Video Post #2: Post-Vacation Mail Day, TTM successes & trades

I am posting up another video post simply due to time constraints. It is easier to talk and flip through cards for 10 minutes than build a post with meaningful content and good looking pictures. Again, it may seem hurried but I have a volatile 4 year old that is always ready to blow. So time to myself is rare. I will post some pics after what hopefully is a working video or link to one here:

I was on vacation for 4 days so I came home to a decent pile of packages. 

I sent this request to Dusty Baker on 02/14/2017! It came back exactly 2 years later. A little worse for the wear but thats the TTM game. I am just glad the card stayed in somehow!

No idea what happened with the Isaiah Thomas return. He kept my card and signed the small index card note I put in and then folded it and sent it back to me. TTM autos are always interesting. 

I can see why people steal cards. I felt so frickin' cheated buying a $5.49 pack of 2017 Topps Update just to open them later and find EVERY CARD RUINED. What a complete waste of $6, especially when my hobby funds are so low. That is my one purchase of new cards for the month.

How am I able to send a PWE with 6 cards to Hawaii undamaged yet Topps can't sell me a sealed pack of cards that aren't dented or bent?!

Catching Up: TTM Returns!

I have had some really great TTM successes in the past few months. Not pictured are two returns from Clayton Kershaw. Both were sent over a year ago. He sent back a small card explaining his charity and a couple cards. I will have to dig them out. I must have sent at the perfect time because both cards are different so he probably ran out of the first style before he got to my second request.

First off is an amazing return and my new all time favorite card in my collection. I am such a fan of Lauren Shehadi for obvious reasons but I also think she seems super cool and makes MLB Central on MLB Network worth watching and the greatest show ever made. Her and DeRo together make an awesome show! It honestly took me 100X longer to find this card via trade then it did to get a scribble from her. Awesome woman and my one and only celebrity crush. 

Nick Solak was nice enough to drag his sharpie on a card for me. Funny thing is; since getting this return back I have pulled 2 of his autos from packs. Weird.

Rusty is my dog. I think I mentioned in a long lost post that my brother and I were sending 5 TTM requests to secret recipients in the other's name. He has received back Kaline and a denial from Adrian Beltre. I received this Carson Fulmer auto that he sent out in my dog's name. I like it anyway. Carson has a great signature and I will always think of my dog when flipping through my TTM binder.

This is actually a denial. I was lucky enough to get Salty to sign this card TTM a while back and then sent it to Josh Hamilton. It got returned unsigned. I am just glad it came back. I am sure Hamilton will be working the card show circuit someday and I can get the other half scribbled on.

! GIVEAWAY ! and TTM Returns from the World Series!

This is post #97! Just two more posts until the close of the Name the Blog CONTEST GIVEAWAY! Get your comments/emails in. Everybody wins something and a few lucky persons will receive superduper-Grand Prizes! Tell your friends. Time is slowly running out! Check out my previous post from  10/17/2017 for details!

 

 

TTM Returns from the World Series!

Big Joe took time out of his busy playoff schedule to throw some sharpie down on two cards I sent him. I don't remember sending to him twice but I am glad I did. He has a bright future. I am rooting for the 'Stros if anybody cares.

Cool Drew Jackson was good for one in Tulsa!

2017 TTM autograph request totals so far...

These returns make me 23/136 for returned signed/total sent.

I sent out 136 total starting April February 1st and as recent as August 31.

I received back 23 signed as intended.

I received 10 back unsigned requesting donations (Detroit Tigers)

I received 2 Return To Senders

I received 2 back unsigned with preprinted cards (Texas Rangers)

I gained one auto through only an email without actually sending a SASE that isn't reflected in my stats above.

That means I have 99 autograph requests still floating around out there.

Two TTM Returns

I had two quick turn-around returns this week. Will Clark and Sage Steele! I collected a lot of Will Clark cards as a kid and tried to be him in the backyard when he was on that killer Texas Rangers team in the '90s. I enjoy Sage Steele on TV and had never sent to any ESPN people before so I gave it a shot and was successful. I like that she added "ESPN" to the signature.

