Friday, July 29, 2011

Yogi Berra Living Legends Portrait

Today I received an Ebay purchase in the mail.  Ever since I bought a set of four, signed Living Legends Ron Lewis portraits from Insider Sports Deals I have been looking for more.  This time I added a JSA-authenticated Yogi Berra portrait.


I still really like these and plan on adding some more.  I'd like to get Whitey Ford soon but am having trouble finding a reasonably priced unsigned copy.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

A Couple 1958 Topps Returns For My Son

Nothing in the mail for me the last couple of days, but my son has received a couple more 1958 Topps.

Milt Bolling signed a card and included a brief note indicating that the picture is actually of Lou Berberet.  It's surprising how often cards have the wrong pictures on them.


Bob Speake signed his card nicely in about 2 weeks.


My son now has a very respectable 77 signed 1958 Topps in his collection.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Tony Bartirome Return

One return today.  Tony Bartirome signed and returned a 1953 Topps.  The signature is a little smeared, but not too bad.


I also got an RTS from Mike Roarke but it contained his new address so I'm sending it out again tomorrow.  

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Catching Up After a Busy Week

I didn't have any time to post my returns this week because I was busy with work and going to my sons' games.
My older son's team won their league championship game on Wednesday.  My son went 3-4 and caught all 7 innings despite the terrible heat and humidity.

My younger son's team lost their second playoff game on Thursday in a pretty flat performance.  One more tournament left for my older son then a short break until Fall Ball starts.

Anyway, I did receive a few returns this week.  On Monday, I received a 1972 Topps signed by Richie Scheinblum.


On Tuesday, I got back three returns.  First, Johnny Logan signed a 1959 Topps.


Jerry McNertney signed a 1971 and 1972 Topps.



And Ralph Garr signed a 1972 Topps for a $5 fee.


On Friday, I received a return from Joe Grzenda, who signed a 1971 and 1972 Topps.


I expect to receive a few more returns this week.  Hopefully I'll have time to post about them before next weekend!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Carlos Delgado Shea Stadium Banner

I've purchased several Metrodome Stadium banners with Twins players on them and have three of them hanging in my basement.

When I saw a Carlos Delgado Shea Stadium banner for sale on the Steiner Sports web site, I thought my younger son would like it for his Mets-themed bedroom.  He loves it and tonight we hung it up in his room.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

DeMaestri, Mayberry and Wilson

My son and I got some very quick returns today.  We both sent some requests out Monday.  I got two of those back today and my son got one.

Bob "Red" Wilson signed a 1958 Topps for my son and wished him well in a brief note.


I received returns from Joe DeMaestri, who signed a 1961 Topps, and John Mayberry, who signed a 1972 Topps.  I included $5 with my request to Mayberry.

Friday, July 15, 2011

A Few Returns This Week

I have been very busy all week and haven't been getting home until late so I haven't had time to post.

I received just a couple returns this week.  Al Kaline signed his 1961 Topps.  I enclosed $10 with my request.


Jim Foor signed his 1972 Topps rookie card, already signed by Paul Jata.


Today my son got back a 1958 Topps signed by Bill Virdon, who also enclosed a signed postcard.




Last Sunday I went to the Twin Cities Sports Collectors Club card show in Bloomington and picked up a few cards to send out.  I was able to send out about a dozen requests on Monday so hopefully I'll start seeing those come back next week.

Saturday, July 09, 2011

Some Purchases - 1961 Topps and 1953 Topps Archives

I received a few purchases in the mail this week.  I bought a few 1961 Topps from Mickey's Sportscards including Vic Power, Chico Fernandez, Tony Taylor, Hank Sauer and Ted Bowsfield.  These players are either deceased or tough signers, with the exception of Bowfield, but his card was so cheap I bought it anyway.


 

I also bought a few 1953 Topps Archives (released in 1991) from a fellow member of sportscollectors.net.  I bought a few deceased players that I don't currently have autographs of, including Sal Yvars, Cal Hogue, Ben Wade  and Toby Atwell.





