles "Whammy" Douglas.  I already have this card signed by him, but he had been a very tough signer for years and I had an extra card laying around so I sent it out.  I included $5 with my request.

Grzenda and Burnside

Today I got back a return from Joe Grzenda that had me a little confused.  I've sent to Mr. Grzenda twice now.  Once last September, and again this July.  When I received a return from him in July, just 10 days after I sent him my second request, I assumed he had sent back the request I just sent him.  It turns out,t he return I got back in July was the request I sent last September, and the return I got back today, was from last month.  However, this time, he didn't sign or return the 1971 Topps I had included.  In September, I had enclosed an extra 1972 Topps for him to keep, but he signed and returned that.  Any, today I received my third 1972 Topps signed by him.

Last week, my son received a 1958 Topps signed by Pete Burnside.  My son was out of town so he just opened it a couple of days ago.

Mike Roarke Autograph Return

Just one return today, and considering how few I have sent out lately I was happy to get it.

Mike Roarke signed his 1961 Topps for me.

Manny Mota and Tom Brewer

Finally a couple of returns.  I sent both of these requests out on July 11th.

Tom Brewer signed a 1961 Topps.

And Manny Mota signed a 1971, 1972 and 1973 Topps for me.  I sent my request for Mr. Mota to the Dodgers.

 

I'm up to 287 signed 1972 Topps.  I need just 13 more to hit my goal of 300 for the year.

Yogi Berra Living Legends Portrait

Today I received an Ebay purchase in the mail.  Ever since I bought a set of four, signed Living Legends Ron Lewis portraits from Insider Sports Deals I have been looking for more.  This time I added a JSA-authenticated Yogi Berra portrait.

I still really like these and plan on adding some more.  I'd like to get Whitey Ford soon but am having trouble finding a reasonably priced unsigned copy.

Tony Bartirome Return

One return today.  Tony Bartirome signed and returned a 1953 Topps.  The signature is a little smeared, but not too bad.

I also got an RTS from Mike Roarke but it contained his new address so I'm sending it out again tomorrow.  

Catching Up After a Busy Week

I didn't have any time to post my returns this week because I was busy with work and going to my sons' games.
My older son's team won their league championship game on Wednesday.  My son went 3-4 and caught all 7 innings despite the terrible heat and humidity.

My younger son's team lost their second playoff game on Thursday in a pretty flat performance.  One more tournament left for my older son then a short break until Fall Ball starts.

Anyway, I did receive a few returns this week.  On Monday, I received a 1972 Topps signed by Richie Scheinblum.

On Tuesday, I got back three returns.  First, Johnny Logan signed a 1959 Topps.

Jerry McNertney signed a 1971 and 1972 Topps.

And Ralph Garr signed a 1972 Topps for a $5 fee.

On Friday, I received a return from Joe Grzenda, who signed a 1971 and 1972 Topps.

I expect to receive a few more returns this week.  Hopefully I'll have time to post about them before next weekend!

Carlos Delgado Shea Stadium Banner

I've purchased several Metrodome Stadium banners with Twins players on them and have three of them hanging in my basement.

When I saw a Carlos Delgado Shea Stadium banner for sale on the Steiner Sports web site, I thought my younger son would like it for his Mets-themed bedroom.  He loves it and tonight we hung it up in his room.

DeMaestri, Mayberry and Wilson

My son and I got some very quick returns today.  We both sent some requests out Monday.  I got two of those back today and my son got one.

Bob "Red" Wilson signed a 1958 Topps for my son and wished him well in a brief note.

I received returns from Joe DeMaestri, who signed a 1961 Topps, and John Mayberry, who signed a 1972 Topps.  I included $5 with my request to Mayberry.

A Few Returns This Week

I have been very busy all week and haven't been getting home until late so I haven't had time to post.

I received just a couple returns this week.  Al Kaline signed his 1961 Topps.  I enclosed $10 with my request.

Jim Foor signed his 1972 Topps rookie card, already signed by Paul Jata.

Today my son got back a 1958 Topps signed by Bill Virdon, who also enclosed a signed postcard.

Last Sunday I went to the Twin Cities Sports Collectors Club card show in Bloomington and picked up a few cards to send out.  I was able to send out about a dozen requests on Monday so hopefully I'll start seeing those come back next week.

Some Purchases - 1961 Topps and 1953 Topps Archives

I received a few purchases in the mail this week.  I bought a few 1961 Topps from Mickey's Sportscards including Vic Power, Chico Fernandez, Tony Taylor, Hank Sauer and Ted Bowsfield.  These players are either deceased or tough signers, with the exception of Bowfield, but his card was so cheap I bought it anyway.

 

I also bought a few 1953 Topps Archives (released in 1991) from a fellow member of sportscollectors.net.  I bought a few deceased players that I don't currently have autographs of, including Sal Yvars, Cal Hogue, Ben Wade  and Toby Atwell.

