Barr, Hiatt and Richardson TTM Returns

I sent out seven more requests today to try to keep the momentum going.

I'm watching the Twins right now, who are off to a pretty bad start.  I hope they can turn it around and at least be interesting to watch this year.  Royce Lewis is hurt, of course, and I suppose when he comes back, Buxton will get hurt.  I hope not, but that's what history tells us.

I received some nice returns today.

Jim Barr signed four cards for me, including probably the 5th copy of his 1972 Topps Rookie Stars card that is an easy and cheap card to complete.  He's also pictured on the 1987 Giants Leaders card despite not having played since 1983.  Nicely done, Topps.  Bob Brenly is the catcher on that card and he's not a reliable ttm signer.  I'll add it to my stack of unfinished multi-player cards and hope for an inexpensive mail-in signing to pop up.

I first sent to Jack Hiatt in 2011 three different times before this request.  He's on several of my set cards and a couple multi-player cards.  He's a very generous and reliable signer, but always signs in black, and last time, the black pen was dying.  So, I sent him five cards, a blue sharpie and $20.

He signed all my cards very nicely with the blue sharpie and even returned my $20.  He wrote on the cardboard I used to keep the package from getting bent, "I didn't take money then and I won't take it now!  Thank you, Jack".  I'm not exactly sure what he means by not taking money "then", but maybe referring to signing autographs during his playing days?  Anyway, I feel bad I sent five cards, and he didn't keep the money.

Finally, Bobby Richardson signed a couple Yankees team cards and his 1962 Topps as nicely as always.  He has beautiful handwriting, especially considering he's almost 90 years old.  He wrote me a very nice note on letterhead paper, thanking me for the nice letter, the $15 and the extra 1962 Topps I included which he's going to give to his great-grandson.  I love getting those personal notes back!

Baines, Joshua, McDowell and Piniella TTM Returns

I made a little progress on a few of my sets today, including the 1973, 1975 and 1982 Topps sets, and I received a surprise.

Harold Baines signed his 1982 Topps for his $20 fee.

Von Joshua signed four cards for me.

Jack McDowell signed a 1972 Topps Cy Young Award card, already signed by Jim Lonborg and Frank Viola, as well as his 1989 Topps.  And here was the surprise: He is also a musician and included a signed CD.  It's one of his old ones, from 1992: Replace the Mind by V.I.E.W.  I forgot to scan the CD).

And finally, Lou Piniella signed four cards for me for his $5/card fee.  Including a 1980 Fleer Laughlin.

John Goryl TTM Return and More Purchases

I mailed John Goryl six cards, a sharpie and $20 even though he doesn't normally charge.  I felt the number of cards and the packaging hassle warranted the gift.  He signed three individual cards and three team cards nicely, apparently with the sharpie I sent, and returned my $20.  He even answered a couple questions I had asked in my letter!

I also bought a few vintage cards, a couple tough-to-get Randy Bass cards and a Josh Donaldson Allen & Ginter from his time with the Twins. 

    

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.