TTM Success - Ike Hampton

A 1978 Topps came back signed from Ike Hampton in December.  He has a pretty cool signature.  I had found the card in my vintage Topps box and figured that I'd send it off.

Hampton (b. 1951) played in the majors from 1974 to 1979 for the Mets and Angels.  He had 28 hits, 4 home runs and a .207 batting average. 

I mailed to Hampton on November 20 and got the card back on December 13 for a 23-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Steve Braun

Several nice vintage cards came back signed TTM by Steve Braun recently.  I was especially happy that I added another 1972 Topps to the album.  I like the old school All Star Rookie trophy.

I also got back his 1978, 1980 and 1983 Topps.

Braun (b. 1948) played in the majors from 1971 to 1985 for the Twins, Mariners, Royals, Blue Jays and Cardinals.  He had 989 hits, 52 home runs and a .271 batting average.  He won the 1982 World Series with the Cardinals.

I mailed to Braun on October 22 and got the cards back on November 29 for a 38-day TAT. 

Another TTM Success From Jose Cruz

With a $20 in my wallet for some reason, I decided to pull four more cards out of my boxes and send to Jose Cruz again.  He signs for $5.00/card.

I added the 1986 Topps Astros Leaders at the top, and the above 1972, 1978 and 1980 Topps.  All of the cards look nice. 

I met some of the Cruz family this past summer when I saw Jose, Jr. and Trei Cruz in Erie.  I'd liked to have met Jose, Sr., as well, but he didn't make the trip.

I mailed to Cruz on October 10 and got the cards back on October 22, for a 12-day TAT. 

A Huge Autograph Haul From The National

Catching up on scans has been tough, and this post had a ton of scans that I needed to get through.

While at this year's National, Michael and I spent a ton of time (and a good bit of money) at the IP autos boxes.  There's a dealer at the show with stacks and stacks of 5,000-count boxes of in person (and I assume TTM) autos.  There are a lot of obscure autos in there, and Michael and I had a blast going through it.

Above are cards of Eugenio Velez, Heath Bell, Ryan Church, Kevin Young, Jeff Reboulet, Lou Frazier, Marc Barcelo and Ty Blach.  I like all of the cards showing the infield dirt for some reason. 

Michael and I also completed a card-for-card trade for autographed cards while we were recovering from a long day at the show. Unfortunately, those autos got mixed up with the ones I had purchased.   Here are autographs of David Segui, Bill Mueller and Akinori Iwamura.  The 2006 Topps card is signed by some unknown Oriole.

I'm pretty sure that this Miguel Rojas came from Michael. Regardless, this 2017 Topps looks pretty cool. I like the Marlins logo here.

Going through the boxes, I pulled every Nolan Reimold and Brandon Waring that I could find. It is always cool finding a Wofford card in the wild at a show.

This Doug Drabek was an upgrade to the personalized one that was in my 1987 Topps set. I will put the personalized one in the autograph album and this one with the set.

I also love finding signed Wood Duck, Kinston Indian and Carolina Mudcat cards in the wild.  I needed the above 2019 Topps Heritage Minors Diosbel Arias, so finding that one was great.  I also found a couple Steve Mintz autos, which was great.  There are also autos of Rick Prieto, Brian Anthony and Macier Izturis.

I found a lot of former Oriole farmlands in thr boxes.  Here are Rick Bauer, Brian Burres, a couple Feeddie Bynum, Howie Clark, Tommy Davis, Cesar Devarez, Eric DuBose and Brian Finch.  I remember all of these dudes.  Several are ones I wish I could have gotten in the past.

This next batch is Jeff Fiorentino x 2, Pedro Florimon, Mike Fontenot, Riley Hornback, Caleb Joseph, Dave Johnson, Jim Johnson and Eugene Kingsale.  A couple of them (Fontenot, Mike Johnson and Joseph) are guys i had gotten before either in person or TTM.

Here are: another Kingsale, a couple Adam Loewen, Val Majewski, Kevin Millwood, Ntema Ndungidi, Ryan Ouellette, Hayden Penn and Keith Reed.  I remember the organization being really high on Penn, but he didn't work out.  Much like a lot of these guys, sadly.  Adding the 2010 Topps Heritage of NCs own Kevin Millwood was also a bonus.

These are: Keith Reed, Matt Riley x 3, Ed Rogers, Luke Scott, Nate Spears, John Stephens and Mamon Tucker.  Stephens was the Orioles minor league pitcher of the year twice, but still didn't do much at the Major League level.  He got into 12 games in 2002, to a 6+ ERA.  He is from Australia, so I don't think I'd ever get a chance to get him TTM.

The last of the Orioles cards are a couple more Mamon Tucker, a 2017 Heritage Gabriel Ynoa and a 1994 Donruss Greg Zaun.  That Ynoa is a cool addition of a guy I forgot was an Oriole.

