My Topps Cardinals Autograph Collection (1952 - 2002 Topps complete!)

frankhardy · April 28, 2007 5:22AM

I have been inspired! I am very new to TTM autographs. I sent my first ones in February of this year. I have been amazed at Elemenopeo's thread about the 2006 Allen and Ginter's project. I have now started a vintage Topps Cardinals TTM project of my own. I even used his title as a template (with his blessing) - Dear Mr. Schoendienst (My vintage Topps Cardinals auto TTM project). (edited to say that I have since changed the title).

Many of you know that I am a Cardinals team set collector. I started out just wanting to get all of the Topps from 1951 to present. Well, once I finished that, it branched out to Bowman, to vintage inserts and test issues, then Fleer, then Donruss, so on and so forth.

On March 12th of this year, I sent off my first 1952 Topps Cardinals card for my TTM project. In a little over 2 months, I now have 92 autographed Topps Cardinals players.

There is one thing I want to mention. It seems that most TTM guys that collect vintage autographs only send out reprints. It seems like either nobody in TTM has vintage cards or they don't want to risk sending in the real thing. The ones I have sent are the real deal.

I started in 1952 with only the players that sign for free (except Schoendienst - I figure $5 per sig was worth it). I am now nearly finished through 1960 and have sent off cards through 1962 (with a few exceptions of some later cards that I had doubles of).

I took cards from out of my Cardinals team set collection (other than a few doubles I had). The expensive part was actually replacing those cards to put back into my regular team set collection. I have replaced all cards sent up to 1960. I will continue to replace the ones that I have sent. I don't want to say that I am glad that these players have passed on, but let me say that I was fortunate not to have to replace any 1952 Topps high numbers. The 4 players featured on the 1952 Topps high numbers in the Cardinals team set have since passed away.

I will do my best to keep this thread updated with scans. I have scanned every card I have gotten so far. Here they are. By the way, I have enjoyed it a lot!

jmbkb4 · April 28, 2007 5:38AM

Really cool -- thanks for sharing. so the players just mail them back to you? Do you use a padder mailer SASE or just a plain old white envelope?

jskirwin · April 28, 2007 5:46AM

Wow! Beautiful!

Glad to see that I'm not the only guy with Mike Tyson's signature.
When I was a kid, I was a BIIIG Tyson fan.

Now when people see my signed Mike Tyson ball they think it's this bozo:

Stone193 · April 28, 2007 5:49AM

Shane

This absolutely amazing! Thanx for sharing the scans.

Very impressive and worth the trouble of replacing the cards in your team sets.

It's interesting how much some of the sigs have changed over the years.

Congratulations on a great start and good luck on your future TTMs.

Getting the vintage cards signed is a plus IMO!
mike

Goot · April 28, 2007 5:51AM

<< Really cool -- thanks for sharing. so the players just mail them back to you? Do you use a padder mailer SASE or just a plain old white envelope? >>

Not thread jacking, just answering a question. I kind of do TTM autos and I send the card with a sase regular envelope inside of a larger plain old envelope. So far I have gotten Tom Lasorda, Terry Pendleton, Chad Cordero, Adam Laroche, and Randy Wolf. It's fun but the best time for current players is Spring Training.

frankhardy · April 28, 2007 5:52AM

<< Really cool -- thanks for sharing. so the players just mail them back to you? Do you use a padder mailer SASE or just a plain old white envelope? >>

Just a plain 'old white envelope. I put some in a Card Saver. I started out putting all of them in Card Saver's until Wally Westlake signed the holder instead of the card (which I still have).

About Tyson and the 75's - I started out actually wanting to get the entire 75 Topps team set signed since I had an extra set and it's my birth year. That is until I discovered sportscollector's.net and found out that most of that team doesn't sign. I guess I thought that since I had the Meiselman list, then EVERYONE in that address list would sign. I very quickly found out the hard way. I sent off the whole team set at the end of February and that's all I have back.

