Spring 2016 TTM Mailbag

Hey everyone, Drew back here! While I was away, I used this site as a platform for blog posts required for a Multimedia course I took. I don't know how many of you chose to read those, but I hope you enjoyed seeing some different material than usual.

After a few months away from our blogging community, I think it's about time I catch you all up on my collection. Now that I'm back in the states, I plan to reignite my interest in the hobby, while working with the smallest budget I've ever had. I did arrive home to six TTM successes, which happened to be six more than I initially expected to find.

Josh Hamilton: 1/1 (c/o Texas Rangers)

Every year, the Josh Hamilton story grows increasingly distant from my memory. I've always been a huge fan of his, but it's felt like forever since he was a productive baseball player. Hamilton received his second left knee operation last offseason that initially slated him to return about midway through the 2016 season. However, there was still meniscus and cartilage damage remaining that will now be operated on; thus concluding his 2016 campaign before he even took the field once. He's now 35, and while he may plan on returning next season he may not draw interest from any clubs. It's safe to say his days as an MVP and Home Run Derby champion have come to a close.

Hamilton has been one of the most consistent TTM signers in today's game over the past few years. He usually will sign during the winter and return all of his fanmail from the prior season, and it appears as though he's done it again. My glossy 8x10 copy of his Sports Illustrated cover came out awesome. Maybe next year I'll finally get him on a ball.

My Dad was able to open my TTM's for me while I was gone and send me pictures of the successes; which certainly helped me feel close to home. On the same day, I received the following two autographs from some of the game's better young prospects.

Brandon Nimmo: 1/1 (c/o Binghamton Mets)

Nimmo was the Mets 1st round draft selection in 2011, and currently ranks as their 4th overall prospect according to MLB.com. He profiles as a well rounded player that particularly exceeds at hitting for contact, and currently plays for their Triple-A affiliate Las Vegas 51s. In 40 games this season, he's batted an even .300 with a home run, 20 RBI, and 22 runs scored. It shouldn't be much longer before he gets an opportunity to shine in blue and orange.

He personalized my 2014 Bowman card and signed it cleanly in blue sharpie.

Robert Stephenson: 1/1 (c/o Pensacola Blue Wahoos)

The Cincinnati Reds are the National League's second worst team in 2016; only better than the historically bad Atlanta Braves. Over the past year, they've lost Aroldis Chapman, Johnny Cueto, and Todd Frazier while attempting a rebuild phase. This 6'2 hurler appears to be at the forefront of this movement, and has the potential to one day be the ace of the staff. Stephenson was also a 1st round pick in 2011, but has developed relatively slowly ever since. He made his MLB debut early this season and made two quality starts for the Reds before they sent him down to work on his ability to throw strikes and account for service time. We should see more of him on a big league mound later on this year.

Stephenson also signed a 2014 Bowman for my collection nicely in blue sharpie.

Shane Greene: 1/1 (c/o Detroit Tigers)

It's been an inconsistent journey for Shane Greene since he was sent to Detroit in the three team deal that landed New York their current shortstop, Didi Gregorius. Greene broke out with the Yankees in 2014, recording a 5-4 record and a 3.78 ERA in 78.2 IP. He started off strong last season with the Tigers before he struggled immensely and found himself in Triple-A. At the end of the season, he was falsely diagnosed with an aneurysm in his throwing hand but then also underwent shoulder surgery. He's currently rehabbing and working his way back up to the Tigers 25 man roster. Needless to say, I would do that trade again every time if I could.

Mark Wahlberg: 1/3 (c/o Leverage Management)

Marky Mark. Yeah, that's the one. I also forgot I sent this out, and I wish I had some way of knowing when I initially sent the request. Wahlberg has rebounded well from his mediocre rap career with "The Funky Bunch"; starring in several blockbuster films such as "Boogie Nights", "The Departed", "Ted", and one of my all time favorite movies: "The Fighter". I believe I included a 4x6 glossy shot similar to this "Other Guys" photo of the boxing classic (and "Ted" now that I think of it), but I'm not 100% sure. "The Other Guys" remains as one of my favorite Will Ferrell comedies, despite having seen it more than my fair share of times. 

Wahlberg signed this photo nicely in black sharpie. It would be cool if I could add Will Ferrell on it eventually, but I won't be upset if I don't.

Clayton Kershaw: 1/1 (c/o Los Angeles Dodgers)

We wrap my comeback post up with a success from Sandy Koufax Clayton Kershaw! Just when you thought Jake Arrieta and several of baseball's rising stars would begin to compete for the "Best Pitcher in Baseball" moniker, this guy started doing things even he hasn't yet done. This month, he's thrown 3 complete game shutouts (no typo), bringing his current line to 7-1 with a 1.95 ERA and 95 strikeouts. I've seen Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, and Greg Maddux pitch before, but since they weren't in their prime at that point of their careers I can definitely say that Kershaw is the best I've ever seen.

