Thursday, September 29, 2011

Spring Training Return: Jeff Karstens


  • Jeff Karstens 1/1- I don't remember seeing this card or sending it out during ST, but after a long wait I received it back signed in black sharpie. This return finally puts me at a 50% success rate for spring training sendouts, and puts me just one card away from my goal for the 09 Topps set for this year. Sent 2/12 (227 days)

Friday, September 23, 2011

Orioles @ Red Sox, 9/21




My final Sox game of the regular season was also the last one at Fenway this year, so I took advantage of the extra day of vacation I had after my Ireland trip and went for some autos outside and inside the stadium. It was nice to get a few cards signed by Wieters before the season ended. Hopefully the Red Sox can hold on and make it into the playoffs to extend my autograph season for a few more weeks.

Outside the stadium:
  • Matt Wieters- 08 Razor, 07 Tristar Pro Debut
  • Jeremy Guthrie- 10 Topps
  • Nolan Reimold- 09 Topps U&H RC Gold
Inside the stadium:
  • Josh Bell- custom Orioles logo card
  • Larry Lucchino- blank card
  • Chris Davis- 09 Allen & Ginter, 09 Topps

TTM Return: Sean Casey


  • Sean Casey 2/2- The Mayor signed cards from the 08 Topps and 02 Fleer Platinum sets from the MLB Network studios. My cards were returned in an envelope with the network's logo on it. Sent 5/25 (115 days)

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Frank Turner


While I was in Ireland, I went to see Frank Turner (acoustic folk/punk artist from the UK) at a show in Cork. I talked to him for a few minutes at the bar after his set, took a picture with him, and had him sign the cover art from his first album.

Here's a link to one of my favorite songs of his if you're interested:
Try This At Home- Frank Turner

Monday, September 12, 2011

Mobile update: Zdeno Chara at Logan International!


It's always good to carry a sharpie no matter where you go. Just met Chara at the airport and he signed my Bruins championship hat. My flight to Ireland was delayed by 3 hours, but if it had been on time I wouldn't have got the auto. Good start to the trip!

TTM Return: Hideki Matsui


  • Hideki Matsui 1/1- This was a nice surprise to find in the mail today. Hideki signed his 09 Topps from Oakland for my set. Now I only need 3 more cards to reach my goal for the year! Sent 8/2 (41 days)

TTM Return: Heath Bell


  • Heath Bell 2/2- San Diego's closer signed 2011 Allen & Ginter and 2009 Upper Deck cards in blue sharpie. Sent 8/22 (21 days)

Saturday, September 10, 2011

TTM Return: Orlando Hudson


  • Orlando Hudson 2/2- One of the fan friendliest players around signed cards from the 2010 Topps Chrome and 2011 Allen & Ginter sets. Sent 8/27 (14 days)

Friday, September 9, 2011

TTM Return: Jeremy Guthrie


  • Jeremy Guthrie 1/1- This was my 4th attempt trying to get this card knocked out for my set, and Jeremy finally came through with what I needed, personalizing his 09 Topps card in blue sharpie. The envelope was postmarked from Tampa, where the Orioles played over the weekend, so I guess Jeremy takes his mail along on road trips. Sent 7/13 (56 days)

TTM Return: Graham Taylor


  • Graham Taylor 1/1- The Marlins pitching prospect signed his rookie card from the 09 Topps U&H set. Sent 8/31 (9 days)

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

TTM Return: Eric Sogard


  • Eric Sogard 2/2- Oakland's young infielder signed rookie cards from the 2011 Heritage and Allen & Ginter sets in just under a week. Sent 8/31 (6 days)

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Rangers @ Red Sox, 9/3 & 9/4


With my trip to Ireland just a week away, I tried to get some graphing in over the past couple days. By the time I get back, I'll only have a series with Baltimore to get more autographs before the regular season ends. Yesterday I didn't realize the game time had changed until the early afternoon, so I didn't have time to catch players coming into the park. Today the area was swamped with dealers so I wasn't too successful.

Some of the dealers in the Boston area have gotten really aggressive and rude, shouting profanities at players when they don't sign. I wish there were more people that still just did this for fun and didn't take things so seriously, it reflects really poorly on the graphing community as a whole when certain individuals decide to act like idiots because they didn't get the chance to profit off of any of the big stars.

Saturday 9/3, Inside the stadium pre-game:
  • David Murphy- 2011 Gypsy Queen
  • Ron Washington- 1987 Topps
  • Derek Holland- 09 Topps U&H RC, 09 Topps Ticket to Stardom RC
Sunday 9/4, Outside the stadium:
  • Ron Washington- 2011 Heritage Rangers team card
  • Yorvit Torrealba- 2010 Topps

Saturday, September 3, 2011

TTM Return: Chris Perez


  • Chris Perez 2/2- The Indians closer signed cards from the 2011 Heritage and Allen & Ginter sets. My returns had started to slow down, so I started sending to sure bets like Chris who sign reliably and quickly. Sent 8/27 (7 days)