Tricked Again

After receiving three ttm returns on Saturday, I was anxious to open the three returns in my mailbox today.  One from Florida and two from Arizona.  I was sure at least one of them would be a spring training return.

There weren't any in that batch, but I did get some nice returns regardless.

Doug Camilli signed the 1973 Red Sox coach's card already signed by the late Eddie Kasko, as well as the 1961 and 1963 Dodgers team cards.  I had enclosed for $5 per card.

Rich "Goose" Gossage signed his 1983 Topps for his $10 per card fee.  I have 19 cards from this set signed by Hall of Famers now, but a very long way to go on the rest of the set.

Generous-TTM-signer Jim Marshall signed his 1961 Topps, the 1963 Pirates team card and the 1974 Cubs coach's card.

Also, I received a Gold Glove baseball back from Ryne Sandberg.  Several years ago, I sent him a regular baseball which he signed with blue sharpie.  I'm pretty sure I had enclosed a ballpoint pen for him to use with that request, so I knew there was a chance this ball might not get signed with the pen I sent.

But he signed it nicely under the logo as I had requested, with my pen, or at least some blue ballpoint pen.  I had asked him to add an inscription, "9x G.G." but I did not receive that.  I enclosed $20 with my request, which is very reasonable.  I didn't read anything on SCN specifically about a fee for signing baseballs.  According to the comments, he had signed a baseball anywhere from $10 to $25 but did not see any inscriptions being included for those requests.  I also saw that on some other returns, he used the blue sharpie on baseballs.

This ball took a while to get back to me despite just having to go from Chicago to roughly the Twin Cities here in Minnesota.  Between this return and some eBay shipments I'm expecting, I've seen several spending a couple days in facilities in Chicago.

Speaking of which, this 1972 Topps spent five days in the Chicago area before reaching me today.  This PSA-graded card is the perfect balance of cost and eye appeal for me.  I'm pretty surprised it's only a 3.  The centering is pretty nice, and the corners are pretty good too.  The bottom right corner has a ding but it's pretty hard to see.  Even at this low grade, it was still a $30 card!  It's a high number, and the rookie of stars Ben Oglivie and Ron Cey.  This Bernie Williams, not to be confused by the much younger Yankee, only played about four years with a lifetime batting average of .192.

All three of these players are still with us.  Ron Cey signs via J.D. Legends Promotions, which is where I'll send it first.  Ben Oglivie used to sign ttm, but now it appears that he just signs at shows, which he seems to do a couple times a year.  And Bernie Williams doesn't appear to have signed ttm since 2021, at least according to SCN.  I don't see any private signings with him in the past either, so he may be the tough one to complete this card.

Ken Boswell, Rickey Henderson and Bill Mazeroski

Today I received a mix of ttm, purchases and mail-in signing returns.

Bill Mazeroski signed a couple Pirates team cards ttm in about 17 days with his $10 per card fee.

Last year I sent in a 1969 Topps to a Ken Boswell signing.  Unfortunately, my card got overlooked and didn't get signed.  Mr. Boswell  is a tough signer the last few years, and the promoter that overlooked my card had some extras so I bought one from him.

And finally, I received my Rickey Henderson rookie card (1980 Topps) back from a Tom Orr signing.  I had this one authenticated by J.S.A.

Lou Klimchock and Ted Kubiak

I received two more returns today.

My return from Ted Kubiak arrived in a USPS body bag, appearing as if it had been soaked in coffee before being ripped and creased.

Somehow, the cards were still inside, but they have obviously been wet.  Luckily, there doesn't appear to be any staining though.

My return from Lou Klimchock was less eventful, although it did get my hopes up that I had received a return from Arizona spring training.  I am still 0 for 29 on my spring training requests, which is frustrating.

Felix Mantilla and Johnny O'Brien Returns

I received a couple vintage returns today. 