Kershaw, like Hamilton; is a top notch TTM signer. He signs usually every February if you send to the Dodgers stadium address. I would take advantage of this opportunity while you can, because at this rate we won't be able to afford his John Hancock for much longer. He also included a note about "Kershaw's Challenge", his organization that encourages people to use their faith to make a difference in the world. There isn't a single bad thing I can say about this guy; he's as classy as they come.

I hope you all enjoyed my return to form, and I would please like to encourage you all to spread the word about this site. I don't know if everyone has caught on to my new stomping grounds here at "The Hot Corner", but now that I'll be getting back to posting regular content I would like for those of you in the community to at least have the opportunity to read my material.

Thank you so much to every one of you for helping make this site possible. Ciao!

January 2016 TTM Mailbag

It's hard to believe that in just over a week, I will be living in a different country. I don't think that is going to fully hit me until I get to Italy next week. There is still quite a bit of work that needs to be taken care of before I set sail (metaphorically), but it's right around the corner now and I couldn't be more excited to see what life looks like from the other side of the pond.

In January, I've gotten three through the mail successes, continuing my recent surprisingly hot stretch. All of these requests were initially sent as late as this past summer. I don't have exact dates because of an iPhone update gone horribly wrong. 

Clint Frazier: 1/1

No offense to the following two successes, but this was by far my favorite of this mini-bunch. I've been a fan of Clint Frazier since the Indians drafted him in 2013. He's only 21 years old and ranks as one of the organization's top all around prospects. Frazier batted .285 in high A ball and was also successful in this past year's Arizona Fall League. I hope he continues his good fortune and becomes an everyday player for the Tribe!

Pat Leahy: 1/1

Here's a fun trivia question for you all: Who leads the Jets in points scored over their history? Hint: It's this guy right here, Pat Leahy. It would make sense, considering he was their kicker from 1974 all the way until 1991. Leahy even ranks 22nd among all players in recorded football history in scoring, ranking among many of the league's finest kickers. He signed this 1990 Pro Set nicely in black sharpie, and was one of the final Jets I had to sent to last year that I hadn't gotten back yet.

Shawn Chacon: 2/2

The Lost Collector recently got back from the former journeyman, and I was particularly jealous. Little did I know, I would receive two cards back myself just days later. I remember Chacon fondly for his brief period in New York because I was just getting into baseball around that time. He pitched in a few of the first games I ever went to, and I grew to like him. Unfortunately, just as he was growing on me, he was dealt to Pittsburgh for utility infielder Craig Wilson. Both the 2006 Topps and Topps Heritage were signed in green sharpie, which is certainly a unique touch among my growing autograph collection.

Thank you Clint Frazier, Pat Leahy, and Shawn Chacon for the autographs!

December TTM Mailbag

Hey everyone, Drew back here. I had a rather surprising month with through the mail successes. I don't believe I've mailed any requests out since this past summer (if not even earlier), but I sent out quite a few around that time. It's more refreshing than ever to see a little white envelope in my mailbox, and I hope to get a solid batch out in the mail before I leave the country next month. 

Glen Perkins: 1/1 (c/o Minnesota Twins)

Perkins has been in the league for 10 years now, and he certainly has been one of the more elite relievers in that time. Due to playing his entire career with Minnesota, I would say he's very underrated. He's made the All Star team in three consecutive seasons after being named the Twins closer sometime in 2012. His downfall does appear to be the second half of the season, where he owns a lifetime ERA over a run higher than his first half splits. Hopefully this trend will lead to a few more All Star selections before he hangs up the cleats.

He signed one 2013 Topps Update All Star card for me nicely in thin blue sharpie; also adding his number 15. This success alone would have sufficed for me this month, but fortunately a few other players had some Christmas gifts planned.

Brian Dozier: 1/1 (c/o Minnesota Twins)

A second Minnesota Twin decided to get in the giving spirit this Christmas and hook me up! Brian Dozier broke out in 2013 as an offensive minded second baseman capable of hitting the long ball. Over the past three seasons he's hit a combined 69 home runs for an emerging Twins team that was in the hunt for a playoff spot much of 2015. He was awarded with an MVP vote and his first All Star appearance last year of possibly several more to come, and his team looks to get better with each passing year.

In this case, he signed a 2014 Topps card that I really liked even without the signature. Some of the Gatorade shower cards seem to get a bit excessive, but this one really captures the excitement at Target Field. He has such an impressive signature too, might I add.

Jon Gray: 2/2 (c/o Colorado Rockies)

In most cases I don't attention to the MLB Draft, outside of who was taken by the Yankees. But in 2013, I followed it more than usual and saw the Rockies choose Jonathan Gray third overall. When I watched his highlight tape, there was something in it that reminded me somewhat of Roger Clemens. Ever since, I've been following his way up the ladder and into the big leagues. In 9 starts in 2015, Gray struggled; pitching to a 5.53 ERA (although his FIP does suggest he suffered from some bad luck). He couldn't have asked for a worse place to begin his career from a pitcher's perspective, but perhaps he will be able to overcome the hitter's ballpark and pitch effectively.

