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).



Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Trade with SDre31 on ZIstle

I got some pretty cool cards for my player collections from SDre31 on Zistle.  We had to do a couple of revisions, but in the end, it worked out for both of us, and I'm happy with what I got.

I am SLOWLY putting together the Bowman Platinum set.  I didn't realize it would be this hard!  I did get one card knocked off my list, CC Sabathia.


Next, I got quite a few Joba Chamberlain cards for my player collection.  I don't have many of Chamberlain, so this helps!



I also was able to get some cards for my "old" players collection!


As well as some cards for my "current" players collections!



He also, again, helped me out on one of my newest player collections, Jeff Conine.  I love those old Marlin uni's.  I think I am probably the only one.


 Finally, a Cub rookie card.   That's all I'm going to say.


Ebay purchase...D'oh!

I am currently collecting all the Home Run Derby and All Star Game cards from the 2012 Topps update set.  I was short just a few, and I saw this awesome lot for sale.  They had almost every card from the set available, so I knew I had to win so I could get the few cards I needed to finish up my set.

A couple of days go by, and I win the auction.  Now, the fun; I get to pick 25 cards.  I had my list of 9 that I needed, then the rest were going to be fun cards/trade bait.  I sent a message with my cards I would like.  The seller even gave me (2) David Wright All Star Cards, one for my player collection, and one for the All Star Game set.  A couple of days go by, and my cards arrive.  I open the package, and...

I screwed it up!  When requesting cards, I somehow (!) managed to forget to put in the All Star Cards for Mike Trout and Yu Darvish!  Grrr!!  Needless to say, I'm STILL missing two cards.  I said screw it, I'll scout Zistle and trade for them.  No go there.  So, I go back to ebay, and I buy them separately, from two different ebay stores.  I got lucky because there is free shipping and I'm paying less than $3.00 for both.

Matt Harvey was part of the "extra" cards that I wanted as part of the lot.  I might start a player collection, we'll see.


The rest of the cards are trade bait.  Here they are:
US14 Jeremy Hefner RC
US20 Christian Friedrich RC
US42 Yoenis Cespedes RD
US98 Hector Santiago RC
US151 Jordany Valdespin RC
US157 Kole Calhoun RC
US161 Brian Dozier RC
US171 Rhiner Cruz RC
US213 Trevor Bauer RC
US221 Drew Smyly RC
US232 Andrelton Simmons RC
US236 Lucas Luetge RC
US265 Will Middlebrooks RD
US269 Drew Hutchison RC
US321 David Carpenter RC

622 days!

I don't know what's been up lately, but I have been receiving many TTMs back that I had long written off.  I have been just ecstatic that I have gotten these back!  I only send TTMs to the players I want, so when I don't get one back, I'm disappointed.  However, I received my longest TTM to date, 622 days!  Last year, I had read that Mike Mussina was a good signer.  When a couple of months rolled by, I figured my cards were gone.  The Orioles are one of my favorite teams, so that is why I wanted Mr. Mussina's autograph.  I am SO glad to have gotten these cards back.  I always like the 1994 Pinnacle set.

Mike Mussina
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
622 days














Now, a quick return from Shawn Barton.  He was a prospect in the Mets system before being traded to the Mariners.  I'm going to add the minor league card to my Mets TTM collection!  The signatures came back a little smudged.

Shawn Barton
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
8 days













Mike Birkbeck sent me a card I had never seen before, his 1989 Donruss.  He kept my duplicate 1988 Donruss I sent him.  I must say, I like Mike without the 'stach!

Mike Birkbeck
Signed 4/4
Sent c/o Home address
64 days


















Lastly, my fourth return from the Arizona Fall League.  I only sent 6 out this year, so percentage wise, I'm not doing too bad.  David Adams is a prospect for the New York Yankees.  Another signed 2010 Pro Debut for my collection!

David Adams
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Scottsdale Scorpions
30 days

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Frank DiPino & Denny Walling

I guess I should have waited to post yesterday, because after I got my mail, I had a couple of familiar envelopes in there.  These were special because they were both ones I had kinda written off already.

Denny Walling is the hitting coach for the Norfolk Tides, the AAA team for the Orioles.

Denny Walling
Signed 3/3
Sent c/o Norfolk Tides
212 days
I wanted to get Frank DiPino in my player collection, because he's another one of the Cubs I would watch almost daily on WGN back in the late 80's.

Frank DiPino
Signed 3/3
Sent c/o Home address
250 days


Saturday, November 17, 2012

Behind on my TTMs, part 2

I had too many labels on my first post, so I decided to break it up into two posts.  Maybe it warrants two posts since its been so long since I've gotten to blog.

I was worried that the few TTMs I sent to players in the Arizona Fall League were all going to be a lost cause, but, low and behold, they started coming in the last week or so.  This first one is neat because he's a catcher!

Kellin Deglan
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Surprise Saguaros
24 days


















Logan Darnell is a pitcher in the Twins system, and he signed 2 for me!!  The chrome scan looks bad, but the card and auto came out great!

Logan Darnell
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Peoria Javelinas
12 days













Mike Belfiore is a pitcher in the Orioles system!!!

Mike Belfiore
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Mesa Solar Sox
23 days


















One RTS in this group, from Tommy Greene, former Phillie and Brave.





Finally, the last TTM of the group, from Roger McDowell, former Met and current Braves pitching coach.  I had written this one off, so I'm so glad I got it back!  I love the 1988 Fleer!

Roger McDowell
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Atlanta Braves
180 days



Behind on my TTMs, part 1

Again, I have been out of town quite a bit, without a computer, so I am forced to cut back on my cards and TTMs.  The only plus to this is a big blog post!

Now, to the good stuff...Chris Hammond was someone i was targeting because he's a former Marlin.  I was lucky enough that he signed all three, including the 2 Upper Deck cards.

Chris Hammond
Signed 3/3
Sent c/o Home address
18 days










Dean Palmer was a former Ranger, and former Royal.  I didn't have any cards of him in a KC uniform, but I still enjoyed getting my cards back signed.

Dean Palmer
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
14 days













This next letter was odd.  Gary Roenicke signed all 4 of my cards, however, he included the letter I sent to him in the SASE when I got my cards back.  ??

Gary Roenicke
Signed 4/4
Sent c/o Home address
19 days


















Another return from a player on one of my favorite teams, from Pete Schourek.

Pete Schourek
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
14 days












Thursday, November 1, 2012

A couple of TTMs and and Eric Hosmer ebay find

I've been very disappointed that I have been unable to blog on a more frequent basis.  I am making weekly trips to Iowa to care for my grandfather, on top of working full time.  So, that leaves no time for TTM or trading cards.  There is no Internet at his house, or otherwise, I would be keeping up with everything.

This week, I got 2 TTMs back.  The first one was from former Royal, and current Fox Sports KC commentator, Jeff Montgomery.  I missed him at Fan Fest at the All Star Game this year.  This is my quickest return to date (probably helps that we live in the same vicinity)!

Jeff Montgomery
Signed 4/4
Sent c/o Home address
3 days
















The next TTM return was from one of the current MLB players I was targeting, Michael Dunn from Miami.  He only signed 1 of the 2, but I wish it would have been the 2010 Bowman that he would have signed!  I'm not sure how many days it was out.  I sent it in August sometime, before my TTM spreadsheet went MIA.

Michael Dunn
Signed 1/2
Sent c/o Miami Marlins
??? days













My last item of business this week was another ebay purchase.  I found this Eric Hosmer 2012 Bowman Platinum Emerald Card for $0.78.  I couldn't pass it up!  With the shipping, it was under $3.00.