Yesterday's Four TTM Returns and Purchases

Today I didn't receive any ttm successes, but I did receive a nice, handwritten letter from Joan Speake, the wife of the late Bob Speake, who passed away last month.  She apologized for my cards not getting signed and let me know that Bob had passed away peacefully in his sleep from Covid-19, after struggling with his health for the last three years.  He was 94.  She included some of the typed letters he would include with his ttm returns and sent it all in her own envelope and postage, returning my unsigned cards and my sase.  

Yesterday I received four ttm successes.  

Danny Breeden signed his 1970 Topps.  I had intended to send a 1972 Cubs team card, but accidently sent that in my request to Charlie Hough, which thankfully, he didn't sign.

Charlie Hough did sign the 1971 Dodgers team card and his 1972, 1974 and 1977 Topps.

Roger Repoz signed his 1966 and 1971 Topps along with the 1971 and 1972 Angels team cards.

And finally, Camilo Pascual signed his 1955, 1959 and 1960 Topps cards as well as the 1963 Twins team card which now has nine signatures.

I bought a few cards from PastPros, who had a sale a little while ago.  I bought 1971 Topps cards of Cesar Cedeno, Rico Carty and Mike Torrez and a 1973 Topps Boog Powell.  These cards helped fill some holes in my sets.

I've also been working on completing an unsigned 1971 Topps set.  I'm about 50 cards short, mostly the high number cards which I've been trying to add slowly when I see some good deals.  The set is mostly lower grade.  I also have a duplicate set which is getting quite large.  I'm tempted to go fill in the holes in that set where I can find cards for $1 or less, but then I'm really just trying to complete two sets, and do I really need to do that?  Probably.

It's one of my favorite sets since it is from my childhood, and I had a few of them while growing up.  I was only four when the set came out, but I bought a bunch of them at a garage sale when I was a kid from a house a block away that had some older boys.  That lot included a Nolan Ryan, which I finally got signed a few years ago.

That lot from the garage sale also included some cards from 1973, including Pete Rose and a couple Roberto Clemente.  They were the only cards I owned at that time that had any value according to the price guides of the day, so I treasured them as if they were gold.

Five TTM Returns

The mailbox was full today with five ttm returns.  I still have quite a few outstanding so hopefully this will be a busy week.

All of these returns were sent out the same day: October 23rd.

Greg Bollo signed his 1966 Topps for me.

Chris Krug also signed his 1966 Topps.  This is my first autograph from Mr. Krug.

Former-Twin Don Lee signed a Tigers and Angels team card as well as his 1960 and 1961 Topps in nice blue sharpie.  Both the 60 and 61 Topps are nice upgrades to cards I received from him in the past which he signed in black.

Another former-Twin, Rick Renick, signed Twins team cards from 1970 through 1972 as well as his 1972 Topps.  The 1972 Topps is an upgrade to one he signed in black back in 2020.  I would also like to upgrade a 1971 Topps he signed in black for me.  It's a high number card, but it can be found for $5 - $6 on eBay.  Maybe next request.

And finally, Carl Warwick signed his 1966 Topps and three team cards for me.  These team cards are getting pretty full, but I think there's still room for a couple more signatures.

I mailed four packages today for private signings which take place between this month and early January of 2025.  They contained almost all cards, except the one for Doug Mientkiewicz.  I sent him a season ticket holder bobblehead from 2003.  I had him sign the stadium giveaway (SGA) version at the All Star FanFest back in 2014.  I love that he's blowing a bubble.  The only differences are on the base.  The SGA version has a green base and says "Mountain Dew" on the front, whereas the season ticket holder version has a red base and has his name on the front.  His signing is the one that doesn't occur until January 2, 2025.

Here's the SGA version signed.  He signed it on the brim, which is okay, but his name is quite long.  For the one I sent in today, I requested he sign it along the side of the cap.

Brinkman, Dawson and Kubiak TTM Returns

I received three ttm returns yesterday.  All three are quite reliable signers, so there were no surprises. 

Chuck Brinkman signed a 1971 Topps Buyback already signed by Dick Moloney, a couple White Sox team cards and a 1974 Topps.

Andre Dawson signed a 2005 Diamond Kings relic card for his $10 per card fee.

And Ted Kubiak signed a couple 1972 team cards, his 1975 Topps, and a 1975 Topps ALCS card.  The ALCS card is somewhat controversial as the identity of the player on the card isn't confirmed by anyone that I have found.

I previously sent the card to Dick Green and asked him to confirm if he was the player in the picture.  He signed it without answering the question or confirming it is him.

Kazanski, Law, Mussina and Swoboda TTM Returns

The 20 or so requests I sent out about 10 days ago are starting to arrive.

Ted Kazanski signed a 1958 Phillies team card.

Vern Law signed a 1961 Pirates team card and a 1963 Fleer, loaded with inscriptions, as always.  He even added his Cy Young and World Series Champs inscriptions to the team card.

Mike Mussina signed his 1992 Fleer Ultra, 2004 Bowman Heritage and 2005 Diamond Kins relic card nicely in blue sharpie.  I'm surprised he still signs so quickly for just $10 per card.  He must be swamped with requests.  I suppose though, you can probably sign 50 cards an hour, so $500/hour isn't bad.

And finally, Ron Swoboda signed his 1966 Topps and a 1970 Topps Mets team card which commemorates their 1969 World Series Championship.  I already had his 1966 Topps signed, which has the Topps Rookie Trophy on it, but he signed the first one in black, so I was hoping for an upgrade, which I got.