TTM Success - Travis Miller

A 2001 Topps was added to the autograph album when I got this card back from Travis Miller.  The autograph is kind of tough to see, but it's there.

Miller (b. 1972) played in the majors from 1996 to 2002 for the Twins.  He had a record of 7-18 with 199 strike outs and a 5.05 ERA.

I mailed to Miller on October 31 and got the card back on November 29 for a 29-day TAT. 

July 23, 2024, Graphing of the Legends at Dirty Birds

On my way to Cleveland for the 2024 National, I met up with my friend, Michael, in Charleston to catch the Lexington Legends at Charleston Dirty Birds.  Greg Zaun is managing the Legends and Arthur Rhodes is their pitching coach.  These were two former Orioles that I wanted to get to sign some cards. 

I cleaned out the rest of the Charleston cards that I had, including a couple more Delino Deshields, Jr. that I found in a box just a couple days before i left for the show.  I was also happy that I finally got my David Lebron Frederick Keys team set card signed.

It took me a while to find some Zaun cards, but I found enough for both Michael and I.  I found some JT Riddle cards in the same box I found the Deshields cards in.  I also got a Midwest League All Star team.set card signed by Brady Whalen.

When Michael and I were looking at teams to see on the way to Cleveland, I saw that former Wood Duck. Nic Laio was on Lexington.  I was able.to finally get his 2021 Wood Ducks team set card signed.  I'm down to just a couple cards left to complete that set.

While I didn't find a whole lot of Greg Zaun cards, I found a ton of Arthur Rhodes cards. 

I loaded a ton of the cards into my book, then also got some help from my friend, Josh, who lives near Charleston.

Josh and his friend Jimmy came to the game, which was the first time I've seen Josh in person since he and I went to Myrtle Beach during the full throes of COVID.  He has since gotten married and now has a one-year old son.  I wish I could have also seen his wife and son, but the little guy isn't quite old enough to catch a Dirty Birds game.  I'm glad Josh brought Jimmy along; Jimmy isn't a huge baseball fan but enjoyed himself and seems to be turning into a fan.  It really made me happy that Josh went out of his way to get to the game to see me.

In all, I got the following autographs: Delino DeShields Jr x 2, Phil Ervin x 6, David Lebron x 1, Cristofer Ogando x 1, Korry Howell x 2, Nic Laio x 3, Arthur Rhodes x 19, JT Riddle x 2, Brady Whalen x 1 and Gregg Zaun x 4 (41 total autographs).

TTM Success - Eric Gagne

He could have gone down in history as one of the greatest closers ever, but a link to HGH did that in.  Still, Eric Gagne had a run as the dominant reliever in the game.  I saw that he was signing TTM, so I sent off some early-2000s Topps cards and got them back signed.  The above 2004 Topps turned out well.

I also got this 2001 Topps and this 2002 Topps signed.  It is hard to see the signatures on them, but they are definitely signed.

Gagne (b. 1976) played in the majors from 1999 to 2008 for the Dodgers, Rangers, Red Sox and Brewers.  He had a record of 33-26 with 718 strike outs and a 3.47 ERA.  He tied the then NL record for saves with 55 in 2003.  Between August 6, 2002, and July 5, 2004, he set a major league record for converting 84 saves in a row. He was an All Star in 2002, 2003 and 2004. He won the World Series with the Red Sox in 2007.  He was the 2003 NL Cy Young Award winner.  His best MVP finish was 6th (also 2003).

I mailed to Gagne on October 3 and got the cards back on November 9, for a 37-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Kevin Jarvis

These two cards were rescued from my boxes and signed TTM when I sent off to Kevin Jarvis.  The above 2002 Fleer Focus turned out nicely, and had come from one of the boxes I got from my former LCS.  These have a nice design; I wish I had opened more cards in the early 2000s, but I was a broke college student at the time.

Here is Jarvis's 2001 Topps, which also turned out great.  This is a nice landscape oriented card, which looks nice in this set.

