TTM Success - Kodi Medeiros

This TTM success from Kodi Medeiros helped me get some cards out of my box that I've had for a long time and weren't able to finish off when he was playing for the Mudcats.  The above 2013 Leaf Perfect Game is one that sat in the same place for a very long time.

I also got my 2014 Panini Prizm, 2014 Bowman and 2014 Bowman Chrome signed.

Medeiros (b. 1996) was a first round (12th overall) pick by the Brewers in the 2014 June Amateur Draft out of Waiakea High School in Hawaii.  He played from 2014 to 2022 (missing 2020 when the minors were shut down due to COVJD) in the Brewers, White Sox and Angels systems.  He had a record of 27-44 with 567 strike outs and a 4.93 ERA.  He ended up reaching AAA and now seems to be out of baseball.

I mailed to Medeiros on January 10 and got the cards back on March 18, for a 67-day TAT.

TTM Success - Justin Bellinger

This TTM success from Justin Bellinger started with a card that I really wanted to get signed, then turned into a lot more, thanks to either his or his parents' generosity.

I had this 2013 Leaf Perfect Game chrome card that was a box topper of a box that I picked up several years ago at the National.  I had the card top loaded in one of my boxes for a long time, until I decided to try to locate an address for Bellinger and see if I could get the card signed.

Bellinger signed the back of the card and also signed the back of a 2013 Leaf Perfect Game base card.  He also included the Bowman All American card at the top of the post; signed on the front.

Bellinger didn't stop at adding those couple free cards and the autographs.  He also included this sweet patch card from Perfect Game and also the PSA graded 9 chrome card below.  I was blown away by his generosity.

Bellinger (b. 1995) was a 22nd round pick by the Reds in the 2017 June Amateur Draft out of Duke.  He played in the Reds system from 2017 to 2018; both seasons at rookie-level Greeneville.  He had 59 hits, 7 home runs and a .247 batting average.

I mailed to Bellinger on January 13 and got the package on April 5, for an 82-day TAT.

TTM Success - Taylor Walls

When I can get a 2013 Perfect Game card signed, I get pretty happy.  I bought a couple boxes of 2013 Perfect Game at the National a few years ago, and still have a bunch of base cards left over.  I have been able to get a few of them signed, and when I saw that Taylor Walls was signing TTM, I sent this one, and a few other cards out to him.  He doesn't have much of a signature, but hey, they're signed.

I also got a 2019 Stars & Stripes, 2020 Stars & Stripes, 2017 Bowman and 2018 Pro Debut signed by Walls.

Walls (b. 1996) made his major league debut this season for the Rays.  He was a 3rd round pick by the Rays out of Florida State in the 2017 June Amateur Draft.  So far, he has 16 hits, 1 home run and a .246 batting average.

I mailed to Walls on January 2 and got the cards back on February 19, for a 48-day TAT.

TTM Success - Dash Winningham

I was really happy to find an address for Dash Winningham because it helped me get this 2017 SAL All Star card from 2017signed, along with my 2013 Perfect Game.

Winningham (b. 1995) was an 9th round pick by the Mets in the 2014 June Amateur Draft out of Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala, Florida.  He played in the Mets system from 2014 to 2018, reaching High A and Independent ball in 2019.  He has 372 hits, 45 home runs and a .240 batting average across his 5 minor league seasons/

I mailed to Winningham on January 11 and got the cards back on January 22, for an 11-day TAT.

TTM Success - Devin Smeltzer

I always enjoy getting 2013 Leaf Perfect Game cards out of my box.  I bought several hobby boxes of these a few years ago at The National for cheap, but got stuck with a lot of commons.  Thankfully, I have been able to get a coupld of them signed recently TTM.  I also like Devin Smeltzer's inscription on the above card "Goateeless Days".  That's a good one.

I also got a 2019 Topps Holiday signed by Smeltzer.  It turned out really well, too.

Smeltzer (b. 1995) has played in the majors since 2019 for the Twins.  He has a career record of 4-2 with 51 strike outs and a 4.45 ERA.

I mailed to Smeltzer on June 1 and got the cards back on June 9, for an 8-day TAT.

TTM Success - Austin DeCarr

 

I was able to finally get another card out of my 2013 Perfect Game box when I got this one signed by Austin DeCarr.  I was disappointed to later find out that I missed sending him some 2014 Bowmans to sign as well.

DeCarr (b. 1995) was a third round pick in the 2014 MLB amateur draft by the Yankees.  He pitched in the Yankees system in 2014 and from 2016 to 2018, reaching as high as Single A Charleston.

He had a minor league record of 7-4 with 131 strike outs and a 4.57 ERA.

I mailed to DeCarr on May 21 and got the card back signed on May 30, for a 9-day TAT.

Some California League 50/50s

I got a DM on Instagram earlier this season from a guy in California who watched me bust my 2019 Pro Debut boxes on my livestream.  He took a couple cards of a guy in that set, and got a 50/50 done for me.  He, then, offered to get me some cards signed by some of the guys in the California League (mostly), so I sent a bunch of cards his way.

