Authenticated Cards and a Few Returns

Today I received my cards back from PSA/DNA, authenticated and encapsulated.

I also got back a few returns.  Zach Monroe signed his 1959 Topps that I sent out back in August.  I tried sending this card to him back in 2008 and never got it back.  I'm happy to have this one.

Larry Dierker Signed his 1972, 1973 and 1978 Topps.

 

Bart Johnson signed his 1971, 1972 and 1973 Topps.  He also signed and returned the 1972 Topps I had enclosed for him to keep.

I'm starting to think about TwinsFest.  Jeff Reardon will be there signing for the Bob Feller Museum.  I'd like to get him to sign his bobblehead form the 1987 Twins set.  The Twins have a lot of free agents.  Eight of the players on the playoff roster could be off the team.  I'm not sure what that will look like in January and if there will be many current players there to sign.  I also want to get Killebrew on a jersey and a program already signed by Camilo Pascual.  Other than that, I'd like to get a few more players on their 2010 Topps Heritage cards.  I have a lot of Oliva, Blyleven, and Molitor autographs, so I"m not sure if I'll even go to their lines.

Torii Hunter Jersey

Last weekend I had some time to check out Cedar Cliff Collectibles and a few other "errands".  I was fortunate enough to find, and purchase, a Torii Hunter signed jersey.  It is MLB authenticated so I looked up the number and learned that it was signed at TwinsFest in 2004.  For only $80, I thought this was a real bargain, especially since I had some money I received for my birthday to pay for it.

I also went to Michael's and bought four shadow boxes that I use as jersey frames.  I have to frame my Morneau, Carew and now Hunter jerseys.  My son also needs his Carew jersey framed.  Michael's had these on sale, 40% off their normal $99.99 price, as well as an additional 25% off all displays, including sale prices, soI took the opportunity to stock up.  I also had some Michael's gift cards I received for my birthday to help pay for them. Here's a picture of my Joe Nathan jersey framed in one of these shadow boxes:

I also took some time to frame the signed pictures I got for my birthday.  I also get these frames and mats at Michael's.  They are very inexpensive.  The frames are sold in pairs for about $6, and the mats are about $3 or $4.

Danny Valencia and Carl Pavano are signing tomorrow at the Mall of America.  I think I'll take my wife "shopping" tomorrow.

Monte Irvin TTM Success

Today I received a couple of cards that I sent to Monte Irvin just a week ago. I sent $20 with my request. Mr. Irvin signed a 1953 Topps that I picked up at the card show my sons and I attended during the Julio Becquer signing a few weeks ago.


I also sent a 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game for my son, who says he working on the set, but hasn't sent many requests out for a while.

I bought a little over 100 cards from SportLots.com for my sons and me in preparation for TwinsFest. I also bought a few 8x10s on eBay. The list of players signing isn't out yet, so I just focused on the current roster.

Carlos Gomez

I bought a signed 2009 Allen & Ginter Carlos Gomez card on eBay which I received today. I bought it from a guy who frequently travels to the D.R. and gets a lot of guys there to sign for him. I didn't get Gomez's autograph at TwinsFest last year because his lines were way too long.

Speaking of TwinsFest, tonight my boys and I will get our binders out and start organizing our cards and pictures. The list of attendees isn't out yet, but we'll plan on the usuals being there. We won't even plan on trying for Mauer or Morneau. My boys want to see J.J. Hardy, and if he's there, I'm sure his line will be long too.

Very Slow Lately

Nothing in the mail for a while. I've sent out a couple of requests including Bobby Brown and Jim Lonborg.

I'm waiting for a list players that will be attending TwinsFest to appear on the Twins web site. Nothing yet. My kids and I will start getting our binders of cards and pictures together soon. Tickets for TwinsFest go on sale tomorrow.

Another Magazine Return - Bob Feller

The number of requests I have outstanding is shrinking so my returns will be slowing down quite a bit. Today I was happy to see a return from Bob Feller, who signed a 1949 Sport Magazine for me. I enclosed $10 cash with my request.


I have a few outstanding requests to mail-in signings that will be trickling in over the next couple of months, but I don't have a good supply of cards to send out. I'll have to make a list and buy some cards.

I also need to start thinking about TwinsFest (January 29-31). Unfortunately, the 29th is my wife's birthday, so we'll have to be clever in how we position this event ;-) Referring to her as the "Pack Mule" at last year's event (because she carried a backpack full of things to be signed) has left a bad taste in her mouth. I'll need to make sure we have enough cards and pictures to be signed. I have plenty of bats, balls and mini helmets already.

