2022 In Review

I didn't have any specific goals for 2022, but I ended up sending out 481 requests, the third most in the 19 years I've been sending requests through the mail.  So far, I've received 427 of those back.

I don't know exactly how many cards I received, but if we estimate that I average 3 cards per request, and I received 427 returns, then that's 1,281 signed cards.

Not all of those requests were for cards, but the vast majority were.

I did get some bobblehead signed ttm, which I really hadn't expected to so, but once I learned how to remove the head and mail them as you would a baseball, it made things much easier.  I received bobbleheads signed by Jim Perry, Brooks Robinson, Orlando Cepeda and Bill Mazeroski.  All at prices way lower than if I had sent them in to a private signing.  I have reattached Cepeda's head to the bobblehead but haven't taken a picture of that yet.

I think the best card I received would probably be Juan Marichal's rookie card, his 1961 Topps.

I continued to add the generous-signing Hall of Famers to my collection including Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Orlando Cepeda, Jim Rice, Juan Marichal and Bill Mazeroski.  There are probably a couple more I'm not thinking of off the top of my head.

I focused on some of my sets, including the 1975 set which is what I've started most recently.  I've really slowed down on some of the sets I've worked on the longest, including the 1958, 1961, 1963, and 1965 Topps sets.  I did make more progress on the 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1978 sets, in addition to the 75 set I already mentioned.

In regard to the 1958 set, the only remaining living players that I still need are Willie Mays and Sandy Koufax.

After several years of not having my collection available to view online, I decided to pay for hosting again.  It is available here:

https://www.thedroidtrader.com/autos.html

By the way, I also collect vintage Star Wars toys.  My collections includes many toys that I had as a child, and those are noted as "orig. owner" in the listings.  My vintage collection can be viewed at the link below.  It does not include the toys I own from 1995- to present, just 1977 - 1985.  I don't buy many toys these days, as I've been priced out of the market, especially since I have a pretty good collection and the remaining toys I need are the rarer, more expensive ones.

https://www.thedroidtrader.com/starwars/starwars.html

I apologize for the awkward navigation.  When you scroll down in the left frame to click on a specific item, you then need to scroll up in the right frame to view it.  Someday I'll fix that if I can figure out how.

Anyway, in summary, I added a lot of signed cards to my collection in 2022 and a handful of bobbleheads I never thought I'd have.

For 2023, I hope to send out a wider variety of items, including baseball and magazines.  I say that every year though.

Good luck in your collection in 2023 and thank you for reading my blog.  I don't have a good idea of how many readers I have, so I'd appreciate a quick email to droidtrader@gmail.com just to let me know you're a reader.  Thank you!

Bernie Allen and George Thomas TTM Returns and a Max Kepler Purchase

My request to Bernie Allen took almost six months, which is pretty unusual for him, but he was kind enough to sign his 1963, 1966, 1970 and 1972 Topps for me.

And George Thomas signed his 1962, 1965 and 1969 Topps, as well as the 1958 Tigers and 1963 Angels team cards.

I also received the 2022 Topps Heritage Real One Autograph signed by Max Kepler that I bought on eBay.

Well, that's it for 2022.  I sent a lot of requests which I don't expect to match anytime soon, if ever.  I may post some highlights tomorrow.

TTM and Purchases

I haven't gotten the mail yet today but wanted to post what I received yesterday so I don't fall too far behind.

The one ttm return was from Charlie Hough, who generously signed the 1972, 1973 and 1975 Dodgers team cards as well as his 1973 and 1975 Topps.

I also received several purchases, including a Tim Raines signed ball, a 1973 Topps RBI Leaders signed by Johnny Bench and Jim Kaat signed 1975 and 1983 Topps cards, all from Tom Orr at Atommic Sports. I bought the ball on eBay and the cards from his posts on SCN. 

I also received a 2021 Topps Heritage Real One Autograph signed by Ryan Jeffers from eBay.

I should have two ttm returns in the mail today which I'll post later.

I didn't reach 500 requests this year, but I hit 481 which is my 3rd highest total in the 19 years I've been sending out requests.

Spotty Mail Service Lately

I haven't really received mail since December 22nd until today, except for one package that had been delivered to my neighbor instead.  He was kind enough to bring this to my house, and I'm glad he did!

It was a return from a private signing, where Johnny Bench signed his 1971 and 1978 Topps for my sets.

Beyond that delivery, although I saw my sases  (and other mail) in my Informed Delivery emails, I didn't receive any of them until today.

It was a bit of a mixed bag, with some black sharpie returns (Erskine), some ballpoint pens not working well (Jimmie Schaffer on the '62 Topps), a smear (Ron Lolich with a $5 fee) and one card being returned unsigned (1961 Topps Phillies team card from Bob Malkmus.  So, a little disappointed in some of these returns especially after having to wait for them.

I also received a few purchases, such as a 2005 UD Johan Santana, 2022 Topps Heritage Real One Sonny Gray, and 2022 Topps Chrome Griffin Jax.

I'm about 30 requests short of hitting 500 for the year, so I'm going to do my best to hit that milestone this week.