Unfortunately, the 8x10 photo was beaten up when I received it back in the mail. I'm certain that I included some form of plastic case, but it wasn't used when the photos were sent back. His signature is blue and bold, and makes up for the damage without question. The 5x7 has a dent or two but came out much better condition-wise. 

Matthew Berry: 2/1 (c/o ESPN)

I had the pleasure of going to a local event with Matthew Berry at my friend's parents' bookstore in 2013. My friends and I were some of about 25 people who listened to Berry talk about his book, fantasy strategies, and various other odds and ends. It was so much fun getting to know one of ESPN's breakthrough fantasy analysts, and it was one of the more unique experiences I've had since beginning my obsession with this hobby.

After Allen & Ginter created a Berry card in its 2013 set, I wanted to get a copy signed. In time, my wish was granted, as he signed the card and wrote me a note in response to my letter. He is certainly a class act, and although he didn't help me much with my fantasy football team this year (it was a lost cause though), I'll forgive him after these great autographs.

Aaron Judge: 1/1 (c/o Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders)

I can't think of a much better way to top off this post, and this year, then by showing my best success in a considerable amount of time. It was a good year for TTM's for much of the early and later portions of 2015. While it was somewhat of a wash in between, I guess I just needed to be patient in order to finally get back a few successes. Had I known in time I would actually receive an autograph from Judge back, perhaps I would've been more persistent and not lost hope in the hobby I once thrived in.

Aaron Judge, you're my only hope (sorry, couldn't help but throw one Star Wars reference in there). If you can get back to me in between being slugging home runs in the minor leagues for the Yankees, anyone can.

Hopefully this will be a sign for many more future successes in 2016! Who are you hoping to get back from next year?

See Ya!

Really? An Autograph of a Surgeon?

Hey guys, Drew back here. I haven't been feeling up to par lately, so I've had some down time to sort some things out and work on the blog a bit. I'm not sure what the long term future of this site is, but for now I'm going to keep rolling out new material for you all as often as I can.

Along with my Jed Lowrie through the mail success that trickled in this week, I also got a success from a familiar face throughout professional sports today. However, this familiar place never played a minute in the NBA, a down in the NFL, and never recorded an at bat in the MLB. Instead, he's the man responsible for patching up injured players from all three sports and beyond.

Dr. James Andrews is the name you do not want to hear in most cases when associated with a favorite player of yours. Usually when a player needs to visit Dr. Andrews, they have a serious injury that can only be fixed through an advanced surgery that can only be done by the very best. Andrews has handled numerous Tommy John, shoulder, and knee surgeries across the sports landscape, helping athletes like Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson, and Tiger Woods recover as quickly as possible.

His name was most recently in the news when Mets pitcher Matt Harvey faced a late season innings cap that Andrews was rumored to have recommended to Harvey's GM Scott Boras after he underwent season ending Tommy John Surgery in 2014. It turns out that he never recommended Harvey pitch 180 innings in 2015, but he remained at the center of a fight between a promising playoff team and a GM who wanted his client to profit in the MLB long term.

Andrews was featured in this past year's release of Allen & Ginter, so, naturally; I picked up a copy of the card and mailed it to his Orthopedic Center to get signed. Sure enough, after about a three to four month wait, I received it back signed nicely in ballpoint pen. This autograph may never be as valuable as any of his major clients, but he's served a prominent role in the games we love for many years now and I thought it would be a unique addition.

Thank you Dr. Andrews! See Ya!

TTM Mailday: Jed Lowrie

Hey everyone, Drew back here! How about that World Series? First of all, I never would have expected the Mets to come anywhere close to the Fall Classic, but boy they sure did make a run for it. The Royals were the better team, and deserved the title in the end, but the Mets showed plenty of promise for the future (as long as they can keep their offense from falling to shambles this winter). The parade in Kansas City was unbelievable yesterday, with more people in attendance than the entire population of the city! Good for them.

This morning, it was announced that the Mets' Matt Harvey and Rangers' Prince Fielder took home the NL and AL Comeback Player of the Year Awards, respectively. This was the first major 2015 award handed out based on this year's performance, and I think the voters got it right. Many wondered if Alex Rodriguez would have a chance at surpassing Prince Fielder after not playing at all in 2014 due to a suspension, besides myself. There was no way he was going to be handed an award after making a mockery of the MLB for as long as he had, no matter how well he did in 2015 on and off the field (he was fantastic on Fox Sports).

I'm interested to see how the voting for the NL Cy Young Award goes down over anything else though. I personally rode Zack Greinke all year long into my second consecutive fantasy baseball trophy, so I would have to side with him, although Jake Arrieta presents a spectacular case as well with perhaps the greatest second half ever pitched in baseball history.

Anyway, I have one offseason TTM to show off for you today, and it came by way of the up and coming Houston Astros.

