Causey, Hebner and Malkmus Returns

My requests are continuing to roll in with three more today.

Rich (Richie) Hebner signed his 1971 Topps, the 1971 Topps NL Playoffs card, 1975 Pirates and 1978 Phillies team cards.

Wayne Causey signed the 1958 Orioles and 1963 Athletics team cards as well as his 1963 and 1967 Topps.  The 63 is a nice upgrade over one he signed in light ballpoint a few years ago.

And Bobby Malkmus signed his 1959 and 1960 Topps as well as the 1961 Phillies team card that he didn't sign in a previous request.  He also included a signed religious pamphlet.

Danny Cater and Leo Cardenas Returns

I received a couple of ttm returns today. 

Danny Cater signed his 1965 Topps Buy Back card, as well as his 1967, 1968 and 1969 Topps cards.  A few years ago, he started signing just his first initial as well as his full last name.  He also signs quite small.

And Leo "Chico" Cardenas signed his 1964 Kahn's Weiners card, as well as the 1961, 1963 and 1964 Reds team cards.  I enclosed $20 with my request.  I accidently sent him another request already.  I hope he doesn't mind.  At least I included payment.

The Returns Are Starting to Arrive Plus Another Joe Coleman Purchase

I received three returns today and I made another Joe Coleman purchase for my sets.

Bruce Bochte signed his 1977 Topps, the 1983 Mariners Leaders card, 1985, and 1987 Topps.

Bud Daley signed the 1962 Topps Winners Celebrate card and the 1992 Wiz card.  He singed the 62 under the wrong picture, but it's okay because the other two players are deceased and won't be signing this card.

Roy Face signed the 1963 and 1965 Pirates team cards, and his 1964, 1966 and 1967 Topps cards.

And I purchased Joe Coleman's 1972 Topps with a pretty typical example of his signature on it that I'm pretty confident is authentic.

Eddie Fisher Return After a Dry Spell

 It's been over a week since I received a return, but I received one today.  I've also sent about 40 requests in the last week, so helpfully they'll start rolling in soon.

One of those 40 requests was to Eddie Fisher, who signed his 1960 and 1970 Topps, as well as the 1966 Topps League ERA Leaders cards that was already signed by McDowell and Siebert.  He didn't sign the 1965 Topps I included, but he did return it.  I'm not sure if he overlooked it, or purposely didn't sign it.  The returns on SCN show that he doesn't seem to sign duplicate cards, but that wasn't the case here.  I have sent to Mr. Fisher several times over the years, and in one other case, he didn't sign a couple team cards I sent.  That seems to happen occasionally with other players too, although they'll sign them on subsequent requests.  Perhaps they forget if they've signed it already since there are already several signatures on them.

Bobby Wine and Jim York TTM Returns as Well as a Vintage Purchase

It took over three months to get this Bobby Wine return, but that's not unusual for him.  He has a very high return rate on SCN, but he can take a couple weeks, a couple months, or even over a year to respond.  Since I included a few team cards, I guess I'm lucky to get these back as soon as I did so I can send them on to other players without too much delay.

He signed the 1961, 1963 and 1965 Phillies team cards as well as his own 1965 Topps.  Mel Roach signed the 1963 team card and passed away during the time the card was out to Bobby Wine.  I'll be more careful about who I send this card out to and will only send it to players who are very dependable and quick signers.  That list is pretty short, as many of the players from this team are already deceased.  I think that leaves Art Mahaffey and Clay Dalrymple, who both charge to sign.  So, this card might be retired.

Jim York's return only took 19 days.  He signed his 1972 Topps as well as his 1972 Topps 50th Anniversary buy back card.  He also answered a question in my letter.

I bought three vintage cards from a fellow SCN member, including a 1958 Bob Cerv, a 1962 Dave Giusti and a 1959 Johnny Kucks.  I didn't have this Kucks card yet, and the other two are upgrades to what I've previously received ttm from these players.

Three TTM Successes and Some Purchases

I was out of town over the weekend and came back to a few ttm successes and some purchases.

First, the purchases.  

I bought a 1962 Topps signed by Jim Lemon and a 2015 Topps Heritage signed by Alex Meyer from a fellow Twins fan and SCN member from their eBay listings.

I also bought a 1951 Bowman signed by Vern Law on eBay.  I was originally going to buy an unsigned 1951 Bowman of his to send ttm as an upgrade to one he signed in black for me back in 2004.  I was going to send it in a bubble mailer with a blue sharpie to try to increase my chances of getting it signed in blue.  While shopping for the card on eBay, I came across this one already signed, which turned out to be cheaper than buying an unsigned card of similar condition, the sharpie, the bubble envelope, his fee and postage.  And I eliminated the risk of him not signing it in blue sharpie.

On Friday, I received a ttm return from Jose Morales Sr., who signed his 1977 Topps Record Breaker, his regular 1977 Topps and his 1980 Topps. I don't really collect these sets, but have a nearly complete unsigned 1980 set that I use to include when I send out cards from the 1978 set I'm working on.  I also have a complete 1979 Topps set that I use for the same purpose.

On Saturday, I received cards from the 1976, 1978, 1985 and 1987 Topps sets signed by Bob Boone.  I used to think he was a spotty signer, but he's been very consistent over the last year or so, except for some RTSs.  There are more than a couple RTSs, so I don't know if some collectors are writing his address wrong, or if he occasionally refuses his mail.  I was surprised I hadn't sent to him yet.  I wouldn't let the RTSs stop me from sending again.

Bob Boone's rookie card is a high-numbered 1973 Topps, but I think I've got it lying around here someplace.  And I'd like to add him to my 1975 Topps set as well, so I'll probably send to him again later this year or early next.

And finally, former-Twin Jim Hughes signed his 1977 and 1978 Topps nicely in blue sharpie.  He previously signed a 1978 Topps for me in black sharpie, so this is a nice upgrade and I'm happy to add the 1977 card that shows him in a Twins uniform.

I have a few eBay purchases that seem to be taking a long time in the mail.  I know the USPS has had its issues over the last few years, but I've been lucky enough to largely avoid them.  One package was sent on July 19th, using the cheaper eBay tracking that starts with "ESUS".  This tracking usually doesn't have too many updates other than when it was sent and when it was delivered.  It seems to go to a different facility than most other packages before making it to my local PO for delivery.  And often, it is marked as delivered a couple days prior to it actually being delivered.  This bogus delivery status worries me the most, since I'm sure the seller and eBay won't believe me if I say I haven't received it if the tracking says it was delivered.  This wasn't a large or expensive order, but I'll be relieved when it shows up.  Maybe tomorrow?

Juan Marichal and Jim Pendleton

I received one ttm return today.  Juan Marichal signed a 2005 Diamond Kings relic card for his $10 per card fee.

And I received an eBay purchase of a 1958 Topps Jim Pendleton-signed card, also slabbed by PSA.  It's been a long time since I added a new card to my 1958 set so I was itching to buy one.