September TTMs

Rick Parker
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address

218 days

April TTMs

Steve Decker
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
21 days 

Eric Plunk

Signed 2/2

Sent c/o Home address

83 days

May TTMs

Steve Shields
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
42 days

Rick Reuschel

Signed 3/3

Sent c/o Home address

22 days

Mike Schooler

Signed 2/2

Sent c/o Work address

57 days

Dave Johnson

Signed 2/2

Sent c/o Home address

22 days

Shane Rawley and Tony Perezchicha

Two returns back from my new strategies for TTM.

Shane Rawley
Signed 3/3
Sent c/o Home address
36 days

Tony Perezchica
Signed 3/3
Sent c/o Home address
9 days

This week's mail

This week's mail is exciting because these all happen to be people who I have sent requests to and wrote off my first attempt, and tried again and succeeded!

Juan Gonzalez
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
16 days

Mitch Maier
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Kansas City Royals
15 days

Will Clark
Signed 1/2 (didn't return other card)
Sent c/o San Francisco Giants
66 days

Little White Envelopes

Ah, nothing like a huge USPS blip (this may be a conversation for another post) to fill my mailbox with a ton of little white envelopes that have probably been sitting at my post office for a week.  Three of four came on the same day.

Ricky Horton is probably best known for pitching for the Cardinals.  He played in a total of 3 World Series (2 with the Cardinals, 1 with the Dodgers), and won a ring with the Dodgers in 1988.  I think these are all nice looking cards.

Ricky Horton
Signed 3/3
Sent c/o Home address
99 days


I sent these next cards out in May of 2013, so needless to say, I had written them off long ago.  However, I did get my cards back from Mike Henneman, but he now uses The Athlete Connection, LLC to handle his autograph requests.  I did get this black and white paper photo in my little white envelope.

Mike Henneman
Signed 0/2
Sent c/o West Michigan Whitecaps


Nicky Lopez is a return from the Arizona Fall League.  He's an up and comer in the Royals organization.  He also is a Creighton Blue Jay Alumni.

Nicky Lopez
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Surprise Saguaros
35 days


Finally, Aramis Garcia.  He's a catcher in the Giants organization.  He spent most of the year between A and Aa ball this year.  He did get an invite to play in the AFL.

Aramis Garcia
Signed 1/2 (didn't return other card)
Sent c/o Richmond Flying Squirrels
83 days
 

Bob Melvin

Got a few PWE's back yesterday.  I was so excited because they are few and far between these days.  School and interviewing for jobs has left me little time to do TTM and trading.  I'm falling behind on my goal of 50 TTMs this year.

This was one I sent out last summer, to A's manger Bob Melvin.  Another Orioles card to add to the collection!

Bob Melvin
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Oakland A's
328 days

Mike Kingery

Mail back last week from Mike Kingery, former Royal.  Unfortunately, I didn't have any Royals cards for him to sign, but did get a Rockies card signed.  His 1987 Royals card was one of the first cards I ever had.

Mike Kingery

Signed 4/4

Sent c/o Home address

80 days

Craig Lefferts

Craig Lefferts is currently the pitching coach for Vermont Lake Monsters, Class A short season affiliate of the Oakland A's.  He signed 3 of my 4 cards for me!

Craig Lefferts
Signed 3/4
Sent c/o Vermont Lake Monsters
50 days

Dave Burba

I also got mail back from Dave Burba this week.  He's currently the pitching coach for Modesto Nuts, Class A team of the Colorado Rockies.  I love the old Cannons uniform!

Dave Burba
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Modesto Nuts
7 days

Mike Krukow

I thought these cards were long gone!  I got these back the other day!  A great surprise!  Mike currently does TV for the Giants games.

Mike Krukow
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o San Francisco Giants
263 days

Rick Leach

One of my TTM returns last week was from former Blue Jay Rick Leach.  He was a big football star at Michigan, as well as being a good baseball player.

Rick Leach
Signed 3/3
Sent c/o Home address
13 days

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

Another 3 TTM day! And one Debbie Downer

Well, I feel very lucky about my TTM letters that I've gotten back lately...maybe I should go play some blackjack!

First up, Eric Sogard.  This is another spring training TTM. I went after Mr. Sogard because he plays with the A's, and they are one of my favorite teams, plus, I'm collecting 2011 Allen & Ginter autos.

Eric Sogard
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o A's ST
77 days

Next up, Jason Motte from the Cardinals.  I am trying to decide if I like the Gypsy Queen cards or not.  This is my first ever Gypsy Queen that I've gotten back from TTM.

Jason Motte
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o St. Louis Cardinals
11 days

Last TTM of the day is from Chris Speier.  He's currently the bench coach for the Reds.  I always liked him when he was a coach for the Cubs.

Chris Speier
Signed 3/3
Sent c/o Cincinnati Reds
11 days

One last letter I got the other day, was a letter back from Paul Assenmacher.  He returned my cards unsigned.  From the note that was in closed, "Due to the overwhelming amount of fan mail Mr. Assenmacher receives, he must charge for his autograph."  What?  There is an 'overwhelming' desire to have Paul Assenmacher's autograph.  I figured it was just me.

Friday mail!

I'm so excited with the start of spring training! Plus, it seems like the mail is starting to come in again at a somewhat regular pace, which is always great!

First up, this was a request I sent out last year to Greg Gross. I assumed it was gone, however, got it back!! Yah!!!

Greg Gross
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Phillies
331 days


Next up, Steve Reed. He's a former Rockie, plus I had read that he was great about signing. I think they look great!

Steve Reed
Signed 3/3
Sent c/o Home address
11 days

2nd try is a charm!

I tried Dave Dravecky earlier this year, but got a return to sender. That was before I had the address book. Now that I have "the book," I got a success!!! Thanks Dave!!!

Dave Dravecky
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
18 days

A surprise in the mail!!!!

One of my TTM attempts from 2010 came back yesterday!!! Thanks Mike Maddux! At least he signed one for me; I thought it was a lost cause!! Also thanks to Mr. Rick Reuschel for the awesome cards!!!!

Rick Reuschel
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
11 days


Mike Maddux
Signed 1/2
Sent c/o Texas Rangers
?? days (I wasn't keeping track of how many days last year; from 2010 TTM requests)

Missing card?!?!

Woo Hoo!!! More mail! Guess I should have waited and posted them all together! 2 nice cards from Bryn Smith. 1 card from Bud Black. I sent 2, but I only got my one card back, but, hey, at least it was signed!!! Thanks guys!!

Bryn Smith
signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
14 days


Bud Black
Signed 1/2 (second card never returned)
Sent c/o San Diego Padres
23 days