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).



Wednesday, October 24, 2012

562 days!

What is it lately with cards I thought were long gone, showing up in my mailbox?  This was a fantastic surprise to get Gene Larkin back.  He was one of my favorite players on the Twins teams of the late 80's-early 90's. 

Gene Larkin
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
562 days

Friday, October 19, 2012

557 days!

Shane Peterson was a minor league TTM that I had written off because it had been over a year.  I couldn't believe it when I got it back today!  WOW!  Shane is currently part of the A's system.  He was traded from the Cardinals to the A's in the Matt Holliday deal.

Shane Peterson
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Midland Rockhounds
557 days



Next up, Chris Carter.  He was part of the A's magical season this year!  This is the second time I've been successful with him

Chris Carter
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Oakland A's
67 days
Another success from former Twin Mark Davidson.  This was great, except the 1988 Fleer; when I got it back, it had a cut in the lower left corner.  Bummer.

Mark Davidson
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
21 days
Finally, a big success from Bill Wegman.  He signed all 5 of my cards!  He also included a paper on God and religion.  He also included a website:  www.crazylovebook.com

Bill Wegman
Signed 5/5
Sent c/o Home address
25 days

Ebay purchases

I bought a couple of things off of ebay, too, last week, besides doing the Zistle trade.

First item won was a couple of Wil Myers cards.  He's the future of the Royals!


Next item won was a lot of you pick'em 2012 Topps Update.  In a previous post, I had talked about my desire to have all the Topps All Star Cards from this year, since the game was here in town, and I was able to go to all of it.  I doubt I'll be able to snag any of the futures cards, or any jersey cards, for that matter, but, hey, some is better than none.  Here's some highlights:

AL Home Run Derby

I really wanted this guy to win

He got booed and man was it LOUD!!!

He was very impressive

     
Winner, winner, chicken dinner

NL Home Run Derby

He was still kinda hurt, probably shouldn't have been doing it

He had a great year

Car Go

He received a nice ovation from the KC crowd

Here are some other cards that highlighted my All Star week here in Kansas City:
 
This was an awesome catch!  And, my work billboard is in the background!
Great ovation for a great player
Iowa boy done good
One of two Cubs that made the All Star Game.  The only Cub to get an All Star card in the Topps set.  Where's the love for Brian LaHair?  I wanted to buy LaHair's All Star Jersey, but I couldn't get one of those, either.
Hometown selection.  Probably picked this picture because his at bat wasn't good.
I was rooting for this guy, again, on Tuesday night.  I really like him.

Another successful Zistle trade

I did another trade on Zistle, with a guy who I had done a trade with before.  Thanks jkgrice for hooking me up with some cards for my player collections!!  I didn't scan them all, but here are a few of the highlights:

This first one is a nice Ryne Sandberg from the 2002 Topps Archives Reserve.



Next up, a couple of Mark Grace cards for my collection:


Finally, a few others that I thought were cool:



Saturday, October 13, 2012

2012 Topps Update

I finally broke down and bought a jumbo pack of 3 2012 Topps Update.  I am not going to collect the whole set, just the All Star Game cards.  I think it would be neat because the game was here in Kansas City, and I was able to attend all the events at Kauffman Stadium.  Here are my needs:

US37 Billy Butler (Main set, Walmart and Target variations)
US69 Brett Jackson (Main set, Walmart and Target variations)
US74 Starlin Castro (Main set, Walmart and Target variations)
US119 Derek Jeter
US144 Mike Trout
US162 Yu Darvish
US184 Stephen Strasburg
US258 Josh Vitters (Main set, Walmart and Target variations)
US280 David Wright (Main set, Walmart and Target variations)
US284 R.A. Dickey
US299 Bryce Harper

The non-All Star cards are those of my favorite players that I am trying to get for my team/player collections.  If you could help me out, let me know, and I can see if I can help you out!

Friday, October 12, 2012

A couple of trades via Zistle

My first trade was with Wazman.  I was able to get rid of some of my dups from my player collections, and I was able to get some cards needed for my player collections!  Great trade!


 My other trade was with  Phil44.  I got some player collection cards, and I was able to trade away a ton of 1990 Fleer common cards that he needed!  Here is what I scored:

B.J. Armstrong played his collegiate basketball at Iowa.  I couldn't pass up getting his rookie card.  It's only the second card I have of Armstrong.
 

Here's the first card I have of him:

I can't even tell you where I got this card, but there was a team set put out, and he was a part of it.  I still have some of the other cards from this set, but I lost some of them.  I blame it on being young and stupid.

I was able to add two cards to my player collections.  Sorry the scan is so poor.


