Thursday, January 28, 2010

TTM Return: Denis Leary


I was very excited to find this in the mail today. Denis Leary participated in the Legends Classic event that I went to, and I sent him a ticket from the event to get signed. He signed the ticket in silver sharpie, as well as the two protective index cards I included. Very cool! Sent 1/19 (9 days)

Overall TTM Success Rate: 4/7 (57.1%)

TTM Return: Travis Lee


Former Phils/Rays/D-Backs player Travis Lee signed three cards for me c/o home. This was the first time I took a chance on sending a game-used card to get signed, and it looks pretty nice. It got a little bent up in transit, but well worth the risk. Sent 1/11 (17 days)

Overall TTM Success Rate: 3/7 (42.8%)

Saturday, January 23, 2010

2 TTM Returns from Florida



The TTM New Year has finally begun, with two returns postmarked from Florida today.

  • Casey Kotchman- signed an '09 Topps set card in a thin-tipped blue marker. Sent 1/13 (10 days)
  • Lou Piniella- It looks like Lou signed this card in blue sharpie, then decided that it would look better in silver and signed on top of his first signature. Sweet return. Sent 1/11 (12 days)
Overall TTM Success Rate: 2/7 (28.6%)
Topps 2009 Set: 52/660 (7.9%)

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

2010 TTM Sendouts So Far

I've sent out 7 TTM requests so far this year, to the following people:

  • Lou Piniella
  • Travis Lee
  • Matt Treanor
  • Casey Kotchman
  • Eric Wedge
  • Denis Leary
  • Jeff Samardzija

Hopefully I'll start seeing some returns in the next few weeks. I'm gearing up for Spring Training, as I plan on sending at least 40 requests out in February and March.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Red Sox Rookie Development Signing, 1/18

I arrived at the signing just as it was starting around 3:30. They held it at a Best Buy down the street from Fenway. It was a little crowded, but I was able to buy my ticket, wait in line, and get out within an hour. For a $10 donation to the Red Sox Foundation, I received autographs of the following players:

  • Randor Bierd
  • Kyle Weiland
  • Casey Kelly
  • Yamaico Navarro
  • Jose Iglesias
  • Ryan Kalish
  • Che-Suan Lin
  • Junichi Tazawa
  • Luis Exposito
  • Felix Doubront
  • Jim Lonborg
It was a great surprise to see Jim Lonborg at this event. He inscribed '67 Cy Young on my Fenway Park Green Monster sign. I had Randor Bierd sign a 2008 Upper Deck SP card, and got everyone else on the Green Monster sign.

It was a quick but fun autograph signing, and the money went to a good cause. It feels good to get back into the signing spirit with only about a month left until Spring Training begins!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Cooperstown, 1998


When I was about 13 years old, I went to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown for the first time. I went for many years, but 1998 was the only time I had the chance to participate in a special autograph signing during Induction Weekend. In addition to having your own personal "plaque" signed, you also received a signed HOF plaque postcard from each of the participants. I never saw this event again, as I heard that collectors were trying to buy the cards off of children. It's a shame that this event no longer takes place, but it brings back great memories.

Does anyone else have one of these, or has anyone else even seen one of these?


Monday, January 11, 2010

Topps 2009 Project Checklist

After seeing moe from http://topps08.blogspot.com/ make a checklist for his 08 Topps set, I decided to make a set for my Topps 2009 project.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Bruins Legends Classic- First Autographs of 2010 !


Today I went to the Bruins Legends Classic at Fenway Park. Although it was just an exhibition game featuring celebrities and alumni, it was still very fun to be at Fenway watching hockey while it was snowing. I brought some blank white baseball cards, and my first autograph of the year came from Neal McDonough from Desperate Housewives and Band of Brothers. I got him in the players' parking lot area as I was walking towards the entrance gates.

As soon as I got through the gates, I rushed over to the Red Sox dugout where all the participants would be coming out. After a warm-up practice, all the players walked back down to the dugout. Some were throwing out practice pucks, and I managed to catch one from former Bruins player Ken Hodge.

My big score of the day was an autograph from Keifer Sutherland, who was incredibly friendly and completely opposite from the "Jack Bauer" persona he plays on 24.

It was a great day to start off my 2010 autograph collection, and I'll never forget the sight of 30,000+ fans watching a hockey game at Fenway in the snow.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Year-End Totals

60 Successful TTM Returns
127 Signed Cards this year
50 signed 2009 Topps cards

Fastest Return: Ian Snell (4 days)
Longest Return: Jed Lowrie (240 days)

2009 TTM Success Rate: 60/151 (39.7%)