Marty Marion Return Today

My son got a return today from Marty Marion. While at the card show at Har Mar Mall the weekend before last, Johnny picked up Marion's 1949 Bowman for $3. The card had a couple of light pencil check marks on it which are barely noticeable.







Johnny sent the letter on August 17th and got it back today, just one week later. In addition to signing the 1949 Bowman, Mr. Marion signed and included a 1948 Bowman reprint, and a 1953 Topps Archives (reprint) which was a little smudged.

Moose

Today my son got back a 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game (a set he's collecting) signed by Bill "Moose" Skowron. He included $5 cash with his request.

Mr. Skowron returned this request quickly, as it was sent just 7 days ago.

A Return Today

I received a return today from Joe Azcue on a 1965 Topps. I included an extra card for him to keep, which he did.

I sent this card out on April 10th. I knew it was a bit old when I saw it in the mail box since I had begun printing my letters and envelopes and this one was handwritten.

There was a nice break between my boys' hockey season and baseball season where I sent out quite a few requests, but haven't sent many out since then. I have a nice 1959 Topps I want to send out to Duke Snider, as well as the 1962 Tribe Hill Trio card to be finished off by Dick Stigman. I'll try to get to those this weekend, but both my boys have baseball tournaments.

Long TTM Return

Today I received a surprise in the mail. On June 3, 2008, I sent George Witt a 1961 Topps. Today I got it back, 262 days later.

It was smeared a little bit, probably from him picking it up to put it back in the envelope after signing it.

This card increases my 1961 Topps signed set to 180 cards. I'm not working too diligently on this set, but I include one of these when I send out my 1958 or 1965 set cards if the player is in both sets. I haven't paid any expensive fees to get cards signed from this set. I save that money for the '58s and '65s.

Another TTM Return

Today I received one return in the mail. Dave Giusti signed a 1963 (pictured), 1965 and 1968 Topps for my collection.

This evening I packaged up my son's Sport Magazine to send off to Duke Snider. Johnny wrote a short note and we included $10. Hopefully he'll get that back before the end of the month.

I also received a bunch of cards I purchased from Sportlots.com in preparation for TwinsFest. Sportlots is a great site for buying inexpensive and common cards and reasonable prices. Many of the cards I bought were less than 20 cents each and the postage is reasonable. The site allows anyone to be a seller and list all their cards. The trick is to try to select cards from as few sellers as possible to minimize postage costs which can be tricky sometimes.

Last night I also ordered a bunch of 8x10s from a seller on eBay. He is also going to get a few more Twins pictures in early next week so I'll get some more then too. I should end up with over 10 more signed 8x10s after TwinsFest is over.

Finally, I received two more full sized bats I ordered from Anderson. I ordered the black Rawlings bats. I like to get bats signed that are similar to what the players use. I'll use one of these for Denard Span if I get the chance.

TTM Return Today

After a bit of a dry spell, I got a request back in the mail, my first of 2009. Ray Rippelmeyer signed his 1961 and 1962 Topps for me. He also wrote a nice letter about his career in baseball after his playing days, which I asked about in my request.










I also received a 2008 Goudey signed by Jack Morris that I bought on eBay. This is the "Goudey Graphs" card, which means the card company (Upper Deck) had Morris sign the card so it's authenticity is assured. I bought it for less than I'm sure his fee will be at TwinsFest, so I can get something else signed instead. Probably a ball.


My sons and I saw Jack Morris at a card show at Har Mar Mall in August of 2007. I had him sign a bobblehead. My sons had him sign baseballs. Johnny bought a 1991 World Series ball from a vendor at the show to have him sign, which I'm jealous of. I should have done the same.

One Return Today

Just one return today. Bob Rush signed a 1958, 1959 and 1960 Topps in about 17 days. I had sent to Mr. Rush several years ago when I started my 1958 Topps set. The card I got back from him had a signature that was smudged a bit, so this one is an upgrade.

I expect to receive only two or three returns before the end of the year, and might spend some free time over the holidays stocking up on cards to send out as well as some more cards and pictures for TwinsFest.

The package containing a couple of cards signed by Tommy Davis at Bud's Sports Cards is waiting for me at the Post Office. I'll pick it up tomorrow. I'm still hoping to get back my Whitey Ford 1965 Topps back, but with the Holidays approaching, maybe it will be delayed.

Tomorrow I also hope to make some progress on my basement. My biggest problem is that I've got "stuff" laying around that I just don't know what to do with.

Nick Punto Signs With The Twins

Yesterday Nick Punto signed a two-year deal with the Twins. That's good news, I think. He's great defensively and fun to watch. Offensively, he's okay. 2007 was a horrible year for him so hopefully that won't be a trend.

We got Punto's autograph last year at TwinsFest. I got him on a card as well as an 8x10.





Today in the mail I received a return from Gene Freese. He signed a 1960, 1961, 1963 and 1964 Topps.

Local Boy - Johnny Blanchard

Johnny Blanchard was a third string catcher for the Yankees in the 1950's and 1960's. Despite being a backup catcher, he saw lots of action when Yogi Berra and Elston Howard were injured. He played in five World Series for a total of 15 games and batted .345 with two home runs.

As I looked up his address to send my request, I found he lives in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, and was born in Golden Valley.





He signed my 1961 and 1965 Topps and also included a signed and personalized picture. He even sent it back in his own envelope which required additional postage. I included $10 with my request as I noticed on SCN that many people were including $5 per card with their requests.

That was a nice return, but I'm still waiting on my Frank Viola bobblehead and 1965 Topps from Whitey Ford. My check to Whitey Ford was cashed, so I'm hopeful that will be returned soon. I haven't seen the check to Frank Viola clear yet, so hopefully it's just a Thanksgiving delay.

A Return - On Tuesday!

I was prepared for an empty mailbox today, but was pleasantly surprised to find a return waiting for me. No, not the Frank Viola bobblehead, not the Whitey Ford 1965 Topps, and not Mike Mussina. But, I did get back Hector Lopez on a 1956 and 1961 Topps.

I have written to Mr. Lopez before. He is in the 1958 Topps set that I collect and he signed his card from that year back in 2003. He also has a card in the 1965 Topps set, and he signed that card for me back in April of 2006. He was kind enough to wrap the cards in a piece of the letter I sent him, to protect them on their return to me. Very kind.