The slow trickle of returns continues. Today, Carmen Fanzone (great last name for a pro athlete) returned a few cards I sent him including his 1973, 1974 and 1975 Topps.
He also answered a question in my letter and signed that as well.
I sent out eight ttm requests this week, as well as to a couple private signings. I'm hoping to keep the momentum going.
Jon Matlack quickly returned my request in just 7 days, signing the Mets 1973 team card, as well as his 1974, 1975 and 1977 Topps cards.
Just one return today. Pat Bourque signed his 1973 and 1975 Topps in about 40 days.
This might be as far as I get on the 73 card, as Cabell isn't a good signer ttm and Marquez has passed away.
I don't have too many requests out right now so things might be a bit slow. Hopefully I can get some requests out this week.
All sorts of returns today.
First, I purchased a couple cards from Tom Orr on Ebay, including a 1987 Topps Reggie Jackson and a 2011 Topps Heritage Jim Thome.
I received a Willie Kirkland-signed 1961 Topps from a mail-in signing.
And Bob Bolin signed his 1973 Topps for my ttm in about three months.
Today I received a return from a private signing where I had Rico Carty sign his 1965 and 1972 Topps for my sets.
I was out of town this week and came home to a handful of returns including one failure.
Joe Jay returned my cards unsigned with no explanation as well as the $10 I had enclosed. I'm having some issues getting into SCN right now, but it looked like he had been signing reliably until about a month ago when his requests started stacking up a bit. Hopefully his health is good, and this was just an oversight.
Tony LaRussa signed his 2007 Allen & Ginter for me. This one is pretty impressive considering he has been quite ill lately, and had a pacemaker implanted in Arizona recently. This return was postmarked from AZ, so Mr. LaRussa was signing his fan mail even though he was going through these health issues. I feel guilty having bothered him. Hopefully, his fan mail provides a nice distraction for him.
Bill Mazeroski signed a couple 2008 Topps Heritage Relic cards for $10 each.
Former-Twin Juan Veintidos signed his 1975 Topps rookie card, already signed by Jim Kern.
Finally, Mike Garman signed his 1972 and 1973 rookie cards, as well as his 1979 Topps. I'll send the 72 off to Cecil Cooper next. I have this card signed only by Fisk and wanted to leave it that way but decided to have a completed copy of this card too.
Just one return today but I was happy to see it. I sent this 1975 Topps to Bobby Valentine back in June and was beginning to wonder if I'd see it again, but he signed it nicely in blue sharpie. I guess I shouldn't have been worried as I've never not gotten a request back from him, but one time it did take close to two years. I also had another request in which I sent a 78 Topps but got back a 1990 Topps.
Today was a good day at the mailbox, which contained some cards, a program and a bobblehead.
Orlando Cepeda signed a 1957 Minneapolis Millers program for me. He also enclosed a letter with a pricelist, noting that cards and flats up to 11 X 14 are $20, and inscriptions are $10. He asked that larger items not be sent as they would not be accepted. He had been signing for $10 until now. Even $20 is a bargain.
Frank LaCorte signed his 1976 Topps already signed by Jack Kucek, 1980, 1983 and 1985 Topps.
Finally, Jim Perry signed and returned the Twins Hall of Fame bobblehead head I sent him just eight days ago. I put it back on the body but have not glues it on yet. I have four bobbleheads waiting to be reglued but am waiting for one more to arrive before I break out the hot glue gun.
It's been a slow week, but I received a couple nice returns today.
First, I received a ttm return from Camilo Pascual, who signed his 1964 Topps and his Twins Hall of Fame bobblehead. I had sent just the head and a silver sharpie. He signed it beautifully, especially since the head is quite small compared to other bobblehead, and he's 88 years old!
I also received a Shannon Stewart return from a private signing. I had him sign his 2003 Topps, 2004 Topps Heritage and 2005 Topps Heritage, as well as a 2004 Season Ticket bobblehead. I had won his regular 2004 signed bobblehead in a drawing at our local grocery store in 2004. I posted about that here.
Stewart came to the Twins mid-season in 2003 and split his time nearly evenly between the Twins and the Blue Jays that year. As I recall, he made a pretty big impact on the team. He quietly hit .322. His impact must have been pretty big considering he got a bobblehead after being with the team for just half a season.