TTM Abusers Beware: I hate you.

I belong to a number of TTM autograph facebook groups where people share their successes and failures. -Warning: I am climbing up on the soap box.- It astounds me how many people will send a stack of cards to get signed. What is the point? It would seem they are just going to sell them first and foremost. Now, I am sure some people hoard them and others trade them but I think it is terribly inappropriate. Multiple posts this week said their returns came with notes asking to limit their cards to 2 per person. No shit! Why would you think you deserve more than one?! My thought is I am lucky enough to have someone who receives fan mail by the pound even open my envelope let alone take the time to sign something and send it back. I know, I know you are thinking 'ugh get off  your high horse, you racked Jack Morris you douche.' That is true, but it was in person, he was bored with no one in line and I gave away all but 3 of those cards. It just it worries me for the hobby when I see a nice gesture abused. I always try to pick a card that represents that player or celebrity best for me and I am happy with that. A long time ago I would send 2 cards with a note telling the athlete to please sign one for me and keep the other and give it to a kid at their next game. I don't think that ever happened as nobody actually has time to read the letters they are sent. I either received both cards back signed or nothing. I have since stopped doing that. All I need is one card if I am sending through the mail for my collection and I only send to people who I admire and collect. It makes me sick when I see people post Bobby Doerr and Brooks Robinson returns of 5 or 6 cards. Leave those guys alone you greedy bastards, 90% of you have never seen those guys play or know anything about them other than they are almost automatic returns. Sometimes I can't believe anybody even signs through the mail anymore.

All Tigers; 2 TTM Returns and a nice pick up

Lots of Tiger Ink

First up is a Mike Rabelo XFractor I sent him TTM. I really liked Rabelo as our catcher and thought he would be similar to what Ausmus was for us behind the plate. Like most of the young Tigers I get attached to, he never got that chance. He may be filling Ausmus's shoes in another position soon if you know what I mean. Mr. Rabelo has proved himself an excellent Manager.

Mr. Gum Time himself; Nate Robertson signed the card I sent him and added his own. Interestingly, the same moment but different phtoto. Very cool! Nate was one of the players us "homers" loved to cheer for and still do.

TTM Totals so far 2017

I have been sending out a few TTM requests every now and then. So for this year so far.

136 Requests sent since Spring Training
2 Return to Senders
10 Donation Requests in return
21 Signed or preprinted returns

15% Success Rate

Feebay purchase

I picked up a new Castellanos RC with some extra paypal I had laying around. Pretty cool card only numbered /45 but has a sticker auto which is probably why it was attainable so cheaply.

TTM Rejects: Rotten Tigers. A lesson painfully learned.

Here is my pile of rejected mail from the Detroit Tigers. Each envelope containing a donation request that looks to be signed by the player. IT IS NOT. Be aware. I have seen some people on facebook saying they were going to cut out the signature for some reason but I was wise (or foolish) enough to send to Ian Kinsler twice. Here are the scanned signatures:

They are 100% printed or best case scenario autopen but I don't even think an autopen can sign the exact spot on the paper twice.
The Tigers love to let me down. I wish they would have just created a stamp of their donation site and RTS'ed my originals to save me the postage. Lesson painfully learned.

TTM Returns and a MEGA TRADE

TTM Returns!

I knew I had a boat load of PWE's waiting for me at my return address. I also knew 90% of them were donation requests from the Tig's. I will post about that another time. Within these Tiger let downs were a few really great returns! Check it out:

Spencer Turnbull was the first Tiger player I ever pulled from a pack of draft pick cards. I have high hopes for him and hope to see him dominate next spring and make a run at a spot on the team.

The bow-tied bandit Ken Rosenthal hooked me up. There are a lot of TV personalities I change the channel on but Rosenthal knows his stuff and is a delight to watch. Have you ever seen MLB Whiparound?! Nick Swisher and Dontrelle Willis make me wanna throw my TV out the window. I don't have regular cable so this is the only sports show I can watch specific to baseball. Sometimes I'm watching it and it seems like an SNL skit its so bad.

