Gene Alley Return

This was my third request in about 15 years to Gene Alley.  The second request, sent back in August of 2015, took about 2.5 years to come back.  This one came back in just 11 days.

He signed his 1964, 1968 and 1969 Topps for me.

Gene Hiser - 1972 Topps Cubs Rookie Stars

Over eight years ago, a fellow SCN collector sent me a card as a Christmas gift (I posted about that here.)  It was a 1972 Topps Cubs Rookie Stars signed by Burt Hooton and Earl Stephenson.

A few months after receiving the card, I attempted to send a different, unsigned card to Gene Hiser to start my own.  That one never came back, so I've been a little scared to send this one out, despite a pretty good success rate posted for him on SCN.

I finally got brave enough to send it out and received it back in just 10 days.

Four Returns Today - Ron Brand, Bob Didier, Tom Grieve and Hal Kolstad

I received nearly half of my outstanding requests today.  I need to get some requests out for my 1978 Topps set to keep things moving.

Ron Brand signed his 1964, 1966, 1968 and 1969 Topps.

Bob Didier signed his 1971 and 1973 Topps.  I love the 1973 action card.

Tom Grieve signed his 1973, 1975, 1976 and 1979 Topps.

Finally, Hal Kolstad signed his 1962 Topps.

Ed Bressoud Return

It's been a week since my last return, but I should be getting a handful back shortly. 

Today I received a return from Ed Bressoud, who signed his 1958, 1960 and 1962 Topps.

George Stone Return

I had a surprise return today.  It was a surprise because the Informed Delivery email I got from the USPS this morning didn't have this one listed.

George Stone signed his 1970, 1971 and 1975 Topps.  I sent this request about a month ago.

I don't have as many cards to send out as I thought I had, so things might slow down a bit.  I do have to get going on my 1978 Topps set, so maybe I'll switch over to those now.  I am within 4 cards of meeting my goal for the 1971 set for the year.

McCarver Trade and Dan Coombs Return

Earlier this year I sent a 1963 and 1972 Topps to Tim McCarver, and received back a 1962 and 1966 Topps instead.

I noticed one of the Instagram collectors I follow have a similar thing happen, but he received a 1972 Topps.  I asked if he was interested in a trade, and he was kind enough to swap his 72 for my 66.  Thanks Brian!

I also received a return today that I sent back in January.  Dan Coombs signed his 1965, 1969 and 1971 Topps.

Chuck Dobson Return

One return today: Chuck Dobson signed his 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971 Topps for me.  I sent this request towards the beginning of March.

I still didn't receive the stamps I ordered from the USPS, so no new requests have gone out.

Bernie Carbo and Tom McCraw

I received two returns today.

Bernie Carbo signed his 1971 Topps.  If you send him multiple cards, he tends to keep one so I just sent the one I really wanted signed.  I still want him to sign a 1978 Topps, but I'll send that some other time.

Also, Tom McCraw signed his 1972 Topps.

I ordered some stamps from the USPS on April 15th and haven't received them yet.  I have some requests to send but no stamps.  I was trying to avoid having to go into the post office or through a checkout lane at the grocery store, but wish I had received these earlier.  I'll probably order more right away so I can keep the requests going.

Felix Millan

Back in 2011, I sent three cards to Felix Millan.  He has a very high return percentage on SCN (80%+), but for some reason I didn't get mine back.

10 days ago I tried again and received three cards back, including his 1971, 1972 and 1973 Topps.

Bob Bolin and Ken Sanders Return

I received two returns today.

Bob Bolin signed his 1963, 1969 and 1974 Topps for me.  I have sent to Mr. Bolin five times in the last 13 years.  I have received three of those requests back.  This was by far the quickest, at just 53 days.

My previous returns came back in 1032 days and 1160 days.  I have two returns outstanding, including one in which I enclosed $5.  Those were sent 2014 and 2007, so I don't think it's likely I'll see those again.

Also, Ken Sanders signed his 1971 Topps for my set.

Ken Rudolph Return

I originally got an RTS from Ken Rudolph, but re-sent to an updated address and received it back today.

He signed his 1970, 1971, 1975 and 1976 Topps.  The more of the 1975 cards I get back, the more I like them.

I broke down and sent out about seven requests over the weekend after seeing the return rate seem to maintain its level on SCN.  I sent out to players that had recently sent cards back, so hopefully they'll continue.

Don Money

I received a nice return from Don Money today, who helped me towards my goals for both the 1971 and 1972 Topps sets for the year.

He signed his 1971, 1972 and 1973 Topps that I sent him last December.

Syd O'Brien Return

Today I received a return from Syd O'Brien, who signed his 1970 and 1971 Topps for me.

Update on Q1 Goals for 2020

As the first quarter of the year is complete, here is an update on how I'm doing versus my goals for the year:

• Send out 200 requests. -  I've sent out 78 requests, so I'm well on my way to meeting this goal.  
• Add 50 signed cards to my 1971 Topps set. - I've added 37 so far, so this one should be complete by mid year or so assuming I decide to start sending out again shortly.
• Add 20 cards to my 1972 Topps set. - I've added 9 so far, so this one is going well also.
• Add five signed balls to my collection. - I've added 2, so this one is still achievable.
• Add five signed magazines to my collection. - I haven't added any yet.  I sent one out to a private signing, but that's been postponed.  I still have plenty of time to get this one done.
• Add two signed bobbleheads to my collection.  - I haven't added any, and am pretty reliant on some private signings to get scheduled for the small number of bobbleheads I need yo get signed.  I'm not sure if this one will get done or not.

Today I received an RTS from Ken Rudolph.  I corrected the address (I think) and sent it out again.  Other than that, I haven't sent out any requests in over three weeks and am still trying to decide when to start again.  I am hoping to get started again by the end of April, but we'll see.

I think the highlight of the quarter was my return from Bobby Shantz.  I sent him a Gold Glove ball, and he not only signed that, but also included a signed photo of him with a Gold Glove award.  You can see that return here.

Paul Moskau and Rich Robertson

I received two returns today which added three cards to my set goals for the year.

Paul Moskau signed his 1978 and 1979 Topps.

And Rich Robertson signed his 1971 and 1972 Topps.

Tomorrow I'll update my goals for Q1.