Now, I get into cards that junped out at me in the autograph boxes and/or the deal with Michael.  Here are: Ladies Alvarez, who I wish I had gotten when I was in Oklahoma City a couple years ago; Phillippe Aumont, Paul Bako, Grant Balfour, Skeeter Barnes, Jason Bay, Rob Bellior and Joe Biagini.

Next are: Cousin Hank Blalock (right, P. A.?), Brainer Bonaci, Julio Borbon, Dusty Brown, Brian Burgamy on a sweet Topps 206, Freddie Bynum, Eric Chavez (not the A's guy) and Ozzie Chavez.

More: Scott Coolbaugh, Callix Crabbe, Will Craig, Rajai Davis, Rick Dempsey (with a 1988 WS Champs inscription; this was from Michael), Chris Denorfia and Justin Duchscherererer.

Here are: Darnell Evans, Josh Fogg, Ray Fosse, Kyle Funkhouser, Esteban German, Fredi Gonzalez, Goose Gossage, KeBryan Hayes and Luis Hernandez.

These are: Ramon Hernandez, Teoscar Hernandez, Richard Hidalgo, Justin Huber, Tyrell Jenkins, two Blaze Jordan, Steve Johnson and Mitch Keller.

Above are: Jon Knott, Ramon Laureano, Wl Ledezma, Matt Lindstrom, Zach Lee, Jordan Lyles, Dillon Maples, Robert Machado and Pratt Maynard.

I got excited when I saw the 2002 Topps Mauer.  Except it was Jake Mauer, not Joe.  That would have been too good to be true, obviously.  The rest are: Kevin Mench, Danny Mendick, Colby Miller, Luke Montz, two Manny Mota, Tomas Nido and Randy Nieman on a 1986 Topps Tiffany.

Next are: John Olerud, Gene Pentz, Felix Pie, Brooks Pounders, Wilfredo Rodriguez, Jojo Romero, Josh Sharpless, Kyle Sleeth and Mallex Smith.

I'm pretty sure I got the above Blake Snell from Michael.  Probably the Dillon Tate, too.  There are also Erick Threets, Jason Tyner, Jordan Weems, Jimy Williams, Matt Williams, Peanut Williams and Vance Worley.  I know i sent TTM to Worley, but the card(s) haven't come back yet.

Whew, finally, here is a 2017 Topps Heritage Minors TJ Zeuch.  I got Zeuch last year, but didnt get the Heritage done, so I was glad to add this one to the album. 

That was a ton of cards.  I'm glad I finally got off of my butt and got them all scanned and filed into the autograph album. 

Thanks for looking through the boxes with me, Michael, and also thanks for the trade.

Another TTM Success From Bob Lacey

Another request to a TTM signer who i had gotten before got me these two cards back from Bob Lacey.  I had gotten him back in 2021 on a few cards; these two were left over, so I sent to him again.  The above 1981 Topps is a nice card.  His signature is a bit faint, but still looks fine.

I also sent off this 1978 Topps, which also turned out nicely.  I like the old A's jersey.

I mailed to Lacey on October 7 and got the cards back on October 15, for an 8-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Tim Nordbrook

This TTM success from Tim Nordbrook was nice and all, until I realized after a pass through the to-be-TTMed box that I missed his 1991 Crown Orioles card. I'll have to send to him again at some point.  Still, the above 1976 Topps looks nice.

I also got Nordbrook on this 1978 Topps.  This is also a nice card, and his uniform appears to be airbrushed.  I could be wrong, though.

Nordbrook (b. 1949) played in the majors from 1974 to 1979 for the Orioles, Angels, White Sox, Blue Jays and Brewers.  He had 30 hits, no home runs and a .178 batting average.

I mailed to Nordbrook on August 7 and got the cards back on September 24, for a 48-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Tom Burgmeier

The last time I sent to Tom Burgmeier TTM, I only had two of his cards.  Since then, I got a lot more in my hoard and was able to send off these five, which included the above 1972 Topps.  I love how the 72s look when signed. 

I also got his 1973, 1978, 1982 and 1973 Topps signed. This helped me move several cards out of the boxes.

I mailed to Burgmeier on January 3 and got the cards back on March 29, for an 86-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Henry Cruz

This 1978 Topps that I got signed TTM by Henry Cruz is a nice card. It's very 70s with the collared uniform and sideburns.  The White Sox really had some questionable fashion choices over the years. 

Cruz (b. 1952) played in the majors from 1975 to 1978 for the Dodgers and White Sox. He had 64 hits, 8 home runs and a .229 batting average.

I mailed to Cruz on October 20 and got the card back on November 28, for a 39-day TAT. 