BOOM! Lance Parrish threw some sharpie down on his '78 rookie card for me through the mail. I wish I could have gotten it in person but at least I am one more away from my '78 Rookie Project. With Trammell signing publicly and locally later this month I should be able to put this baby to bed. I can always pick up another Parrish RC and hold on to it for an in person signature and replace this one. I sent him some details about the display I was making. He probably could care less. So great of him to sign for me.

SUPER-ULTRA-MEGA TRADE!

I don't have a lot of high dollar cards and if I did I would probably keep them if they were PC or sell them safely on ebay to buy something I liked. I usually only trade low dollar and junk wax so that I don't get taken (which happens when I trade with non-bloggers). But, I had a Justin Verlander MLB authenticated sweet spot signed ball I bought back in 2007 for $40 at Comerica Park and a lot of guys on a local facebook group were looking for one. Apparently they are relatively rare. So I decided I have a JV ball I got signed at a game that means more to me than the one I bought so I would put it out there. I found a buyer quickly but he was unable to come up with the funds. I stuck with him as he was in the midst of buying a house and moving. I watched him try to sell many items on the facebook group to get the funds to buy my ball. Finally, he offered a trade for this Verlander book. I have a ton of signed baseballs. They all sit in a rubbermade tub stacked in their cubes because I have a toddler and a dog that would love to play with them and they take up way more room to display than cards. At one point I actually thought about quitting cards and only going after balls. But balls don't age well. The ball itself can get age marks or the signature can fade. There are too many variables. Anyway, I decided to trade the guy my ball for this book. I am still glad I did. This book is gorgeous and represents JV for me more than that ball did. It is probably the most valuable card I own now. I love it.

Do You Believe In Angels?!

A TRADE ABOVE AND BEYOND

I literally was about to give up on the hobby, again. I had a post started about being burned out. With economic issues that come way before cards, a bad facebook trade that ripped me off and the Detroit Tigers sending all my TTM requests from spring training back using my stamp asking for money; I was about to call it quits and focus on something else. Many of you probably think "huh, he must not be as passionate about cards as me." That may be true but believe me I am all about my cards; I do a blog for god's sake. I have been having a lot negative feelings lately when I think about cards so I thought I should take a mental health break. Do what makes you happy, right? I shouldn't feel anxious or angry about a hobby.
In my darkest collecting moment, when the lights were about to go out on my blog a mail day of epic proportions filled my mailbox. Now, this may illustrate me as a weak man; a fly by night collector. A guy who is only in it for the good times and is pissy and a quitter during the bad times (a typical Detroit Tiger fan by any other definition). But, a beam of light from heaven shined down on my green plastic mail box. I heard angels quietly singing as I opened the back door of it. Here are the contents that have renewed my passion and taught me to love again.

Tom at The Angels In Order sent me a trade package that must have taken him hours of digging to put together. I am still in shock over the package and it will take weeks to digest all the goodies he sent over. I barely remember whatever it was I sent him but I know there is no way it was anything close to what he sent me. I will post highlights but please believe me he sent me a STACK of cards. The timing is unbelievable. Tom himself must be an angel from cardboard heaven.

WOW. I'm gonna need a bigger mailbox.

This is the first card I saw peeking out at me.

This Trammell alone would have made the trade even and good for me. But look at the rest of this stuff he sent. Its probably not even the best card! Seriously Tom?!

WHAT?! Al Frickin' Kaline

There was newer Tigers...

I love cards that look like they have a story to tell with condition. This Mickey Stanley is so cool. The Freehan is a masterpiece in itself.

There was vintage Tigers...

The Kaline is a reprint but Tom sent so much vintage I couldn't post hardly any of it.

Upon vintage Tigers...

These stamps show why trading online is so amazing. These stamps would be out of my price range and I probably would overlook them at a local show because shows can be overwhelming with product. I think they are the so cool and would never imagine I would ever own such a thing.

Tiger Stamps!...

