Saturday, October 31, 2009

First Return at My New Address


  • Edinson Volquez- Signed a 2009 Allen & Ginter card for me in black. Sent 8/24 (64 days)
Overall TTM Success: 46/139 (33.1%)

Friday, October 30, 2009

Change of Address

I just moved to Massachusetts and got the internet hooked up today, so hopefully I'll have some new TTM autographs to report once they're re-directed from my old address in Maryland.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Dave Roberts


I received two cards signed by Dave Roberts today, a 2009 Topps and 2009 Upper Deck. I sent to Dave last month c/o the NESN sports network in Boston, but the cards were postmarked from San Diego. For anyone that doesn't know about "The Steal", Dave Roberts helped turn around the 2004 ALCS for the Red Sox when they were about to be swept by the Yankees in Game 4. Roberts stole 2nd and scored on a Bill Mueller single, and the rest is history. Sent 9/24 (23 days)

Overall TTM Success Rate: 45/139 (32.4%)
Topps 2009 set: 40/660 (6.1%)

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Brandon Phillips

I sent to Brandon Phillips back in July and decided to re-send at the end of the season since I hadn't heard back. He signed a 2009 Topps card for my set, as well as a 2009 Allen & Ginter. I tried something new with my final batch of sendouts so I'm hoping to get faster responses like this one. Sent 9/28 (17 days)

Overall TTM Success Rate: 44/139 (31.7%)
Topps 2009 set: 39/660 (5.9%)

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Chris Volstad


One return today:
  • Chris Volstad- Chris signed a 2009 Topps Heritage card for me in a little over 5 months as the new longest return of the season. Sent 5/5 (158 days)
Overall TTM Success Rate: 43/139 (30.9 %)

Thursday, October 8, 2009

4 Returns from the Weekend


I came home from my trip to Albany and Boston to find 4 envelopes waiting for me:

2009 Topps cards:
  • Nate Schierholtz- Sent 8/24 (38 days)
  • Ian Snell- Fastest return I've received all season. Sent 9/28 (4 days)
  • Jason Marquis- Sent 9/18 (15 days)
One more:
  • Stan Musial- 0/1, 1/0; Returned my Diamond Kings card unsigned and sent a signed postcard back. While Ian Snell was my fastest return of the season, Stan Musial was my longest. Sent 7/29 (67 days)
Overall TTM Success Rate: 42/138 (30.4%)
Topps 2009 Set: 38/660 (5.7%)

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Final Regular-Season Weekend


If there's anything this weekend taught me, it's to be prepared for anything. I actually didn't get any autographs this weekend, though I probably should have.

I went to Albany for a wedding on Friday and it turned out there was a new movie being shot around the corner that would involve Will Ferrell and Jerry Seinfeld in some capacity. Unfortunately, neither were actually there as they were only filming action shots with stunt doubles. I did, however, get to see a dummy of Ferrell in a bullet-riddled Prius.

On Friday night I walked to my car through the hotel lobby and noticed a big white bus pulling up. As I was walking outside, the entire New York Nets team got off the bus. I've never tried getting basketball players' autographs, and I'm not sure if there's anybody even worth getting on that team, but it was crazy to see just how tall the majority of these guys when you're standing next to them in an elevator.

On Sunday we headed to Boston to look for apartments and decided to go down to Fenway to watch the end of the regular season across the street at Cask & Flagon. After the game was over, we headed over to the players' parking lot to see Pedroia, Varitek, and Papi each drive off to a loud ovation.

I of course didn't come prepared with sharpies or cards, but I did get a picture with Michael Bowden. He had just won his first game of the season, and graciously took pictures and signed autographs for everyone that was willing to wait. Fortunately I already had his 09 Topps card signed on 2 different occasions so I settled with just getting a picture.

The lesson here is, always be prepared with a sharpie and something to sign because you never know who you're going to bump into.