Saturday, July 5, 2014

Big Update from the Past Few Months

Rays @ Red Sox, 4/30

  • Jonny Gomes- Improper Bostonian magazine cover (super glossy cover, sig didn't hold up well)
  • Jackie Bradley Jr.- Red Sox logo card
  • Joel Peralta- 12 Topps


 Reds @ Red Sox, 5/6
  • Manny Parra- 12 Topps
  • Marty Brennaman- Reds logo card w/ HOF inscription
  • Walt Jocketty- Reds Heritage team card
  • John Smoltz- 09 Topps
  • Brandon Phillips- 13 Heritage, 08 Allen & Ginter
  • Todd Frazier- 13 Topps Archives
  • Johnny Cueto- 09 Topps


Reds @ Red Sox, 5/7
  • Todd Frazier- 11 Topps gold
  • Zack Cozart- 11 Topps
  • Brandon Phillips- 09 Upper Deck, 07 Bowman Heritage


Tigers @ Red Sox, 5/18
  • Brad Ausmus- 02 Topps
  • Omar Vizquel- 09 Heritage
  • Joe Nathan- 11 Topps
  • Nick Castellanos- 14 Topps RC
  • Joba Chamberlain- 08 Topps T205
  • Drew Smyly- 12 Topps RC
  • J.D. Martinez- 12 Bowman Chrome Xfractor
  • Phil Coke- 13 Heritage
  • Torii Hunter- 13 Heritage
  • Max Scherzer- 08 A&G
  • Ian Kinsler- 09 Topps



Blue Jays @ Red Sox, 5/20
  • Brett Lawrie- 13 Heritage 


Indians @ Red Sox, 6/12
  • Justin Masterson- 13 Topps
  • Terry Francona- 08 Topps


 Twins @ Red Sox, 6/17
  • Brian Dozier- 14 Topps
  • Stephen King- handshake (wouldn't sign)

Orioles @ Red Sox, 7/4

For the second time this year, the game was called off while I was down at the stadium.  I waited around the players' parking lot for guys leaving.  Most of the Orioles didn't even make it to the park.
  • Jake Peavy- 09 Topps

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Rangers @ Red Sox, 4/8

I already had the day off from work, so I headed down to the stadium and decided to buy a ticket for $7 at the last minute.  It was definitely worth the price of admission to get Darvish.


Outside the park:
  • Mitch Moreland- 11 Topps
  • Tanner Scheppers- 12 Topps team card
  • Robbie Ross- 10 Upper Deck stadium card
  • Shin Soo Choo- 13 Heritage
  • Prince Fielder- 08 Allen & Ginter
Inside the park:
  • Yu Darvish- 13 Heritage

Brewers @ Red Sox, 4/6

 It was a brutally cold morning with very few players signing, but Braun made it worth the trip.  I might be waiting a while to get the other half of that All-Star card done.

  • Mark Reynolds- 12 Allen & Ginter
  • Ryan Braun- 09 Topps U&H

Spring Training TTM Autos





Thursday, April 10, 2014

Brewers @ Red Sox, 4/4 Opening Day and Ring Ceremony!

It was a chilly day at Fenway for Opening Day last Friday, as it didn't quite feel like winter was over yet.  Even though the game ended poorly, it was great to be there for my first ring ceremony.


















Autographs were tough to come by for the opening series.
  • Jim Henderson- 13 Topps
  • Brandon Workman- blank card

Spring Training Update: 5 Returns

Spring training returns have pretty much come to a halt since the season started, but it still seems like I had a decent percentage come back compared to a lot of other collectors out there.

  • Brock Holt 1/1 c/o Red Sox, 30 days
  • Luke Gregerson 2/2 c/o Athletics, 31 days
  • Khris Davis 2/2 c/o Brewers, 18 days
  • Nyjer Morgan 2/2 c/o Indians, 12 days
  • Joe Kelly 2/2 c/o Cardinals, 12 days


Saturday, March 29, 2014

Spring Training Update: 8 Returns!