Thanks for the compliments so far. It has been one of the most enjoyable projects I've ever undertaken.

Goot · April 28, 2007 5:54AM

Meiselman list?

frankhardy · April 28, 2007 5:57AM

<< Meiselman list? >>

Yes, the Harvey Meiselman list. You can order it from www.sportsaddresslists.com.

It thought that it was absolutely necessary until I discovered sportscollectors.net. You can find almost the same information (plus more sports) on sportscollectors.net for $30 a year. The Meiselman list is a 260+ page book that costs $30. He updates it once a year.

Stone193 · April 28, 2007 5:59AM

<< It has been one of the most enjoyable projects I've ever undertaken. >>

Shane

I can sure see that!

Elemenopeo · April 28, 2007 6:10AM

Great stuff, Shane! Can't wait to see more.

Goot · April 28, 2007 6:12AM

<< 

<< Meiselman list? >>

Yes, the Harvey Meiselman list. You can order it from www.sportsaddresslists.com.

It thought that it was absolutely necessary until I discovered sportscollectors.net. You can find almost the same information (plus more sports) on sportscollectors.net for $30 a year. The Meiselman list is a 260+ page book that costs $30. He updates it once a year. >>

Oh thanks. I had never heard of this before.

DireWolf · April 28, 2007 7:44AM

Frank, that is astounding. Is there an emoticon for speechless?
Great idea... please keep us posted.

nascar20 · April 28, 2007 11:32AM

just sent my first batch today 74 topps baseball 2 cubs & 2 A's
later jeff

frankhardy · April 28, 2007 11:40AM

I would kind of like to know if anybody is doing or going to do anything similar. If you have a favorite team and like old cards, I highly recommend it.

baseballfan · April 28, 2007 9:20PM

THAT'S A GREAT COLLECTION

CONGRATS!!!

frankhardy · May 4, 2007 7:45AM

The mailman had a some gifts for me today. Yes, I asked for 6 auto's for one person. I explained why, and he graciously signed them all.

frankhardy · May 5, 2007 12:20PM

Here are a few more successes for today.

frankhardy · May 14, 2007 9:37AM

Time to get caught up on some recent successes.

fandango · May 14, 2007 10:07PM

SHane, impressive set, keep it up !

frankhardy · May 17, 2007 8:01AM

Just one envelope today, but I'll take it.

frankhardy · May 17, 2007 10:39AM

By the way, that now makes 128.

frankhardy · May 18, 2007 9:02AM

These make 130. Not sure if anybody is looking, but I said I would keep it updated.

Elemenopeo · May 18, 2007 9:22AM

Dude! I'm looking. The Shantzes look great. Nice job.

PasadenaMudSlide · May 18, 2007 9:26AM

Very solid effort.

I admire your passion.

Kudos!

frankhardy · May 19, 2007 5:36AM

Here is 131.

TNTonPMS · May 19, 2007 6:21AM

I've been looking too . . .
And looking and looking and looking .
It is sad to see the way some of the hands shake now when they sign .
I'm certain the guys are MORE than happy to do it for you too .
I wonder if a lot of them feel forgotten now after beig out of the game for so long , being in the limelight like the way they used to be .
And back then , I think the places were really lit with lime light .
Very interesting collection that you have .
I'm sure they think highly of you for even having the cards and asking .
Very Nice indeed !

perkdog · May 19, 2007 6:36AM

What a great collection! Thanks for the pics I enjoy checking them out as well.

frankhardy · May 21, 2007 8:19AM

Mail time! 132 and 133.

frankhardy · May 21, 2007 8:24AM

As a footnote to Schoendienst - I just got back today a "return to sender". It was the 2nd TTM I ever sent. Of course, I did not put "donation enclosed" on the envelope, so he didn't even open it. I later learned that if you put "donation enclosed, he will open and sign very quickly. Also, I believe that Red himself is the one that wrote "return to sender" on the envelope. The "R" and the "S" looks just like his signature. Red Schoendienst has 15 letters and "return to sender" has 14 letters. I thought that was interesting.

