Gaspar, Marichal and Reed

It was a slow, but steady week with just a return or two each day, but ended with three ttm successes.  I expect a few days coming up with 5+ returns per day.

I don't know why it took me so long to write to Bob Reed, who has a high number card in the 1971 set.  Despite the high #, the card wasn't very expensive at around $4.  He only has a little over 30 requests on SCN, which is surprising considering I think a lot of people collect the 1971 set.  He also doesn't charge a fee.  I'm thinking I've delayed the high number cards since I didn't want to spend the money on the card, but if that's what delayed me, it wasn't a good reason.

Anyway, he responded in about a month and a half with a very small, blue ballpoint signature, which fits nicely in the only bright spot on the card.

Rod Gaspar, who I mentioned called me a few days ago, returned the cards I sent him.  At his offering, I sent him a large sase that he can use to send me a couple more signed items.  I sent it via Pirate Ship so I can track it, and it was delivered to him today.

The cards I received back today, which were in the request that prompted him to call, are all signed very nicely using the Staedtler I had included.  

I wanted to upgrade the 1971 Topps he signed in ballpoint for me back in 2022.  He signed it very nicely, but the pen he used doesn't stand out very much.

I'm very anxious to see what he sends me back in the larger envelope.

My last return of the day was Mr. Automatic (signer), Juan Marichal, who signed his 1974 Topps Traded card and his 2025 Allen & Ginter.  

I really like the '25 Ginters, and plan on getting more of them signed than I usually do.  I already have Mazeroski, both of Eckersley's, Doc Gooden and Gossage, with plans for several more (Blyleven, Mussina, Kaat, Palmer, Dawson, Campaneris, Rice, and Molitor at least).

The 1974 Topps Traded is the last card of his I needed to complete his Topps run of his individual cards.  I did a quick check on what other Topps cards I'm missing, and there are a lot!  He's on at least three different league leaders' cards along with Koufax, four or five other leaders' cards, and a couple of checklists.  He is the only surviving player on most of those leaders cards.  I don't feel like paying $20 each to have one out of 3-5 players sign a card, so I don't think I'll pursue getting every Topps card he appears on signed.

Jack Warner TTM and 71/72 Purchases

My purchases continue to outnumber my ttm returns, but at least I got one back today.

Jack Warner, the Cubs player, not the Angels player who also has a rookie card in the same set, signed his 1965 Topps rookie card.  My confusion over the two players resulted in me sending the Angels card to this Jack Warner previously, so I got this one figured out.  I also have the Angels card out ttm right now.  It seemed easier to get it sorted out and sent at the same time than to have to revisit the issue again in the future.  It's not that complicated, except that some people on SCN have mixed up the two and added comments about their successes in the wrong player listing.

I bought a couple more 1972 Topps, including Dave Roberts who is also a confusing autograph because there are three Dave Roberts playing about the same time, as well as the manager of the same name.

Two of the players overlapped the years 1972 - 1981.  The one I just bought was a pitcher, and the other one played third base and catcher.  The third one played from 1962 - 1966.

About five years ago I wrote the Dave Roberts that played from 1972 - 1982 as a 3rd base/catcher.  I asked him if he frequently received requests for the other Dave Roberts, and he replied about once per week, if I recall correctly.

The other 72 Topps I bought was manager Harry Walker.

Mr. Walker was also a player from 1940 to 1955.  I bought his 1949 Bowman about 20 years ago.

Finally, I bought Donn Clendenon's 1971 Topps authenticated by Beckett.  The signature isn't super strong, but the price was pretty good compared to the other options currently available.

Ben Oglivie Mail-In Signing and Some Purchases

I have a big backlog of ttm requests that I hope start coming back any day now.  I've sent 25 requests this month, and not one has come back yet.  But more than half have been sent in the last 10 days, so it's not as bad as it sounds.  That's what I tell myself anyway.

I sent five cards to a Ben Oglivie signing.  He does sign ttm for free, but I wanted to send some 1972 Topps, which are high number, expensive cards.  This signing gave me more confidence that they'd be handled carefully and get signed in blue sharpie, etc.  I sent three of those cards, plus a 1972 Red Sox team card, and his 1976 Topps.

I live in a fantasy world, where players like Bernie Williams start signing after years of refusing.  Kind of like Pete Hamm.  When that happens, I'll be ready with four of these cards (I have one already signed by both Oglivie and Cey.  Maybe Steve Hovley will join Bernie at a signing some day.

I bought a couple 1972 Topps, including Leo Durocher and Jose Pagan.  I'm slowly chipping away at this set, with 189 left to acquire.

