TTM Success - Wayne Causey

This 1964 Topps signed by Wayne Causey turned out really well.  I had picked the card up back in May when I was in Columbia, and sent it off.  I have finally gotten around to getting it scanned and onto my blog.  I like the old KC A's jersey shown on the card.

Causey (b. 1936) played in the majors from 1955 to 1957 and 1961 to 1968 for the Orioles, A's (KC), White Sox, Angels and Braves.  He had 819 hits, 35 home runs and a .252 batting average.  His appeared in the MVP voting twice, with his best finish being 21st in 1963 (AL).

I mailed to Causey on May 29 and got the card back on June 8, for a 10-day TAT.

TTM Success - Rene Lachemann

I sent TTM to both Lachemann brothers, this time, I had a return from Rene Lachemann.  I thought it was pretty cool that I got both of them.  This 1966 Topps of Lachemann turned out really well.

Lachemann was also in 1983 Topps as a manager, so this card was sent.  It looks really good too.

Lachemann (b. 1945) played in the majors in 1965, 1966 and 1968 for the KC and Oakland A's.  He had 59 hits, 9 home runs and a .210 batting average.

Lachemann managed the Mariners from 1981 to 1983 (140-180/ .438%); Brewers in 1984 (67-94/ .416%) and the Cubs for one game (a loss) in 2002.

I mailed to Lachemann on March 12 and got the cards back on March 24, for a 12-day TAT.

TTM Success - Billy Bryan

The cards I sent out after the Greenville card show all came in around the same time.  It kind of skews the diversity on some of the pages in my album, but I'm pretty ok with that, anyway.  I really liked this 1963 Topps of Billy Bryan, especially because of the old Kansas City A's hat.

I also liked these cards from 1965 and 1966, mainly because the photos on the cards look to have been taken back to back.  I could be wrong, but I bet that they were successive pictures taken at the same session.

Bryan (b. 1938) played in the majors from 1961 to 1968 for the A's (Kansas City), Yankees and Senators.  He had 209 hits, 41 home runs and a .216 batting average.

I mailed to Bryan on November 3 and got the cards back on November 17, for a 14-day TAT.

TTM Success - Wes Stock

Here are some more vintage cards that I was able to get signed TTM following the Greenville card show.  I picked up these cards of Wes Stock while at the show.  I wanted to add another former Oriole, and also some more 60s cards.  I liked this 1963 Topps due to the colors on the card (and also since it showed him as an Oriole).

I also added a 1967 Topps to the album.  I actually sent him two of these, and he returned both of them signed, which was nice.

Stock (b. 1934) played in the majors from 1959 to 1967 for the Orioles and A's (Kansas City).  He had a record of 27-13 with 365 strike outs and a 3.60 ERA.  Stock was traded away from the Orioles to the A's in 1964 for Charlie Lau.

I mailed to Stock on October 28 and got the cards back on November 17, for a 20-day TAT.

TTM Success - Joe Nossek

I have had a nice wave of vintage cards come in TTM lately.  One of which was this 1967 Topps from former player, Joe Nossek.  The card turned out really nice, even though Nossek's signature was really small.  Like many other players, he didn't want to sign across his face.

Nossek (b. 1940) played in the majors from 1964 to 1967 and 1969 to 1970 for the Twins, A's (KC and Oakland) and Cardinals.  He had 132 hits, 3 home runs and a .228 batting average.

I mailed to Nossek on October 18 and got the card back on November 2, for a 14-day TAT.

TTM Success - Joe Morgan

I received a TTM success from Joe Morgan (not the Hall of Famer, Joe Morgan - more on him later) recently on a couple nice cards.  The above 1960 Topps was in my vintage box, and turned out pretty nice.  You can see that the photo was taken at Yankee Stadium.  The old Yankee Stadium, that is.

This 1990 Topps is also pretty cool, 30 years after the 1960.  Funny how much the cards changed.  By this time, Morgan was a manager for the Red Sox.