I decided to re-start two player collections.  Troy Neel and Jeff Conine have always been a few of my favorite players, but I have never actively pursued them, until now.  I actually have a TTM out to Jeff Conine right now.  I hope he sends it back!  I have had success with him before.


Tim Costo is another former Iowa Hawkeye.  I have this card, but it was demolished when I got it back in 1991.  I came across this and had to get it.  It was a bonus when I got it because it was a Tiffany version!  I also have a TTM out to Mr. Costo.  I would really like it back, but it has been awhile.
 

Finally, Dan Ellis.  These are the first hockey cards I own!  I was able to watch Dan play his collegiate hockey at University of Nebraska at Omaha.  I was a big fan of his when he played for the Mavericks!

A long list of TTMs

I haven't been able to post in a while, or send anything out.  I have been out of state dealing with my ill grandfather.  :(

While I have been gone, I got a number of TTMs back.  Let's get to it!

First up, Jim Corsi.  I targeted Jim because he was a member of two of my favorite teams, the A's and Marlins.  Interesting auto!  I'm not sure how many days it was out; this TTM was a victim of my lost spreadsheet!

Jim Corsi
Signed 3/3
Sent c/o Home address
??? days (secondary to lost spreadsheet)









Barry Lyons, former New York Met and catcher.  I love both of those things!

Barry Lyons
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
18 days













This next one was one that I thought was long gone, which was a bummer because I sent a 2011 Heritage and Allen & Ginter.  Thank you, Jonathan Sanchez, for signing my cards!  He started the year with the Royals, and was traded to the Rockies.  It's too bad things didn't work out for him here in Kansas City.  I always worry when players get traded, the mail doesn't go with them.

Jonathan Sanchez
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Kansas City Royals
115 days













I sent mail, again to Mark Melancon and Kevin Tapani.  I was successful, again!  Thanks guys!

Mark Melancon
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Boston Red Sox
23 days


















Kevin Tapani
Signed 3/3
Sent c/o Home address
11 days









I also received another return to sender.  I was really hoping to score Chris Donnels TTM.  He's a former Met.







Lastly, I sent mail to Michael Cuddyer.  I had been reading that he signs one card.  I sent one card, only to get it back unsigned, and it says to enjoy the enclosed baseball card.  The only one enclosed was mine!  He now does autographs for charity.  The Tigers do the same thing.  Here's the link to the Rockies charity (who signs and how much):

http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/col/community/request_guidelines.jsp

Thursday, October 4, 2012

TTM update

Sorry I've been unable to post for a while, it's been a busy two weeks.  However, during that time, my mailbox has been relatively empty, except for the last 3 days, when the mail has started to roll in again.
Wayne Kirby sent me some mail today, in fact!  He's currently the First Base Coach for the playoff bound Baltimore Orioles!  My man just had a business trip to Boston, and had a layover in Baltimore on the way there and back.  He brought me back a charcoal cartoon Oriole t-shirt!  It's awesome and I hope the O's go far!!  I'd love to see a A's vs. O's AL championship series.  I know, boring for most, but I'd love to see it!

Wayne Kirby
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Baltimore Orioles
17 days













Next up, mail today from Pat Rapp.   I went after him because I love the old Marlins uni's.  I know no one else probably does, but I did.  I prefer the Marlins inaugural uni's over the uni's they wore this year.

Pat Rapp
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
10 days














Lou Marson replied to my TTM last year, and I decided to try again, and he was, again, nice enough to return my request.  The Indians had a tough year.  Hopefully, they'll get things turned around next season (but not enough to beat the Royals!  LOL)  The 2011 Topps card had a smudge on it; the back of the Heritage card had a smudge mark, too.

Lou Marson
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Cleveland Indians
50 days













Next up, Colby Lewis, of the wild card Texas Rangers.  I really hope the Orioles win (see my post above).  He signed 1 card, which was the Gypsy Queen.  He didn't return my 2011 Allen & Ginter.

Colby Lewis
Signed 1/2 (didn't return other card)
Sent c/o Texas Rangers
50 days


















Tyler Greene was a TTM I wasn't sure if I'd get back or not.  He was traded from the Cardinals to the Astros this year.  The Astros will be joining the AL next year.  It seems weird, but, I remember when the Brewers were in the AL!  I still have some cards of the AL Brewers!

Tyler Greene
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Houston Astros
??? days


















Mark Kotsay was another TTM that I thought would be a long shot to sign, but I got this back Monday, and it was a great surprise!

Mark Kotsay
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o San Diego Padres
??? days


















I also got two return to senders, one from Billy Ripken (c/o MLB network); weird, right?  The other was from Jayhawk Owens.  Who is Jayhawk Owens?  He was a rookie catcher for the expansion Colorado Rockies, back in the day.