Jerry Koosman Grand Slam Print and a Tony Oliva Jersey Purchase

Minnesota born and raised Jerry Koosman signed a Grand Slam print for me in just 11 days.  He lives just one state over, so the mailing went pretty quickly.  He's 82 years old and his signature has been shaky for a while, but he did a great job on my print.  He charges $10 per autograph.  

He's probably best known for being part of the 1969 Miracle Mets, but he did play in Minnesota from 1979 through part of 1981.  I don't have any cards signed by him in a Twins uniform, so I need to correct that.  He won 20 games for the 1979 Twins and another 16 games in 1980.  

I have his 1969 card signed, which has the Topps All Star Rookie Trophy on it.  I also have a 69 Mets postcard signed, and several sets cards from 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1978.

Although I don't collect the 1970 set, I did have him sign his World Series and All Star cards from the set.

He's also on my 1970 Mets team card, which actually commemorates the 1969 Mets.

Fan HQ had a sale on Sunday for Tony Oliva's birthday, who turned 87.  All of his autographs were $87 or less.  I took the opportunity to buy a signed jersey.  

It's not a real jersey.  It says "'Sota" on the front, but from the back it appears like a real jersey, which is good enough for display purposes.  I have several empty jersey display cases, but no wall space to hang them.  I bought a similar jersey signed by Kent Hrbek about a year ago.

Harold Baines and Carlton Fisk TTM Returns

I received another Grand Slam print back today.  Harold Baines did a very nice job and signed exactly where I asked.  I don't remember if I sent a sharpie or not, but he appears to have used one and it looks great.  He added his jersey number without me asking as well.

I think I'll get at least one more of these prints back this week.

I also received a couple Carlton Fisk rookie cards back from him today, completing them both for me.  I have three of these completed now, and one copy with just Fisk's autograph on it.  It's a pretty affordable Hall of Fame rookie card to complete.

Here are the two I received back today.

A Few TTM Returns - Cisco, Hamm, Law and Spangler, as Well as a Blyleven Purchase

I was away for a few days and saw a mysterious return in my Informed Delivery email for Saturday.  It was my sase, with a stamp I haven't used for many months, and a small check mark by my return address which is my super-double-secret code for, "there's something really good inside".  With no postmark, I had little to no clues as to who it could be from.

I was surprised to open it today and find out it was my first attempt with Pete Hamm after I saw he began signing last year.  I sent this to a California address, which I thought was current at the time, but later found out he's living in Washington state.  When the California request didn't come back, I sent it to his Washington address and received that one back.  But now, 299 days later, I also received my original request back.

He has been signing in ballpoint, which looks pretty good on these older cards.  But this 1971 Topps came back in what looks like a Staedtler, perhaps?  It looks great, and despite having already received Jim Nettles sign one in ballpoint to complete it, I will send him this one as well, along with a Staedtler for him to use.

Galen Cisco signed a 1964 Mets team card as well as his 1967 Topps.

Vern Law signed a 1962 Post and also included a nice card commemorating his induction into the Pirates Hall of Fame this year.  Congratulations, Mr. Law!

Al Spangler signed a 1962 Post, a couple 1962 post, and a 1966 Angels team card for me.  Unfortunately, my sase had become sealed shut and he had to send this all back in his own envelope and stamp.  I will write him back and include some envelopes, stamps and pens as a thank you.

Finally, I received a Hall of Fame postcard signed by Bert Blyleven and authenticated by J.S.A., which I bought from Tom Orr on eBay.  I paid a little less for this than I would have paid if I sent it directly to Bert to have signed, plus it's authenticated.  Although he signs cards for $20 and photos for $30, he charges $40 to sign these postcards, which is why I haven't sent one to him yet.

I am looking forward to receiving some more Grand Slam prints back this week, as well as some private signing returns.

Bob Tolan TTM Return

I received a couple multi-signed cards back from Bob Tolan today.

He signed a 1971 Topps NL Playoffs "Reds Celebrate" card that was already signed by Woody Woodward and Angel Bravo.  Bravo is a relatively tough autograph since he lives in Venezuela.  He doesn't sign ttm, but there have been three signings over the last few years, and I sent a few cards to one of them.  Woodward is automatic ttm and so is Tolan, although he charges $15 per.

He also signed a 1973 Topps World Series Game 6 card already signed by Bench.  Bench signed it via a Tom Orr mail-in signing.  Denis Menke was automatic ttm before his death in 2020.  I had sent to him three times between 2004 and 2014, but didn't have him sign this card, unfortunately.  So, I'm calling this card done.

Former-Twin Rick Renick TTM Return

I received a very nice return from Rick Renick today.  He signed four cards for me, all of which are nice upgrades over ballpoint signatures I already had.  while I didn't include a pen on this request, I had requested in my letter that he use a blue sharpie if possible.  I'm not sure if that helped or if he would have used one anyway.  My last request to him last November was signed in blue sharpie, but every request prior to that (three different requests between 2003 and 2020) were signed in black ballpoint.

Something very odd is going on with my mail.  The mail they said was delivered yesterday showed up today, but my Informed Delivery email had shown two sases, and I only received one.  But, when I go back to look at Informed Delivery, it doesn't show either sase for yesterday.  Very, very odd, and kind of frustrating.  

I mailed out two more Grand Slam prints today, along with three regular card requests.  I'm awaiting a Joe Mauer return from Fan HQ.  I sent bobbleheads, and they didn't sign the larger, bulky stuff at his first session, so I'm waiting for his next session, which is supposed to be in about a week from now.  I also sent in a Grand Slam print to him.

I'm actually waiting on mail-in signing returns on 15 different players, which include a total of 5 more Grand Slam prints.