Morgan (b. 1930) played in the majors from 1959 to 1961 and 1964 for the Braves (Milwaukee), A's (Kansas City), Phillies, Indians and Cardinals.  He had 36 hits, 2 home runs and a .193 batting average.

He managed in the majors from 1988 to 1991 for the Red Sox.  His career managerial record was 301-262 (.535 winning %).

I mailed to Morgan on May 4 and got the cards back on May 12, for an 8-day TAT.

That Joe Morgan is not to be confused with this Joe Morgan, the Hall of Fame second baseman for the Big Red Machine.  I did send a photo to the Hall of Fame a while back and got it signed for Chris.  I need to get it in a frame for him, but I figured now was as good a time as any to post it here.

TTM Success - Ed Charles

Here is another TTM success that came as a result of my visit to the Columbia antique shop and a trip through my vintage box.  I had bought a few 1969 Topps for my set while I was in Columbia, and ended up with a couple duplicates.  I saw that Ed Charles signed TTM, so I took the extra card and this 1965 that I found in my vintage box and sent them out.

I still haven't gotten a lot of 1969 Topps signed, but that will probably change once I finish the set.  It is really close.  I just have to get on it and complete it.

Charles (b. 1933) played in the majors from 1962 to 1969 for the A's (Kansas City) and Mets.  He had 917 hits, 86 home runs and a .263 batting average.  Charles won the World Series with the Mets in 1969.

I mailed to Charles on January 17 and got the cards back on February 6, for a 20-day TAT.

TTM Success - John "Blue Moon" Odom

Here is a really great TTM success that I got recently from John "Blue Moon" Odom.  On a 1967 Topps, Odom's signature looks really awesome.  I also like how he signed it up the side of the card, as opposed to across the card.  Add in that his signature is so compact and neat, you just don't see that any more.  I also like the KC A's jersey that Odom is wearing.  This card really turned out nice.

Odom (b. 1945) played in the majors from 1964 to 1976 for the A's (Kansas City and Oakland), Indians, Braves and White Sox.  He had a career record of 84-85 with 857 strike outs and an ERA of 3.70.  Odom was an All Star in 1968 and 1969 and won the World Series in 1972, 73 and 74 with the A's.

I mailed to Odom on January 9 and got the card back on January 17, for an 8-day TAT.  I also included his fee of $5.00 per card.

TTM Success - Dick Green

I liked this card so much, I used it as my example for 1971 Topps on my Topps Autograph Project.  Don't forget to check out the tab that I put up for the project, which I didn't realize wasn't up initially.  The green and yellow on this card really pops.  Even the guy's name is green.  The card itself is in pretty rough shape, due to the black border on the 1971 Topps.  The autograph looks really nice, and it just turned out to be a really cool card.

Green (b. 1941) played in the majors from 1963 to 1974 for the Kansas City and Oakland A's.  He had 960 hits, 80 home runs and a .240 batting average.  Green finished 35th in the 1969 AL MVP voting, his only time receiving votes.

Green spent his entire career with the A's and was rewarded with three championships in 1972, 73 and 74.

I mailed to Green on November 12 and got the card back on December 8, for a 26-day TAT.

TTM Success - Hector Lopez

I think my venture into getting cards signed TTM has helped me appreciate cards that I normally would have glossed over in the past.  I never really cared all that much for TCMA or SSPC cards, but now that I have been getting some signed, they really have become some that I really enjoy seeing.  This one of Hector Lopez turned out great when I got my TTM success back from him.  It just looks really sharp.

Of course, both of these Topps cards look nice, as well.  I didn't have very many of 1958 Topps in my autograph project, nor did I have many of 1963, so this success helped out in several areas.

Lopez (b. 1929) played in the majors from 1955 to 1966 for the A's and Yankees.  He had 1,251 hits, 136 home runs and a batting average of .269.  He won the World Series with the Yankees in 1961 and 1962, and appeared in five straight World Series with them (1960 to 1964).

I mailed to Lopez on November 21 and got the cards back on December 2, for an 11-day TAT.

