A Couple Hall of Famers - Gibson and Schoendienst

I sent a few cards out to Tom Orr at Atommic Sports to help out with some sets I'm working on.

He had Red Schoendienst sign his 1961 Topps and 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game.

He also had Bob Gibson sign a 1972 Topps for me.

I also sent a couple Rusty Staub cards to him for a signing later this year and I have a couple Orlando Cepeda cards out to someone else to get signed soon.

Camilo Pascual - Strikeout Leader X 2

I received a very quick return today from former-Twin Camilo Pascual.

Mr. Pascual was the AL Strikeout Leader for three years in a row from 1961 - 1963.  He actually had his second-highest strikeout total in 1964, but was beat out by Al Downing, who had 217, just three more than Pascual.

Oddly in looking at the pitching leaders for these years, the NL pitchers had many more strikeouts, including Bob Veale in 1964 who had 250!

This year for the Twins, Ervin Santana had 149 strikeouts, while the Twins' number two strikeout leader was Duffey, with just 114.

Back in 2006, Johan Santana led the majors with 245 strikeouts.  I miss those days!

Anyway, next I'll send these cards off to Jim Bunning.

Juan Gonzalez Return

I have very few cards from the 1990's signed, but when I saw on sportscollectors.net that Juan Gonzalez was signing through the mail, I had to send a couple of cards.

His rookie cards in 1990 came out just as the baseball card market flood was beginning.  I remember buying these cards at a baseball card shop in St. Paul for about $3-$4 each, along with some Frank Thomas rookie cards for a little more.

I picked the right players.  Gonzalez's stats were impressive. He won 6 Silver Slugger awards, the AL MVP twice, and was the fastest player to 200 and 300 home runs.  He ended his 17-year career with 434 home runs.  But there were some many cards produced that they now sell for about $1.

Although he was named in the Mitchell Report, and one of the players Jose Canseco claims to have personally injected with steroids, Gonzalez has maintained his innocence.

Del Crandall - 1963 Topps

I added another signed 1963 Topps to my set collection.  I received a return from Del Crandall today, who signed his card in a little over a month for $5.

This makes 11 new 1963 Topps added to my set this year.  My goal was 10.  I also had a goal of five new cards added to my 1965 Topps set and so far I have none!  I better get going.

No Mail Today, So Catching Up On Some Purchases

Columbus Day, so no mail today.  I don't have many requests out, but at least when there's mail, there's a chance I'll get a return.

Last week I received a couple of purchases, both from Ebay

First, I bought a Mike Pelfrey signed 2015 Topps Heritage.  once players leave the team, it gets hard to get these signed, so I was happy to get this for about $5.

I also snapped up a 1965 Topps signed Bill White card, PSA/DNA authenticated for about $15.  But then I realized I already have one!  Bummer.

Wayne Terwilliger

I received a nice vintage return on Friday.  Wayne Terwilliger signed his 1952 Topps.  He also included a signed a Twins postcard.  I've sent to him before and received other signed cards he enclosed from the Fort Worth Cats and St. Paul Saints, but I'm happy get to one from the Twins as well.

Dick Such and Cecil Cooper

Two more returns today.  17-year Minnesota Twins pitching coach Dick Such signed his 1971 Topps for me in just a week.

Mr. Such was the Twins' pitching coach for both of their World Series wins.  I think we could use him again!

I received three cards from Cecil Cooper, who signed and personalized his 1976, 1978 and 1987 Topps.

 

Mike Roarke

I received a very quick return today from Mike Roarke, who signed his 1961-1964 Topps for me.  I had previously purchased a 1963 Topps signed by him, but I prefer to have one that I obtained myself.

I'm sending a few cards in to some private signings this month, which I haven't done in a long time.  I've rediscovered the 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game set and am getting a few of these signed, as well as some of my set cards.

One of my favorite cards from that set is Duke Snider, who signed his card through the mail for me back in 2004.