Hockey TTM: Shea Weber

• Shea Weber 1/1- The Predators defenseman signed his 2010-11 Victory card. My first TTM return of the new year! Sent 11/19 (51 days)
  

Spring Training Return: Trevor Crowe

• Trevor Crowe 1/2- The Indians prospect signed his 09 Topps rookie card and kept another card that I believe was a T206. The end of the signature is smeared, but it's nice to get any returns during the winter time. This is one of my longest returns of all time. I've seen a few other players catching up on their mail for the year, so hopefully a few more will trickle in before the year is over. Sent 3/8 (282 days)
  

Hockey TTM: Matt Carle

When I moved to Boston last fall, I started to get into hockey as something to distract me from the off-season for baseball. It's definitely grown on me very quickly, and I recently started picking up a pack of hockey cards here and there since they can be had for really cheap. I finally sent a few out in the mail to see what I could get, and this was my first return.

• Matt Carle 1/1- The Flyers defenseman signed a 2010/11 Upper Deck retro insert that looks like it's from the early 90's. Sent 12/3 (14 days)
  

TTM Return: Nick Hundley

• Nick Hundley 2/2- It's been quite a long time since I received any cards back, but that's the offseason for you. I was very excited to get two cards back signed from Nick Hundley that were both part of the 09 Topps set. I don't know why he was included in both Series 1 and 2; he never changed teams during that time, and he's not exactly a top star. Either way, I was happy to knock out a few more cards for my set and get my 300th autograph of the year! Sent 7/16 (139 days)
  

TTM Return: Bruce Bochy

• Bruce Bochy 1/1- The World Series Champions' manager signed a Master & Mentor card from the 09 Topps Heritage set. This is easily the longest return time I've had for a card. I sent this one out early last year. Now if only I could find a way to get Lincecum to finish off the card... Sent 4/27/09 (555 days)
  

Autographs Abroad! Penn & Teller in Toronto

I just returned from a week-long trip to Canada, with stops at Niagara Falls, Toronto, and Montreal. Unfortunately, the NHL didn't want to modify their schedule to conform with my vacation, so I missed out on any major sporting events. However, I still got to visit the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, as well as as the AHL affiliates of the Senators and Canadiens play at the Bell Centre in Montreal. While I didn't get any sports autographs on the trip, I did manage to meet a well-known comedy duo while they were on tour in Toronto.

My girlfriend and I were looking for a late night place to eat and found a diner called Fran's across the street from a local performing arts theater. As we sat down for dinner I looked at the billboard at the theater and noticed that Penn & Teller were performing that night, but the show had started about an hour earlier. After our meal was just about finished, I noticed the theater crowd pouring out next door and didn't think anything of it until I saw a freakishly tall man with a beard and pony tail surrounded by a sea of people.

We quickly paid for our meal and found our way into the sea of people that had traffic blocked on a busy downtown Toronto street. I felt incredibly unprepared without a pen or sharpie to speak of, but fortunately both comedians had sharpies and were more than willing to take pictures and sign autographs with everyone that waited. After about 20 minutes, I made my way to the front of the mob and met Penn. The crowd for Teller was much more subdued, but he was just as friendly (and expectedly less talkative) and took a picture with me as well.



Since I didn't attend the show, I didn't have a playbill. Fortunately, I bought a few postcards of Toronto earlier in the day, so I had them sign one as a unique souvenir from my first international autographing experience.

Penn & Teller- souvenir Toronto postcard

TTM Return: Jon Garland

• Jon Garland 1/1- I came home from vacation to find just one envelope waiting for me in the mail. The Padres pitcher signed his 09 Topps card in black sharpie. Sent 7/15 (110 days)