Jarvis (b. 1969) played in the majors from 1994 to 1997 and 1999 to 2006 for the Reds, Twins, Tigers, A's, Rockies, Padres, Mariners, Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Red Sox.  He had a record of 34-49 with 453 strike outs and a 6.03 ERA.

I mailed to Jarvis on March 29 and got the cards back on April 18, for a 20-day TAT.

TTM Success - Matt Clement

These cards stayed out in the mail for quite a long time, but I finally received a TTM success from Matt Clement.  I had some older Bowmans and a couple early 2000s Topps cards for Clement, and they turned out nicely.

The 1997 Bowman (above, left) turned out well; I was glad to get one of those out, as I don't have very many of them signed.  They seem to live in my boxes and it was good to get at least one of them into my album.  I also like the early 1st Bowman logo.

Clement (b. 1974) played in the majors from 1998 to 2006 for the Padres, Marlins, Cubs and Red Sox.  He had a record of 87-86 with 1,217 strike outs and a 4.47 ERA.  He was an All Star in 2005.

I mailed to Clement on February 11, 2019 and got the cards back on April 14, 2022, for a 1,158-day TAT.

TTM Success - Brian Tollberg

Here are a couple cards that I picked up at a show, recently, then sent off for TTM.  The above 2001 Upper Deck of Brian Tollberg is a nice card; I had forgotten how mice a set 2001 Upper Deck was.  It's a clean design, and the cards look good when signed.

I had also gotten this 2001 Topps signed, which also turned out nicely.

Tollberg (b. 1972) played in the majors from 2000 to 2003 for the Padres.  He had a record of 15-16 with 182 strike outs and a 4.48 ERA.

I mailed to Tollberg on March 23 and got the cards back on March 31, for an 8-day TAT.

TTM Success - Kevin Barker

Here are a couple early 2000s cards that I was able to get signed TTM by Kevin Barker.  I had actually sent him three cards but he didn't sign my 1999 Bowman.  This 2001 Topps turned out nicely.

I liked getting this 2000 Topps signed at well. I have a bunch of 2000 Topps rookies in my boxes, so I was glad to get one out of there. 

Barker (b. 1975) played in the majors in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2009 for the Brewers, Padres, Blue Jays and Reds. He had 71 hits, 6 home runs and a .249 batting average.

I mailed to Barker on 0ctober 22 and got the cards back on December 18, for a 57-day TAT.

TTM Success - Brian Meadows

These two Brian Meadows cards came back signed TTM from him recently after I rescued a coupld of his cards from my boxes.  Both of the cards turned out well.

Meadows (b. 1975) played in the majors from 1998 to 2006 for the Marlins, Padres, Royals, Pirates and Devil Rays.  He had a record of 47-62 with 454 strike outs and a 5.05 ERA.

I mailed to Meadows on November 10 and got the cards back on November 19, for a 9-day TAT.

TTM Success - Mark McLemore

This is the second TTM success that I have gotten from someone named Mark McLemore, but they are two different people.  This McLemore was the one I remembered from my teenage years, and was happy to see that he, too, was signing TTM.  The above 2000 Topps turned out nicely, and adds another of this set to my binder.  For a while, I hadn't added any from this set, but recently, I have added a few.

I also sent McLemore a 1993 Topps, 2001 Topps, 2002 Topps and a 2003 Topps.  All look great, and have been put away.

McLemore (b. 1964) played in the majors from 1986 to 2004 for the Angels, Indians, Astros, Orioles, Rangers, Mariners and A's.  He had 1,602 hits, 53 home runs and a .259 batting average.

I mailed to McLemore on September 13 and got the cards back on November 10, for a 58-day TAT.  I mailed to him via Rangers Stadium.

TTM Success - Armando Rios

Here are a few nice early 2000s cards that I was able to clear out of my boxes with this TTM success from Armando Rios.  I actually sent these in too quickly, as I had found them and wrote to Rios right after, forgetting that I had put a couple other cards of his aside earlier in the year.  So, I missed those cards, and I will have to send to him again.  Still, what I got signed turned out well, and I was able to add a 2000 Topps to the album, since I don't have many in the autograph album.

