Tom Hutton TTM Return

I received just one ttm return today.  I have several that have been out for 10-14 days which seems to be the sweet spot for returns, so I was hoping for more.

But, I was happy to get a nice return from Tom Hutton, who signed his 1972 Topps rookie card that I received back from Rick Miller a couple weeks ago.  He also signed three more cards nicely in blue sharpie.  I had sent him a request back in July, so I apologized for the multiple requests and included $10 with my request.

John Milner passed away 25 years ago, so this 1972 Topps is as complete as it's going to get.

I purchased a like-new, 1966 Kansas City Athletics Year Book.  It's in such nice condition, I was wondering if it was a more modern reprint or something.  It would be hard to buy this at a ballpark and get it home after watching a game in this kind of condition.

Anyway, the cover has a lot of space for autographs, and despite the 66 A's not having been a great team, I decided to try to get a bunch of the players to sign it.  I sent it off to Jose Tartabull today, asking for him to sign the cover, his picture by the little bio within the magazine, as well as his 1966 Topps.  We'll see how this project goes.

I randomly came across my Rod Carew autographs on my web site and cringed, as I always do, when I saw both of his 1972 Topps that are signed in black sharpie.  I had them signed at TwinsFest so I probably could have easily requested that they be signed in blue, but I didn't for some reason.  

I decided to right this wrong and have both of them, as well as his 2008 Goudey which is also signed in black, signed in blue at an upcoming signing.  I hadn't remembered that his 1972 Topps cards are in the high number series, so it won't be cheap and the cards will cost more than his autograph. I'm also finally getting his rookie card signed.

Pete Hamm TTM Return

Former-Twin and former-elusive signer Pete Hamm signed three cards for me with the pen I sent (again).  He typically signs in ballpoint, sometimes black ballpoint.  I sent him a Staedtler in the past, and I've seen him use it, or something similar, to match Jim Nettles signature on the 71 Topps if someone sends him that card previously signed by Mr. Nettles, but otherwise he sticks with the ballpoint.

Anyway, as I mention every time I get a return back from him, Mr. Hamm was a non-signer for decades, and then a little over a year ago, suddenly started signing.  He even returned requests sent to him over 20 years prior.  Amazing.

So, I've been afraid that the spigot is on temporarily, and have sent to him several times now, hoping top not miss this opportunity.  After the first two times, I started sending cash as well.  I didn't want to be the guy that caused him to stop signing again :-)  Last time I included $20 cash.  This time, $40.

He only has two Topps cards: the 1971 shared with generous-signer Jim Nettles, and his 1972 Topps.  

This time, I sent him the usual two 1971 Topps (one signed by Nettles, and one unsigned), as well as his 1972 Topps.  I also came across a postcard that pictures him in a White Sox uniform.  I had no information on him ever having playing for them, so I sent it along and asked him about it.  He said it was Spring Training in 1972, and after just 10 days, he got traded back to the Twins!  Unfortunately,  he didn't sign it.  Either it was an oversight, or, since my letter didn't explicitly ask him to sign it, but did ask him to sign the "cards", maybe he thought I didn't want it signed.

Either way, I'm happy to get the three cards back and complete another of the 71 Topps with Nettles.

I now have two copies of the 1971 Topps with just Hamm on it that I'll send off to Nettles soon.

Just for my own piece of mind, I had one of the first returns I received from him authenticated.

I currently have a copy of his 72 Topps signed in blue Staedtler in for authentication/grading, and just sent a dual-signed 1971 Topps in authentication and grading as well.

I've had him sign two different copies of the 1972 Twins team card.  

Last time I also sent him a Rowe picture card.  

Next time, I'll probably send a copy of the 1971 Twins team card.  I'd like to find some other, different cards as well.  Maybe some team-released photos or postcards or something.  We'll see.

Blyleven, Palmer and Parsons TTM Returns, a Willie McGee Signing Return and a Wes Covington Purchase

I added two more Grand Slam prints to my collection today.

I received a Willie McGee print back from a mail-in signing and he signed it just as I asked.  They also placed the Beckett sticker on the back, as I requested.

And I mailed one directly to Bert Blyleven, who always does a great job and writes a nice little thank you post-it.  Bert offers his own authentication sticker, which is available if you request it.  I asked for it on both of the items I sent, which also included a 1976 Topps.