I also bought a couple deceased players that I have other autographs of including Bobby Thomson and Jim Delsing.

I also bought Cloyd Boyer, who is a good signer through the mail.  I'm not sure why I bought it.  Maybe I was confused with Clete Boyer, who has passed away.

Whammy Douglas and Carl Erskine Returns

On Tuesday my son received a 1958 Topps signed by Whammy Douglas.  For a long time, Mr. Douglas was a tough autograph to get but now signs very consistently for just $5.

A while ago I posted about a 1956 Topps I got back signed by Carl Erskine.  I had asked permission in my letter to send a ball and he replied that it would be fine.

Today I got that ball back and it looks great.  I asked Mr. Erskine to inscribe it with whatever he is most proud.  He signed on the sweetspot and added an inscription of "1955 World Series Champs".  On one side panel he inscribed, "No Hit Giants 5/12/56".  On the other side panel he inscribed "No Hit Cubs 6/19/52".

Zach Monroe Return - After 962 Days!

Today I received a surprise in my mailbox.  I knew it was an old request because the return envelope was handwritten.  I have been printing most of my return envelopes using my computer/printer for the last couple of years.

It turned out to be a 1959 Topps signed by Zach Monroe that I sent out on November 15th, 2008.  That's 962 days, and within a couple of weeks of when I started this blog.

I had long ago given up on this request and sent him another 1959 Topps last August that I got back in about two and a half months.  I also sent him a 1960 Topps back in late May of this year which I got back in just 15 days.  I love getting back these requests that I have long ago assumed I'd never see again.  It makes me wonder where it's been all this time.

More Living Legends Portraits

I found a couple more signed Ron Lewis Living Legends portraits on Ebay.  Both are JSA authenticated.  I was surprised to find these and thought the price was right.

I picked up Enos Slaughter.

And Red Schoendienst.

After posting about my collecting goals yesterday, I decided to go through my 1972 Topps cards and do an accurate count of what I have.  Here's what I found:

I have 279 signed cards from the set.

Of the 279, 10 of them are duplicates.

Of the remaining 269, there are an additional 9 signatures on multi-player cards.

So I have 278 different signatures on 269 cards as well as 10 duplicates.  Since my goals stated the number of cards, I have 269 with 31 to go to reach my goal of 300 by the end of the year.

Update on 2011 Collecting Goals

The year is half over so it's time to update my progress on my 2011 collecting goals.
 

1. Send out 250 requests through the mail - As of today I have sent out 151 requests this year.  Hitting 250 won't be a problem but I have to keep at it.
2. Reach 300 signed 1972 Topps cards - I think I'm at about 280 or so.  I am going by the images files listed on my web site, but there are a few cards that have multiple signatures that I might be counting as separate cards.  I really need to get the actual cards out and count them.  300 signed cards by the end of the year is very achievable.
3. Add 5 more signed bobbleheads to my 1987 Twins bobblehead collection.  So far I've added 4: George Frazier, Dan Schatzeder, Keith Atherton and Jeff Reardon.  I still need to add one more by the end of the year and will need to make it a priority to keep my eyes out for an opportunity.
4. Finish the 10 possible John Wheeldon portraits (out of 12) -   I got Rich Reese back a while ago.  I need George Mitterwald and Ron Perranoski, and need to buy better copies of their portraits.  The ones I have are in pretty rough shape. Unfortunately, Harmon Killebrew passed away.

Buzz Capra and Earl Averill Autographs Through the Mail

There were two returns waiting for me in the mailbox today.

Earl Averill signed a 1959 and 1961 Topps.  He also replied to my letter answering my question regarding his career after his playing days.

Buzz Capra signed a 1972 Topps. already signed by Jon Matlack. and a 1978 Topps.  The last player on the 1972 Topps, Leroy Stanton, doesn't appear to be a good signer through the mail.  I'll have to wait and see if he's available at a private signing.

Joe Shipley Return and InsiderSportsDeals.com Purchases

I received one return today, which I was happy to see considering it's a Tuesday and I don't have many outstanding requests.

Joe Shipley signed his 1960 Topps for me.  Turns out I already have this card signed by him.  I guess my collection is getting too big for me to manage.

I also scanned in a couple of the purchases I made recently from insidersportsdeals.com.

First, I purchased three 1999 Hillshire Farms Home Run Heroes cards signed by Harmon Killebrew, Frank Robinson and Ernie Banks.  I believe I paid roughly $9 each for these including shipping.

 

Next, I got back the four Ron Lewis Living Legends portraits I bought recently.  These are nice 8x10 portraits on a heavy card stock signed nicely in blue sharpie.  I paid a little over $15 each for Pete Rose, Bob Feller, Frank Robinson and Warren Spahn.

Both the portraits and the cards are authenticated by TriStar.  I am especially happy with the portraits and am going to try to get some more of these signed.  There's a nice Whitey Ford portrait that will be my first goal.