Bernie Carbo and Ron Swoboda TTM Returns

I received two ttm returns today.  Lately I've been receiving a few of sases with no postmark on them.  I'm not sure why that happens and I guess it's not a problem.

Bernie Carbo signed (and smeared) his 1979 Topps.

And Ron Swoboda signed his 1970 Topps and the 1970 Topps World Series Game #2 card, which commemorates the 1969 game and a home run by Donn Clendenon.  Ron Swoboda is pictured as jersey #4 congratulating him after his home run.

He also answered a question in my letter.  I included his $5 per card fee.  I honestly am not sure why I sent these.  I'm glad to have them, but I don't collect the 1970 set.  I do like the cards that show a playoff or World Series game though.

George Foster Return

 I occasionally can't remember if George Foster is a Hall of Famer or not.  He is not.  He was a great player, but just not Hall of Fame worthy.

He had an 18-year career with five All Star appearances, earning the All Star game MVP in 1976.  He was the NL MVP in 1977, NL Silver Slugger in 1981, hit 52 home runs in 1977 and won two World Series with the Reds.  Those stats start to sound like a Hall of Famer, but he really had seven excellent years from about 1975 to 1981 and would have had to stretch those great years out to a few more to be considered Hall-worthy I think.  Also, you don't hear too much about his defense.

He retired with 348 homers and a .274 batting average.  He was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2003, which was well deserved considering his peak years aligned with his time there.

He is pictured on batting leaders cards in the 1977, 1978 and 1979 Topps sets, which are still quite easily and inexpensively since he is pictured with Larry Hisle and Jim Rice.  In 1977, he is pictured with Lee May, who has passed away.

In this request, he signed the 1973 Topps NL Playoffs card, as well as his 1971, 1973 and 1975 Topps cards for his $10 per card fee.

I have previously completed the 1978 home run and RBI leaders cards.  I haven't started on the 1979 RBI and Home Run leaders cards on which he appears along with Jim Rice.  I'm not sure what I'm waiting for.  It might be because if you include Jim Rice's fee, it will cost $30 per card to complete.

Bill Mazeroski and Lloyd Merritt

I received two ttm successes today.  I also received the cards back that I sent to Dick Groat when he unfortunately passed away.  They also included a memorial card.

The successes include Bill Mazeroksi, who signed his 2022 Allen & Ginter for his $10 fee, and a 1958 Topps and 1958 Cardinals card from Lloyd Merritt.  I had sent to Merritt just a little while ago and the cards were returned unsigned in my sase and were a bit damp.  I assumed something bad had happened along the way and he probably never received them.

A Couple Days of Returns

I was out of town a couple of days and came back to five ttm returns.

In no particular order:

Ron Gardenhire signed his 1982 and 1985 Topps as well as the 2008 and 2013 Topps Heritage Twins team cards.  He also wrote a short reply to my letter.

Ryne Sandberg signed his 2022 Allen & Ginter.  The 2022 isn't my favorite Allen & Ginter set, but I thought I'd send out a few anyway.  I included $10 with my request.

Jim Perry signed his 1962 and 1975 Topps, as well as the 1961 and 1963 Indians team cards and the 1965 Twins team card.  I included his $5 per card fee, which he noted in a short reply to my letter that the money would go to charity.

Vern law signed his 1961 Pitching Leaders card.  I'm not sure why I sent this out.  I already have him and Ernie Broglio on another copy of this card.  I included $10 with my request, and he wrote a short note in reply to my letter.

Finally, Luis Tiant signed the 1973 ERA Leaders card for his $10 fee.  I will send this on to Steve Carlton next.

Duffy Dyer and Mickey Stanley TTM Returns

My ttm returns have been a little slow lately but hopefully that changes soon.  I've sent out 24 requests so far this month and those should start coming back shortly.

Today I received two ttm returns.

Duffy Dyer signed his 1969 and 1981 Topps cards as well as the 1972 and 1973 Mets team cards.  I plan to send the 69 Topps off to Terry Harmon next, then to Darrell Chaney.  I have a few other cards for Chaney that I've been waiting to send.

Mickey Stanley signed his 1977 Topps as well as the 1965 and 1971 Tigers team cards.  I had enclosed a 1972 Tigers team card as well, which he returned unsigned.

Jim Maloney and J.C. Martin TTM Return

I received two returns today that included a total of five team cards.

Jim Maloney signed his 1961 Topps, as well as the 1961, 1963 and 1965 Reds team cards.

And J.C. Martin signed the 1961 and 1963 Reds team cards as well as his 1969 and 1970 Topps cards.

Clay Carroll TTM Return and Robin Yount Purchase

Today I received a  ttm return from Clay Carroll, who signed his 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1978 Topps for my sets.  I included his $5/card fee.

I also received a 1987 Topps signed by Robin Yount from Tom Orr on eBay.

I've decided to try to put together a complete unsigned 1971 Topps set.  I'm still working on autographs from that set, but would also like the complete unsigned set.  I'm not being too picky on condition, but looking for decent centering and edges that aren't awful.  It's tough on this black-bordered set.  So far, I've bought about a hundred cards, mostly for $0.99 each on eBay.  Some have been upgrades to my existing cards.

Johnny O'Brien Return

Just one return today, but it's a nice one.  The sase was unsealed, but the three cards I sent to Johnny O'Brien made it back safely anyway.

He signed his 1956 and 1958 Topps as well as the 1958 Topps Pirates team card signed by several others.

Manny Sanguillen and Art Shamsky Returns

I received a nice return from Manny Sanguillen who signed the 1971 Batting Leaders card and the 1972 Topps Series Celebration card already signed by Steve Blass.  I had sent these in once before and received them back unsigned with no money returned ($20).  I posted this failure on SCN and got a message from someone who helps him sign his mail apologizing for the mistake and telling me to go ahead and send them back to be signed.  I sent them back, and they were kind enough to include a 1973 and 1974 Topps for me!

I also received an Art Shamsky return from a private signing.  I got nice bold blue sharpie signatures instead of some of the faint, ballpoint ones I've received before.

Here's a 1971 I received when I sent directly to him.