Craigslist Purchase

I occasionally (okay, often), scan the local Craigslist ads for Twins memorabilia.  I rarely find anything other than people trying to sell their 1987 World Series Cereal boxes for outrageous amounts of money.

Last night I saw an ad for several signed ice cream helmets, including Jim Perry, Bert Blyleven, Kent Hrbek, Rod Carew and Kirby Puckett.  Of course it was the Puckett that was of interest to me, so I texted him right away.  I was told the seller was waiting on a reply from another interested buyer that wanted the Puckett and the Carew.  I just wanted the Puckett, but told the seller I had cash and could be there right away.  He was only asking $35 for the Puckett helmet.

We continued to text a bit and it turned out the seller was getting rid of all of his collection and he wanted me to come look at it.  I wasn't sure exactly what he had, and didn't want to drive for 30 minutes to look at more cereal boxes, so I told him I'd go take a look if the Puckett helmet was still for sale.  He said he'd sell it to me, so I took off right away!

When I got there, he had all his mini helmets on his desk, and the Puckett was really nice.  Based on the line up of signers, I assumed someone had gotten them at TwinsFest, and the seller confirmed that.

He showed me his other items, mostly vintage bobbleheads, but REALLY vintage bobbleheads.  He had some very cool Maris and Mantle bobbles from the 1960's, a couple Willie Mays and a lot more, including non-sports figures.

He showed me the old Twins bobbleheads he had.  The ones that they sold at Met Stadium in the 1960's. They were in great shape, and his asking price was very reasonable. I have always wanted one of these, but the price was a usually a bit too much for me and I thought I'd have to settle for a damaged one.

After some discussion, and looking at a few bats and balls he had, I was able to buy all four of the vintage bobbleheads and the Puckett helmet for all the cash I had in my wallet.  I had taken extra, not knowing what he might have, and I'm glad I did.

I'm having a little trouble finding information on exactly when these bobbles were sold as there's some conflicting information on the internet.  Now I might have to look into these in more detail and try to get them all!

My Fourth Spring Training Return - Kyle Gibson

Just when I had given up hope, I received another return from Twins' Spring Training.  Kyle Gibson signed his 2014 and 2015 Topps Heritage cards for me in about nine months.

Kyle and his teammates Tommy Milone, Trevor May, Kennys Vargas and Eduardo Escobar returned cards for me this year.  I still have eight more requests out from Spring Training.  I wonder if I'll get any more back.

My First 1965 Topps of the Year!

I've really been slacking on my goals for the year.  I set a goal of adding five more signed cards to my 1965 set, but just got my first one back today.

Al Stanek signed his card for $5 in about nine days.

This weekend I'm going to review my list of cards I still need for the 1965 set and see if I can get four more done this year.  Time is running out!

Tom Murphy Return

I sent a request to Tom Murphy in early January and he was kind enough to sign my cards and return them today.

He signed his 1976, 1978 and 1979 Topps for my collection added another card to my 1978 set.

 

I haven't sent out nearly as many cards for the 78 set as I had planned.  I really enjoy sending out the vintage cards and those opportunities are coming more and more scarce, so I'm doing my best to send out what I can (and what I don't already have).

Orlando Cepeda Private Signing Return

I added another card to my 1963 Topps set as well as my 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game set.

Orlando Cepeda signed each of them through a private signing that an SCN contact set up.

I created a checklist of the Greats of the Game cards that I have.  Of the 107 cards, I have 36 signed.  I was surprised to see how many of the certified cards I have signed, and I haven't counted those in this count.  I also regret not having sent some out to players I used to send to but have since passed away, such as Bob Feller and Phil Rizzuto.

I do have a few really nice ones including Duke Snider, Yogi Berra and Rod Carew.

I sent out four requests yesterday, including a 52 Topps, a couple 54 Topps, and a 65 Topps.

A Couple Hall of Famers - Gibson and Schoendienst

I sent a few cards out to Tom Orr at Atommic Sports to help out with some sets I'm working on.