Jed Lowrie: 1/1 (c/o Houston Astros)

Jed Lowrie feels like he's been around for a long time. He debuted in 2008 with the Red Sox before going to Houston, then to Oakland, and most recently back with Houston once more. He's always been a consistently average middle infielder similar to players like Stephen Drew, who are capable of picking up a bat and helping a team win in many different ways. His best career season was in 2013 with Oakland, when he batted .290 and hit 15 home runs. Injuries have gotten the better of him on several occasions, including 2015 when he only managed to play in 69 games. With Carlos Correa the shortstop now for the foreseeable future, Lowrie will either have to move to another position or to another team to receive playing time.

I vaguely remember sending this 2014 Topps card out, so it must have been a Spring Training TTM request. He signed one card for me and included two small business cards for his photography website in exchange for my blog business card! Check out his site, he's actually taken some really beautiful pictures.

Thanks Jed! See Ya!

Chuck Nazty TTM Recap!

Hey guys, Drew back here. A few weeks ago, I was surprised with a through the mail success from Nationals pitcher Doug Fister. This week, I was greeted with yet another, this time courtesy of a certain Colorado Rockies up and coming star.

Charlie Blackmon: 1/1 (c/o Colorado Rockies)

Charlie Blackmon, otherwise known as "Chuck Nazty" on Twitter, enjoyed a breakout season in 2014; making the All Star team for the first time in his rather brief career. He recorded 6 hits in a game on April 4th of that year, and everyone seemed to question whether he was a fluke designed by the ballpark effects of Coors Field. His home/road splits clearly indicate that he benefits by playing at home, but he still is quite the player either way.

Perhaps the highlight of Mr. Blackmon's has more to do with his impressive facial hair than his abilities on the field. He may agree. His Twitter biography reads "long hair dont care, and ya... i have a mustache too! Don't act like you are not impressed." Between his charismatic personality, excellent long whiskers, and All Star talent, what's not to like about this guy?

I had my 2014 Topps Update Red Parallel signed over the course of a few month waiting period. Again, I lost my file containing the dates of when I sent everything out, so I couldn't tell you any additional details. But the card came out great, and I guess that's all that truly matters.

Thanks Chuck Nazty! See Ya!

TTM: "What Happened to the Nationals?" Edition

Hey everyone, Drew back here. I was shocked to find a TTM return in my mailbox a few days ago; my first and only success in the past month. I've had a lot out in the mail at this point, but I don't expect much of it to come back. Either way, here's a look at my latest autograph!

Doug Fister: 1/1 (c/o Washington Nationals)

What the heck happened to the World Series favorites this year? Yesterday, as most of you saw, the Nationals hit a new low, with midseason acquisition Jonathan Papelbon starting a dugout brawl with MVP favorite Bryce Harper. Papelbon yelled at Harper for not running out a fly ball, which was valid to an extent, but gave him no reason to start a physical fight. Just another reason why the egotistical closer is my least favorite player in baseball.

I picked the Nationals to go up against the Seattle Mariners in the World Series prior to this season, and with the Mets' recent clinching of the NL East that officially became impossible. I went out on a limb with Seattle, as many others did, and came out seriously empty. But Washington was the heavyweight favorite after acquiring Max Scherzer for over a decade's worth of salary. Scherzer joined an elite rotation that had six starters capable of being at least a third starter for just about any other team in the game. Doug Fister was one of them.

Fister was coming off a 2014 in which he recorded 16 wins and a 2.41 ERA. He was becoming one of the National League's elite pitchers after several underrated seasons between Detroit and Seattle. This year was a different story, as a slow start wound up pushing him out of the mega rotation and into the bullpen. As of today, he has a 4.19 ERA with only 15 starts to his name. Disappointing, to say the least.

Hopefully next year goes better for the Nationals, as they do have some of the more likable young players in the game. Doug Fister will be a free agent, and I have a hard time believing Washington will want to hold on to him with Jordan Zimmermann leaving as well. This was supposed to be their year, but usually that sentence never means anything by season's end.

But anyway, thank you Mr. Fister for signing my 2014 Topps Heritage. All the best to you in 2016 and over the rest of your career! 

See Ya!

Number 20 Before Number 20

Hey everyone, Drew back here! It has been a nice feeling to get back into blogging again, much like I was earlier this year. It took a little while to get me back on my feet, but with a critical fall ahead academically, it'll be good to have the blog to turn to when I need to relax. I never thought this site would still be going by this time in my life, but why stop now? As far as I know, I won't stop collecting anytime soon, and it's an awful lot of fun to talk about it all to people who are actually interested in it.

Anyway, all of that aside, I did get one TTM in a few weeks ago that I hadn't showed off yet. It's not a major one, but two very cool autographs nonetheless.

Former Yankees catcher Mike Stanley signed two cards for me in under 2 months! As I've said before, after upgrading my iPhone early this summer, I lost the note that tracked when all of my requests were sent out, so I no longer have exact dates for any of my successes (nor do I know who I've even sent to). Stanley was a frequent mention early on in Jorge Posada's autobiography; Jorge often said how helpful he was as he was just a rookie. He was a solid contributor for the Yankees and several other teams, a consistent threat for a batting average hovering around .300 and over 20 home runs. He also caught Nolan Ryan's 7th and final no-hitter.