I have had bad luck getting a nice 1978 Topps signed by Jim Palmer. 

I purchased one way back when I started collecting that has a very light ballpoint signature.  I don't know why I bought it.  I probably thought it was a good deal and didn't realize he signed ttm at that point.

In one case, I sent one that had some gum residue, which I didn't notice, and is obvious once he signed over it.

My previous attempt looks like his pen wasn't working great, or there was more residue on the card.

So I was very careful selecting a card for this request.  It is nicely centered, which can be tough with this set, and made sure there was no residue.  He signed it pretty nicely and I am satisfied with this one.  I wouldn't normally keep trying to get a better signature on most cards, but for some reason this card stands out to me.  Maybe I remember it from when I was 11 years old.  But because his fee is so reasonable for a Hall of Famer ($10), I wanted to get a really nice card for my set.

Tom Parsons also signed for me ttm.  He signed his 1965 Topps and joined Bob Skinner and Bill Mazeroski on a 1964 Pirates team card.  I have his 1965 Topps completed with Cleon Jones, but had this one lying around for some reason and decided to include it.

Cleon Jones is a fairly spotty signer ttm, at just a 61% success rate on SCN.  I have been lucky and am 3 for 3 with requests to him and have included some money with my requests which it seems not everyone does.  However, to complete the 65 Topps with Parsons, I sent it in to a signing at a cost of $29.  I wanted to be sure I completed it and I wanted him to use a ballpoint to try to match Parson's signature.  

Maybe I'll try to get Jones to complete this one ttm this time.  He hasn't had a return for about six weeks so I'll wait until I see some more recent returns coming in.

Finally, I upgraded my 1958 Topps Wes Covington.  I hadn't really been looking for one but I saw this card on eBay and it really stood out to me.  Mr. Covington was kind enough to sign one for me ttm back in 2004.  It's nice, but he personalized it, and the card did get a little scuffed in the mail.  He passed away in about 2011.  

But this PSA/DNA-authenticated card has a very clean, blue sharpie signature and the card itself is very nicely centered and in great shape.  It's just a super-nice example of this card and I couldn't resist it.  I had some credit card points that paid for about 75% of it.

Although I saw it on eBay, I bought it directly from the seller's web site, which I've done in the past as well.  He doesn't charge sales tax on his web site unless you are in his state, and the prices are a bit cheaper than his prices on eBay.  He also charges less shipping on his web site versus eBay, and no shipping if your order is over $100.  I spent some time trying to find a relatively small purchase on his site to get over $100 and the free shipping, but decided the $3.50 charge was better than paying another $20 for something I didn't really want.

Today I sent off 12 more cards to be graded and authenticated by JSA/CGC. including my 2006 Allen & Ginter Harmon Killebrew card.  I'll be super happy if that one gets a 10.  I am VERY nervous about putting it in the mail though.  I would hate to lose it.  I listed it's approximate value as $500.00 for insurance.

I also sent out four ttm requests as I've been a bit slow lately.  I'll try to get some more out over the next few days.  I have a few ttm returns on their way from players I sent pens to so I'm tracking them with Pirate Ship.  Pete Hamm (again), Camilo Pascual (again) and hopefully a few more grand Slam prints.  I'm up to 28 signed prints now, with four more out ttm and three out to signings.  I also bought a bunch more to get signed.

Carl Yastrzemski 1972 Topps Purchase

I had sent in Yaz's regular 1972 Topps to a signing at Bud's Sports Cards back in 2011 (which only cost $60).

I saw they had is In Action card from that set for sale on eBay so I bought it for less than his current $175 - $200 fee for signing cards.  I received it today and they included a little COA that says it was signed at a signing with them back in 2020.

This probably isn't the most common card to get signed, so I'm glad I didn't have to pay his full price to get it. 

I am sending in a 1971 Topps to a signing with him soon, however, along with a Grand Slam print.

More Vintage Bobbleheads

My vintage bobblehead collection is growing by leaps and bounds.  And my bank accounts is declining by leaps and bounds.  I need to slow down now that I have a solid collection to work on now. 

The highlight of this purchase, and maybe my collection so far, is this 1966 Mickey Mantle version.  It's called the "muscle" version, as it's the second version they made and this one is a bit beefed up in the muscles.

