TTM Success - Jim Vatcher

These cards were supposed to be posted yesterday (1/7), but the death of Brian Matusz had me not feeling like posting, so I didn't.  I may reflect on Matusz's passing later on; the emotions are still raw.  In the meantime, I will continue on as planned.  

So, here are some signed cards that I got back signed TTM from Jim Vatcher.  The cards are all staples of the junk wax era, but all also turned out well and look great in the album.  I especially enjoyed the above 1991 Score.  These are just sharp cards, and tend to look good when signed.

I also got a 1991 Topps, 1991 Upper Deck, 1992 Stadium Club and a 1991 Donruss signed.  They all turned out well.

Vatcher (b. 1965) played in the majors from 1990 to 1992 for the Phillies, Braves and Padres.  He had 27 hits, 1 home run and a .248 batting average.

I mailed to Vatcher on November 5 and got the cards back on November 20, for a 15-day TAT.

TTM Success - Rick Parker

Another very dry week of TTM returns dod see me get one, this success from Rick Parker that was sent out last year.  I got some early 90s stuff signed, which helped get some stuff out of the boxes.

I sent off a 1991 Fleer (top), 1990 Topps Traded (left), 1991 Topps (middle) and a 1992 Topps Stadium Club.

Parker (b. 1963) played in the majors from1990 to 1991 and 1993 to 1996 for the Giants, Astros, Mets and Dodgers.  He had 55 hits, 2 home runs and a  .279 batting average.

I mailed to Parker on November 27 and got the cards back on May 21, for a 176-day TAT.

TTM Success - Paul Marak

Here are some early 90s that I was able to get signed TTM from Paul Marak.  When I sent off the cards, I learned that Marak now lives in nearby Goldsboro.  I got a nice 1991 Leaf signed.  I remember when Leaf came out; it was considered a premium set.  The packs cost a good bot more than normal Topps or Donruss.

Speaking of, here is a 1991 Donruss, 1991 Topps and a 1990 ProCards AAA.

Marak (b. 1965) was one of only 50 former major leaguers to have been born in the UK. He played in the majors in 1990 for the Braves.  He went 1-2 with 15 strike outs and a 3.69 ERA.

I mailed to Marak on January 8 and got the cards back on January 16, for an 8-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Greg Litton

A bunch of Junk Wax era goodies came back when I received this TTM success from Greg Litton.  Cards like the above 1990 Donruss were signed and added to the autograph album. 

Litton has a really nice signature and it showed up well on everything that came back.  I got a couple Topps cards signed (1991 and 1992), a 1991 Donruss and a 1991 Fleer.

Litton (b. 1964) played in the majors from 1989 to 1994 for the Giants, Mariners and Red Sox.  He had 195 hits, 13 home runs and a .241 batting average. 

I mailed to Litton on October 17 and got the cards back on December 29, for a 73-day TAT. This was the last TTM that I got in during 2023.

TTM Success - Clay Parker

A few more early 90s cards were added to the autograph album when I received this TTM success from Clay Parker.  The above 1990 Topps turned out nicely.

I also got a 1991 Donruss, 1991 Fleer and a 1991 Topps signed by Parker. 

Parker (b. 1962) played in the majors in 1987, from 1989 to 1990 and 1992 for the Mariners, Yankees and Tigers.  He had a record of 7-10 with 121 strike outs and a 4.42 ERA.

I mailed to Parker on November 2 and got the cards back on December 23, for a 51-day TAT.

TTM Success - Casey Candaele

A bunch of late 80s to early 90s stuff came in signed TTM from Casey Candaele.  The above 1988 Toys R Us is the card that drove the whole thing.  It is the first one of these to make it into the album. I have no idea where I got it, but it is pretty cool. 

I also got a 1988 Topps, 1991 Topps, 1992 Topps and a 1991 Donruss signed.  They all turned out great.

Candaele (b. 1961) played in the majors from 1986 to 1988, 1990 to 1993 and 1996 to 1997 for the Expos, Astros and Indians.  He had 43 hits, 11 home runs and a .250 batting average. 

I mailed to Candaele on October 17 and got the cards back on November 20, for a 34-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Shawn Boskie

This TTM success from Shawn Boskie added some 90s cards to the autograph album, including a run of his Topps cards from 1991 to 1994.  The above 1991 Donruss also turned out nicely. 

Here are the Topps cards that came back signed from the TTM request.  I got a Bible inscription on the 1992 Topps.