TTM Success - Phil Roof

Here are two more vintage cards that I was able to get signed TTM with this success from Phil Roof.  I really like the 1967 Topps card on the left.  You get to see the Kansas City A's uniform, and Aa really cool looking catcher's mitt.  There sure is a lot of green on that card.  The 1977 on the right probably isn't Roof's best card, but it's not terrible.  They probably could have found a shot of him without a shadow covering half of his face, though.

Roof (b. 1941) played in the majors from 1961 and 1964 to 1977 for the Braves, Angels, Indians, A's (KC and Oakland), Brewers, Twins, White Sox and Blue Jays.  He had 463 hits, 43 home runs and a .215 batting average.

I mailed to Roof on November 19 and got the cards back on December 2, for a 13-day TAT.

TTM Success - Bob Cerv

I added some more 1950s-era cards to my autograph binder when I got these cards in from Bob Cerv.  I originally mailed to him on April 20, but the cards were sent back, RTS.  However, a new address was printed on the envelope, so I tried again on May 6.  I got the cards back on May 16, for a 10-day TAT.  Cerv signs for $5/card.

This 1953 Topps card was really beat up, but I was happy to be able to re-use it for TTM purposes.  It turned out fine, and will look good in my binder.

This 1956 Topps was in far better condition and looks really nice signed.  I like the 1956 set and will probably try to complete it sometime soon!

Finally, here is a lower grade 1959 Topps that I was able to have Cerv sign.  It is a pretty rough card, but turned out ok.

Cerv (b. 1925) played in the majors from 1951 to 1962 for the Yankees, A's, Angels and Colt .45s.  He had 694 hits, 105 home runs and an average of .276.  His best season was in 1958 when he hit 38 home runs for the KC A's and finished 4th in the AL MVP voting.  That was also the only season in which he was an All Star.  He won the World Series with the Yankees in 1956.  He was also on several other World Series winning teams, but 1956 was the only season where he actually appeared in the Fall Classic.

TTM Success - John Donaldson

One of the coolest TTM successes I have gotten so far since I started this project was from a really unexpected source.  I mailed to John Donaldson for a couple reasons.  I had this 1968 Topps in my vintage Topps box, and I saw that Donaldson signed TTM, so I wanted to add a better signed 1968 to the Topps Autograph Project.  My other 1968 was the really bad Ken Holtzman auto, so I'm really glad I was able to get Donaldson on this one.  Another reason I wanted to get Donaldson was because he lives in Charlotte.  I always enjoy getting fellow North Carolinians TTM.

I noticed when I was looking him up, that Donaldson was a former Seattle Pilot.  I thought it would be cool as a bit of a "sub project" to get some autos of players playing for defunct teams.  I already had a couple St. Louis Browns, a few Expos, some Philadelphia and Kansas City A's, you get the point.  I didn't have any Pilots.  The problem was, though, I was set to send to Donaldson, but didn't have his 1970 Topps.  I figured I would try someone else, but I mentioned in my request letter that I had the 68 but really would have rather found the 1970 to send to him.  That's why I was really excited when I opened my envelope...

Donaldson had read my note and included this 1970 Topps showing him as a Seattle Pilot.  That was so nice of him to include the card.  It is in amazing shape, and looks awesome signed.  I was blown away by Mr. Donaldson's generosity.  I like this 1970 a lot more than the ones I have gotten so far.  I ended up picking up a few of the other Pilots who sign TTM, so I will be trying to add a few more as time goes on.

Donaldson (b.1943) played in the majors from 1966 to 1970 and 1974 for the Kansas City and Oakland A's and Seattle Pilots.  He had 292 hits, 4 home runs and a .238 lifetime batting average.

I mailed to Mr. Donaldson on April 11 and got the cards back on April 16 for a 5-day TAT.  This was another really quick TTM success, which I think was mainly due to him living in NC.