I also bought a couple deceased players that I have other autographs of including Bobby Thomson and Jim Delsing.



I also bought Cloyd Boyer, who is a good signer through the mail.  I'm not sure why I bought it.  Maybe I was confused with Clete Boyer, who has passed away.

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Whammy Douglas and Carl Erskine Returns

On Tuesday my son received a 1958 Topps signed by Whammy Douglas.  For a long time, Mr. Douglas was a tough autograph to get but now signs very consistently for just $5.


A while ago I posted about a 1956 Topps I got back signed by Carl Erskine.  I had asked permission in my letter to send a ball and he replied that it would be fine.

Today I got that ball back and it looks great.  I asked Mr. Erskine to inscribe it with whatever he is most proud.  He signed on the sweetspot and added an inscription of "1955 World Series Champs".  On one side panel he inscribed, "No Hit Giants 5/12/56".  On the other side panel he inscribed "No Hit Cubs 6/19/52".

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Zach Monroe Return - After 962 Days!

Today I received a surprise in my mailbox.  I knew it was an old request because the return envelope was handwritten.  I have been printing most of my return envelopes using my computer/printer for the last couple of years.

It turned out to be a 1959 Topps signed by Zach Monroe that I sent out on November 15th, 2008.  That's 962 days, and within a couple of weeks of when I started this blog.


I had long ago given up on this request and sent him another 1959 Topps last August that I got back in about two and a half months.  I also sent him a 1960 Topps back in late May of this year which I got back in just 15 days.  I love getting back these requests that I have long ago assumed I'd never see again.  It makes me wonder where it's been all this time.

Saturday, July 02, 2011

More Living Legends Portraits

I found a couple more signed Ron Lewis Living Legends portraits on Ebay.  Both are JSA authenticated.  I was surprised to find these and thought the price was right.

I picked up Enos Slaughter.



And Red Schoendienst.


After posting about my collecting goals yesterday, I decided to go through my 1972 Topps cards and do an accurate count of what I have.  Here's what I found:

I have 279 signed cards from the set.

Of the 279, 10 of them are duplicates.

Of the remaining 269, there are an additional 9 signatures on multi-player cards.

So I have 278 different signatures on 269 cards as well as 10 duplicates.  Since my goals stated the number of cards, I have 269 with 31 to go to reach my goal of 300 by the end of the year.

Friday, July 01, 2011

Update on 2011 Collecting Goals

The year is half over so it's time to update my progress on my 2011 collecting goals.
 
  1. Send out 250 requests through the mail - As of today I have sent out 151 requests this year.  Hitting 250 won't be a problem but I have to keep at it.
  2. Reach 300 signed 1972 Topps cards - I think I'm at about 280 or so.  I am going by the images files listed on my web site, but there are a few cards that have multiple signatures that I might be counting as separate cards.  I really need to get the actual cards out and count them.  300 signed cards by the end of the year is very achievable.
  3. Add 5 more signed bobbleheads to my 1987 Twins bobblehead collection.  So far I've added 4: George Frazier, Dan Schatzeder, Keith Atherton and Jeff Reardon.  I still need to add one more by the end of the year and will need to make it a priority to keep my eyes out for an opportunity.
  4. Finish the 10 possible John Wheeldon portraits (out of 12) -   I got Rich Reese back a while ago.  I need George Mitterwald and Ron Perranoski, and need to buy better copies of their portraits.  The ones I have are in pretty rough shape. Unfortunately, Harmon Killebrew passed away.

Dick Littlefield and Doc Edwards Purchases

No returns but I did get a couple of cards I bought from a fellow SCN member.

I bought a 1958 Topps signed by Dick Littlefield.


And a 1965 Topps signed by Doc Edwards.


I don't have many cards to send out, but I might try to get a few Twins to sign their 2011 Topps Heritage cards through the mail.  I'll start with Nathan and Cuddyer.