Joe Pettini and Wes Stock TTM Returns

I received two ttm returns today.

I sent this request to Joe Pettini in the first week of January, when I sent out a batch of 1982 Topps based on the most recent signers on SCN to try to make some progress on the set.  He was kind enough to sign both his 1982 and 1983 Topps.

 

I don't normally send out more than five cards to a non-charging signer, so when I decided I really wanted to get all five of these cards signed by Wes Stock, I apologized in my letter and included $10.  He not only signed all the cards nicely but also returned my $10. 

Mail-In Signing Returns

I received four mail-in signing returns, with mixed results.

I had Tim Raines sign his 1981 Topps rookie card.  I knew it had a small crease in it, but I didn't want to spend more on another card.  But now, the crease either got bigger, or just appears bigger, and I'm regretting not having gotten a better card.

I had Trevor Hoffman sign an 08 Goudey for my set.  He signed right across "Padres" on his jersey so you can hardly tell it's signed.  I know another collector working on this set and he received the exact same signature on his.

Now for better results, Robin Yount signed his 1982 Topps.

And, tough to get signer Steve Stone signed his 1971 Topps.  I would have like to get more cards signed by him, but at $35 per, I settled for one.

Byron Browne TTM Return and Dave Stewart Mail-In Signing

I received just one ttm return today.  Byron Browne signed his 1966 and 1968 Topps in blue ballpoint, and 1970 Topps in black sharpie.

I sent to him about three years ago and he signed his 1967 Topps in blue sharpie and 1971 Topps in blue ballpoint.  I'm not sure why he mixes up the ink he uses. Maybe he's trying to make the cards look as nice as possible, or maybe he thinks a certain type of pen will be easier to use on different cards, or?  In my latest request, I think the blue ballpoint looks nice on the 66 Topps and not bad on the 68.

I also received a return from a Dave Stewart signing, where I requested his signature on his 1982 Topps.  I'm surprised I didn't have any autographs from him in my collection yet.  Probably because the 82 Topps is his rookie card, and I haven't really been spending too much on my set collections from the 80's, at least until I started on the 82 set last year or so.  

I've concentrated on the Hall of Famers and stars in the set so far and haven't really done too many mailings to the more common players.  I only have 62 signed cards from the set so far.

I think I have sat down and started sending out to the common signers in the set only once, so that was maybe 10 requests or so.  I need to spend a lot more time on it.  I can also include cards from the 79, 80, 83, 85 and 87 sets if the players are included in those, so I can potentially get a lot of autographs by doing this.  

However, whenever I start on the players from the 80's and later, I find myself missing the vintage cards and players and get drawn into sending out those requests knowing that those players won't be around forever.  I even go so far as to buy more vintage cards, even though I already have them signed.  I justify them as "upgrades" to black ink, off-center cards and cards that got beat up during mailing.

Speaking of which, I just sent out a request to Dick Simpson that included his 1965 Topps that I just got signed by Jose Cardenal.

The last time I tried to complete this card it came back from Cardenal just fine:

But the round-trip to Dick Simpson was pretty tough on the card.  It didn't get torn or creased, but the color-loss was very pronounced.  This can be a problem with the vintage cards.  Sometimes, a player will return the cards they signed inside the folded-up letter that I wrote, and you can see the color of the card get transferred onto the white paper of the letter.

Three Vintage TTM Returns and My Vern Law Cards Come Home

I've been feeling nostalgic about collecting the 1958 Topps set in 2003 and later after starting this hobby then.  It's been a long time since I added a card to that set via a ttm request.  The only living player I still need for the set is Sandy Koufax.

So, a while ago I bought a few 1958 Topps cards to send out to players I already have, along with a few other vintage cards for those players.  Today's ttm returns all included a 1958 Topps.

Mack Burk signed his 1957 and 1958 Topps as well as a 1958 Phillies team card.

Marty Keough signed his 1958, 1960 and 1964 Topps.  He didn't return the 1966 Topps I had sent.

And Lloyd Merritt signed his 1958 Topps in the same ballpoint pen type and color he's used for my requests since 2003.

Finally, I completed a swap with a fellow SCN member for each other's Vern Law cards.  This member was motivated to swap cards because he had sent a card to Law that was special to his father, and he was getting it signed by him as a gift.

I'm happy to get both the 1952 Bowman and 1966 Topps ERA Leaders card, which I don't have in my collection yet.  I plan on sending the 66 to Juan Marichal next.

Saturday's TTM Returns - Otis. DeMerit and Garvey

I received three more ttm returns today.

Amos Otis signed the 1970 Mets team card, which commemorates the 69 Miracle Mets, as well as his 1974, 1975 and 1982 Topps for his $5 per card fee.

John DeMerit signed the 1963 Mets team card already signed by four other players.

And Steve Garvey signed the 1972 Topps Commissioners and MVP Award cards.  He signed the MVP award card upside down, which is odd.