Phil Nevin

Sent: 3/6/12
Received: 3/15/12
Time: 9 Days
Address: c/o Detroit Tigers Spring Training
Item Sent: 1991 Topps Traded, 2007 Topps Heritage
Item Received: 1991 Topps Traded, 2007 Topps Heritage.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Phil Nevin was the #1 overall pick in the 1991 amateur draft by the Houston Astros, taken over prospects such as Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon.  Coming out of college as the Golden Spikes Award winner, it was widely assumed that Nevin would be on the fast track to the big leagues.  It took him three years to make it to Houston, though, and when he did he hit a paltry .117 and was discarded to the Detroit Tigers for aging reliever Mike Henneman.  After four more years of floundering as a spare part and utility player, trying to fend off the "bust" label, Nevin wound up in San Diego.  He blossomed offensively with the Padres.  He peaked in 2001 with 41 homers, 126 RBI, and a .976 OPS.  In 2006, he came to Minnesota at the August trade deadline.  He only played 16 regular season games for the Twins, but finally got a taste of the playoffs for the first and only time in his 12 year career.  Since moving into coaching, Nevin has quickly climbed the Tigers organizational ladder.  He just started his second season in charge of the AAA Toledo Mud Hens.

Steve Foucault

Sent: 11/19/11
Received: 11/26/11
Time: 7 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1975 SSPC, 1976 Topps, 1977 Topps, 1978 Topps
Item Received: 1975 SSPC, 1976 Topps, 1977 Topps, 1978 Topps, 2011 Choice Long Island Ducks.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
The man behind this amazing mustache is Steve Foucault.  He was born in Duluth, Minnesota and spent the '70s as an outstanding power-reliever for the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers.  These days, he's a post-modern pitching philosopher for the independent league Long Island Ducks, and he still sports the best mustache in professional baseball.

Jim Leyland

Sent: 6/2/10
Received: 9/30/10
Time: 120 Days
Address: c/o Detroit Tigers
Item Sent: 2009 Topps Update & Highlights "Classic Combos" (w/ Tony LaRussa), 2010 Topps Heritage Item Received: 2010 Topps Heritage, signed in black Sharpie.  2009 Topps Update & Highlights (returned unsigned).

Notes:
I'm very happy to get Mr. Leyland's signature.  If he was only willing to sign one card, I'm glad that he chose the Heritage card.  I included the "Classic Combos" card, which also features Tony LaRussa, for the purpose of trying to get it signed by both of them in the event that Leyland signed it first.  Oh well... I'll be fine sending Mr. LaRussa one of his own cards, too.

Edwin Jackson

Sent: 4/15/10
Received: 8/18/10
Time: 125 Days
Address: c/o Arizona Diamondbacks
Item Sent: 2008 Upper Deck First Edition, 2009 Topps Update & Highlights, 2010 Topps Heritage
Item Received: 2008 Upper Deck First Edition, 2009 Topps Update & Highlights, 2010 Topps Heritage.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Edwin Jackson is my first successful 100+ day return.  For a guy as well-traveled as he already is, it's good to know he takes his mail with him.  The request was sent to Arizona in April.  It came back post-marked from Chicago, where he now plays for the White Sox.  Thanks, Mr. Jackson!

Jim Walewander

Sent: 5/6/10
Received: 6/14/10
Time: 39 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1988 Score, 1989 Topps, 1989 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1988 Score, 1989 Topps, 1989 Upper Deck.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Only in baseball.  In what other sport would an eccentric athlete gain notoriety for his love of the Dead Milkmen?  That was the first thing I ever knew about Jim Walewander, and was my introduction to the Dead Milkmen.  In a way, you could make an argument that this light-hitting, 160 pound backup middle infielder could have been partially responsible for my discovery of punk rock.

Jerry Ujdur

Sent: 5/13/10
Received: 5/25/10
Time: 12 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1983 Fleer
Item Received: 1983 Fleer, signed in black ballpoint.

Notes:
Duluth, Minnesota native Jerry Ujdur starred for the University of Minnesota before spending parts of four seasons with the Detroit Tigers.  In his only extended big league opportunity in 1982, he turned in a fine 10 win, 3.86 ERA season for the Tigers over 178 innings.

Virgil Trucks

Sent: 5/4/10
Received: 5/11/10
Time: 7 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1989 Pacific Legends
Item Received: 1989 Pacific Legends, plus his own custom card.  Both signed in blue Sharpie.  Added thank you note and an offer to buy his book.

Notes:
A true gentleman of the game, Virgil "Fire" Trucks is probably best known for tossing two hitters in one season in 1952, including one against the mighty Yankees.  He not only signed the card I sent, but included his own custom signed card and sent a very generous note along with another piece of paper that had info for purchasing his book on one side and his career stats on the other.