My #2 favorite Fielder card of all time. I know my LCS had one of these under glass streaked with my drool when I was a kid. I had never owned on until now.

Die Cut JV. So sweet.

The CAT! I am a huge Catalanotto fan.

I opened so many 07 packs to find this card and never did. Now I have it!

Favorite Tigers...

He tossed in a ton of Jose!

You know Tom puts care into his trade packages when he takes enough time to look at what I collect and then dig to find Rey Ordonez! I am speechless.

Favorite Players...

The stack of Nolan Ryan cards in this package was staggering. There must have been 50 Ryan cards.

Who the hell gives up 50 Nolan Ryan cards in a trade?! Out of the stack he sent, I owned 3.

The giant stack of Rocket cards was unthinkable too.

Favorite Legends...

One of my favorite Canseco cards of all time. I owned this once. No idea what happened to it and now I have 2 versions!

Favorite Legends and their Gold variations...

I don't think I have posted much of my past career managing Toys R Us stores for 10 years during my college years but the fact that some of the cards that showed up have deeper collecting meaning like these prove there was a higher power putting together this trade package with Tom.

Now I have some decisions to make due to this card. I don't know much about this card and will have to research but in the meantime, Horton will be signing autos in a few weekends and I may have this card signed.
Tom blew me away with this package and didn't even give me a heads up that it was coming. I will be busy spreading all the cards out on my bar basking in their beauty for weeks. Thank you so much Tom, this package meant more than you will know.

Also in the box today...

As if the package above wasn't amazing enough, I got a TTM return from one of my PC guys. I worshipped this guy in Toledo and only wish he could have spent more time in the show. Mike Hessman is the man. I am so happy he took the time to sign and return my card. It came back in like a few days at that. What a legend.

Come on Tigers...WTF

In my rant earlier I mentioned the Tigers had sent me all my TTM auto requests from Spring Training back to me. Except for JD Martinez which came back RTS. So that tells me all the fan mail to the Tigers gets thrown into a box until August and never gets to the players at all. They didn't even try to forward my JD letter or even give it to him anytime before his departure. Lame. They used my SASE to send me a request for money for my other letters. Check out the Tiger's site to see that they have partnered with Topps to make unique cards of certain players you can buy autographed for $15 to way too much money plus shipping. For the 9 players they have listed (JV and Miggy are not one of them) it will cost you over $200 with shipping to get signed cards of all 9. I see some benefits of this system but still think the Tigers screw the actual adult ticket buyers again and again. Maybe autograph chasing is a child's game, I don't know. For me, I only want to display the pieces as a fan but have to pay stupid amounts of money for autographs I am rarely happy with. Oh well, that is the state of our hobby for a Tiger fan. The team that had such potential and star power going into the season that can't win games has to make money other ways I guess.

Which One Hates Me: Allen or Ginter?!

I know one of them has it out for me!

Tonight I picked up my 5th, yes 5th Allen and Ginter Blaster Box. I won't count the packs I have bought in this rant and PLEASE nobody tell me how I could have bought a hobby box or two already with the money I've put in. Anyway, I have yet to pull a single hit from any of them but see guys getting them all the time. My brother pulled some unknown comedian's auto card from one. So, shamefully I bought another. At least I finally got a short print; the Vogelbach rookie. Alas, no real hit again. I did receive two minis in one pack which I think is the sets way of saying give up since I don't enjoy minis. Here are the highlights if you want to call them that:

 I don't think I like the look of this years set. My favorites have been the borderless cards. I understand the look they were going for and achieved, its just not for me. When the set has so many unnecessary pop culture and historic cards in it I don't think it can be taken serious for an aesthetically pleasing antiquated looking set. I feel like each card is the player checking himself out in the mirror. As usual, everything is available. I might keep the Upton.

 That is two disney references in posts this week. Sorry, I will try to get out of the house into the grown up world soon.

TTM Return? Thats still a thing?

I got my first TTM return in months. It was as much a sure thing as it gets but still a great return. TTM auto legend Pat Neshek now with the Rockies.