Both of these cards look really good with his black and bold signature across them. I'm glad I took the time to add one of the Yankees more underrated catchers in their history.

Thanks Mr. Stanley! See Ya!

Summer TTM Mailbag!

Hey everyone, Drew back here! After working the summer away, covering for everyone going on vacation, it is officially my turn to kick back and relax. While I'm gone, I figured I would take some time to catch up on all that I have yet to post. Believe it or not, I haven't done a TTM Mailbag post since May 24th. Unfortunately, I've only gotten 3 successes in that span, and while having an iPhone malfunction, my note detailing all of my TTM batches was lost. I don't know how long any of these returns took, but a success is a success nonetheless.

Tyson Ross: 2/2 (via San Diego Padres)

Ross has been a staple of many of my fantasy teams this year after posting phenomenally underrated numbers in 2014. He has recently been impressive, but this season has for the most part not been very kind to the young Padres stud. I was hoping he would be moved to a better offensive team at the Trade Deadline, but San Diego instead chose against selling their stars, which hurt teams such as my Yankees. He signed two cards for me in about two months, and the 2014 Topps looks better in person than in the scan. The Heritage card isn't my favorite shot, but any card from that product looks excellent signed in my book.

Eddie Butler: 1/1 (via Colorado Rockies)

The Rockies top prospect pitcher that isn't Jon Gray signed his rookie card for me after again, about a two-three month wait. Butler was highly regarded as a prospect, but his stints in the majors have not gone as planned. In 15 starts this year, he has gone 3-9 with a 5.50 ERA, and unsurprisingly, much of this is due to pitching over half of his starts at Coors Field; the worst pitcher's ballpark in baseball. I would like to see him traded so he could fulfill his potential, but a trade does not seem to be in the imminent future for the 24 year old.

Chris Chambliss: 1/1 (via Home Address)

Ever since I first saw this card of the Yankee playoff hero, I knew I would one day have a signed copy. Upper Deck Masterpieces is one of my all time favorite sets, and I'm almost glad that Upper Deck no longer makes them. I've grown a bit sick of Allen & Ginter, which has been one of my personal favorites as well for years, so I'm glad only two full Masterpieces sets were ever produced.

Chambliss is one of the few 1970's Yankees stars my Dad and I have yet to meet. He was recently announced as part of a card show lineup in October, so I may consider saving up to have him sign a photo chronicling his famous 1976 ALCS Home Run against the Royals. Outside of his home run, he was a big part of their championship seasons in 1977 and 1978. This card was signed in about a month's time!

Until more comes into the mailbox, that will do it for this edition of my TTM Mailbag. See Ya!

TTM Mailbag: Angel in the Outfield

Hey everyone, Drew back here! Slowly but surely, I am beginning to receive some more TTM successes in the mail. I can't say I've been even the slightest bit impressed with how few MLB players have been consistently signing this year. The outlook seems worse than ever before. Or maybe it's just me. Anyway, I got one success in on Saturday that I didn't see until Sunday. Here it is:

Kole Calhoun: 1/1 in 19 Days (Received May 16th)

Angels up and coming outfielder Kole Calhoun signed a 2014 Topps card for my collection in a little over half a month! Calhoun is extremely underrated in the Angels lineup all thanks to that Trout character, but has became one of the better run scorers in the game. Last year, he scored 90 runs while smashing 17 home runs and driving in 58 runs, and keep in mind he is just entering the prime of his career. In 2015, he's batted .302 with 3 home runs batting leadoff mostly for an underwhelming Angels offense. While he will more than likely never go toe to toe with his teammate and fellow outfielder, I think Calhoun can be a productive player for five or six more seasons. Hopefully by that point more people will actually know who he is.

Unfortunately, his signature did not come out good at all. It could be my fault, as I forget if I properly prepared this card or not. I'm going to assume that his sharpie was beginning to dry out, and that of the recent bunch of people he signed for I just happened to get the short end of the stick. But, an autograph is an autograph, and I'll take what I can get! 

Thanks so much Mr. Calhoun, and keep up the good work this season! See Ya!

Masterminds of Magnificent Teams TTM's!

Hey everyone, Drew back here! I was able to complete two of my finals today, leaving one for the semester on Wednesday morning before I'm off for the summer and finished with my first year of college! It's been a very windy road over the course of the past year, but overall I've learned an awful lot and grown up more than I could have ever expected. I'm loving my new school despite a relatively subpar schedule in my first semester, but I definitely changed it up so I won't have to suffer through 8 AM Public speaking courses any longer. 

I had been on a 51 day TTM drought, after sending almost 30 requests out for Spring Training. So, what did I do? I ordered some cards off of Just Commons, and sent even more out. Sixteen requests went out to add to what I had already sent, and I already received two autographs back from two of the more successful managers in recent history, despite no World Series championships among the pair under the helm.