I also added a 2001 Topps and a 2002 Topps, as well.  I wish I had waited to find the other cards I had pulled, but it is what it is.

Rios (b. 1971) played in the majors from 1998 to 2003 for the Giants, Pirates and White Sox.  He had 275 hits, 36 home runs and a .269 batting average.

I mailed to Rios on September 11 and got the cards back on November 5, for a 54-day TAT.

TTM Success - Bill Mazeroski

Bill Mazeroski has been signing TTM consistently for a good bit now that he has moved from wherever he was previously.  I had seen a bunch of people get him back, so I decided to try my hand at it, as well.  Then, I got a RTS.  The same address everyone else was using, and my envelope came back with the dreaded yellow sticker.  Dang.  I tossed the cards in a box I have been filling up that, once full, will be yard sale fodder.  

One of my buddies got him back a while later and confirmed that same address for me, so I dug these two cards back out of the box (took forever to find them, of course), and I sent them off again.  This time around, I was successful and have two really great cards that I can add to the album.

The card at the top is a 2019 Topps 150 Years of Baseball insert, and turned out amazing.  The above 2001 Topps Golden Moments card is also great, and I am glad I was able to get it signed.  I missed out on getting the Bobby Thompson card signed, but I did get Hank Aaron.  This is a pretty cool subset and I may come off of some money to add a few more of these to my collection.

Mazeroski (b. 1936) is now 85 years old and one of the oldest living Hall of Famers.  He played 17 years in the majors (from 1956 to 1972), all for the Pirates.  He had 2,016 hits, 138 home runs and a .260 batting average.  He was a 10-time All Star (1958 to 1960, 1962 to 1964 and 196, with double honors in 1959, 1960 and 1962).  His best MVP finish was 8th in 1958.  He was also an 8-time Gold Glove Award winner.  He won the World Series in 1960 and 1971; his home run in the 7th game of the 1960 World Series is the moment shown on both of the cards I sent.

He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001 via the Veterans Committee.

I mailed to Mazeroski on March 27 and got the cards back on April 12, for a 16-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $10.00/card.

TTM Success - Mike Matheny

The signature on this 1997 Topps isn't too easy to see, but it is there, and looks good in person.  I made sure to include this card in the TTM request I sent to Mike Matheny via Royals Spring Training this year, because I rarely am able to send them out, and wanted to get this one done because it is a good shot of Matheny.

I also sent these two along; 2001 Topps and 2003 Topps.  Both look great.

Matheny (b. 1970) played in the majors from 1994 to 2006 for the Brewers, Blue Jays, Cardinals and Giants.  He had 925 hits, 67 home runs and a .239 batting average.  He was a 4-time Gold Glove Award winner (2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005).

Matheny managed the Cardinals from 2012 to 2018 and has managed the Royals since 2020.  He holds (as of today) a managerial record of 677-582 (.538 win %).  He won the NL pennant in 2013, where his Cardinals lost to the Red Sox in the World Series.

I mailed to Matheny via Royals Spring Training on February 11 and got the cards back on March 27, for a 44-day TAT.

TTM Success - Bill Spiers

Here are a bunch of Bill Spiers cards that I was able to get signed TTM after waiting quite a while for them to come in. 

I really like this 1990 Score. I used to have a bunch of these, but I don't have nearly as many years anymore.

Spiers also signed a 1993 Flair, 1993 Fleer, 2000 Topps and a 2001 Topps.

Spiers (b. 1966) played in the majors from 1989 to 2001 for the Brewers, Mets and Astros.  He had 922 hits, 37 home runs and a .271 batting average. 

I mailed to Spiers on October 8, 2019 and got the cards back on January 23, 2021, for a 473-day TAT.

TTM Success - Randy Maris

I don't mind getting a baseball legend's card signed by a relative, if the legend himself has passed.  In this case, I got a couple Roger Maris cards signed by his son Randy.