TTM Success - Rance Pless

April 1st was no Fool's Day for me.  I received 7 TTM success that day, putting me way behind on posting.  A couple days later, I would receive 10 more TTM successes, so I really need to get on the ball (so to speak) and catch up.

The next to last TTM success I received on April 1 was this 1956 Topps from Rance Pless.  Pless is a great TTM signer, and I had to add him to my project.  Especially since the 1956 Topps is his only card.  I bought it off of Ebay for a couple bucks for the specific purpose of getting it signed TTM.

Pless also responded in a few words to my note that I sent, saying that in 1956, Kansas City was HOT.

Pless (b. 1925) played for the Kansas City A's in 1956, his only season in the majors.  He made his debut that year at the age of 30 and had 23 hits, no home runs and a .271 batting average.

I mailed to him on March 25 and got the card back 7 days later.

TTM Success - Mike Baxes

I received a signed 1958 Topps card on Saturday, March 19, from former Kansas City A's player, Mike Baxes.  I mailed to him on March 11 and got my card back on March 19 for an 8-day TAT.

Baxes (b. 1930) played in the majors in 1956 and 1958 for the Kansas City A's.  I really like the old A's logo on the card.  That is something I really like about these vintage cards.  You get to see the old logos and uniforms of teams; some of them aren't even in existence anymore.

Baxes 73 hits, one home run and a .217 batting average in his career.  This is the second signed 1958 Topps card that I have.

Instagram Pickup - 1959 Topps Roger Maris

Normally, I really dislike any type of writing on a baseball card.  To me, that might just be at the top of cardinal sins of card collecting.  You know, right up there with wrapping rubber bands around a stack of cards or storing them in plastic bags.  I remember one time when I was helping at the card shop, a young man, probably about 14 or 15, came in with his card collection.  He wasn't really wanting to sell, he just wanted to proudly show off what he had.  I took the time to listen to him, to admire his card, and when it came time for him to leave, I handed him a storage box, free of charge.  When he asked me what it was for, I told him that it would help him preserve his cards a lot better than the plastic grocery bag he brought them in.  Naturally, the kid was appreciative that he got something for free, but I think he also appreciated that someone took the time to help him better his collection.

Anyway, back to the card that I got.  I bought the card from a nice kid named Joey, whom I have traded with before.  He made me an amazing deal for this card that I really couldn't turn down.  Writing or not.  So, I have this Roger Maris card.  With the KC A's scratched out and NY Yanks written in on it in what is seemingly the handwriting of a kid from back in the early 1960s.  It also looks like someone tried in vain to erase the ink, but clearly they failed.  My 1959 set is far from Mint, so I technically could keep this card as part of my set, or I could hold onto it as a separate card.  I looked and I would be very lucky to get another Maris for my set for less than $50, so I really may be inclined to mark this one off of my checklist for good. I just don't know.

Regardless, I appreciate Joey hooking me up with th card and I really do enjoy it.  We'll see if it makes the cut, so to speak.  As of right now, I am leaning toward putting it in the set.  Anyone have any thoughts?

Some Pickups From My Brother John

I finally remembered to take one of my huge boxes of trade bait to my parents' house this past weekend and made the trek across the street to trade with my older brother, John.  I gave John a Ted Williams manufactured awards relic and he hooked me up with this cool Brooks Robinson All Star Game manufactured patch from 2013 Topps.

John gave me this awesome Virgil Trucks card, the only flaw being the spot near his eye.  It's ok, because I am a fan of any Virgil Trucks card.  His 97th birthday was on the 26th.  I took a moment on that day to pause and reflect on how awesome the man was and how I miss him, even though I never met him.

John traded this 2014 Topps Red Hot foil Chris Davis to me for a Ted Williams WWII card that I had.  I don't remember what year those were from, 2010, maybe?  I thought I had one of these Davis's coming in a trade, but I don't know what happened there.  Oh well, I have it now.

For a Jim Rice Silver Slugger Award manufactured card, John hooked me up with these two Manny Machado RCs.  The above card is a Topps Finest refractor and the below card is the Bowman Platinum red parallel.  Neither is numbered, but they are both really nice.

