Tucson Padres

Went to a game the other night.  Thought I was getting there before the gates even opened to do some graphing, but got there just in time for the first pitch.  Guess I didn't get the memo about them having a double  header!!!  Oh well, got autos before the second game, and after the last one.  Got about 15 autos, luckily it was a promo night, and I got a pack of Tucson Padres cards.  Didn't have one, so that was nice.  The gem tonight was getting Terry Kennedy.  

I got Dravecky to sign this card TTM a while ago and was hoping for this opportunity.  Looks pretty nice if I do say so myself!

 Russ Ohlendorf

Steve Webber

Jonathan Roof

Andy Parrino

Vince Belnome

Anthony Contreras

Cody Decker

Erik Hamren

Colt Hynes

Jason Ray

Jorge Reyes

Bob Skube

Blake Tekotte

Chase Headley

Sent these off a few weeks ago...the Topps anniversary sparkle card looks legit!

Mary Lou, The Postal Service Cares...

I don't know about you, but as soon as I open that little door on my mailbox, I know  if I have a TTM waiting for me in there or not.  It's mostly a "not", but sometimes I do see a nice, creased, #10 envelope with my address, written in my handwriting, with a pink highlighted: "Please Do Not Bend" scrawled over the back and corner.  Well the other day was no different, I went out there and saw it waiting right on top.  The usual flow of questions came, like "I wonder who it's from?", and then I usual try to decypher by the postmark who it's from.  Random question break: does anybody else remember what stamps they used for what??  I remember using those pine cone ones for about the first year, flag ones for ST, and Statue of Liberty ones for present. IDK but it kindof helps out.

So I see the envelope and am all excited until I notice that it's wrapped in plastic:

As you can see, the whole end is ripped off.  Now, I've had this happen before with a letter coming from Bob Feller.  Except in that case it came in an apologetic envelope, and the entire bottom was ripped out, leaving nothing inside.  In this case, I could tell something was inside, so I tore through the plastic baggie, and found:

1984 gymnast Mary Lou Retton!  Inscribed with "USA '84"

Had a little bend on the top left, but guess I can't complain considering the condition of the envelope.

Thanks Ms. Retton, that's #2 with my new Olympic collection!

Oh, and thank you Postal Service for "Caring"...did I mention their note on the baggie basically said that some envelopes need to be sacrificed in order to keep up their "Expeditious delivery"?  Oh well,as long as the contents arrive, I guess I'm OK with getting chosen once a year.

TTM'ing Phone number Quandary

Quandary: NOUN 

1. 

dilemma: a state of uncertainty or indecision as to what to do in a difficult situation

Now that we've got that out of the way, you might be wondering, "Aren't TTM's through the mail? What's with phone #'s?"  Well, I might be the only one, but have you ever been manually searching for an address

say on whitepages or something like that, and you somehow stumble upon the persons digits?  I've had this happen a few times and being myself, I automatically right them down.  I then fully intend on calling them, but then...well, it seems kindof creeperish to just call some random famous person up, and be like, "Hey! How ya doin'?  Was just searching you online and found your # and wanted to call you up and say 'Hi'."  Uhhhhh....No, that just doesn't work out.  You gotta at least have a legit reason like, "Hey, I'm the head reporter for my highschool paper, and was wondering if we could chat for a sec."  Still a little weird, but you just can't let it go.  Until finally, it's months later and you still haven't come up with a good reason to call, and you just forget about it.

Is this just a me thing, or has it happened to you?  I'd appreciate some advice on this one!
                                            

I Need Something to Cheer Me UP!

My college classes started up again today, and Calculus 2 class didn't make me feel any better after having a disappointing morning.  Of course no TTM's came through to help me either, so I thought I might pull out a library book room sale find to help out.  Actually, my mom found this and bought it for me a few weeks ago. It's a Tucson Sidewinders program with 8 autographs on it.

I was only able to decipher 3 autos, maybe some of you guys can help me out on it.  The first one is of Jaime D'Antona:

The next one is of Chris Carter:

Next, is Mike Schultz::

I believe this is Matt Erickson:

This one was tough, but I think I found it to be Chad Harville:

This next one, I'm not even going to try on:

And then the two big ones.  I'm not positive for this one, but I think it might be Mark Reynolds.  I'd appreciate input.  I already have one Reynolds that I got IP, but I know that signatures do change so IDK.  It looks like it could read that, but I couldn't find any exactly like it so...

The last one, is Joel Youngblood.  He's the guy who got a hit for two teams in one day back in the 80's or 90's or something.  Except for the Reynolds, this is pretty nice, since he doesn't sign TTM:

MIIIINNNIIIIIISSSS!!! And Richard Petty

As Some of you know, most of us bloggers are enthralled by minis.  I myself can be included in this.  For some reason these shrunk down versions of cards have a death grasp on us and won't let go.  So, when I pulled this 2012 A&G black-bordered mini, I knew right away that I was getting it signed.  So after about a week, I got both these signed by a NASCAR legend.  Who cares if I don't give a crap about NASCAR, it's a mini, and still totally legit!

Mark Spitz

Got this Olympic legends sig in 6 days! nice add for my collection.  I bought a blaster of the topps olympics and think I might try and get that set signed.  I think most of them are doable.  If you have any suggestions or advice, I'd be apppeciative. Thanks as always!

Mark Mulder

Bought this for $3 shipped...nice on card auto.

Travis Hafner

I did a little buying and trading these last few weeks.  My favorite is definitely this Travis Hafner auto.  One of my favorite players.  Paid $5 shipped for this!

FINALLY!!! A TTM success!!!!

Well, after an almost two month drought, I finally received back a request.  It even happened to be a ST request!  It's from Ryan Dempster, who I actually already got via email when I thought this one was long gone.  "Never give up on a mail-out"...that's this hobbies motto.  I'm not really collecting the Heritage, but I think I have about 16 so...it's just so easy to get signed--I love it!