TTM Return: Amanda Beard

• Amanda Beard 1/1- The former Olympic swimmer and Playboy Playmate signed a 2011 Goodwin Champions card from home. The envelope was postmarked from Gayle Beard, her mother perhaps? Sent 7/13 (43 days)
  

TTM Return: Randy Wells

• Randy Wells 2/2- The Cubs righty signed his 09 Topps U&H card, as well as a gold parallel from the same set. Sent 7/28 (27 days)
  

Spring Training Return: Tom Gorzelanny

• Tom Gorzelanny 2/2- This is my second return from a Nationals pitcher in the past week. Tom signed 09 Topps U&H and 08 Allen & Ginter cards in black sharpie. I didn't realize he had a card in the 09 Topps base set until after I sent this out, so I'll have to re-send to him sometime next season. Sent 2/12 (192 days)
  

TTM Return: Jordan Zimmermann

• Jordan Zimmermann 1/1- The young Nationals righty signed his 09 Topps Updates & Highlights rookie card. This was my second time sending this card to Jordan, as he kept the first one I sent during spring training. Sent 8/10 (10 days)
  

New York-Penn League All-Star Game in Lowell, MA

Last night the Lowell Spinners hosted the All-Star game for the short season single A league. I arrived late, so I missed the National League's signing and only managed to get the pitchers from the American League's signing. I don't do much minor league graphing, so I only had a few cards to get signed. I got most of the guys inside a free program that featured each of the all-stars from both leagues.

They gave out nice commemorative tickets, ticketholders, and posters after the game, and it was definitely the best weather I've had all summer to watch a baseball game. I was hoping that a few old timers would be floating around, but the only memorable person I noticed was Sergeant Mickey O'Keefe of "The Fighter", who happens to be a real cop in the Lowell area.

• Rich Gedman- 1988 Topps
• Garin Cecchini- 2011 Bowman
• American League All-Stars- 11 players in the All-Star program
  

TTM Return: Matt Harrison

• Matt Harrison 2/2- After almost a full month without any TTM returns, I finally broke the streak with a return from the Rangers pitcher. Matt signed his 2009 and 2010 Topps cards in black sharpie. Sent 7/28 (18 days)
  

Fenway Park Can Drive, 8/6

I've gone through a bit of an autograph drought both TTM and IP recently, so on Saturday I decided to stock up on some canned goods and stop by Fenway to donate as part of their annual charity event. For 10 cans, you can pick a 5X7 photo card signed by a player on the team.

When I got there, a decent line had already formed. There are 3 booths set up around the stadium, but I got just enough cans for 2 photos. Last year, myself and many others bulked up on ramen noodles that counted as 1 item, but this year they caught on to our thriftiness and required 30 ramen packages for one auto, so I cut back on what I brought this year. I had my hopes set on getting Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Gonzalez. Last year I got J.D. Drew, Dustin Pedroia, and Josh Beckett.

Pictures of Gonzalez were already gone by the time I got to the front of the line, but I was still able to get autographs of Ellsbury and Youkilis. I hadn't gotten autos from either of those guys since I lived in Maryland a few years ago, so it was nice to add a few more to my collection.