Denny LeMaster

It's been a slow week, but I got a return today.  Denny LeMaster signed his 1963 and 1969 Topps.  I had also enclosed a 1964 Topps which he returned unsigned.

Eddie Robinson TTM Return

Another nice vintage return today.  Eddie Robinson signed his 1950 Bowman and 1953 Topps.  I had enclosed $10 with my request.

Gil Coan TTM Return

A nice vintage return today.  Gil Coan signed his 1952 Bowman, 1953 Topps and 1954 Bowman.

It could start slowing down for me pretty soon.

Randy Jackson - 1956 Topps

One nice return today.  Randy Jackson signed his 1956 Topps for me.  According to the back of this card, he never played baseball until he was 19 years old!

Aspromonte and Hershberger

Two returns today, which is really good for a Tuesday.

Bob Aspromonte signed a 1963, 1969 and 1971 Topps.

 

And Mike Hershberger signed his 1962, 1963, 1966 and 1967 Topps for me.

 

8 Returns Today!!!

One of my biggest days in a long time.  Of the 18 requests I sent out last week, I got almost half of them back today.

First, Ty Cline signed his 1962, 1963 and 1969 Topps for me.

 

Bob Oldis signed his 1962 and 1963 Topps.

Roy Sievers signed his 1952 Topps.  He returned the 1959 Topps I sent unsigned.

Bob Miller signed his 1956 Topps.  There were several Bob Millers that played during the 1950's.  This is Bob J. Miller.

Chuck Essegian signed his 1960 and 1963 Topps.  After pulling his signed card from the 2012 Heritage pack a few weeks, I decided I needed to have the real thing.

Jerry Kindall signed a 1959, 1962 and 1963 Topps for me.

 

Dick Groat signed his 1953 and 1963 Topps.

 
Finally, Don Ferrarese signed his 1956, 1958 and 1960 Topps.  I already had the 1958 Topps signed by him from a request I made back in 2003, so this isn't a new card to me 1958 Topps set collection.

I received a few 1963 Topps back that I had purchased at the Minneapolis Sports Card and Autograph Convention at the beginning of the month.  I really like the way these cards look signed.  I'm not going to tackle the whole set, but I think it's a nice set to go after.  I may pick up a few more.

Art Mahaffey - 1961 Topps

One return today.  Art Mahaffey signed his 1961 Topps for me.  I had sent this earlier in the year and received a Return To Sender on my envelope.  Luckily it provided the forwarding address so I was able to get this to him.

Update on 2012 Collecting Goals

I'm about a week and a half late updating my first quarter accomplishments towards my 2012 collecting goals, but here it goes:

2012 Collecting Goals

• Goal: Send out 150 requests through the mail.  Status: I've sent out 70 requests so far, including 18 that I sent out just this week.  I'm well on my way, but I struggle to come up with cards to send out that I don't already have.  I may need a new set to work on.

• Goal: Get 3 more bobbleheads signed from the 1987 Twins set.  I only need Don Baylor, Randy Bush, Mark Davidson, Greg Gagne and Les Straker to complete the living players.  Status: I got Mark Davidson and Greg Gagne to sign their bobbleheads at the Minneapolis Sports Card and Autograph Convention two weeks ago.  Now I'm down to needing just Baylor, Bush and Straker.

• Get 8 more bobbleheads signed from the 1991 Twins set.  Status: I've already surpassed this goal, having gotten 6 of them signed at TwinsFest, as well as three others.  It will get more difficult now as I've gotten the easy ones done.

• Reach 400 signed 1972 Topps. I have 323 so far, so I'll need to add 77 more.  Status: I have 355 signed, so I've only added 32 so far.  This will be a tough one to reach.

• Additional sets - Add 5 more 1958 Topps (not including team cards), 15 more 1961 Topps and  10 more 1965 Topps.  Status: I've added one 1958 Topps, 9 1961 Topps, and 2 1965 Topps.  I'll have to open my wallet to make much progress on these.  The 1961 Topps goal will be easy, the other two will not.

Ray Culp and Albie Pearson

Two returns in the mail today. 

Ray Culp signed his 1963, 1965 and 1972 Topps for me.  He appears to have some difficulty signing, so it's very generous of him to take the time.  He even switched pens on the 1963 Topps.

Albie Pearson signed his 1961 Topps and added his ROY inscription.  I had enclosed $5 with my request.

Michael Cuddyer From Spring Training

I got a nice surprise yesterday.  I sent a card to Michael Cuddyer in care of the Rockies' Spring Training address.  Cuddyer was a good signer with the Twins, so I thought I'd try my luck with him via the Rockies.  I had all but given up on it when it showed up.

He signed his 2011 Topps Heritage.

I'm doing pretty well on this set.  I have Ben Revere, Brian Duensing, Carl Pavano, Danny Valencia, Denard Span, Joe Nathan, Matt Capps and Glen Perkins on the team card.

I'd still need Mauer, Morneau, Kubel, Slowey Thome, Liriano, Young and Gardenhire to complete it, as well as a few special cards with Mauer and Morneau.  It would be a great set to complete since there are so many Twins in the set, but I don't think I'll complete it.  I'd rather complete the 2010 Heritage set, or maybe one of the Allen & Ginter sets.

Bobby Doerr and Phil Regan

Two returns in the mail today.

Phil Regan signed his 1961 Topps for my set.  I sent this card to the St. Lucie Mets where he is the pitching coach.

Bobby Doerr signed his 2007 Upper Deck Masterpieces and 2008 Goudey cards.

Twins 2 - Red Sox 3 -- May 30th, 1969

I recently received another vintage program that I bought on Ebay.  This time, it's a Red Sox program against the visiting Twins on May 30th, 1969.

The Twins lost 2-3 behind manager Billy Martin.  Killebrew went 1-4 with a two-run home run in the 7th inning.  Carew and Oliva each had doubles.  Dave Boswell took the loss for the Twins.  Jim Perry was sent in as a pinch runner for Harmon Killebrew, and didn't even pitch!

Jim Lonborg was the winning pitcher for the Red Sox.  Rico Petrocelli knocked in 2 runs in the bottom of the first inning and Tony Conigliaro had the winning RBI in the 6th, behind one of the Twins three errors.  Ouch.  Yastrzemski was 0-3 and was hit by a pitch.

The best thing about this program, which I wasn't aware of when I bought it, is the advertisement for the 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner on the back cover.  Wow!