I bought mostly baseball nodders:

A few football including a misspelled Oilers doll (Oilefs):

And even a mini Bruins doll with its box.

I like some of the oddball dolls, including this advertising bobblehead for the Korody-Colyer Corp in the shape of a piston.  This one is in amazing, original condition.

Finally, Some TTM Returns - Tony Perez Grand Slam Print and Dave Parker Purchase

I had a few days without any returns despite having outstanding requests. 

Dick Estelle signed his 1965 Topps already signed by Masanori Murakami.  I think I'll have this one authenticated just so it looks nice and is better protected.  I have a couple other copies of this card completed so I'll pick the nicest one.

John Sevcik also signed his 1965 Topps, as well as a 1966 Twins team card.  Rich Reese won't sign this card.  People assume it's because they have his first name as "Dick" instead of "Rich", but I don't know if that's true.  It would be really cool to complete it, but it probably won't happen.  Super-Twins-Collector Randy has one completed, and showed it on SCN.  It's the only one I've ever seen.

Rollie Sheldon signed a couple Yankees team cards as well as his 1963 and 1966 Twins team cards.

I bought the last of three 1982 Topps Dave Parker card from the same seller that I bought the other two from.  I had a refund for a signing that didn't happen so I spent the money on this instead.

And finally, I received a Tony Perez Grand Slam print back from a mail-in signing.  Again, I had asked for the authentication sticker to be placed on the back and it got placed on the front.  In fact, they had to lift up the sticky note I had on the print asking to put it on the back in order to place the sticker here.  Again, not a big deal, but could they at least put it on straight?

I've decided I'm all-in on some Hall of Famer rookie cards and have purchased several: Cal Ripken Jr., Johnny Bench, Mike Schmidt and Rod Carew for upcoming signings.  Very spendy, but I feel like I'll regret not getting the signed.  I compared the cost of getting ones already signed, and sending in to a signing with an unsigned card is quite a bit cheaper.  So far, I've received the Cal Ripken Jr. 1982 Topps Traded card, and I'll have him sign the regular 82 Topps as well, which he shares with two other players.  The traded card seems to be the more popular, and sells for quite a bit more.

Aker, Eckersley, Essegian and Maloney TTM Returns and Some 1958 Topps Purchases

I received four ttm returns back today.  Three were regular returns in my sase, and one was a padded envelope via PirateShip.

Jack Aker signed four cards nicely in blue sharpie for his $5 per card fee.

Dennis Eckersley signed a 1972 Topps Cy Young Award card for his $10 per card fee.  He won the Cy Young Award in 1992.  51 Saves and a 1.91 ERA.  Wow!

I have sent autograph requests to Chuck Essegian nine times over the last 22 years, and I've purchased a few of his signed cards as well.

The only card I had signed by him that was in blue sharpie instead of black ballpoint, was a 2012 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs card that I pulled from a pack.

His signature, even in black ballpoint, looks pretty nice on vintage cards, but sometimes it just wasn't very strong and was hard to read.

I decided to send him the cards I really wanted to upgrade, which was nine, along with a Medium blue Staedtler and $20.  I sent all this in a padded envelope via Pirate Ship.  He doesn't normally charge a fee, so I hoped that the $20 cash would smooth over any negative feelings regarding the large number of cards and the hassle of the padded envelopes and using my pen. I specifically mentioned this in my letter, along with letting him know how much I appreciate him signing for me.

The cards look great!  I feel kind of bad because he returned my $20.  It's not as if he overlooked the cash.  It was in a team bag with the cards, which he had to take the cards out of and return to, so the $20 bill was in his way while doing this.  Hopefully he appreciated the gesture at least.

He didn't return the 1963 Post I had enclosed, so either that was an oversight, or he kept it for himself which is perfectly fine considering he signed eight other cards for me.

Finally, I received four more 1958 Topps for my set, bringing the number of cards I need to complete it down to 78.  I bought these from Tom Orr on SCN.  He posted some signed cards from a 58 set that was about 60% complete.  These four cards were the only ones I didn't already have.  The prices seemed more than fair and I'm happy to add these to my set.

The Dotterer card is inscribed to "Barry", but for the price, that's okay.