Maris (b. 1934 - d. 1985) played in the majors from 1957 to 1968 for the Indians, A's (KC), Yankees and Cardinals.  He had 1,325 hits, 275 home runs and a .260 batting average.  He was a 2-time AL MVP (1960 and 1961), a 7-time All Star (1959-1962, with double honors in 1960, 1961 and 1962) and a Gold Glove Award winner in 1960.  He won the World Series with the Yankees in 1961 and 1962 and with the Cardinals in 1967.  He was the single-season home run champ until Mark McGwire hit 70 in 1998.

Maris appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot for the maximum of 15 times (1974 to 1988), but never got more than 43.1% of the vote (and that was in his final year of eligibility).  Arguments can be made for and against Maris's Hall credentials; I'm not sure his two good seasons and one epic season among his 12 in the league qualifies him, but if he did get in at some point, I wouldn't be upset.

I mailed to Randy Maris on October 28 and got the cards back on November 9, for a 12-day TAT.

Another TTM Success From Rich Becker

I had gotten Rich Becker TTM once before, back in May 2017, so I figured it was time to send to him again.  I had a bunch of nice cards, and needed to make room in my box.  The above 1994 Upper Deck Electric Diamond turned out really well.  It was pretty much the card that inspired me to send to him again.

I also sent a 1993 Bowman, 1998 Stadium Club, 1998 Topps and a 2001 Topps.

I mailed to Becker on October 26 and got the cards back on November 3, for an 8-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jeff Tam

I got a 2001 Topps out of my box with this TTM success from former pitcher, Jeff Tam.  He signed the card with a black marker.

Tam (b. 1970) played in the majors from 1998 to 2003 for the Mets, Indians, A's and Blue Jays.  He had a career record of 7-14 with 146 strike outs and a 3.91 ERA.

I mailed to Tam on September 23 and got the card back on October 10, for a 17-day TAT.

TTM Success - John Boles

I got a card out of my 2001 Topps cards and got it signed TTM by former Marlins Manager, John Boles.  The card has some damage, due to being stuck to other 01 Topps cards (thanks to the heavy gloss on the card).  I was able to salvage it, and now it is signed.

Boles (b. 1948) managed the Marlins in 1996 and from 1999 to 2001 to a total record of 205-241 (.460 win %).

I mailed to Boles on September 29 and got the card back on October 6, for a 7-day TAT.

TTM Success - Dave Berg

I had Dave Berg's cards in my TTM box for a long time.  I had seen that he signed, then I found out later that I needed the Harvey book if I wanted to send to his home address, so I just sat them aside and waited.  I finally got the book and sent my cards out, making room for others in the box.

I got 2001, 2003 and 2004 Topps cards signed by Berg, and they look really nice.

Berg (b. 1970) played in the majors from 1998 to 2004 for the Marlins and Blue Jays.  He had 430 hits, 21 home runs and a .269 batting average.

I mailed to Berg on June 8 and got the cards back on June 29, for a 21-day TAT.

TTM Success - Dustin Hermanson

I got some nice cards signed TTM from former pitcher, Dustin Hermanson.  The aboce 1995 Score looked really cool, and will look even better in my album.

I also got a 1995 Collectors Choice SE, 1995 Fleer and 2001 Topps signed by Hermanson.

Hermanson (b. 1972) played in the majors from 1995 to 2006 for the Padres, Expos, Cardinals, Red Sox, Giants and White Sox.  He had a career record of 73-78 with 874 strike outs and a 4.21 ERA.  He won the World Series in 2005 with the White Sox.

I mailed to Hermanson on April 21 and got the cards back on April 30, for a 9-day TAT.

TTM Success - Clay Bellinger

These Clay Bellinger cards sat in my box for a long time, but I finally got around to mailing them out.  He returned them signed, and I was especially glad to get the above ProCards AAA signed, since it came out of a box of stuff my mom found in the attic.

I also had one of Bellinger's Topps cards in my collection, so I got it signed as well.

Bellinger (b. 1968) played in the majors from 1999 to 2002 for the Yankees and Angels.  He had 60 hits, 12 home runs and a .193 batting average.  He won the World Series with the Yankees in 1999 and 2000.

I mailed to Bellinger on January 20 and got the cards back on February 7, for an 18-day TAT.