Ted Bowsfield TTM Return

There was just one piece of mail in the mailbox today and it was an autograph return.  

Ted Bowsfield signed a 1961 Topps Cleveland Indians team card already signed by Dick Stigman and a 1964 Topps.

He was also kind enough to answer a question in my letter and sign that as well.

I really wish I had worked on these team cards earlier and included them with my requests about 15 years ago when I was sending out a lot of cards from the 50's and 60's.  I'm not sure why I didn't.  It's too late now to accumulate very many signatures on them, but I have started sending out some of these with my requests with cards from the 70's and 80's.

John DeMerit, Bud Zipfel and Camilo Pascual

I received some nice, vintage returns today.

John DeMerit signed his 1962 Topps for me.  A few weeks ago he returned it unsigned but had answered some questions in my letter.  I assumed it was an oversight so I sent it again and explained the situation.

Bud Zipfel signed his 1963 Topps with a $5 fee.  I had return from his years ago where the ballpoint pen was nearly out of ink, and you could barely tell it was signed.  I have wanted to upgrade it but I'm not sure why it took me so long to get to it.

Finally, former-Twin Camilo Pascual signed a baseball for me.  At 87 years old, he has a beautiful signature.  I included $20 and a pen for him to use with my request. 

A Couple Failures and Q3 2021 Goals Update

The mystery surrounding the sase postmarked in Minneapolis came to a disappointing resolution today.  It was the card I sent to Tommy Watkins in care of the Twins at Target Field.  My sase was unsealed, but still contained my 2007 Topps '52, unsigned.  I suppose he or someone who works for him was cleaning up since they are done for the year.  I guess it's nice I at least got my card back.  

I wonder if I'll get my Morneau cards back.  I was hoping he'd be in a good mood after being inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame and sign a few, but nothing yet.

I also received a sad failure from Albie Pearson.  I had sent him a 1964 Topps Stand Up and $5, but I received a note back from his daughter that he is unable to sign due to health reasons.  I received my card, $5 and sase back, as she used her own envelope and stamp to return everything.

It's a few days past the end of the third quarter of the year, so I thought I'd see how I'm doing on my goals for the year.

Goal:  Add 10 cards to my 1965 set.

    Progress: I've added eight signed cards from the 65 set so far this year, exactly the same as last quarter.  I've ordered a couple cards from this set to send out but will have to make it a point to get this one done.

Goal: Add 25 cards to my 1971 set. 

    Progress: I'm at 67 so far, up from 49 cards last quarter.  It's getting harder to get any done that aren't expensive.  

Goal:  Add 15 cards to my 1972 set.

    Progress: I've added 19 cards to this set, up from 15 last quarter.

Goal: Add 50 cards to my 1978 set.

    Progress: So far I've added 57 cards to this set, up from 39 in the second quarter.  So this one is complete.

Goal: Add 5 signed baseballs to my collection.

    Progress:  I am at four.  I have an idea of who I want to send to.  I just need to do it now.

Goal:  Add 5 signed magazines to my collection.

    Progress: I've added four so far, but have one out to a mail-in signing so unless that falls through, this one will be done.

Goal: Send out 200 requests.

    Progress: I've sent out 293, my third-highest total ever, and still have three months to go.  I don't think I will surpass my second-highest total, which was 463, but I've met this goal.

In order to meet my goals, my to-do list is:

- Get two cards signed from the 1965 set

- Get one baseball signed

- Ensure my magazine gets signed, or send out another

This seems pretty easy to get done.

Bill Butler and Jay Hook TTM Returns

Two of the three sases shown in my Informed Delivery email this morning actually showed up in my mailbox today.  Unfortunately, the one that didn't show up was postmarked in Minneapolis.  It could mean the long shot I took by sending to Justin Morneau paid off (not likely), or that Tommy Watkins, their first base coach, returned my card.

Or, it could be someone else that lives in this general area that I forgot about.  Usually, those returns that don't show up the day they appear in my email will show up in two or three days.

I did receive two nice returns anyway.  Bill Butler signed his 1971 Topps for me for his $5 fee.  He also included a signed index card which I didn't send him, and an unsigned religious pamphlet.

I also received a 1962 and 1964 Topps signed by Jay Hook, who has been a very generous signer over the years.

Gerry (Jerry) Janeski - 1971 Topps

I sent in a 1971 Topps for a private signing with Gerry (Jerry) Janeski that occurred at the beginning of the month. 