Over the past week or so, I've managed to get 4 new cards for my 09 Topps set, including a few surprises in Matsuzaka and Hoffman.  Hopefully the returns keep rolling in as the season begins and the players head out from spring training.

  • Kyle Farnsworth 2/2 c/o Mets, 10 days
  • Danny Espinosa 1/1 c/o Nationals, 34 days
  • Randy Choate 2/2 c/o Cardinals, 11 days
  • Carlos Martinez 2/2 c/o Cardinals, 12 days.  He carved into both cards with a dying ballpoint pen.
  • Ricky Nolasco 1/2 c/o Twins, 21 days.  Kept one of my cards.
  • Trevor Hoffman 2/2 c/o Padres, 7 days.  Hope these are real, one of them smudged.
  • Daisuke Matsuzaka 1/1 c/o Mets, 34 days
  • Dillon Gee 2/2 c/o Mets, 16 days.  Personalized both.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Spring Training Update: 3 Returns


  • Curtis Granderson 0/1, 1/0- Returned my card unsigned, but included a signed 4X6 photo in his new uniform.  Sent 2/20 (25 days)
  • Andy LaRoche 1/1- I sent this to Blue Jays spring training camp last season, and got it back just under a year later.  Sent 3/22/13 (361 days)
  • Peter Bourjos 1/1- Peter signed a 2010 Topps Heritage previously signed by Ryan Kalish, Chris Heisey, and Logan Morrison.  I just need to get Daniel Nava this year to finish it.  Sent 3/7 (12 days)

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Spring Training Update: 5 Returns

  • Chris Heisey 2/2 c/o Reds, 20 days
  • Joe Nathan 1/1 c/o Tigers, 23 days
  • Terry Collins 3/1 c/o Mets, signed card and 2 protective IC's, 10 days
  • Mitch Moreland 1/1 c/o Rangers, 23 days
  • Junichi Tazawa 1/1 c/o Red Sox, 14 days

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Spring Training Update: Six Returns!

  •  Logan Morrison 1/1 c/o Mariners, 8 days
  • Josh Collmenter 1/1 c/o Diamondbacks, 17 days
  • Trevor Rosenthal 2/2 c/o Cardinals, 17 days
  • Jonathan Pettibone- 1/1 c/o Phillies, 20 days
  • Brad Ausmus 1/1 c/o Tigers, 24 days
  • Dale Sveum 1/1 c/o Royals, 7 days

Friday, February 28, 2014

Spring Training TTM: Mike Fiers

  • Mike Fiers 1/1- The Brewers pitcher signed his 13 Topps Heritage card.  Sent 2/14 (14 days)

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Spring Training TTM: Cameron Maybin

  • Cameron Maybin 2/2- After multiple attempts to get Maybin over the past several years, I finally sent out cards early enough in spring training to get them back.  Sent 2/18 (9 days)

Spring Training TTM: Michael Wacha

  • Michael Wacha 1/1- Even though he's a talented young pitcher with a bright future, Wacha will always be remembered in Boston as the losing pitcher in Game 6 of last year's World Series, which lead to another championship for the Red Sox.  Sent 2/12 (12 days)

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

TTM Return: Paul Phillips

  • Paul Phillips 1/1- The former Rockies catcher signed his 09 Topps U&H card via Lipscomb University, where he now works as a baseball coach.  Sent 2/7 (12 days)

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

TTM Return: Brendan Harris

  • Brendan Harris 1/1- I sent an 09 Topps card out to Angels spring training last year.  Brendan is now playing for the Dodgers, but the envelope was postmarked from Florida.  Sent 2/18/13 (357 days)

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

2 TTM Returns: Grant Balfour & Dustin Ackley

My first two returns of 2014 came last week as pitchers and catchers report in just a few days.
  • Grant Balfour 1/1- The re-acquired Rays pitcher signed his 13 Topps Heritage card.  Sent 7/15 (200 days)
  • Dustin Ackley 2/2- Dustin personalized two cards from last year's Spring Training.  Sent 3/20 (317 days)