Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Manny Delcarmen's Bowling Strikes for Schools



At the last minute, I decided to get a ticket to Manny Delcarmen's charity bowling event at the bowling alley across from Fenway. The event took place on Monday, which also happened to be my birthday, so I figured I'd take a trip after work and try to get some autographs.

Despite what I was told about previous years from several different people, this event turned out to be the single best night for Red Sox autographs that I've had. Here's what I managed to get:

  • Heidi Watney/Cole Wright (NESN Sportscasters)- blank card
  • Clay Buchholz- '08 Topps
  • Adrian Beltre- '09 Upper Deck
  • Bill Hall- '09 Topps
  • Mike Cameron- '07 Topps
  • Mike Lowell- '09 Topps
  • Jeremy Hermida- '09 Topps
  • Dustin Richardson- '10 Topps
  • Manny Delcarmen- '09 Topps
  • Josh Beckett- '09 Topps
I got Delcarmen to personalize the card with "Happy B-Day Frank!" It'll be a nice reminder years down the road of how great this event was. I look forward to going against next year.

TTM Return: Ty Wigginton


Earlier this year, I sent two cards to Ty Wigginton, but he kept one and returned the other signed. I recently re-sent his 09 Topps Updates & Highlights card and received it back on Monday. His signature is probably the largest I've ever seen on a card before. Sent 5/29 (29 days)

Saturday, June 26, 2010

2 Returns Today: Juan Pierre & Chone Figgins


Two returns on Saturday:

  • Juan Pierre 1/2- The White Sox outfield kept my 09 Topps card, but returned a 2010 Topps card signed. Sent 5/28 (28 days)
  • Chone Figgins 2/2- Chone signed cards from the 09 Topps Updates & Highlights and 09 Upper Deck sets in just over two weeks. Sent 6/11 (15 days)

Thursday, June 24, 2010

My 100th Signed Card From The 2009 Topps Set!


Today I received a Spring Training TTM return from Rockies starter Jeff Francis. He signed a 2008 Upper Deck Documentary card, as well as the 100th signed card for my 2009 Topps set. It took me a little less than one year to get this far, so hopefully I can keep it up and have the set completed sometime in the next decade or so! Sent 3/10 (104 days)

TTM Return: Casey Kotchman


Earlier this week I received two cards signed from Casey Kotchman. Although he was only with the Red Sox for a limited time, he seemed like a quality back-up or off-the-bench guy. I really like that the majority of the Sox cards in the Topps Updates & Highlights set have the players in their grey alternate jerseys. Casey also signed a 2006 Fleer Tradition. Sent 4/26 (55 days)

Saturday, June 19, 2010

I've Got 99 Signed Cards but Manny Ain't One: Dodgers @ Red Sox, 6/18




Friday was Red Sox Nation day at Fenway Park. It also marked Manny's first visit to Fenway since his unceremonious departure from the Sox two summers ago. I had good luck with the Dodgers inside the stadium and met up with one of the local graphers from SportsGraphing.com, so it was a good night. Here's what I managed to get:

  • Clayton Kershaw- 09 Topps
  • James Loney- 09 Upper Deck, slightly smudged
  • Luis Tiant- signed a blank card at his sausage stand
  • Casey Blake- 09 Topps
  • Reed Johnson- 09 Topps
  • Matt Kemp- 09 Topps
Kemp's signed card makes my 99th autograph from the 2009 Topps set.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

2 Returns: Neftali Feliz and Chris Iannetta


I've received 2 TTM returns over the past few days:
  • Neftali Feliz 1/1- The 100 mph closer for the Rangers signed his 09 Topps Updates & Highlights rookie card. The card is creased pretty badly on one side, but I was happy to get this one back from a rising relief star. Sent 4/27 (47 days)
  • Chris Iannetta 2/2- Chris signed cards from the '08 and '09 Topps sets in thin blue marker. Sent 4/22 (55 days)

Thursday, June 10, 2010

3 Returns: Miguel Cabrera, Ron Washington, Garret Anderson


  • Miguel Cabrera 1/1- This was the first time I've paid for an autograph in about 10 years, but at $10 per card, I couldn't resist. The Detroit Tigers Foundation is partnering with several players on the team to sign autographs through the mail for charity, and it even comes with a certificate of authenticity from the team. I'm still waiting for one to come back from Magglio. Sent 5/17 (19 days)
  • Garrett Anderson 1/1- Always automatic through the mail, I got around to sending out his '09 Topps card and received it back quickly from the Dodgers. Sent 5/26 (15 days)
  • Ron Washington 3/2- The Rangers manager signed his cards from the '08 and '09 Topps sets, as well as one of the protective index cards I included with my letter. Another quick turnaround, and my 50th TTM return of the year! Sent 5/26 (15 days)

Friday, June 4, 2010

Spring Training Return: Chien-Ming Wang


  • Chien-Ming Wang 2/2- Another spring training return today, this time from Nationals camp. Chien-Ming signed an '09 Topps and '08 Goudey. This return marks my 100th autographed card of the year! Sent 3/15 (79 days)

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Another Spring Training Return


My second ST return this week was from Greg Golson. I sent this card to Yankees spring training back in February, and received it back today postmarked from Scranton, where he's currently playing for New York's AAA affiliate. Sent 2/15 (106 days)

  • Greg Golson 2/2- '09 Topps, '09 Topps T206

Today's return brings my Spring Training success rate for this year to the 50% mark! It took a little longer than I expected, but hopefully the percentage will continue to grow as players catch up with their mail from Florida and Arizona.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

TTM Return: Daniel Murphy


After a long drought without card returns, I finally found one in the mail today from West Palm Beach, Florida. I guess Daniel was catching up on Spring Training mail while on the DL for a while.

  • Daniel Murphy 3/3- '09 Topps, '09 Topps Heritage, and '09 T209. All personalized to me with his jersey number as well. Sent 2/16 (103 days)
I've started to pick up on sending more letters out, so hopefully my returns will pick up soon as well.