Odds and Ends

I didn't receive any returns in the mail today. I still have about 11 recent requests out that I hope to get back soon. I am also expecting to get back several cards and a ball that I sent to an Attomic Sports signing including Jim Palmer, Bob Gibson and Lou Brock.

I still had a few odds and ends laying around from TwinsFest that I hadn't scanned in and added to my web site. I had a ball signed by Joe Nathan and one by Matt Guerrier. I also had the start of my 2009 Twins ball that has Gardy on the sweet spot, and Jesse Crain, Kevin Slowey and Glen Perkins on the side panel. Last year I got 16 signatures on my team ball and I also got 16 on my 2007 ball.

TwinsFest - Corey Koskie

Corey Koskie was at TwinsFest this year. I had gotten some cards signed by him through the mail a few years ago when he was playing for the Twins, but not on his 2003 Topps Heritage. It was nice to get the chance to get a couple autographs from him, although he seemed uninterested in being there.

I read an article today that said that Koskie is working out at the Minor League complex in Ft. Meyers and hopes to catch on with a team this year. He's been out since July of 2006 after suffering a concussion.


In addition to getting the 2003 Topps Heritage signed, he also signed a bobblehead for me. I went through his line twice, which also included Philip Humber. Jim "Mudcat" Grant was also supposed to be at that station, but I guess he didn't show up that day.

TwinsFest - More 8x10 Pictures

Denard Span

I got a total of 15 signed pictures at TwinsFest this year. I like autographed items like 8x10s and baseball cards that have the player's pictures on them. They also take up little room to store, but take some work to display nicely.

Kevin Slowey

For 8x10 pictures, I buy very inexpensive black metal frames at Michael's (2 for $6) and black mats that are usually about $3.50. I have a lot of 8x10s that need to be framed and hung in the basement. I'm not sure when I'll get to that. I think I still have some signed 8x10s that I haven't framed yet from players that aren't even on the team any more.

Bobby Korecky

Michael's also has some nice frames that hold 20 baseball cards. I have one full of some of my 1958 Topps. I plan on filling another with the 2008 Goudeys when I get 20 of them signed. The regular price on those frames is about $40, but I only buy them with a 40-50% off coupon, which they have in the Sunday paper regularly.

Alexi Casilla

TwinsFest - Tony Oliva

Back to adding a few more TwinsFest items today. We have met Tony Oliva many times over the last few years. We have several things signed by him including balls, bobbleheads, cards, photos, bats and magazines.












This year Johnny and I each got a full sized bat signed by him. Also, I got a really cool Dell Sports Magazine signed by him, and David was kind enough to get a jersey card signed for John (to help make up for the Mauer/Morneau line fiasco).

Mr. Oliva is always very nice and takes his time to sign everything nicely. I still have one of those Sports Illustrated posters of him to get signed. Maybe next year.


The plumber fixed the leaking water line in the basement celing today. I have posted a picture here of the damaged ceiling prior to the repair. It looks similar except now there is a 5x8 inch hole in the ceiling.

TwinsFest - Harmon Killebrew

I have posted a few things already that Harmon Killebrew signed for us at TwinsFest, including my 2008 Goudey. In all, we got five autographs from Mr. Killebrew. Johnny got a mini helmet, Sport Magazine and 1955 Topps signed. I also got a 1955 Topps signed, as well as the 2008 Goudey.





When all four of us were in line, David had him sign my 1955 Topps, and I had him sign Johnny's mini helmet. When David handed him my rookie card, Mr. Killebrew asked David if he knew what it was. David shrugged his shoulders so he told him it was his 1955 rookie card. He then asked David if it was his Dad's. Busted.



I've posted some pictures of the signed items here as well as a few pictures of Mr. Killebrew signing.


Bad news for the basement. The small water line that goes to the drinking water and ice machine in our fridge started leaking and damaged the drywall ceiling above my desk. The plumber came and shut off the water leading to the fridge and will replace that line next week. The ceiling looks pretty bad. They may have to cut holes in it to replace the line too.

TwinsFest - Rod Carew

My older son Johnny and my wife stood in Rod Carew's line on Saturday during TwinsFest. My wife had him sign his 2008 Goudey for me.












