Welcome to my blog!!!

I have collected baseball cards and autographs over the years. I still have boxes full of cards (as well as newer cards) that are just sitting there. So, I have decided to see how many of them I can get autographed. I use through the mail as my preferred route for this adventure. I also have an account on Zistle and The Trading Card Database for trading purposes (stevienicks77).



Monday, August 27, 2012

An Ebay pick-up, Zistle trade, and a TTM

Lots of stuff in the mail today; in fact, I've been very lucky to have a lot of mail lately!  First up, I've been picking up some cheap stuff on ebay (free shipping!) in the form of Damon Berryhill, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Mark Grace, and Terry Steinbach.  I really only like to collect Terry's A's cards, but I just couldn't pass this one up.  I thought it was pretty cool, but when I got it today, I decided it was REALLY cool!  It's a 2005 Topps Pristine Legends:


Next up, I got another quick TTM back from a former Met, Blaine Beatty.  I think his signature is really neat!

Blaine Beatty
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Frederick Keys
7 days


















Finally, I completed another trade on Zistle, with Josh, from Royals and Randoms.  He helped me out with some of the players I collect, and I was able to help him out with some of the Royals cards that he was wanting.  Some of the cards I traded him were the Royals cards I picked up at the All Star Game Fan Fest.  Here is some of the goodies he sent me:


Jerry Mumphrey

I got one TTM back over the weekend, and it was a former Cubbie!

Jerry Mumphrey
Signed 4/4
Sent c/o Home address
15 days

Friday, August 24, 2012

TTM goodies of the week, and a TTM trade

Lots of good stuff this week!   Let's ch-ch-ch-check it out:

First up, and NFL TTM back from Neil Lomax.  He included a signed testimonial card.  His website is:  http://www.thegoal.com/

Neil Lomax
Signed 3/3 (included a signed testimonial card!)
Sent c/o Home address
65 days



















Next up, is a return from the minor leagues, from Jose Valenin.  Pretty nice looking signature!

Jose Valentin
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Fort Wayne Tin Caps
12 days












Next up, a personalized TTM from Mike Leake.  It would be awesome if I could get the other half of this signed, but that's an item to be considered at a later date!

Mike Leake
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Cincinnati Reds
12 days














Next up, a bummer from Boston.  I haven't had very good luck getting the Red Sox coaches to sign cards for me in the past, except Bobby Valentine, and this return was just plain weird.  I got it back, but the envelope was not sealed (I know, right?)!  However, my card was returned intact and not damaged.  Anyway, Tim Bogar, you get a Debbie Downer...wah wah!!!

Tim Bogar
Signed 0/1
Sent c/o Boston Red Sox
67 days

Finally, I made a TTM trade; my first one!  I got a response from a TTM post on this blog from Justin, over at Justin's World (http://just-in-justinsworld.blogspot.com/).  He was interested in my Bowman Gold Andrew Brown auto that I got earlier in the year, regardless of the fact that USPS chewed on it a little bit.  In return, I got the Frank White auto that I was unable to get a the All Star Fan Fest this year!  Win win on both sides!


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

A couple of TTMs and trades

A couple of exciting things in the mail this week.  First up, is some Cubs cards that I got through TTM from Bill Long.  I targeted Bill because he was a former Cub.  He tenure with the Cubs wasn't long, but I still wanted his signature.

Bill Long
Signed 4/4
Sent c/o Home address
11 days


















Next up, a return from an MLB player.  I had read that Bud Smith signs, and he returned my card!

Bud Norris
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Houston Astros
63 days


















Finally, I completed two Zistle trades.   These were super exciting because I completed my 2011 Allen & Ginter main set (YEAH!) and I was able to pick some some sweet cards for my player collections.

Here is the loot from my first trade:



Here's SOME of the loot from the second trade:


I picked up more cards than this, and the important ones were the two 2011 Allen & Ginter SP cards I was missing.  Again, picked up some cards for my player collections, which can be found on the right hand side of this blog.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

A GREAT week of TTM

WOW!  Did I get a ton on TTMs back this week!  It really makes it worth the effort when you are getting one or two back a day.  Weeks like this week make me enjoy my TTM journey!

First up, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke.  I was pretty impressed that I got a MLB manager to respond to my TTM, and quickly!

Ron Roenicke
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Milwaukee Brewers
14 days














Next up, Rich Gedman.  Former catcher for the Red Sox, and I love collecting catchers!  He's currently the hitting coach for the Salem Red Sox

Rich Gedman
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Salem Red Sox
54 days













Micky Morandini was an up and coming second basemen when I was collecting cards back in the early 1990's.  He's now the manager of the Blue Claws.

Micky Morandini
Signed 3/3
Sent c/o Lakewood Blue Claws
16 days









A return from a MLB player!  Brad Ziegler made my day!!!  The A's are a team that I like to collect.

Brad Ziegler
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Arizona Diamondbacks
17 days


















Another exciting return from the minors.  The only bummer about this return is that the Bowman card that I treated with baby powder to get the gloss off, left some streaks on the card.

J.B. Shuck
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Oklahoma City Red Hawks
20 days













Ned Yost, manager of the Kansas City Royals, returned my TTM fast!  I think Ned is doing a good job here in KC, and I like that he got fired up after the game last week.  Hopefully, it will put a fire under these young Royals!

Ned Yost
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Kansas City Royals
8 days


















I have gotten a return from Doug Jones before, but I wanted to try him again, and he didn't disappoint!  He also included a signed testimonial card.

Doug Jones
Signed 4/3
Sent c/o Home address
89 days





Sunday, August 5, 2012

Eric Bedard, Jeff Francis, and David Robertson

Eric Bedard
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Pittsburgh Pirates
75 days













Jeff Francis
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Colorado Rockies
7 days













David Robertson
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o New York Yankees
80 days