Ned Yost: 1/1 in 10 Days (Received May 6th)

Yost, of the defending American League champion Kansas City Royals, was the first of the two successes! He has always been a questionable decision maker throughout his time as skipper for the Milwaukee Brewers and since he took the Royals job in 2010, but he paid a lot of dues with the Royals' fantastic, out of nowhere season. It was a lot of fun to watch them pave their way through the playoffs, and although some may deem them as a dirty ballclub, especially in 2015, they certainly have learned their own winning formula.

He signed a 2015 Topps Heritage card for me quickly and nicely in 10 days!

Buck Showalter: 2/2 in 10 Days (Received May 8th)

However, as good as Ned Yost has been, getting Buck Showalter back TTM meant much more to me. Showalter has been the manager of my buddy William's Orioles since 2010 as well, and has led them to a tremendous amount of success. While Joe Maddon is constantly hyped as a difference making manager, it is Showalter who has come away with three Manager of the Year Awards, each with different clubs. On top of it all, he was the Yankees manager between 1992 and 1995, and resigned because he was unwilling to fire his hitting coach, Rick Down. He, along with Gene Michael, had a lot to do with the personnel decisions the team made during that time, which may have involved some guys named Jeter, Rivera, Posada, and Pettitte, among others. Despite being a rival manager, most Yankee fans give him a lot of credit for their World Series dynasty teams in the late 1990's that he wasn't even a part of. After seeing the way he managed the Diamondbacks, Rangers, and now Orioles, fans can see how pivotal his presence is in turning a team in the right direction.

Buck signed a 1992 Topps as well as a 2015 Topps Heritage beautifully for my collection. I made sure to wish he and the Orioles the best of luck with the situation going on in Baltimore, and it is nice to see them playing at Camden Yards again tonight.

I don't normally get too excited about manager TTM returns, but these two were particular exceptions. I love to get player autographs over anything, but if I were to add any manager's autograph, it would be Buck's. I'm glad I have a few now!

See Ya!

A Bright Way to Open the 2015 Season!

Hey guys, Drew back here! On Opening Day, I just so happened to get an autograph in my mailbox, courtesy of one of the top position player prospects the Yankees currently have in their farm system!

Eric Jagielo: 1/1 in 273 Days (Received April 6th)

Once again, I got back a request I did not send in Spring Training, leaving me still at a 4 for 28 rate. My autograph batting average of .143 is worse than Adam Dunn's 2011 season, and it's safe to say I had higher expectations than this. But as for the autograph at hand, I was lucky enough to get a TTM I had previously written off back! Yankees top-10 prospect and third baseman Eric Jagielo returned his Bowman rookie card signed nicely in black for me in 273 days! Scott Rolen was brought in to work with Jagielo this Spring, and it is clear that the Yankees hope for a bright future from him. They seemed to have made 3 great picks finishing the first round of the 2013 draft, taking Jagielo, Ian Clarkin, and Aaron Judge. I'm especially looking forward to Judge, and still need to get myself an autograph before he makes it huge!

Thank you so much for the autograph Eric! I hope to see more of your name in the future, and hopefully in Yankee Stadium!

See Ya!

A Sigh of Relief from Spring Training!

Hey guys, Drew back here! After a bit of a delay, Spring Training got a little bit better for me. I received two TTM successes on Monday, both from two above average relief pitchers; the first of which used to play for my favorite team!

Boone Logan: 2/2 in 37 Days (Received March 16th)

I just recently chose Logan as my left handed specialist in my All Yankees team bullpen, and it was ironic that these came back the day after I published my choices for the pitching staff. Boone was a huge part of our bullpen success for 4 years before he fled for the Rockies last year. He was originally part of a trade that sent Javier Vazquez to the Yankees for his second stint and Melky Cabrera to the Braves. Little did we know, Logan would be the more important piece of the deal than Vazquez. 

Boone signed 2 2014 Topps cards for my collection, one from Series 1 and the other from the Update Series. The Update Series card is one of the red parallels, which I pulled from a blaster box last Christmas. Both cards came out great signed in blue sharpie!

Koji Uehara: 2/2 in 328 Days (Received March 16th) 

If you've been really paying attention (it's okay, I don't expect you to), you may remember I mentioned getting an RTS already this Spring from Koji. I sent to the wrong Red Sox address, which appeared to be an issue for several forum members I know of. This success was from a request I sent last year to the right address, one that I had already written off. The moral of the story is to never write off any of your TTM requests. He was becoming my TTM White Whale, because I believe I sent to him three times without a success. Anyone who knows about through the mail successes in baseball know that Uehara has been one of the most consistent signers in the game for years.

Finally, I have my 2009 Topps and 2011 Topps signed nicely in blue with his number inscribed! From what I've seen, he signs his full name on certified autographs, rather than just the first name he exhibits on his TTM signatures, but that's perfectly okay with me. Uehara has been one of the better closers in baseball for the Red Sox, which is impressive considering he started his MLB career at the age of 34. Last season he was named to the All Star Team, finishing the season 6-5 with a 2.52 ERA and 26 saves. I may end up targeting him in my fantasy baseball draft tonight; who knows.

