Eight TTM Returns!! And a Few Purchases...

I have a lot of outstanding ttm requests, but the returns have been slow the last week.  So, I was happy to see eight returns in my mailbox  

I'll start with the disappointing one.  I sent a 1952 Bowman and 1966 Topps Pitching Leaders card to Vern Law along with $20.  But today, I received just one card back, and it wasn't either of the ones I sent.  I posted about it on SCN to see if by chance anyone gets my cards back and will fess up to it.  I guess if someone sent some new reprint type card, and instead received a 52 Bowman, they might be hesitant to go out of their way to find its rightful owner.  I offered to send someone a signed vintage card if they were able to return mine, and I'd send them a sase to get it back to me.  We'll see, otherwise I'm stuck with a signed card from him that I already have.  I also offered to return the card I received to anyone that could tell me what card it is, and how it was packaged, just to make sure the real owner is claiming it.

I did receive seven good returns though.  In no particular order:

Wayne Garrett signed his 1970, 1971 and 1972 Topps.  Mr. Garrett is a very generous and reliable signer.  I have sent to him several times over the years, and the results have always been excellent.

 

Tommie Sisk signed the 1963 Topps Rookie Stars card that is also Gaylord Perry's 2nd year card.  This was previously signed, albeit quite weakly, by Dick Egan.  Julio Navarro and Gaylord Perry have both passed away, so this card is "done".

I do have this card by Perry, but since I can't complete it with Navarro, I don't intend to have the two others sign it.

Pete Cimino signed his 1966 Topps rookie card, as well as the 1966 and 1967 Topps Twins team cards.  His rookie card, being a high number card in the series cost about $45.  I had put it off for a long time because of the cost, but decided I'd regret it if I didn't get it signed.  I really like the 66 set and have been trying to get all the Twins cards signed.

The team cards are coming along nicely.  I may send a few of them off to add Jim Kaat, but probably when I'm ready to retire the card once he signs it.  These are getting close.

Here are a few of the other Twins cards from the 1966 Topps set.

Al Downing signed a 1972 Topps N.L. Pitching Leaders card already signed by Fergie Jenkins and his 1976 Topps.  He has a slightly complicated pricing structure where he charges a couple dollars more for leaders cards and his rookie card.  I sent $20 along with this request ($8 for a "regular" card, the 76 Topps, and $12 for the "leaders" card).

I'm debating whether I want to spend the money to have Steve Carlton sign it, knowing that I can't complete it since Tom Seaver has passed away.

Mitch Garver signed a couple Topps Heritage cards for me via the Seattle Mariner's spring training stadium in Peoria, AZ.  I can't think of any other current player that signs as reliably as he does.  I thought he was a good catcher while with the Twins and was sorry to see him leave.

Ted Kazanski signed a 1954, 1955, 1957 and 1958 Topps nicely in blue sharpie.  Mr. Kazanski is also a very generous and reliable signer.  In addition to these four cards, I think the 1959 Topps is his only other card.  He answered a couple questions I asked in my letter and wrote me a nice note on my letter.  Mr. Kazanski is the type of person that makes this hobby so fun.  I average sending to him every two years and have had him sign a few team cards as well.  I need to do a little more research and see if there are any other oddball type cards of his.

In the last five years or so, I've noticed he'll personalize one card if you send him multiples.  Each time he's personalized one of my cards, it has been the 1957 Topps.  It's nice to have some personalized cards, but I'd like one version of the 1957 that's not.  Maybe I'll try sending him just that card and see if her personalizes it or not.  I really hate to ask him not to personalize it, but maybe I could also send him a 1957 and a 1958 Topps, and ask him to personalize the 58 instead?  With my luck, he'll personalize them both :-)

The last ttm success today was from Bob Skinner, who signed the 1961 and 1962 Pirates team cards, and the 1978 Padres team card.  He was the manager of the Padres in 1977, which is the team that the 1978 team card commemorates.

Mr. Skinner is right up there with the best of the ttm signers.  Sometimes, like this time, he signs in black though.  I should have requested blue, like I did with my Al Downing request, but since Skinner signs for free, it seems a bit rude.  I could always include a pen as well, but that increases the postage costs round-trip from $1.46, to at least $5.50 if I still use a regular ttm sase, and closer to $9, if I use bubble envelopes both ways.

The 1961 Pirates team card is coming along nicely.  I need to see who else is left.

In addition to the ttm returns today, I received a few purchases from eBay, that included a couple Jack Morris cards from Tom Orr (Atommic Sports), and a bunch of Twins Allen & Ginter cards from an SCN member.  I also bought a signed Johan Santana card that I've wanted for a long time.  The price was decent, and way lower than the cost of the last, rare signing.  The seller had a guarantee for authentication, so I may send this one in to Beckett.  I'm just going to dump the scans here to shorten this already too long post.