He had Red Schoendienst sign his 1961 Topps and 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game.

He also had Bob Gibson sign a 1972 Topps for me.

I also sent a couple Rusty Staub cards to him for a signing later this year and I have a couple Orlando Cepeda cards out to someone else to get signed soon.

Camilo Pascual - Strikeout Leader X 2

I received a very quick return today from former-Twin Camilo Pascual.

Mr. Pascual was the AL Strikeout Leader for three years in a row from 1961 - 1963.  He actually had his second-highest strikeout total in 1964, but was beat out by Al Downing, who had 217, just three more than Pascual.

Oddly in looking at the pitching leaders for these years, the NL pitchers had many more strikeouts, including Bob Veale in 1964 who had 250!

This year for the Twins, Ervin Santana had 149 strikeouts, while the Twins' number two strikeout leader was Duffey, with just 114.

Back in 2006, Johan Santana led the majors with 245 strikeouts.  I miss those days!

Anyway, next I'll send these cards off to Jim Bunning.

Juan Gonzalez Return

I have very few cards from the 1990's signed, but when I saw on sportscollectors.net that Juan Gonzalez was signing through the mail, I had to send a couple of cards.

His rookie cards in 1990 came out just as the baseball card market flood was beginning.  I remember buying these cards at a baseball card shop in St. Paul for about $3-$4 each, along with some Frank Thomas rookie cards for a little more.

I picked the right players.  Gonzalez's stats were impressive. He won 6 Silver Slugger awards, the AL MVP twice, and was the fastest player to 200 and 300 home runs.  He ended his 17-year career with 434 home runs.  But there were some many cards produced that they now sell for about $1.

Although he was named in the Mitchell Report, and one of the players Jose Canseco claims to have personally injected with steroids, Gonzalez has maintained his innocence.

Del Crandall - 1963 Topps

I added another signed 1963 Topps to my set collection.  I received a return from Del Crandall today, who signed his card in a little over a month for $5.

This makes 11 new 1963 Topps added to my set this year.  My goal was 10.  I also had a goal of five new cards added to my 1965 Topps set and so far I have none!  I better get going.

No Mail Today, So Catching Up On Some Purchases

Columbus Day, so no mail today.  I don't have many requests out, but at least when there's mail, there's a chance I'll get a return.

Last week I received a couple of purchases, both from Ebay

First, I bought a Mike Pelfrey signed 2015 Topps Heritage.  once players leave the team, it gets hard to get these signed, so I was happy to get this for about $5.

I also snapped up a 1965 Topps signed Bill White card, PSA/DNA authenticated for about $15.  But then I realized I already have one!  Bummer.

Wayne Terwilliger

I received a nice vintage return on Friday.  Wayne Terwilliger signed his 1952 Topps.  He also included a signed a Twins postcard.  I've sent to him before and received other signed cards he enclosed from the Fort Worth Cats and St. Paul Saints, but I'm happy get to one from the Twins as well.

Dick Such and Cecil Cooper

Two more returns today.  17-year Minnesota Twins pitching coach Dick Such signed his 1971 Topps for me in just a week.

Mr. Such was the Twins' pitching coach for both of their World Series wins.  I think we could use him again!

I received three cards from Cecil Cooper, who signed and personalized his 1976, 1978 and 1987 Topps.

 

Mike Roarke

I received a very quick return today from Mike Roarke, who signed his 1961-1964 Topps for me.  I had previously purchased a 1963 Topps signed by him, but I prefer to have one that I obtained myself.

I'm sending a few cards in to some private signings this month, which I haven't done in a long time.  I've rediscovered the 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game set and am getting a few of these signed, as well as some of my set cards.

One of my favorite cards from that set is Duke Snider, who signed his card through the mail for me back in 2004.

Jim Maloney Return

I've reached one of my goals for the year with today's return.  Jim Maloney signed and returned his 1963 Topps which beings my total for the year to 10, which was my goal.

He also signed his 1972 Topps, bringing me to eight for the year, with a goal of 10 as well.

