Bruce Ellingsen and Al Spangler TTM Returns

A good start to the week with two ttm returns and a couple purchases.

Bruce Ellingsen signed his 1975 Topps and the 1975 Indians team card.

And Al Spangler signed his 1963, 1965, 1970 and 1974 Topps.  I already had the 63 and 65 signed by him, but these are nice upgrades to the ones he previously signed in black ballpoint.

I also received a couple purchases including a 1975 Topps Ron Hodges and 2023 Topps Heritage Real One signed by Simeon Woods Richardson.  I think this is the first 2023 Heritage from the Twins team set.

More Purchases and Mail Issues

Today I received a two more orders from a couple SCN members.  One included a handful of 1962 Topps that I don't yet have.  There were two cards, one personalized, and one miscut, that were thrown in for free which was nice because not only didn't I have those cards yet, but I also didn't have any autographs from those players (Ed Keegan and Gordon Windhorn).

Another order had four different vintage cards of players I already had, but on cards that I didn't.

I have been having my share of mail issues lately.  A few weeks ago, a few Ebay orders marked as delivered didn't actually show up.  But a few days later, a neighbor dropped them off as they had been delivered to them by mistake.

Lately, I've had worse problems.  More orders marked as delivered that weren't, orders that simply disappeared from USPS tracking, and orders that don't get any tracking updated after initial scanning.  I've had to request a few refunds of orders in the $30 range. 

I have a Brian Harper return coming back from a private signing that I shipped using a PirateShip return label.  The label was expired because the signing was delayed, but it's still being tracked.  It was at the sorting plant near me, then made a detour to a neighboring state and back.  Hopefully I get it Monday.

I have several ttm requests from the last few months that haven't been returned, despite the player returning other requests during that period.

I'm at the point where I think I'm going to hold off on many purchases or even ttm requests until after the holidays because I have lost my faith in the USPS for now.

Eric Gagne, Ken Harrelson and Bob Ross TTM Returns

I received three ttm returns today.

Eric Gagne signed his 2003 through 2005 Topps Heritage cards.  I noticed some returns from him posted on SCN so I thought I'd give it a shot. He was a three-time All Star and Cy Young Award winner in 2003.

Ken Harrelson signed his 1965 Topps, which wasn't returned with my last request.  Unfortunately, the card was badly creased in the mail.

And Bob Ross signed his 1954 Topps and the 1957 Phillies team card.  I think my last request to him lost in the mail as I received my sase torn and inside a USPS plastic body bag.  

Chuck Essegian, Ralph Garr and Some More Purchases

I've been purchasing more signed cards than I've been getting back in the mail lately.

Chuck Essegian is a very generous signer.  He has several cards from the late 50's and early 60's and I've got several examples of all of them.  He almost always signs in ballpoint, which isn't a bad look on these vintage cards, but can be hard to see sometimes.  He signed his 1958 through 1961 Topps for me in about two and a half weeks. 

Ralph Garr signed the 1972 N.L. Batting Leaders card as well as his 1973, 1975 and 1978 Topps for my sets. The upper left corner got pretty dinged up on the 72.  I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often.

I bought a bunch of cards from an SCN member, including a 1971 White Sox Rookie Stars card.  I got this card signed ttm but the Lolich signature smeared a bit, so this is a nice upgrade.

I also bought a 1978 Topps Butch Hobson.  It's not impossible to get him ttm but it's been tough lately, so I bought this in case I never get the chance otherwise.

And I bought a bunch of 58's and 59's.  I just can't resist them when they are only $3 or $4 apiece.  It's cheaper than buying the cards and mailing them out myself.  I have all of these already, except for the 59 Secrest and Chrisley.

Guinn and Mussina TTM Returns and a Berra Purchase

My Skip Guinn return showed up in my Saturday Informed Delivery email so I'm happy it showed up today.  He signed his 1969, 1970 and 1971 Topps.

And Mike Mussina signed his 2000 Fleer Tradition and 2006 Allen & Ginter cards.  He added his HOF inscription without me asking.

And I bought a 1975 Topps MVP cards signed by Yogi Berra.  I bought this on eBay from a trusted SCN contact.

Daley and Jay TTM Returns and a Couple Purchases

I have sent to Pete Daley a few times over the years.  A long time ago (2004), he just signed the cards with no personalization. When I sent to him in 2010, he personalized my cards as well as last year.  I bought a rather expensive ($20) 1955 Topps and I really didn't want him to personalize it.  So, I sent it to him along with a 1958 Red Sox team card that already had a couple signatures.  In my letter, I asked him politely not to personalize it, because there isn't much room on this rather busy card, which is very true.  I emphasized that these cards were for my personal collection and would not be sold.  I also included $10 and told him that even if he still wanted to personalize the cards, he should still keep the $10 for his time.

He returned the cards signed, but not personalized.  He also returned my $10 and tore off a piece of the envelope I sent my request in and wrote "Give it to Charity".  So, I put the $10 in my wallet and thought, sure, I'll donate it to charity when I get the chance.  Then I realized I'll never do it unless I do it right now.  I donated it to my local food shelf via their web site.  They will probably think such a small donation is odd, but I fulfilled Mr. Daley's request in return for his nice gesture of not personalizing my cards.

I also received a return from Joe Jay, who signed three different 1962 Topps that he appears on, as well as a 1963 National League Pitching Leaders card.  Unfortunately, of all the players pictured on those multi-player cards, only one is still alive.  Art Mahaffey is on the 1963 card, and I will probably send it on to him to sign.

I made a rather expensive mistake when I bought a 1952 Topps signed by Ned Garver, because I already have it!  I sent it ttm to Mr. Garver in March of 2010, and it looks almost identical to the one I just bought.

Finally, I bought a Beckett-authenticated Johnny Bench 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game.  I collect mainly vintage signed cards, but this set just stands out to me and I've been slowly working on it since I started collecting in 2003.  I still need 43 to complete the set, but I already have 64.