Bernie Allen TTM Return and More Purchases

I received a nice return from Bernie Allen, who used the blue sharpie I enclosed to sign his 1965, 1966, 1971 and 1972 Topps.

I also received a large purchase of vintage cards from an SCN member.  Many of these players are deceased, and I probably already had about half of these signed but couldn't resist buying them for some reason. 

I also purchased a couple Twins Heritage cards from a local collector via Ebay.

Finally, I bought a 1972 Topps Danny Thompson slabbed by PSA from an SCN member.  This is a relatively tough card to get since he died in 1976 at the young age of 29.

Maloney and Reardon TTM Returns and a Billy Wagner Purchase

Two more ttm returns today.

Jim Maloney signed a 1963 Reds team card and his 1964 Topps in about 8 days.

Former-Twin and World Series Champion Jeff Reardon signed his 1982 and 1983 Topps for my sets.  He also returned these in 8 days. 

And I added another 2008 Goudey to my Stars and Hall of Fame collection from that set.  I bought this Billy Wagner card on eBay from a seller who has great feedback on SCN as well.

Finally, a Big Day at the Mailbox

Since I have so many requests outstanding, I had anticipated a big day with lots of returns instead of the 1-2 per day I have been receiving.  I guess today was that day, with six ttm returns.

Camilo Pascual signed Ralp Lumenti's 1959 Topps (Pascual is pictured), the 1964 ERA Leaders card, and his 1964 Bazooka.  The Bazooka was signed in black while the others were signed in blue.  Probably because the Bazooka is so small, and he needed a very fine pen to fit his signature on it.

This was a very odd return.  He took the two Topps cards, and taped them face-to-face on one end, and put the Bazooka between them!  It appears he tried to make an envelope for the Bazooka.  Although he used Scotch, "magic" tape, the paper did get lifted off the two cards when I removed the tape.  At least it was on the back.

Ken Singleton signed a 1972 Commissioners Award (now called the Roberto Clemente Award) card along with Cecil Cooper, Steve Garvey and Greg Luzinski.  He also signed his 1975, 1982 and 1982 All-Star cards.

Cleon Jones signed his 1967 Topps All-Star Rookie Trophy card and both his 1972 Topps.  I included $30 with my request.  Jones is a very spotty signer and often simply doesn't return a request.  He has a 63% success rate on SCN.  

Over the years, I am lucky to be 3 for 3 with him.  I try to send right after I see a couple other successes which seems to work with him.  For other signers that are spotty, that's often too late and you just need to send randomly and hope for the best.

John "Blue Moon" Odom signed three cards; I believe with the blue sharpie I sent him.  His signature is so tiny to try to fit his whole name and nickname on the card.  I took a risk and sent one already signed by Johnny Bench but used PirateShip to send it tracked and insured both ways.

Rich "Goose" Gossage signed his 1982 Topps In Action card for a $10 fee.  He also answered a couple questions I asked in my letter.  I don't know if I've asked him questions in the past, but I was a little surprised that he answered them.

And my last ttm return for the day came from Dennis Eckersley, who signed a 1972 MVP Award card and added the year and league as an inscription.  I also included $10 with this request.

I received one purchase as well: a 2007 Upper Deck Goudey Graphs Joe Mauer card I bought on eBay.

I still have lots of requests out, so there could be more big days to come.

John Curtis TTM Success and Larry Gura Signing Return

Another day of returns trickling in.

John Curtis signed his 1972, 1974, 1976 and 1978 Topps in a little over a month.

On the72, Mickey Scott has passed away, and Rich Hinto isn't a very reliable ttm signer, especially in the last five years or so.  I'll add that card to my stack of unfinished multi-player cards that I hope to get signed one day.

Larry Gura does sign ttm, and charges $10 per card.  I got a small price break by sending in more than five cards to a mail-in signing with Tom Orr, which helped cover the Pirateship shipping each way.

I can't see ever paying the fee for George Brett to sign the 1982 leaders' card, so that one is probably done.

Bill Mazeroski and Bobby Shantz TTM Returns and More Purchases

I received some great vintage cards today, both ttm and via purchases.

Bill Mazeroski signed his 1970 Topps and the 2023 Tops Living Set card for his $10 per card fee.

And Bobby Shantz signed his 1954 Topps and four team cards (1956, 1957, 1960 and 1962).  Mr. Shantz doesn't have a set fee, but I included $30 with my request.  It was a bit more than $5 per card, which I normally send, because I didn't have any $5 bills, and because I sent a lot of cards.

I bought a nice 1959 Tigers team card signed by Charlie Maxwell.

I was surprised I didn't have Tony Oliva on a 1973 Topps yet, so I jumped on this one signed nicely in blue sharpie and authenticated by PSA.

I added Ken Brett to my 1972 Topps set.  He was a good ttm signer but passed away nearly 20 years ago. 

Finally, I can't resist a nicely signed 1953 Topps and this time I came across one signed by Clem Labine.  The ballpoint signature has a nice vintage look to it.

Mr. Labine was also a good ttm signer but died in 2007.  I only sent to him once, back in 2003, when he signed his 1958 Topps for me.  I regret I didn't send to him more.  

I still haven't received my big day, where I'm expecting 8-10 returns at once.  Maybe I won't.  Maybe they'll just continue to trickle in one or two a day.  That's okay too.  It takes me a long time to catalog and post about my cards, so if I get a lot, I'm quite busy.  I never put it off to the next day because once I fall behind, I'm afraid I'll never catch up again.

FanHQ is having signings with both Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, so I'll be getting a handful of bobbleheads signed as well as a few cards.  Their card prices are a little steep, but they include bobbleheads in the lowest price tier, while most promoters charge their "premium" rate for bobbleheads, so I guess it evens out.  They also include Beckett Authentication for free, while most charge another $10 for it.  And they are super good about getting your item signed correctly.  I posted about it at the time, but I had sent in one of the 1991 Twins World Series posters to one of the players.  Shane Mack, I think?  I had requested it be signed in silver.  He signed it at the top in silver, and the pen wasn't working so it really looked bad.  Then, he signed it again on the bottom, so it was a mess.  FanHQ found a replacement poster, which isn't easy, and sent it off to another promoter's signing to get it done for me.  Impressive!