Rest in Peace, Pete Rose

He was a polarizing figure for some.  Regardless of that, he was a baseball legend.  Today, the world lost Pete Rose.  The all-time hits leader was 83.

I met Pete Rose a few times, the most memorable being at the Hall of Fame induction weekend in 2013 when no living Hall of Famers were being inducted.

I made that trip with good friend, Drew, his dad, Joemama, my son, Chris and my brother, Adam.  So much had changed since then.  I'll never forget Chris getting tired of standing in line and plopping down at the first chair he saw, next to Pete.

Chris had earlier gotten his baseball signed by Pete for free.  We were standing in line and Chris was holding a ball. Pete asked him his name and asked "Do you want me to sign your ball, buddy?" Pete did, and added his hits inscription.  I've got the ball put up for Chris.  When Chris sat beside him a bit later, he said "Hey Chris!".

I ran across Pete at a National a couple years ago, and thanked him for being cool to my son.  He didn't remember the encounter; at least he was honest about it.  I get it, he did tons of shows.  Still, I showed him the photo and he chuckled.  I, then, showed him a more recent picture of Chris and he said "Boy, look at all that hair!"  Pete could have brushed me off, but he was so nice.  Things like that won't be forgotten.  People can believe what they want about the man, but I'll sit back and reflect on my own personal experiences, and mourn him.  Rest in peace, Charlie Hustle, Hit King, Legend, Pete Rose.

Another TTM Success From Andrew Abbott

Another TTM success from Spring Training came in when I got this nice 1989 Chrome back signed from Andrew Abbott.  The card turned out nicely. Abbott kept my 2024 Topps base card. 

Abbott (b. 1999) made his MLB debut last season with the Reds.  He had a record of 8-6 with 120 strike outs and a 3.87 ERA.

I mailed to Abbott via Reds camp on February 20 and got the card back on March 21, for a 30-day TAT. 

Another TTM Success From Tony Perez

Finally some of the cards from private signings that I signed up for from September to November are coming in.  For one reason or another four or five of the signings have all been delayed.  One of them, the above card from Tony Perez, finally came in the other day.  

I wanted to complete this 2010 Topps Reds Franchise History card after I got it signed by Johnny Bench last August. The signing with Perez came up soon after, and now that the card is complete, it was well worth the wait.

I sent the card off on November 17 and got the card back on March 2, for a 106-day TAT. I paid a fee of $40 to complete the card.

50-50 Return From Matthew F

A 50/50 partner going on a couple years now, Matthew F had recently sent back some cards that he got signed for me from te 2023 Reds Caravan.  He hooked it up and got me a bunch of stuff taken care of.  The above Willie McGee 1995 Stadium Club Ring Leaders card is really awesome.  I had another one signed by Paul O'Neill a while back, and these look really cool in the album.

I had missed Brandon Williamson last season when I went on my trip, so getting this 2020 Pro Debut out of the box of shame was great.  It made a little bit of room for more stuff that I've missed recently.  The 2022 Pro Debut Jay Allen also turned out well.

Matt knocked out a bunch of guys that I wouldn't normally see, so it was nice to get these cards back and not have to put them in the box of shame.  I realized that I have a lot of signed cards from 2021 Topps Heritage Minors.  That 1972 design stands out, and I really enjoy whittling that stack down as the signing opportunities come up.

I was happy to get the 2019 Bowman Draft card of Bryant Packard back signed.  He played at ECU, so it was cool to finally get that card done.

Here are some more Reds prospects that Matthew got done for me.  A 2021 Heritage Minors Tyler Callihan continues to add to that list.  I was also happy to get the Connor Phillips out of the box of shame, as well.  I missed him when I saw Chattanooga last season.

Thank you so much for taking the cards, Matt.  I know we will match up again on some more 50/50s this season.

TTM Success - Dave Bristol

He has shown up at Reds Fest in the past, but I believe I was unable to find Dave Bristol's cards when they had been requested.  I know I found some after the fact and put them aside, then COVID happened, and I kept seeing them on my desk.  I finally got tired of waiting for another grapher to ask for them, so I sent these out to Bristol, myself, for a TTM request.  Bristol signed a 1967 and a 1968 Topps for me, and both look nice.

Both of the cards are lower grade.  I can't remember where found them.  I feel like I picked them up at a show sometime in the past, knowing folks had been asking me for his cards.  Regardless, these are now signed and in my album.