He was only able to get a few of the cards done for me, but it was definitely quality over quantity.  He pushed the above Austin Beck shimmer refractor to the front of the line when I was able to cross JP Martinez off of his want list for his 2019 Pro Debut set.  The Beck turned out great, and I was super excited to get it back signed.

These 4 cards were the only other ones that he was able to get done for me.  I was disappointed, mainly because he had promised to get a Heliot Ramos done for me, but it didn't get signed, and didn't even make it back in the package.  My feelings aren't really hurt by that or anything, because stuff happens, but the thing I dislike the most is spending a ton of time searching for cards, then having to go and put it all back in the box.

Anyway, I'm glad I got what I got.  We'll see if I do another 50/50, or maybe if I do one, it might be on a much smaller scale.

Awesome Mail From Carson

I haven't gotten mail from him in a long time, but that doesn't mean much.  I talk to my good friend, Carson, pretty much every day.  Recently, I had some really cool Topps custom cards made for him, which he seemed to really enjoy.

Carson messaged me a few months ago and asked me if I had Jose Canseco on a ball.  I didn't, since I had gotten him on some baseball cards when he was a free signer at the National.  Carson said that his dad (Tim, who I also have dealt with quite a lot) was going to see Jose, and would hook me up with a baseball.

The ball came out great.  Carson didn't want anything in return for the ball, which really made my day.  He has always been good to me.  I've always tried to help him out with his collection, as well.

Recently, Carson told me he was working on the 1972 Topps set, so I had him send me a needs list, since I had a bunch of extras from my box that I got from Conrad.  He, too, had some extras, so we made a swap.  He sent me 24 cards that I needed, and I sent him a stack (I forgot the count).  I was really nice being able to help each other work on the same set.

Finally, Carson tossed this signed 2013 Perfect Game Sean Reid-Foley auto in the box.

Thanks so much for the package, Carson!  Moreover, thank you for your friendship!

August 8, 2017 Graphing of Blue Rocks at Wood Ducks

Chris and I took in a game (along with one of Chris's friends) between the Wood Ducks and Blue Rocks last week.  We were able to do a good bit of graphing that was the culmination of the dime box finds from the National.

The above Ti-Quan Forbes was a box topper from one of the boxes of 2013 Perfect Game.  The card turned out really nice.

These are Bowman Chrome minis that I found in a dime box at the show.  That seller had boxes of Bowman dating back as far as 2006, I believe.

They also had a ton of 2014 Bowman blue and black parallels.  I stocked up on the black parallels of a bunch of guys that I knew I would see this month.

I pulled two Josh Morgan cards out of my Perfect Game boxes.  I also found four Matt Lipka 1st Bowman Cards.  He was nice enough to sign all four at this game, and we also talked about how young he was in the picture.

I was able to get a few more Jamie Quirk cards signed.  Chris actually got to go out on the field and present the lineup cards to Quirk and the umpires.  He was invited out there by Jeremy Moore, which was a really cool moment,

I added some new Topps cards to my binder, thanks to Quirk.

I had some nice parallels of Scott Blewett as well.  They turned out really nice.  I also had a bunch of Chase Vallot, but he was on the DL and didn't make the trip to Kinston.

Finally, here are the Roman Collins cards that I got.  I got two refractors, one chrome and a paper base.

Now, I am off to try to get more Mudcats.

IP Autos From Max

I sent cards to my very good friend, Max, a few times to help him do some IP graphing around Chicago.  He had a paid session with former outfielder Larry Biitner and got these two cards signed for me.

I raided my 1972 set for the card on the left and the 1976 on the right came out of my box from Columbia.  They both look pretty cool, I think.

I also sent Max some Orioles cards so he could 50/50 them while they were getting beaten by the White Sox in Chicago.  The only person who would sign for him was Alan Mills, and Max kindly sent me back all of the autos, which he didn't have to do.

Mills and Roger McDowell had better find some magic cure for the Orioles terrible pitching staff, and soon, because their jobs might be on the line very soon.

Finally, Max hit up a minor league game and got me some autographs from the Astros Single A team from Quad Cities.  I sent him an assortment of Daz Cameron cards, and these are the ones I got back.  He also sent me this Just Minors Juan Dilone to go along with everything.

The Camerons came out really well.  I have come to the realization that I really love the design on 2016 Bowman and Bowman Chrome.  They look really sharp!

Finally, I had found two Trace Loehr cards to send along to Max, and he sent them both back to me signed.  I was expecting him to keep the 2015 Bowman Chrome, but it came back as well.  I had the Perfect Game cards for a while.  I have wanted to pick up some more packs of it, but it is a pretty high price point, but there are guys in there who are graphing in the minors.

Thank you so much for getting these cards signed for me, Max!  I really appreciate it!