Felix Mantilla signed his 1962 Topps and three team cards for his $5 per card fee.  Unfortunately, he used a black marker that is a little weak.

And Johnny O'Brien signed his 1953 and 1955 Topps ad the 1957 and 1958 Pirates team cards.

Ron Gardenhire Return

I thought perhaps the sase with a return postmark from Ft. Myers Florida might be my first spring training return.  It wasn't but it was a nice return from Ron Gardenhire, who lives down there.

He signed his 1982, 1983 and 1986 Topps as well as the 2005 Topps Heritage Twins team card.

Wally Bunker TTM Return

Today I received a return from Wally Bunker that I sent back at the end of December.  He was kind enough to sign his 1965 Topps, the 1965 Topps Pitching Leaders card, and the 1971 Topps Royals team card.

The 65 Topps is an upgrade.  I like the Topps Trophy cards and the one he signed previously for me was in fine black marker.  It looks much nicer in blue sharpie!

Its' very sad that all of the other players on the Pitching Leaders card have already passed away!  Other than Dean Chance, this would have been a pretty easy card to complete ttm a few years ago.  I'm disappointed I overlooked this card.

Tony Perez Mail-In Signing Return

Despite showing one in my Informed Delivery email this morning, I didn't receive any ttm returns today.

I did, however, receive a return from a Tony Perez mail-in signing.  I sent in five cards, to try to get some set cards completed.  The 1971 Leaders cards could be completed with Williams and Bench, but it would be expensive.  I'm not sure if I'll try that or not. 

The 1965 Topps is his rookie card, so it's nice to add another HOF rookie card to my collection, as well as check off another card for my 1965 set.  I count a card with one signature as complete, whether or not I try to get more on it.

Vern Law TTM Return

Today I received a great ttm return from Vernon (Vern) Law, as always.  He signed his 1957 and 1962 Topps and added lots of inscriptions.

He also answered some questions I had in my letter, and then he thanked me for "being a fan of the Golden Age of Baseball".  I included $20 with my request.  He always does such a nice job.  A TTM Hall of Famer, for sure!

Mack Burk and Danny Cater TTM Returns

I received two ttm returns today.  One of them was a little ripped and beat up.  This seems to be happening more and more lately.  It didn't appear damaged in my Informed Delivery email, so it must have happened on its last leg of its trip back to me.

Mack Burk signed his 1957 and 1958 Topps, as well as the back of the 1957 Phillies team card.  I have had several returns where the player chose to sign the back of team cards.  I'm not sure why.  I have started putting a post it note on the back asking them to sign the front, but I must have forgotten to do that on this card. 

Danny Cater signed his 1975 Topps for my set.  As he has been doing since about 2020, he abbreviated his first name with just his initial, "D. Cater".  He charges $5 per card.

I received a few eBay purchases today as well, but no autographs.  I received a bunch of Leo Cardenas cards that I plan to send to a mail-in signing, and about 20 unsigned Hall of Fame postcards.  I really didn't care for these postcards in the past and never paid for any to be signed.  But then I received a few that players like Brooks Robinson and Bobby Doerr included with my requests for free and they started to grow on me.  

I've purchased a few here and there, and then came across an eBay seller that had a bunch of unsigned ones, so I decided to buy a few to send out to players that are good ttm, or not too expensive at shows.  I need some type of project to work on and while this will be a relatively small project, it gives me something to focus on.

Rick Aguilera Bobblehead

I received the other two items I sent in for this signing a while ago, but today I received the Rick Aguilera bobblehead.  I chose to pay for Beckett Witness authentication on this one.

A long time ago (2011), I had him sign his 1991 Twins World Champions bobblehead.

I also received a magazine that I intend to send in to a Tony Oliva signing.  The cover also has Denny McLain and Fergie Jenkins on it so it's possible I could get all the players on the cover to sign this one, which is my goal.

I expect a few more returns from private signings and am hoping to start getting a few ttm returns shortly.