Dawson, Pascual and Skinner TTM Returns

Despite having sent to them recently, I sent another request to both Camilo Pascual and Bob Skinner, because I wanted to get their 1955 Topps Double Header cards done.  Both of them are the "Short" player on the card, meaning they are viewed by folding the card in half, and their upper body and head fit onto the same legs as the other player on the card.  Ted Kazanski, who I received back on Saturday, was the "tall" player on his card.

Pascual signed his nicely, probably with the pen I included.  Oddly, he also signed the front and back of his 1958 Topps and a 1964 Topps Pitching Leaders card.  It looks like he screwed up a bit on the Leaders card, but oh well.  I included that card to complete what I think is his entire Topps run, including multi-player cards.

Bob Skinner also appears to have used the pen I sent and also signed his 1958 Topps and a 1962 Post.

Finally, I received another Grand Slam print back, this time from Andre Dawson.  I have 7-8 more of these out ttm and to signings.

It was a very odd day for the mail.  In addition to the packages for these three ttm returns, which were all tracked, I was supposed to receive 7+ pieces of mail, including 2 ttm sases, according to my Informed Delivery email.  These packages were left at my door, instead of the community mailbox down the street, which leads me to believe the person delivering them didn't have keys to the community box.  I eventually received the email from USPS stating that my mail had been delivered, but there is nothing more in my mailbox.  Hopefully, it gets delivered tomorrow.

Wayne Causey and Ted Kazanski TTM Returns

88-year-old Wayne Causey signed three cards for me, including his 1962 and 1968 Topps cards, as well as the 1964 Topps K.C. Athletics team card.  He signed his individual cards in blue sharpie, and the team card in ballpoint, which is fairly common. 

91-year-old Ted Kazanski signed his 1955 Topps Double Header as well as two 1957 Topps.

The other side of the Double Header card has Gordon Jones on it but is not signed by him.  These cards are yet another example of something I had worked on sooner before most of the players passed away.  I have cards out to Bob Skinner and Camilo Pascual, and already have cards signed by Billy Gardner and Dick Groat, but that will be it unless I track down some cards signed in the past.

I have been hoping for a copy of Kazanski's 1957 Topps signed but not personalized.  He usually personalizes one card per request and commonly chooses the 57 Topps if it's included in the request.  This time I decided to include two copies of the card, hoping that he'd personalize one and just sign the other, and hopefully, not personalize the Double Header.  I can't recall the details, but I may have even placed a post it note on one of the 57 Topps requesting he personalize it, and maybe even one on the Double Header, asking him to not personalize it.  Whatever I did, it worked, or at least I lucked out.

Despite him not having a fee, I sent $10 since I sent these cards in a bubble envelope with a blue medium Staedtler and also provided a bubble envelope as the return package.  It's more of a hassle than just regular envelopes, especially for older people.  However, he returned my $10 along with my signed cards.

Today, I sent out four more Grand Slam prints, as well as the final poster I need to complete the set of 1991 Twins World Series players posters (Greg Gagne).  I wrote Gagne a letter simply asking if would sign the poster for me.  I explained the situation and tried to describe the hassle it will be.  He replied, "Send it!"  I had also asked him how much he would like as a fee to compensate him for his trouble, but he didn't say anything about that.  I included a check for what I thought was a fairly generous amount.  I hope he cashes it, otherwise I'll feel guilty.

Ron Hansen, Bill Mazeroski and Joel Skinner TTM Returns - Randy Jones and David Festa Signing Returns

The week has been a bit slow, but I received some great returns today.

Ron Hansen signed his 1960 rookie card, copy number three or four of a 1961 Orioles team card, a 1962 Post and his 1971 Topps nicely in blue sharpie.  The team card was already signed by Jack Fisher, who signed it about a year ago at a mail-in signing.  I'm not sure what took me so long to send it out again.

Mr. Hansen is only 87 years old.  Young, compared to many of the other players I have sent to recently.

Signing-machine Bill Mazeroski signed my second Grand Slam print very nicely with the blue sharpie I included (or at least one that was still providing a strong signature).

I am loving these prints.  I have several more out ttm and to signings and hope to send out at least a couple more in tomorrow's mail.

He also signed his 1962 Post and 2008 Upper Deck Masterpieces.  I included $20 for the print, and $10 for each of the cards. 

I have been sending to Mazeroski at a pretty furious pace the last couple of years.  I have all of his regular Topps cards from 1957 to 1972, except his 1968 and 1969 Topps, which I bought but can't find right now.  Those aren't my favorite sets and don't usually send them out, but those are next on my list to send to him so I can have his complete Topps run.  

I also have a bunch of team cards, inserts, a Kahn's, some Ginters, etc.  53 signed cards in all.  I sent my first ttm to him in August of 2004, when he wasn't quite so automatic, all the way up through this return today.  I wonder if he recognizes my name on my sase's by now. :-)

Joel Skinner finished off my second copy of the 1985 Topps Father/Son card.  He also signed a few other late '80s cards for me nicely in blue sharpie.

Tom Orr got six Randy Jones cards signed for me.  This signing was a long time coming.  I can't remember exactly when it was originally supposed to occur, but I mailed my cards at the end of January.  I tried Mr. Jones ttm once, back in 2023 and didn't get a response.  He was pretty reliable just prior to that, and very spotty since.  So, when I saw this signing, I decided to just get all my set cards signed.

Finally, I received a David Festa 2025 Topps Heritage back from a Fan HQ signing.  With this return, they also returned my 2013 Topps Heritage Justin Morneau card.  The one I sent in for his signing got smudged, so they mailed Justin another one for me.  I have always been happy with Fan HQ signings.  I wish their store was closer to me, but it's about a 45-minute drive, so I rarely go there.  It's not on the way for my usual out of town drives either.