So, thanks for the cards, John.  I need to build back up some Red Sox inventory, but with all of the friends I have that collect Red Sox, it's tough.

Mailday - Virgil Trucks Signed Photo

I sent an email to my friend (and friend of the blog) Mr. Don McNair last week letting him know that Virgil Trucks had passed away.  Mr. McNair's father, Eric McNair, and Mr. Trucks played on the 1941 Tigers together and both had been members of the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics organization in their careers.  Mr. McNair (Don) had met Mr. Trucks during an Athletics Alumni luncheon a while back and conversed at times.  On one of those occasions, Mr. Trucks sent Mr. McNair a signed photo.  Well, when I mentioned to Mr. McNair that Mr. Trucks had passed, I made a comment about how I wanted to get a nice photo of him to put on my wall in my 'man cave.'  Mr. McNair responded and said "Don't buy one.  I have one, signed, that I will put in the mail to you!"  The photo arrived today.

I'm so lucky that I have been able to interact with some really nice folks during the life of this blog.  It makes the collecting experience that much more fun and rewarding.  I think, aside from Mr. Trucks, I have conversed with Mr. McNair the most about the hobby and the history of the game.  I really wish there were more folks like them so that the rich history of the game could be passed along so easily.

Thank you again for the photo, Mr. McNair, it is definitely in good hands!

Hall of Fame Signed Baseball - Lou Boudreau

Here is the second baseball I got from that online estate sale that I spoke about yesterday.  My 78th Hall of Famer, Lou Boudreau.

Boudreau has one of the crispest signatures for any Hall of Famer, in my opinion.  This signature is on a Bobby Brown OAL ball.

Boudreau (b. 1917 - d. 2001) played in the majors from 1938 to 1952 for the Indians and Red Sox.  He was the 1944 AL batting champion and 1948 AL MVP.  He led the league in doubles three times (each of those seasons hitting 45 doubles).  He won the World Series with the Indians in 1948.  He finished his career with 1,779 hits, 68 home runs and a .295 batting average and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1970 (his 10th ballot) with 77.3% of the vote.  At first glance, Boudreau doesn't appear to have the numbers to back up a Hall of Fame election, but as a shortstop, he was comparable to other shortstops who are in the Hall, namely, Travis Jackson and Phil Rizzuto.  Boudreau's numbers actually are strikingly similar to those of Jackson.

Something really cool about Boudreau is that he was a player/manager for the Indians from 1942 to 1950 (thus winning the World Series in '48 as a player AND a manager) and for the Red Sox from 1952 to 1954.  He also managed the Kansas City Athletics from 1955 to 1957 and the Cubs is 1960.  He had a career managerial record of 1,162-1,224 (.487 winning percentage) with one World Series title.

Now, I am about to make you all sick.  Baseballs signed by Boudreau usually go for $75-$80.  I got this one for $21.  Not bad, if you ask me.  I'm definitely going to be on the lookout for more estate auctions, that's for sure.

Vintage Cards From Last Week's Card Show

I was able to knock a few cards off of some set needs at last week's show really cheaply.  I got the three below 1959 Topps cards for a dollar a piece and the 1971 Topps card for $5 since it is a high number.

The green Willard Nixon looks really cool, as always.  I also like the old Red Sox logo, the sock batting.  Really cool old logo, I think.

Here are a couple Kansas City Athletics cards, with the old elephant logo.  I sometimes forget that the A's logo was an elephant...

Finally, here is a pretty sharp 1971 Topps high number.  It is going to take me forever to finish the 1971 set, but slowly, I am chipping away at it.

I didn't buy much at the show, but I did come away with a few things, the most notable was my Catfish Hunter ball and my 1940 Play Ball Eric McNair.  I probably could have bought a lot more, but I did a good job of holding back and actually bringing a little money home.  I need to save up for Series 2 when it comes out in a couple weeks and I also have been eyeing a ball on Ebay for some time now.