I was recently able to create a page on my blog that links directly to a Flickr account I've set up. Flickr seems to be a great service for uploading pictures, offering 1 TB of free space that I've barely even used so far. If you would like to check out some galleries of signed baseball cards, football cards, baseball pictures, signed baseballs, you name it; give it a look! 

Thanks Boone and Koji! See Ya!

"I Am Your Father."

Hey guys, Drew back here, and today I have to interrupt my Season Preview further to bring you a TTM success I didn't expect to see return anytime soon. I sent this request out on August 22nd of last year, and as time went on I was feeling like it would be more and more unlikely that I would ever get my pictures back. Sure enough though, I was astounded last Friday when these beautiful autographs arrived in my mailbox!

James Earl Jones: 3/3 in 203 Days (Received March 13th)

"No, I am your father". The voice of Darth Vader, Mufasa, and so many other famous characters over the span of a 60 year acting career, James Earl Jones returned 3 signed photos to me for my collection! Jones actually only lives less than a half hour away from me, and is one of the better known celebrities in my county. I've grown up watching so many movies he was featured in, and who couldn't love his booming voice?

I won't pretend to be the expert on his career, but I must say I have enjoyed all the movies he's been a part of. My favorite role of his was as author Terence Mann in Field of Dreams, but you can't go wrong with Darth Vader. I sort of regret not sending a Vader picture for him to sign, but I'm not upset with what I took home. Jones signed my 8x10 of him as Mann standing alongside Kevin Costner and Amy Madigan, along with a Field of Dreams 5x7 promo poster. He also had a small role in The Sandlot, as the scary neighbor nobody wanted to come face to face with. I also had him sign a promo poster for that movie as well! These are perfect for baseball pop culture, and I can tell that the autographs look legitimate.

I haven't been doing very well with TTM's lately, as I'm just 3 for 28 with 2 RTS' with Spring Training so far. But, with Wayne Chrebet and now Jones, I still have had some nice successes in spite of the lackluster Spring Training start. Patience is indeed a virtue, though, and I hope to have more to share with you in the future!

Thank you so much Mr. Jones for your incredible contributions to some of my all time favorite movies, and for signing these for me! 

See Ya!

The Jets Version of "Rudy": Special TTM Success!

Hey guys, Drew back here! Last Saturday, I posted my Bryan Cox TTM success thinking that I probably wouldn't be getting any more Jets requests back for a while. I had already gotten 5 of the 8 players back in a couple month span, and I was expecting it to slow down. Sure enough, later that day I found this success in my mailbox; easily my favorite of the bunch and now some of my favorite autographs in my football collection!

Wayne Chrebet: 3/3 in 72 Days (Received February 28th)

Believe it or not, I grew to love watching football before I got into baseball, and I remember going to a game a year with my Dad for a few years in a row. Wayne Chrebet was one of my favorite players to watch, and I think it was just because he was tough especially for his size. Wide receiver is advantageous to taller players, and I may have a half inch on the 5'10 Chrebet. But he pushed for every single yard, and while it ended up costing him in the long run with concussion injuries, it was well worth the legacy he left behind in New York. 

He was undrafted out of Hofstra University, and was considered the 11th best receiver at Jets training camp when he walked on in 1995. Apparently on the first day of camp, a security guard wouldn't even let him into the field because his size didn't make him look like a football player, but he proved all throughout those weeks why he belonged. The rest was history. Wayne may not be a Hall of Fame caliber player, but he's one of those players that you love to root for. Think of Rudy Ruettiger's story without Hollywood's twists and turns and you have something like Chrebet.

He retired in 2005 due to a severe concussion injury, but the play that took him out of the game for good still ended as a hard fought catch for a first down. Last year, he was inducted into the Jets Ring of Honor, and it was special to see such an amazing man and player get his due. 

Mr. Chrebet made my day, signing a 2005 Score, and personalizing a 2001 Fleer Authority Prominence card out "To Drew, All the Best!" He also signed my index card, inscribing his number 80 and J-E-T-S. It really doesn't get much better than this for me as a Jet fan, especially since no player that has come through the organization since Curtis Martin and Wayne Chrebet called it quits has struck me the same way. 

Thank you for all the memories, Wayne Chrebet. See Ya!

Strong Start to the Spring!

Hey guys, Drew back here! Although my Spring Training TTM report kicked off with 2 Red Sox failures, they didn't affect my luck as I received three great successes over the past week. Here's a look at how I've fared thus far.

Matt Shoemaker: 1/1 in 15 Days (Received February 26th)

We begin with 2014 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up Matt Shoemaker, who has seemed to fly under the radar this year even after a fantastic rookie campaign. He started 20 games for the Halos, compiling a 16-4 record with a 3.04 ERA. If it weren't for Jose Abreu's dominant rookie season, he could be viewed in an even higher regard and would regain the attention he probably deserves. Shoemaker should play an important role for an Angels team that is still trying to find an identity and could contend for the World Series next year. He signed a 2014 Topps Rookie Card for my collection, and it came out much nicer than I could have expected!