Boskie (b. 1967) played in the majors from 1990 to 1998 for the Cubs, Phillies, Mariners, Angels, Orioles and Expos.  He had a record of 49-63 with 494 strike outs and a 5.14 ERA.

I mailed to Boskie on October 18, 2021, and got the cards back on January 23, 2023, for a 462-day TAT.

TTM Success - Gary Mielke

Here are a few early 90s cards that came back signed TTM from Gary Mielke.  The above 1991 Fleer turned out nicely.  I know there are a ton of people who abhor this design, but I don't mind it.  It is easy to read, easy to spot in a box or on a card show table, and the cards come out looking great when signed.

I also got a 1990 Topps and a 1991 Topps signed in the same TTM request from Mielke.  Both of these turned out nicely, as well.

Mielke (b. 1963) played in the majors in 1987, 1989 and 1990 for the Rangers.  He had a record of 1-3 with 42 strike outs and a 3.56 ERA.

I mailed to Mielke on November 7 and got the cards back on December 6, for a 29-day TAT.

TTM Success - Mark Williamson

Another 1991 Crown Orioles card was part of another TTM success that I got in.  I sent off four cards to former Oriole, Mark Williamson.  He has a cool signature.

In addition to the 1991 Crown, Williamson signed a 1989 Topps, 1991 Topps and a 1994 Fleer.  I don't have very many 1994 Fleer cards at all; I was surprised that I had this one. 

Williamson (b. 1959) played in the majors from 1987 to 1994 for the Orioles. He had a career record of 46-35 with 397 strike outs and a 3.86 ERA.

I mailed to Williamson on October 27 and got the cards back on November 15, for a 19-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Jack Daugherty

Here are some early 90s cards that I got signed TTM recently by Jack Daugherty.  I had gone through those 90s boxes and pulled a bunch of people to send to, and Daugherty was one who had a bunch of cards.  I hadn't added a 1992 Fleer to the album in a while, so this one was nice to put in there.

I also got a 1990 Topps, 1991 Topps and 1992 Topps signed.

Daugherty (b. 1960) played in the majors in 1987 and from 1989 to 1993 for the Expos, Rangers, Astros and Reds.  He had 194 hits, 10 home runs and a .256 batting average.

I mailed to Daugherty on October 26 and got the cards back on November 14, for a 9-day TAT.

Various 50-50s From Patrick

Taking a couple days off from posting didn't put me any farther behind than I thought I would be, which is nice.  I still have several 50/50s I need to catch up on and what will probably end up being a card dump post of stuff that I just can't tell where it came from.  I did, however, figure out which signed cards I got back from my friend, Patrick, and got them all into this post.

Patrick took a bunch of cards for Wilmington and Harrisburg for me the last to seasons, and did pretty well getting me most of my cards signed.  I was glad he was able to get Tim Cate done for me; he helped me finish a couple of the duals with Owen White that I had already posted a while back.

He also helped me knock out some random cards, as well as a few Carolina League All Star cards.  I wish they would bring back the league all star games.  It is so stupid that the minor leagues haven't been having them.

Patrick helped me get a 2011 Bowman Chrome signed.  I haven't been through that box in a while, since there haven't been many guys I've seen lately in that set.  I probably will go through that box soon and get some TTMs from it.

Finally, Patrick got a few more Frank Viola cards done for me.  I still have several of his cards, in case I see him at High Point again.

I appreciate Patrick getting these cards signed for me.  I didn't send him as many cards this season, as we both were busy, but he does have a package he is going to send back soon.  I also owe him some of his cards, so I need to get them in the mail too.

Some Signed Jack McDowells From Dugan

I met up with my buddy, Dugan, while on my way to Winston last week and picked up some cards that he had gotten signed for me by Burlington Sock Puppets manager, Jack McDowell. Yes, the former Burlington Royals are now the Sock Puppets.

Burlington is part of the new collegiate wood bat league set up by MLB when they changed the minors around.  Dugan has been to a couple Buington games now and seems to have enjoyed himself.  I do want a Sock Puppets hat...

Dugan got me a bunch of McDowell cards signed.  I had gotten him TTM and also as a free signer at the National.  I think I'm pretty much out of McDowell cards now. 

Thanks so much for getting these signed for me, Dugan!

TTM Success - Colby Ward

A couple 90s Junk Wax Era cards came back signed TTM with this success from Colby Ward.  I really liked this 1991 Donruss.  I don't have nearly as may as I used to, but I like sending the ones I have off and having them come back signed.

