Big Day at the Mailbox

I came home to find six returns in the mailbox, for a total of 19 autographed cards.

Billy Moran signed his 1959, 1963 and 1964 Topps.

 

Ron Hansen signed a 1963, 1964, 1969 and 1971 Topps.

 

I received a 1959, 1962 and 1963 Topps from Alex Grammas.

Terry Fox signed his 1963 and 1964 Topps for me.

Tito Francona signed his 1957 Topps, two different 1963 Topps and a 1964 Topps.

 

Finally, Denis Menke signed his 1963, 1964 and 1966 Topps.
 

 
I sent out 18 more requests this morning so I expect the mailbox to be full several more days.

More 1963 Topps Returns

I was away for a few days and came home to three returns. 

Wayne Causey signed his 1963 and 1964 Topps.  I sent to Mr. Causey a few years ago and he signed a 1965 Topps for me then.  For some reason, he has the same picture on all three cards.

 

Ike DeLock signed his 1959 and 1963 Topps.

Jim Campbell signed his 1963 and 1964 Topps.

Bill Dailey Return

I've sent out about 20 requests over the last two weeks and am hoping today's return is the start of a steady stream.

Bill Dailey responded to my request in just six days!  I sent a 1963 Western Oil print as well as a 1963 Topps.  I had enclosed a silver sharpie for him to use on the print, which he did.

I now have 11 signed prints from the 1963 Western Oil set.  There are 24 prints in the set.  I think the only living player that I don't yet have is Jim Kaat, so I'll have to hope I can find a lot of these already signed.

Bernie Allen Return and Purchase

I've sent out a few 1963 and 1964 Topps so I should be getting a steady stream of returns pretty soon.

In early July, I sent a 1963 Topps to Bernie Allen and I received in back over the weekend.

Coincidentally, I purchased a 1964 Western Oil portrait signed by Bernie Allen and received that over the weekend as well.

I also spent some of my birthday money on a couple more eBay purchases.  I bought a 1963 Topps signed by Bob Allison, and a 1958 Topps signed by Bob Grim.  It's been a while since I added a card to my 1958 set.

Goodbye Willingham

I suppose it was inevitable, but yesterday the Twins traded Josh Willingham.  Willingham hadn't been hitting the home runs like he has in the past, but I really enjoy watching a batter you know can put one in the seats at any time.

I had pretty good luck getting some autographs from him during the time he was here.  Mostly TwinsFest, and one time at Festival Foods in Brooklyn Park back in 2012.

I have several cards signed, as well as a ball, mini helmet, photo and my favorite: his bobblehead.

 

I also bought his game-used, signed cleats and batting glove from FanHQ.

I'm really glad I got him to sign his bobblehead this year at TwinsFest, but I'm disappointed I didn't get a chance to have him sign his 2014 Topps Heritage card.  I'm losing ground on that set fast since they're trading players faster than I can get them signed. 

I don't have any of the set signed yet, and already Kevin Coerreia and Willingham are gone.  Pelfrey had elbow surgery.  Will he ever be back?  Hicks is back in the minors.  We'll see how many guys from the set are still around once TwinsFest 2015 rolls around.

Card Show Purchases

I've been needing some cards to mail out and finally had time to attend a card show today over at the Valley West Mall.  I was looking for some 1963 and 1964 Topps and had my want lists printed out and with me.

Luckily, one dealer that knows I send out cards for autographs and knows that I like lower-quality cards had a partial set of 1963 Topps and I found almost 80 cards I needed.

Many of the common cards were 50 cents each.  A few minor stars were a dollar, and I bought about
7 or 8 high number cards for $2.50 each.  I also bought a few stars including Bunning, Kaline, Gibson and Uecker and Marichal.

I plan to try to find cards from the 1964 set to send along with these before I sent them all out.

A Birthday Present

My sister and her family gave me a really nice birthday present.  It wasn't a surprise because she had texted me a picture of it from the estate sale that she bought it from.  I told he to snap it up!

I've never seen one like this before and I didn't have any luck on a quick web search and eBay.  I did see a picture of it in my Google search, but the link to an eBay auction was no longer valid.

It's in great shape a great addition to me display case with other memorabilia from the 1965 team (which needs to be dusted very badly!).

Update On My 2014 Collecting Goals

I didn't post an update on my goals after the first quarter and I'm a little late at the mid-year point, but here it goes:

• Send out 75 requests through the mail
• Add 2 autographs to my 1991 Twins World Series bobblehead collection
• Add 5 autographs on other bobbleheads

I've sent out 51 requests so far.  Not very many, but I should easily hit my goal of 75.  I'd like to find a bunch of 1963 and 1964 Topps to send out.

I've added two autographs to my 1991 World Series set including Randy Bush and Scott Leius.  I also added Randy Bush to my 1987 set.  I've completed this goal.

I also added ten other bobbleheads, including Joe Mauer, Kent Hrbek, Josh Willingham, Ron Gardenhire, Dan Gladden, Bert Blyleven, two from Justin Morneau, Harmon Killebrew and Doug Mientkiewicz.  I've completed this goal as well.

I really enjoy working on these bobbleheads, and have plenty more to get signed.

I may have set my goals too low, but I felt they were realistic at the time.  I hope to spend more time with ttm requests now that my sons' baseball seasons are wrapping up.

How are you doing on your goals?

My 2014 All Star FanFest Autographs

I got cards signed for my son in the Gaylord Perry and Juan Marichal lines, so my first autograph was Orlando Cepeda, who signed a 1961 Topps for me.

Then we went to the Randy Bush line, where my son helped me out.  I got both the 1987 and 1991 Twins World Series bobbleheads signed.  For the 1987 set, I am now down to Don Baylor and Les Straker as the only two I need to get signed (Puckett and Niekro are deceased).

Next, Doug Mientkiewicz signed his SGA bobblehead.  I've been hoping he'd be at TwinsFest the last few years, so I was happy to be able to get this one signed.

Finally, I had time to get through Jim Perry's line.  Actually, we had time to go through many times, but my son had already been through twice and we didn't have anything else for him to sign.

I had him sign a 1971 Twins program that I've had for a while and was also planning on getting signed at TwinsFest, but hadn't gotten around to it.

That's it for autographs.  We didn't get as many as we do during a day at TwinsFest, but that's because there was only one person signing at each station.  However, as there were many Hall of Famers, and the autographs were free after admission, it was a great way to add some autographs to our collections.

The event was very organized and there was plenty of room at the Minneapolis Convention Center, so it never really felt crowded.  It was a fun event and a nice mid-season way to get some autographs now that the Twins no longer have the Autograph Party.  Too bad this can't be in Minnesota every year.