Billy Butler: 2/2 in 28 Days (Received March 2nd)

  

Butler has been on my want list autograph-wise for quite a while, so this was a pleasant surprise in my mailbox a few days ago. It's weird thinking about him playing for any team other than the Royals, where he's spent all 8 of his prior seasons. Billy Beane signed Butler to a 3 year, $30 million deal to join the Oakland A's for next season, and I think it was a good deal for the most part. Oakland did some strange things this offseason, and while Butler doesn't offer much defensively, he is still one of the better contact hitters in the game today. There is no doubt that his veteran impact was key for the Royals reaching the World Series last year, even though it was a down season for the big righty. He signed a 2011 Allen & Ginter and 2012 Gypsy Queen in black sharpie, and although he has a sloppy autgoraph I actually really like how they look.

Michael Cuddyer: 1/1 in 28 Days (Received March 2nd)

I've always wanted Butler's signature because of his impact as a player, but I've always wanted Michael Cuddyer's for his signature alone. Seriously, look at that beautiful penmanship? The late Harmon Killebrew taught Cuddyer to sign neatly for the fans at a signing session early on in his career, and it paid off without question. I was thinking about trying to rank the best signatures in baseball, but I ended up deciding it wouldn't even be worth it because nobody beats his autograph. On the playing field, he has been a very good player for a long time between his time with the Twins and Rockies. He won a batting title in 2013 in Colorado, and now brings his hitting expertise to Queens to hopefully help lead the Mets into the postseason discussion. I'll always remember seeing Cuddyer crush balls into the seats at Citi Field for the Home Run Derby I attended in 2013, finishing 3rd overall in the competition. Maybe that success in the Big Apple will translate in 2015!

Thanks to all 3 of these great players for signing; all the best this season! See Ya!

TTM Mailbag: Gang Green Edition

Hey guys, Drew back here with another addition to my Jets autograph collection. I recently sent out a batch of TTMs to former Gang Green players to bolster my collection, and have so far received autographs back from Brad Baxter, Kyle Brady, Bobby Humphery, and Jeff Lageman. I had one more success come back recently; take a look.

Bryan Cox: 1/1 in 53 Days (Received February 9th)

Bryan Cox is the latest addition to my Jets PC! Cox made 3 Pro Bowl teams as a linebacker during his time in the NFL, and most of his success came during his time with the rival Miami Dolphins in the early 1990's. He was known for wearing the strange neck roll they said was similar to a surfboard. He finished his career with 51.5 sacks, over 700 tackles, 22 forced fumbles, and 4 interceptions. He also won a Super Bowl in 2001 with the New England Patriots.

Cox currently is the defensive line coach for the Atlanta Falcons, and has spent most of his time post-career working as coaches for various teams. He signed a 1999 Topps card for me in blue sharpie with his number 51 inscribed! This may be the most successful player of the five Jets I've gotten back in this bunch, and it came out very nice. Thanks Mr. Cox!

See Ya!

A Trip Down My Memory Lane: TTM Successes

Hey guys, Drew back here! I hope everyone is doing well; I've had a slow week but I'm anxiously waiting for some Spring Training TTM's! I got 2 RTS' back from the Red Sox I sent to (Koji Uehara and Jackie Bradley Jr.) because it appears that there was an address change I wasn't aware of, but 26 of them are still floating around in Florida and Arizona. In the meantime, I've gotten two former Yankee successes this past week that I vaguely remember from when I first started to watch baseball.

Jon Lieber: 1/1 in 32 Days (Received February 17th)

Lieber only played one season for the Yankees after signing a 2 year deal in 2003. He missed the first season due to Tommy John Surgery, and started off the second awfully in New York. However, down the stretch he turned it on and pitched great baseball, and wound up having an important role in the postseason rotation that year. He pitched well in the playoffs, and although the Red Sox went on to break the curse that year it really wasn't due to anything he did. Lieber was pretty much the definition of an average pitcher through most of his career, but did earn an All Star selection in 2001. He signed this 2005 Topps card for me in black sharpie, and although his signature leaves much to be desired, I'm happy with how it came out!

Mike Stanton: 2/2 in 40 Days (Received February 24th)

What Lieber lacked with his signature was easily redeemed by the artwork Mike Stanton left on my two cards. The former lefty bullpen cog has one of the nicest signatures in my collection, and I was excited for these cards to return back. Stanton actually holds the record for most holds in history (no pun intended) with 266, and is second in most games pitched in Major League history behind Jesse Orosco! He was a part of the Yankees 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 pennant winning seasons, and was named an All Star his first and only time in 2001 too. He was named in the Mitchell Report however and in Brian McNamee's testimony, which lines up with the time period Clemens and Pettitte were found to be involved with HGH. He later returned to the Yankees in 2005 after playing for the Mets for a short period of time, and was soon released. Stanton signed a 2003 and 2005 Topps beautifully in blue sharpie!

Thank you to both Mr. Lieber and Mr. Stanton for the autographs! Players like them really lead me down memory lane to when I first started learning about all the different players in the game.

See Ya!