Top 5 TTMs of 2025

 I feel like I was pretty consistent in sending out TTMs this year to a variety of addresses: home, MLB, Spring Training and the AFL.  If I had to estimate, I probably sent out a minimum of 60 requests this year.  With that being said, here are my top 5 cards I received back:

5. Van Snider - Home request - 15 days.  I like this card because of the old Reds log and the boarder color match.

4. Eric Plunk - Home request - 83 days.  The A's are one of my favorite teams, after the Cubs and Royals.  Plus, I'm a sucker for 1987 Topps, and I loved the green jersey cards of that era.

3. P.J. Morlando - AFL request - 64 days.  One of my most recent requests that have returned.  The Marlins are also one of my favorite teams, after the Cubs and Royals.  I do wish they would go back to the old logo and uniforms.

2. Bryan Harvey - Home request - 33 days.  Now these are the Marlins colors and uniforms I was talking about!

1. Mitch Keller - Pittsburg Pirates request - 547 days.  I'm pretty sure this is my longest return this year.  I'm excited to have this back because he is a player I PC, as well as part of my Iowans in the MLB mega collection.  This card is awesome because the team color border match.

Top 5 cards I bought in 2025

I really didn't keep up with my blog well this year, especially from a trade and purchasing standpoint.  However, I did do enough posts to recognize my top 5 purchases of the year.

5. T.J. Hockenson - 2020 Mosaic - purchased from eBay.  I'm trying other get the rainbow, and I'm currently at the part of the rainbow where it's getting tough with low numbered cards, but I was able to snag this /15 for a good price.

4. Kris Bryant - 2022 Topps Update - purchased at "Road to the National Card Show - Omaha edition.  Only my second HFA ever, as I was lucky enough to pull an Aaron Judge.  

3.  Ryne Sandberg - 1990 Ryne Sandberg unlicensed.  I found this beauty in a quarter box at the March Council Bluffs card show.  

4. George Brett - 2012 Topps Update - Over 20 years later, still trying to pull and/or buy all the ASG cards, base and SP, from 2012 Topps Update.  Although this has been on eBay throughout the years, it finally was a good price to buy.

1. Ryne Sandberg 1983 Topps.  I purchased this at "Road to the National Card Show - Omaha edition.  At the time, we all knew his health was rapidly declining and I told myself that I still can't believe I didn't have a Topps RC in my PC of Ryno.  Unfortunately, I'm still missing the Fleer RC.

Dec TTMs

Zebby Matthews
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Twins
184 days

November TTMs

Derek Dietrich
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
372 days 

P.J. Morlando
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Mesa Solar Sox
64 days

October TTMs

Van Snider

Signed 1/1

Sent c/o Home address

15 days

Mickey Weston

Signed 2/1

Sent c/o Home address

15 days

Tim Redding
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Home address
8 days

Cody Morissette

Signed 0/1

Sent c/o Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

30 days

Nacho Alverez

Signed 0/2

Sent c/o Glendale Desert Dogs

9 days

Joe Jacques

Signed 1/2 (did not return second card)

Sent c/o Dodgers Spring Training

246 days

Mitch Keller

Signed 1/2 (1 card returned unsigned)

Sent c/o Pirates

547 days

September TTMs

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

218 days

July TTMs

Wayne Edwards
Signed 2/2
Sent c/o Home address
297 days

Bryan Harvey

Signed 3/3

Sent c/o Home address

33 days

Road to the National Card Show - Omaha edition

Last weekend, I attended the biggest card show I've ever been to.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get there until Sunday, but based on my experience, I will plan better and make sure I can go more days next year. I spent more money than I thought I would, but I really haven't been spending money on cards lately, so maybe I can call that a win.  😂 I know I've been MIA from trades on TCDB, but now that my big summer conference is over, manuscript written to be submitted, now I can kick back and spend some time on my card collection.  Here's my top 10 cards (in no particular order) I purchased at the show:

I hope he can stick and help the Cubbies win a Central title.  I needed a relic for the PC collection.

This is only my second HFA; I have an Aaron Judge one, too.

My first Cags; hopefully he can return from injury soon.

This is a cool card; it opens like a book!

Hawkeye rookie with the Rockies

Barber shop vibes, and looks good with the all white uni.

Can't pass up a big relic

My second CC PSA card.

My first ghost parallel

Ryno Topps RC.  I just need the Fleer now.

June TTMs

Greg Harris

Signed 3/3

Sent c/o Home address

12 days

May TTMs

Jamie Westbrook

Signed 2/2

Sent c/o Durham Bulls

14 days

Dennis Gentry

Signed 2/2

Sent c/o Home address

15 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

Not a holy grail, but finally a great price on a much needed card!

FINALLY!

This card is on eBay quite a bit, however, the price is always out of my league.  But not today!  

I actually, kinda need two of these, but if I only end up with one, I'll live!  This will reside in my George Brett PC for now, but it would be nice to have a second for my 2012 ASG mega collection.

March TTMs

Jared Oliva

Signed 1/1

Sent c/o Brewers ST

17 days

Jack Armstrong

Signed 2/2

Sent c/o Home address

11 days

He did include a note requesting $10 ($5/signature)

Council Bluffs card show review

Last weekend, I went to, what I would consider, my first "big" card show across the river in Council Bluffs.  I asked my card collecting friends on Twitter (refuse to call it X) for suggestions, which included some sage advice.  

I ended up spending about $70-80.  These days, I compare what I spend at card shows versus buying blaster boxes, which I was almost buying weekly, especially prior to the pandemic.  The last 5 years, it has been getting harder to get my hands on one.  My local big box store is not selling them anymore, so I think I'll have to change my collecting strategy to just PC Cards.  I liked buying blasters to have trade bait, but I can't have trade bait if I can't find it.  🤷‍♀️

Here are my top 5 favorite cards I bought at the show, in no particular order:

February TTMs

Greg Cadaret
Signed 3/3
Sent c/o Home address
57 days

TCDB trade with Milhome316

 I got a lot of great stuff from Milhome316, but here are some of the highlights:

Checking off another need for this 2022 Topps insert set

PC needs

A few 2022 Topps for the set