He's a tough signer and the fee was only $5 for cards, so I took the opportunity to get this high-number card signed for my set.

I have only a couple items out for private signings and not too many ttm requests outstanding.  I'm a bit busy with work lately, but I'll focus on meeting my goals for the year.  I need to get one more baseball signed, and a couple 65 Topps to meet all my goals.

Catching Up

I was out of town for a few days and came home to a handful of ttm returns and one mail-in signing return.  Oh, and I made another Ebay purchase.

I bought another 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game signed by Rocky Colavito from the same seller that I bought from a few weeks ago.  It makes no sense I guess, but the price was too good to pass up.

Wally Bunker signed his 1969, 1970 and 1971 Topps for me.  I had previously bought a signed 1971 Topps of his, but decided to get one ttm as well.

Frank Carpin signed his 1966 Topps for me.

Ron Gardenhire signed his 1983 Topps and 2010 and 2011 Topps Heritage team cards.  He also enclosed a signed 2002 Topps for me,

Jim Marshall signed his 1960 Topps, as well as 1976 and 1980 Topps team cards.

Denny Riddleberger signed his 1972 Topps for his $5 fee.

And Pete Richert signed his 1968, 1970 and 1974 Topps.

Finally, I received a 1991 Twins World Series bobblehead signed by Carl Willis back from a FanHQ signing.  

This leaves four bobbleheads I need to complete the set, not including Kirby Puckett, who passed away prior to this set being released:

• Steve Bedrosian
• Mark Guthrie
• Shane Mack
• Paul Sorrento

Juan Marichal and Wilbur Wood

My returns have been slowing down lately.  I still have a few mail-in signings pending, but not as many ttm requests out.

Today I received a return from Juan Marichal, who signed his 1964 Topps for his $10 fee.  I am not working on the 64 set very seriously, but I had this card lying around and it seemed a shame for it to be unsigned.

A while ago I sent a 65 Topps to Wilbur Wood who was kind enough to sign it, but he also personalized it and misspelled my name.  I decided to send to a mail-in signing to get another one done, and I received that back today.

Tom Burgmeier and Bill Virdon Returns

I received two returns today to start off the week.

Former-Twin Tom Burgmeier signed his 1969, 1975, 1976 and 1983 Topps in about three months. 

And former-Pirates World Series Champion Bill Virdon signed his Manager cards from 1980, 1983 and 1984.

Maury Wills and Ned Yost

Two more returns today.  I haven't sent out too many, so things may slow down a bit.

Maury Wills signed his 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game for his $5 fee.

And Ned Yost signed his 1979, 1983 and 1985 Topps, which I sent back at the end of July.

Joe Pepitone Private Signing Return

Earlier this year I participated in a mail-in signing with Joe Pepitone.  One of my cards, a 1971 Topps, was smeared a little.  The promoter included a couple extra signed cards to compensate, but I really wanted a nice 71 Topps for my set.  So, I sent in another one to a signing at the end of August, and received it back today.

Cipriani and Melendez Returns

I received two returns today.  I also had two failures due to address issues which I think I can correct and send out again.

Frank Cipriani signed his 1962 Topps.

And Luis Melendez helped me with some of my sets by signing his 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1976 Topps cards.

Eleven Returns Plus a Private Signing!

Today was a huge day at the mailbox, my biggest in a very long time.

First I got a Pete Rose signed 1971 Topps back from a Tom Orr signing.

Ron Nischwitz wrote a very nice response to the questions in my letter, but used up the ink in his pen before signing the cards.  I received the 1963 and 1966 Topps back in dying ballpoint.  I may try to send another 1963 Topps in the future to upgrade this one.

Bernie Allen signed his 1964, 1967, 1968 and 1969 Topps.

Deacon Jones also wrote a very nice note in response to my letter, and signed his 1963 Topps rookie card already signed by Len Gabrielson.

Tom (Tommie) Reynolds signed his 1969 and 1970 Topps for my collection.

Johnny Edwards signed his 1969, 1970 and 1971 Topps, and also included three signed and personalized pictures.

John Doherty signed his 1975 Topps.

Dick Green signed his 1967 and 1970 Topps.

Bob Duliba signed his 1962, 1963 and 1966 Topps.

Art Howe signed the 1978 Topps Astros team card, as well as his 1980 and 1983 Topps and 2003 Topps Heritage cards.

Ken Aspromonte signed his 1962 Topps and also included a signed picture for me.

And finally, Ron Hansen signed his 1961, 1962, 1967 and 1970 Topps.