Johnny had him sign a mini helmet, which he signed nicely in gold on the side. Johnny was a little disappointed at first that it was gold instead of the regular silver, but after looking at it some more, he really likes it. I do too.


Unfortunately, Rod Carew doesn't sign bats or jerseys at TwinsFest, so the options are somewhat limited as to what you can have him sign. Last year Johnny had him sign a baseball and I had him sign a Sports Illustrated. I have been contemplating buying Carew's rookie card, a 1967 Topps, and having him sign that, but it's quite expensive and he shares the card with Hank Allen, so his picture is rather small on it. I have a 1968 Topps, which is his first "solo" card, so I'll probably have him sign that next year. Or, possibly a 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game, like Johnny is working on.

I'm falling a bit behind in scanning in all the items we got signed. But I think I'm done with all of David's, all of John's except his full sized bat and cap, and I've done all the cards I got signed (26 of them) . I still have to do all the 8x10's, magazines, bobbleheads, balls and bats that I got.

More TwinsFest - Bert Blyleven

I have very few mail requests out and really don't feel like writing any letters. There are several mail-in signings coming up including Tony Kubek, who I need on a 1958 and 1965 Topps. There is also a Lou Brock signing, who I need on a 1965 Topps as well as a 2008 Goudey. There are other signings coming up for many in the Goudey set including Bob Gibson, Mike Schmidt and Ozzie Smith. We'll see if I decide to pay the fees.

Tonight I scanned in a bunch of items that Johnny got signed at TwinsFest. One of our favorite people to meet is Bert Blyleven. He is always very friendly and funny and great with the kids. Johnny has been working on the 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game set and was able to get Bert to sign his card.

TwinsFest Cap

Tonight I added David's autographed Twins cap to his web site. The player's wives sell grab bags at TwinsFest that include caps, calendars, and stadium giveaways such as bats and bobbleheads. Both John and David got one grab bag and each contained a nice red Twins cap (with a Mountain Dew logo on the back).








David decided to have players sign the bill of his cap if he didn't have other items for them to sign. He ended up getting Nick Blackburn, Brendan Harris, Nick Punto, Matt Guerrier and Jesse Crain on it.

I have pictures of Punto and Blackburn signing it.

Catching Up on TTM Returns

I seem to be falling behind a bit and posting my through the mail returns the day after I get them. Yesterday I received a return from Jerry Walker, who signed his 1958 and 1961 Topps for my collection.

I did a little more work in the basement, moving an old library table from upstairs down to my office area as one desk wasn't enough room for both of my computers. I think the layout of the basement is solidifying and I am feeling more confident that I can start hanging pictures on the wall without fear that I'll have to move them. The first to go up will be my Hank Aaron signed picture of his 715th homerun.

I also added David's 2009 Twins team ball that he started at TwinsFest to his web site. It's no easy taks scanning in the 8 signatures and trying to link each autograph to a picture of the player signing it. I've added pictures here of Ron Gardenhire's signature and him signing.

100 Posts and Yogi!

This is my 101st post on this blog. I have missed a day here and there, but for the most part I have been able to post every day. I use Google Analytics to see how many visitors I receive and where they are from. I have had visitors from 22 countries including India, Canada, the U.K., Australia, Germany, Belgium, Japan, Iceland and the Faroe Islands (look it up!). I've had visitors from every state except Alaska, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and New Mexio.

I plan to continue this blog and would appreciate any feedback from fellow collectors on what they'd like to see or information they'd like provided.

Yesterday I received Yogi Berra who signed his 1965 Topps for his fee, sent in care of the Yogi Berra Museum. I think I have all the Yogi autographs I need now which includes three cards, a magazine and a ball, as well as a picture signed along with Don Larsen.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll get back to posting some TwinsFest items. Today, I'm posting a picture of just how crowded it got on Saturday there.

TwinsFest Mini Helmets

Tonight I finished assembling the wardrobe in the basement. Now I can really start arranging the basement and hopefully start hanging some pictures and especially my MetroDome banners.


I took a few pictures of some more items that my younger son, David, got signed at TwinsFest last weekend. He got two mini helmets signed. One by Denard Span and one by Mike Redmond.


I was able to get a picture of Denard Span handing the helmet back to David, but I don't have a picture of Mike Redmond signing his. Redmond's line was the one we darted into at the absolute last minute and barely had time to get our items out of our backpacks and ready for the players to sign.