Former-Twin and 1970 Cy Young Award winner Jim Perry included a very sad note with the cards he returned to me. He mentioned losing his wife just four days prior to signing my cards. Although I had no way of knowing when I sent the cards, I feel bad for bothering him at this time.
I don't know if he needs a break from signing, or if signing may help keep him busy, so I have no idea if collectors should hold off sending to him now or not. I think it's best to hold off for a few weeks while he begins to adjust, but only he really knows. I see a trickle of returns after mine, which was received two days ago.
He sometimes uses a ballpoint pen to sign, which sometimes works well and sometimes is very faint, so my last few requests I've been including a blue Sharpie or Staedtler. This time it was a medium Staedtler, along with $10 per card.
I appreciate that he doesn't hesitate to sign the team cards over the players' pictures. I see why maybe some feel it it disrespectful or rude, but in order to get a decent number of signatures on a team card, it is necessary. Sometimes, it also offers the only light area of the card where a signature will actually show up.
I'm filling up a few Twins team cards from 1970 - 1973. I think I have two cards from 1972 getting pretty full as well a a couple Buy Back cards from that same year.
The 1971 and 1973 cards are really difficult since they are so dark and don't offer a lot of room for signatures. This 1971 was signed by Perry a couple years ago but hasn't been signed by anyone since Rick Renick in November of 2024. I need to get it moving again. Jim Perry actually signed right over Leo Cardenas' signature. This is pretty common since they are hard to see and many of these players are in their 80's, so their vision may not be as good as it once was.
The 73 team card with the most signatures hasn't been sent out since I got it back from Bob Gebhard in November of 2025, or about three months.
Jim Rittwage is an excellent ttm signer, but his address has been a mystery for the last five years. Someone posted a successful return and on SCN included a new address, which I tried myself. I received his 1965 Topps already signed by Ralph Gagliano back in just 10 days. Mr. Gagliano signed this card for me last March, and it's been sitting on my desk waiting for a good address for Rittwage.
Finally, I received a 1971 Topps signed by Vic Davalillo from an eBay auction. Mr. Davalillo passed away at the end of 2023. I had five cards out to a promoter who was arranging a signing with Mr. Davalillo at that time so now I need to purchase those cards signed. I can't recall what the other four cards were.
1 comment:
The Davalillo signature is beautiful. It's a shame that more athletes take no pride in theirs.
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