Bristol (b. 1933) managed the Reds from 1966 to 1969, Brewers from 1970 to 1972, Braves from 1976 to 1977 and the Giants from 1979 to 1980.  His managerial record over 11 seasons was 657-764 (.462 win %).

I mailed to Bristol on September 29 and got the cards back on November 17, for a 49-day TAT.

TTM Success - Kyle Dowdy

Here is a Spring Training TTM success from earlier this season from Kyle Dowdy.  I sent these two 2019 Topps Update cards to Red Spring Training, and got them back signed in black ink.

I really enjoyed the 2019 Topps set, for some reason, and I was glad to see these two update cards get signed.  Dowdy never came through Kinston, but it is still really nice getting a Spring Training success (especially since I sent out to many, and didn't get a whole lot of them back).

Dowdy (b. 1993) played in the majors in 2019 for the Rangers.  He went 2-1 with 17 strike outs and a 7.25 ERA.  This season, he is in the Reds system, and has played at AAA with Louisville.  He is currently 1-2 with a 5.27 ERA and 32 strike outs.  I doubt those numbers will get him another shot at the Majors, unless injuries force the Reds hand.

I mailed to Dowdy on March 12 and got the cards back on May 16, for a 58-day TAT.

TTM Success - Mario Soto

Private signings have really helped my 1987 Topps set.  I have gotten quite a few guys lately via private signings who I don't think I would have been able to get otherwise.  I obviously prefer IP, but sometimes you just have to pay a price to get the guys you need.  Mario Soto was the next player I added to my set via a private signing on SCN.

Soto (b. 1956) played in the majors from 1977 to 1988 for the Reds.  He had a record of 100-92 with 1,449 strike outs and a 3.47 ERA.  He was a three-time All Star (1982, 1983 and 1984).  His best Cy Young Award finish was 2nd, in 1983; he finished 14th in the NL MVP voting that same season.

I mailed to the signing on December 18 and got the card back on March 19, for a 91-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $15.00.

Another Meeting With Johnny Bench and Doug Flynn

The annual Hope for the Warriors golf tournament is this weekend, and tonight was the Mad Boar Block Party in Wallace, NC, where Johnny Bench and Doug Flynn come out every year to support soldiers in need.  This was my third time attending the event, and I came away with a good many signed cards, and a few more Bench baseballs.

I found the above 2021 Topps Stadium Club card at the National, having seen it on Twitter the day the set came out.  I saw it and knew that would be one of the cards I brought with me to the event.  If I got no other cards signed, I wanted this one.  It was the only Bench card in the entire box I searched through at the show, but I only needed one.  It turned out great, and I was glad I was able to get it signed.

I also got this 2020 Topps Decades' Best chrome card signed.  The signature didn't show up too well on the scan, but it definitely looks sharp.

I also got an assortment of Bench cards signed that I had been collecting as the year went on.  I pulled a ton from the boxes I got from the former LCS, and also took some from my good friend, Max.  I also got a few signed for him.  I took a consignment for my friend, Cal, and got him hooked up, as well.

Either Max, or my friend Gerard, had sent me a bunch of Doug Flynn cards a while back, and I went ahead and got all 11 of my cards signed for a donation to the cause.  Flynn is super nice, and I always am glad to chat with him at this event.

I had a lot of duplicates left over of Flynn, so I will pass them out to a few friends who have helped along the way.

The Hope for the Warriors golf tournament is every August in Wallace, so you should make plans to come out and show them some support.  They're a class group, and I have enjoyed the Mad Boar Block Party each time I have gone.

TTM Success - Eric Yang

This 2019 Bowman Draft card of Eric Yang really turned out well when it came back signed TTM.  I only pulled one card of him, but it was worth sending.

Yang (b. 1998) was a 7th round pick by the Reds in the 2019 June Amateur Draft out of UC-Santa Barbara.  He has played in two seasons in the Reds system (2019 and 2021), reaching High A.  He has 71 hits, 6 home runs and a .251 batting average over those two seasons.

I mailed to Yang on January 6 and got the card back on March 1, for a 54-day TAT.

TTM Success - Alex Blandino

When I pulled this card out of a pack of 2014 Bowman, I knew I wanted to get it signed.  I held onto it for a long time, until I saw that Alex Blandino was signing.  I sent it along, and it came back signed in red Sharpie.  The card was damaged a bit in the mail, which sucks, but the card is now signed and in my album.