Another TTM Success From Al Bumbry

Al Bumbry has signed for me several times; TTM and IP.  I didn't think I had anything left to get signed by him, then I had the idea of filling out this 1973 Topps Rookie Outfielders card.  I sent to Charlie Spikes first, then I sent to a private signing with Dwight Evans.  Finally, I finished the card by sending off to Bumbry.  The card looks awesome fully signed.

Bumbry sent along this signed Orioles post card.  I have some of these, but another doesn't hurt.

Finally, I found this 1978 Topps somewhere (the Winston-Salem card shop, I think).  I didn't have one of these signed yet, so it went along with the other card.

I mailed to Bumbry on May 15 and June 2, for an 18-day TAT.  I sent to the Evans signing on March 1 and got the card back on March 31, for a 30-day TAT. I don't know why I let it sit for so long before getting it out.

TTM Success - Rob Andrews

This was a nice TTM success from Rob Andrews that got some cards out of my TTM box that had been sitting in there for a long time.  The above 1978 Topps turned out nicely.

I also got a 1979 and a 1980 Topps signed. 

Andrews (b. 1952) played in the majors from 1975 to 1979 for the Astros and Giants.  He had 365 hits, 3 home runs and a .251 batting average.

I mailed to Andrews on November 23 and got the cards back on April 10, for a 138-day TAT.

2023 National Free Signer - Larry Hisle

The next free signer at this year's National was Larry Hisle.  I had cards put aside to try him TTM, but I had kept putting it off.  I was happy to see that he was on the list this year and get my cards signed.  The above 1970 Topps turned out great.

Hisle was really nice.  He looked up at me and said "Young man, what advice would you give a 77-year old on slowing down the aging process?" I said "Umm, that's a tough one, let me think." He replied "I'm just kidding" and I said "You could start counting in reverse." He laughed and said "actually, I feel pretty good for 77, almost 78. I'm doing fine."  I really liked talking with him.

Hisle (b. 1947) played in the majors from 1968 to 1971 and 1973 to 1982 for the Phillies, Twins and Brewers.  He had 1,146 hits, 166 home runs and a .273 batting average.  He let the AL in RBIs with 119 in 1977 and was an All Star in 1977 and 1978. He finished 3rd in the AL MVP race in 1978. He appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 1988, but received no votes.

Another TTM Success From Tom Murphy

Here is another TTM success that was started with my searching of the boxes I borrowed from Conrad.  I had gotten Tom Murphy TTM back in 2020, and decided to send to him again when I found all of these cards.

The above 1971 and 1975 Topps cards came out of Conrad's stuff; the 1977 Topps above and 1978 Topps at the top of the page were mine.

Conrad also had a bunch of 1974 and 1974 Topps Traded.  I thought it was cool to get both of Murphy's 74s signed.

All of the cards look great.  I mailed to Murphy on January 23 and got the cards back on February 16, for a 24-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Mike Barlow

Some early 80s (and a late 70s) cards came back signed TTM recently from Mike Barlow.  The cards turned out great, and I was glad to get this 1981 Topps taken care of.  I enjoy this set, and am always happy to add a new one to the autograph album.

The 1978 and 1980 Topps cards that I sent also look nice.  My 1980 signed cards are catching up with the 1981s; I believe those two sets are second and third behind 1987 for the most signed cards I have from one set.

Barlow (b. 1948) played in the majors from 1975 to 1981 for the Cardinals, Astros, Angels and Blue Jays.  He had a record of 10-6 with 96 strike outs and a 4.63 ERA.

I mailed to Barlow on October 17 and got the cards back on January 14, for an 89-day TAT.

TTM Success - Dave Freisleben

Here are some nice vintage Topps cards that came in signed TTM from Dave Freisleben,  These feature a couple 70s Padres uniforms with a lot of yellow and brown.  While not the most attractive color combinations, the jerseys still look pretty cool.

I got a 1976 Topps, 1978 Topps, 1979 Topps and 1980 Topps signed by Freisleben.  All of th cards turned out nicely.

Freisleben (b. 1951) played in the majors from 1974 to 1979 for the Padres, Indians and Blue Jays.  He had a record of 34-60 with 430 strike outs and a 4.30 ERA.

I mailed to Freisleben on October 28, 2021, and got the cards back on December 23, 2022, for a 421-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Bob Bailor

When I started pulling a bunch of 70s and 80s cards out of my boxes for TTMs recently, I pulled several Bob Bailor cards that I would try to get signed through a second TTM attempt.  He signed all of the cards, and they turned out well. The above card is my 1980 Topps.

I also got a 1978, 1979, 1984 and 1984 Traded signed.

I also got this 1991 Crown Orioles card signed.

I mailed to Bailor on November 23 and got the cards back on December 20, for a 27-day TAT.