Ryne Sandberg Signed Ball

Today I received a ball back signed by Ryne Sandberg that I sent just seven days ago.  I included $10 cash and a blue ballpoint pen, but he signed it in sharpie.  It looks nice though.

Frank Howard Return

This return really proved to me that I enjoy sending out vintage cards much more than newer cards.  I'm just not getting fired up about my 1978 Topps set, but I enjoyed this weekend's return.

Frank Howard signed his 1961 and 1963 Topps for me, and even inscribed the 1961 with his Rookie of the Year award in 1960.

Another Spring Training Return - Tommy Milone

I've sent just three requests in the last week, and none for a while prior to that, so I was surprised to see one of my return envelopes in the mailbox today.

It was a request I sent back to Tommy Milone back in February to the Twins' spring training address.

This is just the fourth return of the 12 I sent to the Twins back in February.  I only sent to player that have a reasonable return rate and a relatively recent history of success.  The other players that responded so far include Trevor May, Kennys Vargas, and Eduardo Escobar.

Hopefully I get a few more back.  Alex Meyer and Oswaldo Arcia have been traded, so I'm guessing I won't get either of those back.

1963 Tigers Twirlers - Finished by Jim Bunning

Jim Bunning provided the last signature needed to finish off my 1963 Topps Tiger Twirlers card, already signed by Don Mossi and Frank Lary.

I haven't bee motivated enough to send out any requests lately.  I"M pretty sure I'll miss my goals for the year quite badly.

Robin Yount Surprise

I found a nice surprise in my mailbox today.  I found a small bubble envelope, self addressed to myself, and I couldn't remember what it was?  I hadn't sent anything to a private signing for a long time.

I opened it to find a Robin Yount signed 1976 Topps!

I had sent this to a signing back in January, but Yount apparently broke his hand,  The signing was delayed many months, until finally getting done at the National earlier this month.

I had completely forgotten about it and probably wouldn't have noticed for a long time that I hadn't received it if it hadn't come back.

Jerry Augustine Return

I've sent out just a handful of requests lately and received the first one back today.

Jerry Augustine signed his 1978 and 1979 Topps for me in about 10 days.

A Failure 13 Years In The Making

I was REALLY surprised and excited to see a return envelope in the mailbox today that had a 37 cent stamp on it.  The address on my return envelope was handwritten, which I haven't done for a long time except on very rare occasions when I think that a handwritten note and envelopes might sway a tough signer to sign (I don't think it ever does).

I opened it up and was really disappointed to find my 2003 Topps Heritage Kenny Rogers card unsigned.  I shouldn't be surprised.  His signing percentage on SCN is 0%.  Not a single successful return.  But, I wonder why he returned it?

I sent this to him in care of the Twins when he played for them in 2003.   I was working on the 2003 Heritage set.  It would have been cool to get back a successful return after so long, but for some reason, it still seems kind of cool to get it back after this long even though it isn't signed,

I started my TTM collection that summer.  This was my 46th request.  To date, I have sent 2,880 requests.

After playing for the Twins, he went back and played for the Rangers, then Detroit.  He hasn't played in the majors since 2008.

Another Return? Dave Chalk

Another surprise this week as I received another return that I sent back in April.

Dave Chalk signed his 1976, 1978 and 1979 Topps for me,

Don Mossi - 1963 Tiger Twirlers

I'm surprised to get another card back considering I haven't sent out any for quite a while.

But today I got a card back from Don Mossi, who signed his 1963 Topps Tiger Twirlers card already signed by Frank Lary.  Now it's off to  Jim Bunning to complete it!

I'm Still Here!

I just haven't been sending out requests.  I have a small amount outstanding, so they might trickle in here and there.

Speaking of which, Mike Andrews returned a 1972 Topps I sent to him back in January.  I included $10 for The Jimmy Fund.

I don't think I'll send out any requests for the next couple of months.  This summer we'll be busy with some vacation time and an old Mustang the boys and I bought to work on.  If it's really rainy or something, maybe I'll get a few out.