TTM Failure!

I look at three different buckets when it comes to a a TTM failure:

1. The write-off - the card just never comes back.
2. The price list - the card comes back unsigned with a price list.
3. The player is no longer here.

#3 happened to me just this week. In the spring of 2017, I sent Josh Hamilton. He was a non-roster invitee for the Rangers trying to make the squad one last time. He was a pretty decent signer for a lot of his career, so I gave it a whirl.

I never heard back, figuring it was a write-off. But then a PWE showed up that looked like it wasn't one I recently sent out.

Inside:

Oh well. It wouldn't have been a big deal if this never came back. I guess it's a nice thing the Rangers did by returning the item with a note. It's probably kept an intern busy over the last few days. I'm sure most of the time these just end up in a dumpster somewhere.

TTM failures happen to us all. Onward!

HR Derby Memories

I’ve always loved the HR Derby. Some years it’s really entertaining. Some years it blows. Some years the favorite wins, some years it’s the guy you’d least expect.

However, it’s a staple for All-Star festivities, and it’s fun to see the players all sitting in foul territory watching the event. Many times, they have their kids, and they really do seem to enjoy the light-hearted times that come with watching.

I had the fortune of attending the 2008 HR Derby at Yankee Stadium. You know, the Josh Hamilton year. It was unreal watching the show he put on. I was in the first deck in right field, so none of Hamilton’s shots came my way. Not many did. Maybe Braun or Longoria hit one out that way, but I don’t remember much other than Hamilton’s show and Morneau “winning” the derby.

My second-favorite HR Derby memory was from 1997 in Cleveland. Tino Martinez, in the middle of his career-high 44-HR season, edged Larry Walker in the Finals. It was a cool moment for me, seeing my favorite player win. This was before the days of worrying if participating was going to screw up player’s swing for the rest of the year. Thanks, Bobby Abreu.

Two other Yanks have won the Derby as well: Jason Giambi in 2002 and Robinson Cano in 2011. Cano then put up a 0 in Kansas City was booed relentlessly by their fans for not picking Billy freakin’ Butler. I would have picked Butler…if it were a Doubles Derby. Anyhow, being the good sport that he is, Cano is back at it again this year, and hopefully will knock a few balls out of the park. I hope at least someone hits a HR at Citi Field…the Derby may end up just being who can come closest to hitting a HR in that massive park.

Trade Review: Josh Hamilton auto

I don't generally trade away or trade for TTM/in-person autographs. I have my collection of my personal TTMs, but that's about as far as it goes. However, this is my second trade in two weeks for such autographs. I don't envision this becoming a regularity, but I like helping fellow collectors out if I can. As you may have read, last week I traded with Paul's Random Baseball Stuff - a Corey Lidle auto he needed for a Sparky Lyle I didn't have.

In my second deal, there was a collector over at www.sweetspotgraphs.com looking for a Vlad auto. I had an extra from a TTM success a few years ago, and he offered to send me an extra Josh Hamilton that he had. I know that Hamilton signs TTM - usually takes about a year - so I figured this would be an easier way to add him to my collection. I was at the 2008 HR Derby in old Yankee Stadium, and I've always been a big fan of him for that, as well as his story and the obstacles he has overcome.

This Hamilton is a sweet looking sig on a 2010 Topps. It was a blind trade, and for whatever reason I was expecting an older, so I was pleasantly surprised that this was a 2010 Topps base card. It looks great and is a solid addition to my collection. I sent a Topps base card of Vlad - I think it was a 2001 - so hopefully the other collector is just as happy with his card as well.