Billy Gardner

My son got back another of his 1958 Topps that he sent out just after TwinsFest late last month.

Billy Gardner signed and returned his card in one month.

I haven't sent out any requests.  I just can't get motivated and don't have much to send out.  Maybe I need a new project.

Jim Perry - Nicholas Volpe Portrait

I received a very nice return on Friday as Jim Perry returned a 1963 Western Oil Nicholas Volpe portrait that I sent to him.  My first attempt was returned with a bad address, but this attempt came back in about two weeks.  It was postmarked from Florida, though I sent it to North Carolina.  I had enclosed $10 with my request.

Mr. Perry was kind enough to add his Cy Young Award year and jersey number inscriptions without me even asking.

This is my seventh signed print from this year.  I have one more still out in the mail and a couple more at home still to be sent out.

My TwinsFest Purchase

One of the highlights of TwinsFest for me this year was purchasing an original painting from Robert Blehert.  He was showing some of his work at the FanHQ booth including some paintings on baseballs, basketballs, mini helmets and bats.

One item that caught my eye was this painting of Joe Mauer.

It's painted on a 16x20 piece of the Metrodome roof!  I talked to him a while about it and his other paintings and finally asked how much he was charging for this piece.  We haggled  a little bit and finally I decided to buy it.

My sons really like these paintings too.  I bought my younger son a canvas print of Johan Santana from FanHQ a couple years ago.  My older son has bought a few 8x10 prints and got them signed including Danny Valencia and Michael Cuddyer.  He bought one of Rod Carew, but he wouldn't sign it at TwinsFest last year.

You can check out Mr. Blehert's work at his website here.

1958 Topps TTM Returns

My son bought some 1958 Topps from a dealer at TwinsFest and sent them all out already.  He's received 5 of the 11 back already, including Buddy Pritchard, Tex Clevenger, Jim Bolger, Herb Plews and Bob Martyn.

My TwinsFest Photos

Tonight I'm posting the last of my TwinsFest autographs.

Last year, Dick Stigman signed his 1964 portrait, but this year he signed his 1963 Western Oil portrait.

I also got several photos signed.

Scott Diamond

Trevor Plouffe

Brian Duensing

Jamey Carroll

Brian Dozier

Josh Willingham Autographs

I was very surprised how easy it was to get Josh Willingham's autograph at TwinsFest this year.  I think he had the best year of anyone on the team.  35 home runs, 110 RBI 30 doubles and winning the Silver Slugger award.  His average was a little low at .260.  Sounds like Killebrew!

Anyway, I was able to get as many autographs from him as I had money for.  I got four autographs from him including a 2012 Allen & Ginter, a photo, a ball and a mini helmet.

 

Maury Wills Magazine

Maury Wills was signing at the Bob Feller Museum booth at TwinsFest on Saturday, the 26th.  I had bought a 1966 Sport Magazine a while ago, intending to send it to him through the mail, but was able to have him sign it in person instead.

He was very nice, commenting that it had been a while since he'd seen this magazine.

My Signed Cards From TwinsFest

I made pretty good progress on some Twins team sets this year.  I got several 2012 Heritage and Allen & Ginter cards, as well as Mauer and Morneau on 2010 Allen & Ginters.  That leaves just Jim Thome left for that set.

The Last of My Son's TwinsFest Items

Just a couple miscellaneous items left in my son's TwinsFest pile.  Both were items he got in the grab bag we bought on Friday night.

The calendar in his grab bag was already signed by Brian Dozier.

He also received a Twins magazine with Ryan Doumit on the cover, so he decided to get it signed on Saturday.

My Son's TwinsFest Signed Photos

We got more photos signed this year than most.  We didn't do team balls or any multi-signed items so we had more individual items.

Scott Diamond

Brian Dozier

Drew Butera

Glen Perkins

Glen Perkins (again)

Trevor Plouffe

Corey Koskie

And some Target Field pictures for the players that we didn't have anything else to sign:

Kevin Correia

Kevin Correia, Josh Roenicke, Casey Fien, PJ Walters

Kevin Correia, Josh Roenicke