I also got this 1991 Topps back, and it turned out well.  I always enjoy 1991 Topps; it is an underrated set and I love getting them signed.

Ward (b. 1964) played in the majors in 1990 for the Indians.  He had a record of 1-3 with 23 strike outs and a 4.25 ERA.

I mailed to Ward on December 1 and got the cards back on February 23, for an 84-day TAT.

TTM Success - Mark Knudson

Here are some nice 90s cards that I got signed TTM from Mark Knudson.  The above 1991 Fleer turned out really well, as they always do.

I also got a 1988 Donruss, 1990 Topps and 1991 Topps signed by Knudson.  All of them look great.

Knudson (b. 1960) played in the majors from 1985 to 1991 and 1993 for the Astros, Brewers and Rockies.  He had a record of 24-29 with 195 strike outs and a 4.72 ERA.

I mailed to Knudson on November 30 and got the cards back on January 2, for a 33-day TAT.

TTM Success - Greg Olson

I got a few junk wax era cards out of my box with this TTM success from former catcher, Greg Olson.  Not to be confused with former Oriole closer, Gregg Olson.

Olson (b. 1960) played in the majors from 1989 to 1993 for the Twins and Braves.  He had 309 hits, 20 home runs and a .242 batting average.  He was an All Star in 1990.

I mailed to Olson on June 29 and got the cards back on December 1, for a 155-day TAT.

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 - Wayne Edwards

I got a lot of junk wax era cards out of my box with this TTM success from Wayne Edwards.  I was surprised at all of the cards I found, and added some nice ones to my album.

I'm usually a Topps guy (and there is a Topps in the bunch, a 1991), but some of these other brands look really nice when signed.  Most aren't my first choice, but I was glad with how all of these turned out.

I've grown to like some of the older Bowman cards when they get signed.  These two are from 1991 (L) and 1990 (R).  These turned out really well with Edwards's signature.

Edwards (b. 1964) played in the majors from 1989 to 1991 for the White Sox.  He had a record of 5-5 with 84 strike outs and a 3.37 ERA.

I mailed to Edwards on May 21 and got the cards back on June 29, for a 39-day TAT.

TTM Success - Keith Miller

I got a bunch of junk wax era cards out of my boxes with this TTM success from Keith Miller.  He signed 5 cards for me, and they all turned out really well.  I don't know how long I had the above 1991 Score, but I know I opened a ton of them way back when, so it was nice to get one into my album.

Miller also signed a 1992 Upper Deck, 1988 Topps, 1989 Topps and 1991 Topps.

Miller (b. 1963) played in the majors from 1987 to 1995 for the Mets and Royals.  He had 347 hits, 12 home runs and a .262 batting average.

I mailed to Miller on June 1 and got the cards back on June 23, for a 22-day TAT.

TTM Success - Mark Parent

I took some cards out of my junk wax boxes and got them signed with this TTM success from Mark Parent.  I don't think I have any other 1994 Topps Team Stadium Club cards signed, so getting this one done by Parent was nice.

He also signed these - a 1990 Donruss and a 1992 Stadium Club.  These cards have been buried in a box in my closet for a very long time.  I was glad to be able to get them out and into my newest autograph album.

Finally, I got a few Topps issues done - a 1988 Traded, 1989 and 1991 Topps.

Parent (b. 1961) played in the majors from 1986 to 1998 for the Padres, Rangers, Orioles, Cubs, Pirates, Tigers and Phillies.  He had 279 hits, 53 home runs and a .214 batting average.

I mailed to Parent on June 8 and got the cards back on June 15, for a 7-day TAT.

TTM Success - Nick Leyva

I had these Nick Leyva cards in my box for a long time, and finally got around to mailing to him.  I feel like this is a pretty common theme among my TTM requests.  I let cards sit in the boxes, with the hope that I find a few more along the way, and finally get around to dropping them in the mail.  If they're just plain old Topps base cards, they'll probably sit and wait a while.  If they're stars or really cool parallels, maybe I'll drop them in the mail sooner.

Nothing against Leyva, but his cards did sit there for a long time.  Years, probably.  I finally added them to a pile that I was sending out, and the cards came back looking great.

Leyva (b. 1953) managed the Phillies from 1989 into the 1991 season.  His overall record was 148-189 (.439 win %).

I mailed to Leyva on January 30 and got the cards back on February 8, for a 9-day TAT.