Phillies @ Red Sox, 5/27

After an unexpectedly cold spring, Mother Nature flipped the switch on Memorial Day and gave us some great weather for graphing.  I came into the day with low expectations, but it turned out to be my best day of the year, especially for my set.  Papelbon made a nice milestone for the 09 collection, as he is the 100th card I've completed from the Updates & Highlights set.

• Michael Young- 09 Topps U&H
• John Mayberry- 09 Topps U&H
• Laynce Nix- 09 Topps U&H
• Carlos Ruiz- 09 Topps
• Ben Revere- 13 Heritage, 12 Allen & Ginter
• Mike Adams- 09 Upper Deck
• Ryan Howard- 09 Topps
• Jonathan Papelbon- 09 Topps U&H

Spring Training TTM: Greg Holland

• Greg Holland 1/1- Greg signed his 13 Heritage card from Royals camp.  Sent 3/20 (69 days)

Indians @ Red Sox, 5/26

The rain continued this morning, but stopped just long enough for me to get a few players coming in.

• Rich Hill- 09 Topps U&H
• Michael Bourn- 12 Allen & Ginter, 13 Heritage
• Mike Aviles- 08 Topps RC, 10 Topps
• Jason Kipnis- 13 Heritage
• Scott Kazmir- 09 Topps base, 09 Topps combo (already signed by David Price)

Indians @ Red Sox, 5/24

It was a dreary night for baseball, but I managed to get a couple autos before the game started with an hour rain delay.

• Jason Giambi- 09 Topps
• Dennis Eckersley- 10 Topps World Series History

Twins @ Red Sox, 5/7

I didn't have any luck with the Twins last night, but I was able to get a few autographs over by the NESN television booth on Yawkey Way.

• Ben Cherington- 2012 Red Sox pocket schedule
• Tim Wakefield- 09 Topps U&H

My Very First TTM Request Has Finally Come Home

I sent my very first TTM request during spring training 2009 to Mike Lowell.  Since I sent this card out, I've moved from Maryland to Massachussetts, gotten myself a "real" job, visited Ireland and Costa Rica, and gotten married.  I've also gotten over one thousand cards signed, including 294 for my 2009 Topps set.  How time flies.

I knew when my father-in-law called me to tell me I received an envelope from the Red Sox that it must have been a TTM send-out from at least three years ago.

Unfortunately, the long wait for this return brought a less than exciting result.  Mike sent a preprinted form letter apologizing for the delayed response, as well as a pre-printed photo card that simple says "Mike".  He returned the card I sent unsigned.  It was sent in an envelope from the Red Sox, and I received a similar return from Jonathan Papelbon a few years ago that was sent out around the same time as this one.

• Mike Lowell 0/1- Sent 3/12/09 (1,516 days)

Astros @ Red Sox, 4/28

A beautiful Sunday afternoon for autographs and baseball:

• Doug Brocail- 10 Upper Deck Houston stadium card
• Brad Peacock- 12 Topps gold
• Erik Bedard- 09 Topps
• Travis Blackley- custom Astros card
• Chris Carter- 11 Topps Heritage