Claude Raymond TTM Return and JSA Results

I have not sent out a ttm request since September 17th, and don't have many outstanding, so my updates may be few and far between for a while.  My time has been spent on work as well as at our new cabin, which we bought in July.  There has been a few days I needed to be there to meet plumbers, gutter installers, tree removers, etc., as well as hosting a few of our family members over the weekends.

Yesterday I got a return from Claude Raymond, who lives in Canada, so the request takes a while.  I include extra U.S. cash to help cover the return postage.  His pen was fading a bit, but he signed three of his cards and a 1963 Braves team card already signed by Hank Fischer.

I received some cards back from a JSA/CGC submission.  I was really happy to get this Pee Wee Reese card back as it was the only one I was afraid might not pass.  I had seen some other cards with this style signature but I also saw a few other styles, so I wasn't sure.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see this 1970 Topps Batting Leaders card receive a grade of 10.  I was under the impression that they wouldn't grade a card with more than two signatures on it, but I guess that's not the case.

This submission included a few more signed rookie cards (Technically, the 1976 is Rice's second year card, but his first solo card).

And the rest were just some of my favorite cards that I wanted slabbed to protect them and make them nicer to display.

Stocking Up on Tony Oliva Autographs

At 88 years old, Tony Oliva still has a very nice signature.  When Fan HQ advertised their signing with him, I decided to go all out and get everything done that I wanted, which ended up being 14 items.

Rather than send a bat, I simply bought one from Fan HQ.  The only unsigned bat I had on hand had a very dark grain pattern right where his signature would have gone. This is an upgrade to one I had signed at TwinsFest many years ago that ended up getting done in black sharpie.

Tony O was the batting coach for the 1987 Twins World Series team, so I asked him to sign a ball from that series.

He also won a Gold Glove Award in 1966 as an outfielder for the Twins.

I really like the World Series Programs from the 1965 matchup between the Twins and the Dodgers.  The space-themed Dodger's home version is my favorite.  I had Mr. Oliva sign one of each.  I had Jim Kaat sign one of each of these as well.  I thought I had Camilo Pascual sign these, but apparently I did not.  That might be next.  It would be great to have about 10 players on one these, but it's too late to really get a great project done, and I should have started with Killebrew when I had the chance.  At this point, I think having individually-signed copies is better than a copy with only 3-4 players on it.

Here are the Kaat-signed copies:

My initial shipment to Fan HQ had all of these items included (except the bat).  Unfortunately, my vintage bobblehead did not survive the trip, and the head broke into several pieces.  I decided to give it another attempt, and sent in another one (I have nearly 10 of these).  It turned out really nicely, I think.

I may have another of these signed by Joe Mauer early next year, but don't currently have any plans for other players to sign a vintage bobblehead.

The only other vintage bobblehead I've had signed was by Bill Mazeroski, who signed a Pirate's version.

I also decided to get a bunch of cards signed, including a couple of his 1963 Topps rookie cards. The 1971 Topps is a nice upgrade to one he signed for me ttm back in 2004.  The rest are all cards that I did not yet have signed by him.

I am probably close to wrapping up my Tony Oliva collection.  A quick count resulted in 57 autographs.  I do need a couple more of his cards done though.  And, I'm sure there is a LOT of Twins memorabilia that would be awesome to have signed by him.  Yearbooks, programs, scorecards, etc.  If I come across any of these in really nice condition for a reasonable cost, I'll probably try to hang on to them until the next signing.  I also wouldn't mind upgrading the mini helmet I have signed by him.  My current one had the paint pen poop a little during his signature, leaving a puddle of silver ink.  I need to find better mini helmets that don't have the logo sticker already peeling off though.  I guess it sounds like I'm making a list for his next signing. :-)

Fan HQ has always done a great job with the items I send in.  I appreciate that bobbleheads, fall into their cheapest, "basic" category.  Some promoters have bobbleheads in a more expensive "deluxe" or "premium" category, if they accept them at all.

Another nice benefit of sending items to a Fan HQ signing is that they provide Beckett Witnessed authentication stickers on your item at no additional cost.  Most promoters charge at least $8, and usually $10 for that service.  You can, of course, request that no sticker be placed on your item.  I had all of these items authenticated and stickered.  I know some people really don't like stickers on the back of cards.  I prefer to have them, just in case the autograph is atypical for some reason that wouldn't allow it to be authenticated later.  I appreciate when they are placed thoughtfully and straight, which all of these were.  For example, don't put the sticker over the card number please.  And please don't have a small portion of the sticker hanging over the edge of the card.  It sounds like common sense, but bad things happen.

Did anyone else send in to this signing?

Ray Moore 1958 Topps and More Bobbleheads

I used some more credit card points to help fund the purchase of this nicely signed 1958 Topps Ray Moore card.

I'm at 70 cards needed to complete the set.  It's not hard to find a lot of them, but it's a matter of cost.  There are rather mediocre players that happened to die in the 80's or 90's with not many of these cards signed, so the cards are $200 or more.  I don't think I'll ever complete the set, but there's still enough left to keep me working on it.

I don't think I posted about my latest bobbleheads.  This time wasn't a large purchase with just eight new ones for the collection, and many of them not related to baseball or any sport.  Smokey the Bear, for example.  It's odd, I know, but I find them amusing.

The highlight was the relatively rare "Minneapolis Twins" mini version.  I previously bought another one of these with a different head mold.  These were made in 1960 - 1962, and as the Twins became a team in 1961, there was an assumption, at least by the sticker maker, that the would be called the Minneapolis Twins, rather than Minnesota Twins.  So, this different sticker adds several hundred dollars to the value of this bobblehead.

I was bidding on a 1960 Senators version, which is a similar rarity.  When the Senators moved to Minnesota, they had to abruptly stop making the Senators doll and make the Twins dolls.  So there are very few of the Senators version.  I was willing to spend a pretty ridiculous amount for this piece of paper mache with a metal spring, but not enough I guess.  It sold for nearly $1,400. 

Wes Stock TTM and Reggie Jackson Signing Returns

I wasn't sure if I'd ever see this 1966 Athletics Yearbook again after sending it to Wes Stock.  I mailed it to him on August 21st, and it took a tour of the West Coast, moving from San Francisco, to Seattle, then to San Diego, Portland Oregon, Seattle, Tacoma, and then Seattle again before being delivered to his home in Lakewood, Washington on September 24th.  Crazy.

It only took him five days to sign my items and ship them back on September 29th, with it arriving today.

In addition to the Yearbook, I included four cards and $30.  He signed everything, and also included a 1963 Topps, a 1965 Topps, and a custom card in the style of the 1970 Topps set.  He also included his unsigned 1961 Topps.  I thought that was very generous.  

I'm never sure how players might react to receiving a package with several items that take time to unpackage, sign and repackage.  I try to make it as easy as possible, and hope that the cash lets them know I appreciate their time and effort.  

He is the ninth player to sign the yearbook (Acker signed it twice).  Once in yellow ink on the sleeve of the pitcher, which I thought was pretty cool, but again in blue like the others.

I also ask the players to sign their picture in the interior, and use a sticky note to place a bookmark to the page with their bio and picture.

One of the team cards he signed smeared a little bit, but everything else turned out great.

I also received a couple cards signed by Reggie Jackson.  He signed the 1970 Topps leaders card that I bought already signed by Killebrew, and his 1973 Topps.  I plan to send the 70 Topps to be signed by Boog Powell at his next appearance with the Dugout Zone in Maryland next January.