Another TTM Success From David Lough

Last month, I got a TTM success in from David Lough because I had heard he was now signing his mail.  I had completely forgotten about the TTM request I had sent him back in 2020.  Well, it came in on Monday. I got the above ruby red foil parallel from 2014 Topps signed, and it turned out greqt.

He also signed a 2013 Pinnale, 2013 Topps, 2014 Topps Heritage and a blue parallel from 2014 Topps.  I never give up on a TTM request, and this one took almost 4 years to come in.

I mailed to Lough on July 15, 2020, and got the cards back on June 17, 2024, for a 1,433-day TAT.

Birthday Gifts From Mom - What's a Charleston Charlie?

Mom woke me up last Saturday because I was sleeping in her guest bedroom and she and Dad were getting ready to head to a race.  So, I was half-asleep when she presented me with a gift bag for my birthday.  I don't recall where she told me she found this Charleston Charlies t-shirt, but it is pretty cool.  Cool because my youngest brother's nickname is Charlie and our new cat's name is Charlie.  Pretty cool.  However, I don't have a clue who the Charleston Charlies were.

Because you can find out anything with a simple Google search, I learned that the Charleston Charlies were a Triple-A team located in Charleston West Virginia from 1971 to 1983.  They were the former Charleston Jets, then relocated to Maine in 1984 to become the Maine Guides.  They now are known as the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Railriders.  The Charlies were affiliated with the Pirates from 1971 to 1976; Astros from 1977 to 1979; Rangers in 1980 and the Indians from 1981 to 1983.  Dave Parker and Tony LaRussa are a couple of many former stars who were Charleston Charlies.

Mom also picked up a Richmond Flying Squirrels shirt that looks really cool.  If Richmond can hold onto the team, maybe I can wear it to a game.

Mom also included this cool Cal Ripken acetate card from 2013 Panini Pinnacle in with my birthday card that came in the mail a couple days before my birthday.  The card isn't numbered, but looks really cool.  I'm glad to add it to my Cal PC.

I could write a whole series of blog posts about how awesome my mom is.  While I'm certain that she would just Love for me to do that, I will just advise that one can simply click on the "mom" tag at the bottom of this post and let all of my past blogs do the talking for me.  I will say that Mom always helped support my hobbies, ever since I was leaving coins lying on the floor at 8 years old.  She always showed an interest in what all of us were doing, and many times, collected alongside us.  She still buys packs of cards here and there.  Someone should tell her, though, that they have not printed any cards showing shirtless David Lough.

Thanks for the birthday presents, Momma!  I love them, and I love you!

Some New Cal Ripken Cards From The Card Shop

I picked up a couple new Cal Ripken cards for my PC at the December card show.  The above 1995 Score Select Gold Team Ripken was only a dollar and I'm pretty sure that I didn't have it in my PC.  It looks really cool, also.

The above 2013 Team Pinnacle Ripken/Jeter (He's on the flip side of the card) is one I'm certain I didn't already have in my collection.  It also scanned really nice.  In person, the card is a bit more metallic, but I do like how this scanned.

As I always say, it is really hard for me to find Cals that I need since I have so many.  I did go through my Cal PC last year and pull out several duplicated, so I'm starting to see which cards I have and which ones I need.  I really need to make a database on my laptop of the cards I have so I'm not doubling up.  One of these days, I'll have time.

What? A Matt Wieters Card?

Yeah!  I went to the LCS a couple weeks ago and after buying a few packs, I pulled a surprising addition to a PC that has been quite sad lately.  Yes, Matt Wieters.  For some inexplicable reason, Wieters does not appear in Topps sets.  He originally had a deal with Razor (are they even around anymore?) and I think he was in some Tristar products too, but never Topps.  Well, I picked up a pack of 2013 Panini Pinnacle and there he was.  I was actually really happy, and the Pinnacle product is really nice.  My son, Chris, pulled a nice acetate/clear Prince Fielder that looks pretty awesome, so it is a good product.  I still love Topps, but I don't know why a little competition wouldn't be healthy for the hobby.