I also splurged on an Alex Rodriguez signed 2007 Topps Heritage.  I decided I should have at least one autograph of his, and this was not too bad of a deal, considering what he charges at signings.  It's also Beckett-authenticated, and has a very bold signature that I'm guessing will be graded a 10.  I wouldn't mind having him sign a 2003 Topps Heritage as well, but I've spent enough lately, and the two signings currently listed on SCN seem a bit steep to me.  I'll wait to see if there's a cheaper one.  If that never happens, it's not a big deal.

Yesterday, I sent 20 cards to a collecting buddy who submits card to Beckett for authentication.  And I'll be sending 26 cards in to a JSA/CGC authentication submission next month.  26 is an odd number, but the pricing gives a break at certain quantities, so all the cards are $2 less over a quantity of 25.

Rick Sofield Mail-In Signing Return and a Surprise Phone Call

Just one return today and that was Rick Sofield, who autographed four cards for me at a Tom Orr signing. 

After I sent these cards, Tom also announced a Gary Ward signing.  I tried to arrange to have this 1980 Topps included in that signing as well.  But then Sofield's got delayed, and it just wasn't possible to get it arranged.  So, I'll wait for the next Ward signing to get it done.

I had something happen last night that I haven't had happen in my 23 years of collecting.  My phone rang at about 9:00 pm last night.  It was my IP phone, kind of a landline, but it's from the cable company.  So, this number is considered a public number that gets published in phone books.  At least the ones that are left.

I don't normally answer this phone because it's always sales calls.  But, this one called a second time right after the first call, after which they didn't leave a message.  I decided to pick it up and just get rid of them so they wouldn't keep calling.  However, it turned out to be Rod Gaspar of the 1969 Miracle Mets!

I sent a request to him about four days prior.  I sent it in a bubble envelope, with a pen and some cash.  He appeared to be very grateful for the cash and asked what else I needed!  He said if I send him a large sase, he'll send me a couple signed photos or something.

What a nice man!  I didn't put my phone number on my request, so he had to track me down on the internet.  It's a little harder than usual, because my wife and I have just our first initials listed on our public phone record, but he was able to match my address to some online resources and gave me a call.  From his research, he even knew my profession!

I was shocked!  I didn't know what to say other than to repeatedly thank him.  I sent him a request about 15 months ago, which included the 1970 Topps Mets team card, which commemorates the 1969 team.

Along with that return, he wrote a note on my letter stating that he signed my Padres card (his 1971 Topps) back in March of 2022.  I didn't know what to make of that, as he was obviously tracking requests.  I saw some comments on his returns on SCN about him replying to other collectors that he'll only sign one or two before a donation is required.  So, I made sure to enclose some money with this request, but I always do when I send in bubble envelopes and include a pen anyway.  I sent him three cards and a Ron Lewis postcard in this request.

Today, I sent him a package that included photo-sized sase.  I'm excited to see what he has for me.  I also included a Fleer Laughlin card of the 1969 World Series and asked him to sign it as well.

What a very nice man!  This has to be the highlight of my ttm hobby over 23 years!

Dontrelle Willis Mail-In Signing Return

I added another Grand Slam print to my collection today with a mail-in signing return from Dontrelle Willis.

He also signed  seven cards for me, including a three Topps Heritage, a 2004 Topps with the Rookie Trophy, a 1972 Topps ROY award card and a couple 2005 Donruss Diamond Kings card.

I don't know exactly why I like the Diamond Kings cards.  They aren't great for autographs due to the dark colors, but the painted portraits are nice and I like the color combination of the background.  I haven't paid a lot to get these signed, and only have a few in my collection.  The relic cards tend to get creased unless they are packed very securely.

I might just like them because my older son really liked them when he was a kid and got several bigger names as well as a few Twins to sign them.

This Tony Oliva card of my son's is probably my favorite Diamond King, and maybe my favorite modern Oliva card.

After being teased with some spring-like weather lately, we're expecting 10-18 inches of snow over the next day and a half or so.  I visited the ATM today so I'm ready to hunker down and write a few requests to mail out Monday.  I don't write too many requests any more that don't require a fee, or I'm sending a requests along with a pen and 4+ cards so I enclose a fee even when none is required.

I keep telling myself I need to start working on the common cards in the 1982 set, and many of those won't require fees.  So, I do have a lot of requests I can write without fees, and maybe all sprinkle a few of those in.  I also have six rolls of 100 stamps, so I'm good for 300 requests before I need to restock my stamps.