Blandino (b. 1992) has played in the majors for the Reds in 2018, 2019 and 2021.  He has 53 hits, 2 home runs and a .226 batting average.  He was a first round (29th overall) pick in the 2014 June Amateur Draft by the reds out of Stanford University.

I mailed to Blandino on October 1 and got the card back on February 20, for a 142-day TAT.

TTM Success - Ron Oester

Another 1987 Topps was taken off of my list when I got this one back from a private signing with Ron Oester.  The card turned out really well, and I was glad to get it taken care of.

Oester (b. 1956) played in the majors from 1978 to 1990 for the Reds.  He had 1,118 hits, 42 home runs and a .265 batting average.  He won the World Series with the Reds in 1990.

I mailed to the signing on November 30 and got the card back on January 25, for a 56-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $13.00.

TTM Success - Darrel Chamey

Another 1973 Topps was added to my autograph album, this time coming from Darrel Chaney.  I liked the action shot on this card, so it was an easy choice to send to him.

I also sent a 1972 Topps, which turned out great, and Chaney included a signed card of his own, complete with a '75 WS Champs inscription.

Chaney (b. 1948) played in the majors from 1969 to 1979 for the Reds and Braves.  He had 458 hits, 14 home runs and a .217 batting average.  He won the World Series with the Reds in 1975.

I mailed to Chaney on November 23 and got the cards back on December 7, for a 14-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $5/card.

TTM Success - Rob Murphy

It feels like it has been a while since I have gotten a card back for my 1987 set.  This Rob Murphy came back from a private signing and looks pretty nice.

Murphy (b. 1960) played in the majors from 1985 to 1995 for the Reds, Red Sox, Mariners, Astros, Cardinals, Yankees, Dodgers and Marlins.  He had a career record of 32-38 with 520 strike outs and a 3.64 ERA.

I mailed to the signing on October 29 and got the card back on December 4, for a 36-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $12.00.

TTM Success - Tim Birtsas

Here are a couple junk wax era cards that I was able to get signed TTM by Tim Birtsas.  The above 1991 Topps turned out pretty well; he has a fairly large signature.  1991 is one of the better Topps sets to come out of the junk wax era.  It has some surprisingly good photography, and I have enjoyed getting some of these cards signed.

1989 Topps will always have a spot for me.  This set was among the first baseball cards that I ever got, so the design sticks with me.

Birtsas (b. 1960) played in the majors from 1985 to 1986 and 1988 to 1990 for the A's and Reds.  He had a record of 14-14 with 231 strike outs and a 4.08 ERA.  He did not appear on the playoff roster for the 1990 World Champion Reds.

I mailed to Birtsas on October 22 and got the cards back on November 5, for a 14-day TAT.

TTM Success - Steve Foster

I got a couple cards out of my boxes from the early 90s that had just been sitting around for a long time.  Steve Foster signed the cards nicely in blue Sharpie.

Foster (b. 1966) played in the majors from 1991 to 1993 for the Reds.  He had a career record of 3-3 with 61 strike outs and a 2.41 ERA.

I mailed to Foster on August 24 and got the cards back on October 3, for a 40-day TAT.

I Bought Johnny Bench A Margarita

That has to be one of my best blog titles that I have come up with.  Yes, tonight, I did buy Johnny Bench a margarita.  I also bought one for Doug Flynn.  After weeks of on again and off again updates, the Mad Boar Block Party for the Hope For The Warriors charity was held tonight.  With COVID going on, it looked like the event was going to be canceled this year.  Up until this afternoon, I thought it had.

I had been talking directly with folks from the charity on Facebook, and they weren't even sure that Johnny Bench was going to be there tonight.  I had heard from a couple friends that he was going to show, but this was after I had already told my friends Dugan, Jackson and Billy that I had confirmed he wouldn't be here.  Those three ended up making plans today, so I was disappointed that they weren't able to come tonight when I did confirm through the Mad Boar restaurant that Bench would be coming.

Luckily, I already had my cards ready to go; I especially wanted this 1973 Topps card that I had already had signed by Blue Moon Odom signed by Bench.  His signature pretty much drowns out Odom's, but it still is a really cool card to get both signatures on.

Of course I had to go with a couple 1987 Topps themed cards.  I really wanted to get one of my National Card Show VIP cards (above right) signed by someone, and the 2017 Topps Silver Pack 87 chrome really looks awesome in person.

