Dean Chance - 1963 Topps

Today I received a 1963 Topps signed by Dean Chance that I had sent in to an SCN member to have signed at a fund raising even in Michigan.

I also sent 12 requests this morning, so hopefully next week things will pick up.  This week could be pretty slow.

Bobby Wine Return

Today I received a return from Bobby Wine that I sent out last October.

He was kind enough to sign his 1963, 1964 and 1986 Topps. (The 1964 got a little smeared).

 

Dick Simpson

Today I received a couple cards signed by Dick Simpson.

He signed his 1964 and 1965 Topps, which was already signed by Jose Cardenal.

The cards took quite a beating on their trip to California and back.  They aren't creased, but they lost a lot of color and appear sort of scuffed up.

Here's what the 1965 Topps looked like before I sent it.

Felix Torres

Yesterday I received a 1963 Topps signed by Felix Torres.  The card got a little bent on its trip to Puerto Rico and back, but not too bad.

Don Schwall

Today I received one return.

Don Schwall signed his 1962 and 1963 Topps for me.

Eli Grba and Barney Schultz

Today brought a couple more 1963 Topps for my set.

Barney Schultz signed his.

And Eli Grba signed his 1961 and 1963 Topps.

Another 1952 Topps

One return today after a a couple days without any.

Joe Presko signed his 1952 Topps for me in a little under two weeks.

A Pair of Signed Chuck Knoblauch Baseballs

Last week I received an email ad from Steiner Sports selling two signed baseballs for $99.  I get ads like that occasionally, but usually don't find two baseballs from the list of those available that I don't already have or that I want to add to my collection.

This time though, I was surprised to see a couple of balls signed by Chuck Knoblauch.  One has his Rookie of the Year award inscription and the other has a 91 Champs inscription.  I was surprised that Steiner had these inscriptions since they are usually pretty Yankees-focused and these were inscriptions from his time with the Twins.  I bought one of each.

Knoblauch has been in the news occasionally, and not for good reasons.  He seems to have distanced himself from the game so appearances are rare.  He was elected to the Twins Hall of Fame, but he got into some trouble and they ended up canceling the induction ceremony.

I still have his bobblehead from the 1991 World Series set that I'd like to get signed, but I don't know when I'll have that opportunity.

Frank Malzone - 1963 and 1964 Topps

I receive done more return today.  It's been a nice, steady run lately.  Usually when I send out a bunch of requests, I end up with a day or two when they all come back, but this this time it's been one or two a day.

Frank Malzone signed his 1963 and 1964 Topps.

I have about 10 or 12 requests out that I can reasonably expect to get back in the next week or so. After that, I'll need to start sending out some more.

Paul Foytack and Vern Law

I received two returns today as well as one failure.

I had sent a card to Matt Capps in care of the Atlanta Brave's spring training but I received it back with a "not deliverable as addressed" label.  I"m not sure why it was sent back.  Last I heard he was signed to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.  Anyone have any ideas?

Paul Foytack signed his 1963 and 1964 Topps.

And Vern Law signed his 1952 Topps and added a couple of inscriptions.

Garry Roggenburk

The returns continue to trickle in.  Today I received a 1963 and 1964 Topps signed by former-Twin Garry Roggenburk.

Lou Klimchock

One more return today.  Lou Klimchock signed his 1960, 1962 and 1963 Topps for me.

Judson and Schaffernoth

I received two returns today, including one of the four 1952 Topps I've sent out recently.

Howie Judson signed his 1952 Topps.

And Joe Schaffernoth signed his 1963 Topps.

Paul Brown Return

The requests I've sent out lately are coming back more slowly than I hoped, but yesterday I received one from Paul Brown, who signed his 1962 and 1963 Topps.

Tomorrow I'm sending out a couple 1952 Topps, but other than those, I don't have a lot to send out.

Dick LeMay Return

One more return today.  Dick LeMay signed his 1962 and 1963 Topps.

I've received six 1963 Topps this year so far, with a goal of hitting 50.  I think I'll meet that goal, but need to buy some more cards soon.

Cracking Open Another PSA Graded Card

I've recently ordered a few 1952 Topps to send out for autographs.  One of them, Vern Law's card, was PSA graded so I had to crack it out of its case.

I documented how I do this a few years ago HERE

I'm sending this one out tomorrow but the others haven't yet arrived.

Finally Some Returns

The requests I sent out last week have started to come back.  I received four back today.

Bob Johnson signed his 1962, 1963 and 1967 Topps.

 

Clause Osteen signed his 1960, 1963, 1964 and 1971 Topps.

 

Tito Francona signed his 1960 and 1963 Topps.

And Sammy Taylor signed his 1961 and 1963 Topps.

I also sent out a couple more requests today, including some ex-Twins at some Spring Training addresses.

Dave Winfield Bobblehead

Today I received a Dave Winfield bobblehead back from a mail-in signing with Tom Orr at Atommic sports.  I've been waiting for Winfield to make an appearance locally for several years but it hasn't happened (or I missed it).  I've been wanting him to be at TwinsFest some year, but that hasn't happened.

Hank Fischer Return

It's been a while since I got a return so I was happy to see one in the mailbox today.

Hank Fischer signed his 1963 and 1967 Topps that I sent to him in early December.

2015 Collecting Goals

With TwinsFest in the past, I think I'm in a better position to post my goals for the year.  Usually I post goals before TwinsFest, and end up accomplishing a majority of some of my goals during that event.

So these goals are really for today to the end of 2015.

Here it goes:

Goal - Send out 150 through the mail requests.

Goal - Add 50 more cards to my 1963 Topps set.

Goal - Add 2 more cards to my 1958 Topps set.

Goal - Add 5 more cards to my 1965 Topps set.

Goal - Add 10 more cards to my 1972 Topps set.

Goal  - Add 2 more signed bobbleheads to my collection.  This doesn't include the Dave Winfield bobblehead that I currently am expecting back from a paid signing.

Goal - Add 5 more signed magazines to my collection.  I haven't done enough of these in the last few years so I'd like to get a few more from the 50's and 60's.


That's it. I've only sent out two requests so far but hope to send out at least 10 this weekend.