I was out of town for the weekend and came back to a bunch of autographs in my mailbox. Mostly purchases, but a couple ttm returns too. My Informed Delivery showed a return from Bobby Shantz that I'm really anxious to get back, but I was very disappointed that it wasn't actually in my mailbox. One time when that happened recently, I ended up getting the empty envelope ripped open and inside a USPS "body bag" because it got destroyed in the sorting machine. I will be VERY disappointed if that happens with this return.
My ttm returns included Masanori Murakami, who lives in Japan. He signed his 1965 Topps for me. I didn't think I'd ever get this card signed, even though I knew he was a reliable signer. I assumed the process was too hard and unreliable, but it was actually quite easy, and cheap!
I used a Global Forever stamp to send to him, which cost about $1.60. I enclosed $10 with my request, to help cover the return postage as well as some extra for him. I enclosed my usual sase, but added "U.S.A. to my address, as well as the additional 4 digits to my zip code. I'm really happy to add another card to my 1965 Topps set.
My other ttm return was from Ted Kazanski, who signed his 1957 and 1959 Topps, as well as the 1957 Topps Phillies team card. He personalized the 1957 Topps. He wrote a very nice and thoughtful answer to a question in my letter, and also wrote a short note thanking me for being a baseball fan, which is a great game. I really appreciate the personal notes in return.
I bought a 1983 Topps Tim Raines signed card, which is authenticated by JSA. It was a bargain I thought, so I picked it up on Ebay. I don't intend to pay a lot for the 1983 set autographs but bought the set to include when I send out cards from the 1985 and 1987 Topps sets, which I prioritize over the 83 set.
I made another Ebay purchase too. This time it was a Josh Donaldson 2022 Topps Heritage Real One autographed card. Josh is a character and was a bit of a distraction for the Twins, as well as other teams when he made some unpopular comments or actions. I never got the chance to see him at a signing, so I'll have to buy his autographs, I guess. I have a cool bobblehead of him I'd really like to get signed, but I'll have to wait for a mail-in signing.
I bought a couple 2018 Bowman Twins card from an SCN member, including Royce Lewis and Brent Rooker. Royce Lewis has lot of potential and got a lot of attention this post season with a few home runs. Not bad for a rookie.
The rest of my purchases were from Tom Orr auctions on Ebay that ended last Sunday. I got a bunch of bargains, I think, and added a couple more Jim Kaat autographs for less than sending into him for his $25 per card fee. I also added a couple cards signed by Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, who were big prospects when I started collecting autographs. I got them both ttm, which was amazing to me back in 2003. I added their 2003 Topps cards, which was the current set when I started collecting, and a Heritage card of each of them. I added three Gorman Thomas signed cards, for about the same or less than his fee, especially when you consider postage back and forth. And I was assured of a nice blue sharpie signature. He seems to sign with a nice blue pen according to the comments on SCN, but you never know. I might also send some late 80's cards to him ttm as well. Finally, I bought a Matt Adams signed 2014 Topps Heritage, mainly because of the Topps Rookie trophy.
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