TTM Success: Two more for my project!

I'm down to five. Just five years stand between me and the completion of my Topps Yankees Project, at least until 2012 Topps hits the shelves and I have to scramble to keep the project current. Yesterday I returned home from work to find two little plain white envelopes looking up at me from my coffee table. I knew who both were just by looking at where they were shipped from. Most impressively, I sent both on the same day, just 10 days ago, so the turn around for these were very fast.

First up, the 1960's are officially in the book! The only year that I was missing was 1966, and with this Al Downing success, I have closed out another decade! That makes the '50s, '60s, '80s, and '10s (?) as the only completed decades at this point.

For some reason, 1991 was tough for me to complete. I have sent out the most requests for this year, all to guys who have historically been good signers. Nil returns. Until now. Randy Velarde signed my 1991 Topps, and I also threw in a Bowman Heritage I had laying around and Mr. Velarde was gracious enough to sign it as well. It looks great signed. That card got a little beat up in the mail, as did the Topps, but I don't mind. I send all my TTM cards unprotected, and as a whole, most return to me in great condition. I'm bound to get a few beat up here and there.

The five years I still need are 1970, 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2005. Stay tuned!

A little SportLots pick-up

I grabbed a few more cards on SportLots and they came yesterday. Actually, I was missing seven cards from my purchase. They are all Topps Pro Debut cards, so I have to get to the bottom of that. Here is what I grabbed:

Both of these will be used for TTM. I need the Downing for my Topps Yankees Project. This may be my last time trying Montero. I believe I am 0 for 3 trying him, so this might be one last attempt. Hopefully I'll be able to grab his auto.

A nice little assortment here. A few are for TTM. A few are just because I wanted them. I think Betances is going to be a star, so I wanted to grab his regular Bowman RC since I already have the Chrome.

And here are five more Tino's that I didn't have! The '02 Flair is pretty cool. I didn't even know that set existed still in 2002.

Hopefully I'll get the seven cards I am missing. I want to send a few of them for TTM.

TTM Success: another 4 successes!

After having my streak snapped on Tuesday, Wednesday brought me four more TTM success from former Yankees!

First, one for my project. Bob Watson signed my 1981 and 1982 Topps cards. I needed the 1982 for my Topps Yankees Project, so that's a big help! Bob also signed my letter "Best wishes, Bob Watson." I sent to him c/o MLB league office in NYC. I now am only missing 16 years out of a possible 60. Gettin' there!

The other three successes are all duplicate years in my Topps Yankees Project. The 1957 Topps Bobby Shantz (signed in less than a week, by the way) is important, as I hope to make a switcheroo...1957 is currently Jerry Coleman, but I want to move him to 1951 (I sent him the '51 Topps I bought....eek), Shantz to 1957, McDougald to 1958, and then someone I pursuing to 1960 (request is out). Hope it works because it took a lot of thinking and tinkering!

I also received a 1964 Al Downing. I meant to send him a 1966 but I was dumb and bought a 1964 by mistake. I still have a 1966 out in the mail for a different player, so hopefully that will take care of itself. I also received a 1976 Tippy Martinez, and I think I'll use him instead of Ed Herrmann because Tippy is awesome.

Hope to return home to a full mailbox again today!