I also got this 2017 Topps 87 mini signed because the rate they charged me for my Bench autos was too good to pass up.

The two 1982 cards (above middle and right) were leftovers from when I went last year, but didn't get them signed.  Again, the rate was so good, I couldn't pass them up, so I ended up getting everything I had with me signed.

Speaking of everything I had with me; I did bring one Doug Flynn card with me.  I had found a 1986 Topps card of Flynn.  Apparently, for the longest time, Flynn would never sign that card.  Recently, Bench held an auction for a children's hospital and Flynn signed around 20 of those cards for a $400 donation.  He held my card and debated with Bench for a while (Bench told him to charge me $20), until Flynn finally asked me for my address and told me he would mail me "something nice" instead.  I'm interested to see what that would be.

Oh yeah, I bought Flynn a margarita as well.  The story behind the drinks is that last year, after our first go round with Bench (which, truthfully didn't come off all that well), I went back through the line after Bench had partaken of some beverages.  I told Bench that I'd buy him a drink, but then someone else brought some.  He said "Oh, I've already got one, but thank you..."  So, this year, I told him that I still owed him a drink, and he said he would always be up for one.  He and Flynn both wanted margaritas, so I went to the bar and bought them some.  When I got back with the drinks, both Flynn and Bench were really surprised (as were the Hope For The Warriors personnel); and both Bench and Flynn now know my name.

Also, when I was getting my cards signed, I asked Bench who he had been the most star struck in meeting.  He responded with "Well, I met Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford.  Had candlelight dinner with both Bushes.  I used to call Bob Hope every week."  I thought that was pretty cool.  My experience with Bench this year was far better than last year (and last year really wasn't all that bad, don't get me wrong).  I definitely will mark the Hope For The Warriors benefit on my calendar and try to go again next year.

TTM Success - Nick Esasky

Another private signing came up for my 1987 Topps set; this time for Nick Esasky.  The card came out well and it has been crossed off of the list.

Esasky (b. 1960) played in the majors from 1983 to 1990 for the Reds, Red Sox and Braves.  He had 677 hits, 122 home runs and a .250 batting average.  He finished 18th in the 1989 AL MVP voting.

I mailed to the signing on March 25 and got the card back on May 4, for a 40-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $25.00.

1987 Topps Pickups

I picked up a couple signed cards for my 1987 Topps set recently.  I added two deceased players that I saw pop up on Ebay for decent prices.

Eddie Milner (b. 1955 - d. 2015) played in the majors from 1980 to 1988 for the Reds and Giants.  He had 607 hits, 42 home runs and a .253 batting average.  Milner passed away at the age of 60 in 2015; no cause of death was revealed.

Tony Fernandez (b. 1962 - d. 2020) played in the majors from 1983 to 1995, 1997 to 1999 and 2001 for the Blue Jays, Padres, Mets, Reds, Yankees, Indians and Brewers.

The 5-time All Star had 2,276 hits, 94 home runs and a .288 batting average. He was a 4-time Gold Glove Award winner and his best finish in the MVP voting was 8th (1987, AL).  He won the World Series in 1993 with the Blue Jays.  He appeared on the 2007 Hall of Fame ballot and received 0.07% of the vote.

TTM Success - Tyler Stephenson

I added a few autographs of Reds prospect, Tyler Stephenson with this TTM success that I got back recently.

I was able to get a few cards out of my Bowman box, and get them signed.  They all turned out well.

Stephenson (b. 1996) was a first round pick (11th overall) by the Reds in the 2015 June Amateur Draft.  So far, he has reached AA, and has 355 hits, 28 home runs and a .263 batting average.

I mailed to Stephenson on January 2 and got the cards back on January 11, for a 9-day TAT.

50/50s From Reds Caravan

It's Fan Fest and Caravan season and a few of my Instagram trading buddies offered to take some 50/50s for me.

A guy named Andrew that I've done 50/50s with in the past hooked me up by taking a bunch of my cards to Reds Caravan (a different one that what my buddy Kaleb went to).

Andrew got me a huge assortment of cards signed, including several that he had leftover from what I sent last year. I'm pretty much out of David Bell and Tom Hume cards now, which is good because it makes room for new cards in my boxes.

I really appreciate Andrew taking the time to reach out and help me with getting this stuff signed. I'm hoping he and I can do some more 50/50s this summer.