My New Project

I've been thinking about getting some of the 1963 Western Oil portraits signed, but with their black backgrounds, I thought it might be a tough project.

But I came across 12 different portraits on Ebay of good through the mail signers so I bought them all and plan on sending them out shortly.  I sent one out already as a test to see how it looks with a silver sharpie I enclosed with my request before I send out the rest.

Billy Williams - 1972 Topps In Action

Today I received a 1972 Topps In Action signed by Billy Williams.  I had sent it in to Tom Orr at Atommic Sports who did a great job as always.

Crandall and Reid

A while ago I posted about my ttm success with Greg Luzinski, who signed his 1971 Topps for me.  Today I received a return from Scott Reid who finished the card for me.

I also received a 1961 Topps signed by Del Crandall.  I enclosed $5 with my request.  I'm not sure why it took me so long to send this card to him since I've been working on this set for a long time.

Killebrew and Slaughter

I bought a couple of signed pictures from a fellow SCN member.

I've seen a few of these before but I'm not really sure who made them or why.  The portraits of the players are really nice and the bottom have contains the players' career stats listed.

These won't fit in any standard size frame and I don't think I'll invest in custom frames for these.  For now, they'll stay rolled up in the tube they shipped in.

Bob Bailey

Today I received three cards back signed by Bob Bailey that I sent in to a Chris Potter Sports signing.

I had him sign a 1965 Topps.  I haven't added many cards to my 1965 set so it's nice to get another added.

I also had him sign his regular 1972 Topps card as well as his Boyhood Photos card.

This brings me to 381 signed cards from the 1972 set.  19 short of my goal for the year.

Ditmar, Gardenhire and Carroll

I received one ttm return today as well as a couple of cards I bought from a fellow SCN member.

First, Art Ditmar signed a 1961 Topps (1960 ERA Leaders) already signed by Frank Baumann and Jim Bunning.  Now it's off to Hal Brown!

I bought a couple more Twins Heritage cards to try to complete my sets.  I bought 2012 Topps Heritage cards signed by Gardenhire and Carroll. 

I still need cards from this set by Scott Baker and Alexi Casilla, who are normally really easy autographs to get at TwinsFest or other signings around town.  Unfortunately, neither of them are on the team any more so I need to find another way to get them.

Harry Fanok

Today I received a 1964 Topps signed by Harry Fanok that I sent out in early August.

Mike Shannon is pretty hit-or-miss ttm, so I'm not sure I'll send this one on to him.

Wally Westlake

Today I received another "duplicate" card that I sent out.  This time it was Wally Westlake on a 1953 Topps.  He also included a signed picture personalized to me in which he referred to me as a "primetime dude".  Ha!

Jim Rivera

Today I received a 1953 Topps signed by Jim Rivera in about 8 days.

I already had a 1953 Topps signed by him, but this one was just laying around, unsigned.  So I sent it again.  Does anyone else do this?  I had a bunch of unsigned cards laying around from the '50's and '60's that I already had signed copies of.  I tried selling them but didn't get a decent offer, so I started sending a few of them out.

Minnie Minoso and Don Eddy

Two returns today:

Minnie Minoso signed a 1954 Sport Magazine.  I included $15 with my request.

Don Eddy signed his 1972 Topps rookie card.  Now it's off to Dave Lemonds to finish it off.

Ted Sizemore - 1972 Topps

Soooooo slow lately.  I haven't even updated my 3rd quarter progress on my goals, but I hope to do that this week.  I don't think I'll have much to report though.

I was out of town over the weekend but came home to find one return in my mailbox.

Ted Sizemore signed his 1972 Topps for me.

I have about 6-8 requests out, but don't have too many cards to send, so I need to start buying some cards and sending out requests!

Greg Luzinski

It's been very slow lately, and I don't have many requests out so it may stay slow for a while.

Today I received a return from Greg Luzinski, who signed his 1971, 1972 and 1973 Topps for me. 

 

This makes 378 signed 1972 Topps in my set, just 22 short of my goal for the year.

Jim Greengrass and Ben Oglivie TTM Returns

I was away for a few days and came home to find two through the mail returns in my mailbox.

First, Ben Oglivie signed his 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game card for me.  I really like this set have have quite a few, but haven't concentrated on it much for a while.  I may try to get a few more of these but I'm not sure if I'll spend much money to get the big names.

I also got a great return from Jim Greengrass.  I sent him four cards, including  a1953 Topps, 1954 Topps, 1954 Bowman and 1955 Bowman.  He signed them all and also returned a signed 1956 Topps as well as two custom index cards!  I'm not sure what the "1952" inscription he added to many of the cards refers to.

 

 

Francisco Liriano - 2011 Topps Heritage

I received an ebay purchase in the mail today.  I knocked one more Francisco Liriano card off my wantlist by buying a 2011 Topps Heritage that he signed.

Now I just need 2006, 2008 and 2011 Allen & Ginters to have all the autographs I need of him.

Anybody have some to sell?

I started a new blog last weekend that focuses on my comic collecting.

It's called "My Comical Problem".  If you're interested in comics, please give it a try.

My older son also started a blog that focuses on his hunting and fishing here in Minnesota.  He would appreciate any readers so please give it a try as well.  It's called "Minnesota Woods and Lakes."

Don Larsen TTM Return

One nice return today: Don Larsen signed his 1956 and 1958 Topps in blue sharpie.  Mr. Larsen charges for his signature.  I paid $10 for these two cards to be signed.

He offers the best bargain around as well.  He sells a picture of him and Yogi Berra celebrating after Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series, signed by both of them, for only $40.  I purchased one years ago.  Berra charges at least $75 for an autograph these days, so this is a great deal.  If you haven't bought one, what are you waiting for?

Roy Face and Al Dark Returns

I received two returns today.

Al Dark signed his 1954 Red Heart (Dog Food) card.  I enclosed $5 with my request.

Roy Face signed a 1961 Topps Buc Hill Aces and his 1962 Topps.

I bought a handful of 1972 Topps to send out which I hope to get done tomorrow.

Bench, Wills and Robinson

Today I received some purchases as well as some cards back from a mail-in signing.

First, I received a 1972 Topps signed by Brooks Robinson and authenticated by PSA/DNA that I bought on Ebay.

I also received a 1972 Topps and 1972 Topps In Action signed by Maury Wills that I bought from a fellow member on sportscollectors.net.

Finally, I received three cards signed by Johnny Bench that I sent in to an AtommicSports signing, including a 1972 Topps, 1972 Topps In Action and 2008 Goudey.

 

Another Al Rainovic Drawing - Aaron and Mathews

A couple weeks ago I posted about a Charlie Dressen  drawing by Al Rainovic that I bought on Ebay.  That Ebay seller also had another one for sale, but I passed on it because the starting price was too high, although I thought someone else wold probably buy it.

Nobody bought it, and the seller relisted it at a lower price, so I bought it.  This one features Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews. The drawing itself is about 11.25 inches tall and 10 inches wide.

The text in the upper right corner is hard to read, but says, "Lo, the poor National League pitchers facing these two guys these days!"


I'm trying to figure out approximately what date this may have appeared and find the this one printed in the Milwaukee Journal archives on Google.

Frank Robinson - 1972 Topps

Today I received a recent Ebay purchase.

I bought a 1972 Topps signed by Frank Robinson and authenticated by PSA/DNA.

I was able to buy this for less than the normal price of his autograph at a show.

Bob Turley Return

I received one nice return today. 

Bob Turley signed his 1956 Topps. 

I have just a handful of requests out so it will continue to be a little slow for a while.