frankhardy · May 22, 2007 8:20AM

Here is 134. I had sent Broglio a few cards before. I just overlooked this one. I think he has a real nice autograph.

frankhardy · May 25, 2007 2:04AM

I got these yesterday. That makes 140.

ajw · May 25, 2007 2:43AM

Great thread. Keep 'em comin!

frankhardy · May 25, 2007 8:00AM

141 and 142 came in the mail today. Thanks for the comments. It has been and still is very enjoyable.

frankhardy · May 26, 2007 3:21AM

Back from Canada in 11 days. This makes 143 and 144.

frankhardy · May 29, 2007 8:46AM

I had a good mail day, today. This makes 158.

I love Barney Schultz's signature with the very classy whoopteedo below his name.

Boy, isn't Dick Groat's signature one of the most consistent you have ever seen?

DaddyRich · May 29, 2007 9:03AM

Simply amazing collection you have going there, I wish you luck on all the rest you are waiting on.

frankhardy · June 2, 2007 7:32AM

I didn't get but 2 all week. These two make 160.

frankhardy · June 4, 2007 8:41AM

This makes 164.

dtsa · June 4, 2007 9:59AM

love this thread. Keep them comin'!

frankhardy · June 9, 2007 12:20AM

After being out of town, this is what I had in the mailbox. That Mahaffey is a pretty tough high number. This makes 171.

frankhardy · June 12, 2007 1:46AM

I got these yesterday. This makes 177 different Topps Cardinals cards autographed.

Elemenopeo · June 12, 2007 4:53AM

Nice additions!

frankhardy · June 15, 2007 4:50AM

These 3 have came in the mail in the last couple of days. This makes 180.

frankhardy · June 15, 2007 4:56AM

Ok, these 2 are a little bit different. I guess, technically, they are TTM since the mail delivered them, right? I got these from Mickey's Sportscards. My reasoning for getting these is this - I have 7 1952 Topps autographed and 7 1953 Topps autographed. Album pages for 52's and 53's are 8 pockett pages. That glaring hole on the first 2 pages of my album was bothering me, so I purchased these to make my first 2 pages complete. There were only 7 players from each of those years still alive, so I had to buy these deceased players. Mr Brecheen died in 2004 and Mr Mizell died in 1999. Of course, I will have to bust out the Brecheen, but I don't mind because it will make my album look better. If you haven't checked out Mickey's Sportscards on the web, you might find it interesting. There are hundreds of vintage and modern signed cards.

By the way, this makes 182 (yes, I'm counting them.)

frankhardy · June 22, 2007 7:52AM

These make the count 187. Not sure why, but Joe Cunningham kept my 1961 Topps card. I guess I'll just get another and send it to him again.

baseballfan · June 22, 2007 9:47AM

duliba was my college baseball coach at Wilkes University in NE PA.
where's he living now, is it still around wilkes-barre??

nice collection

frankhardy · June 22, 2007 12:48PM

He lives in West Pittston, PA.

baseballfan · June 23, 2007 5:29AM

thanks
that's about 15 minutes north of wilkes-barre. i din't think he would be far from there.

good luck with you collection

it fun for me to see what your getting you must not be able to wait for the mail each day...

frankhardy · June 23, 2007 6:48AM

<< thanks
that's about 15 minutes north of wilkes-barre. i din't think he would be far from there.

good luck with you collection

it fun for me to see what your getting you must not be able to wait for the mail each day... >>

You are right, there. I have my wife call me each day when the mail runs. She called me today saying that I got a George and Barbara Bush signed photo that I requested. When I came home though and researched it, it appears to be autopenned. I was kind of let down. I thought I had a nice piece of history. Oh, well.

frankhardy · June 29, 2007 1:35AM

Hey, remember Rick Ankiel? You know, the phenomenal pitching prospect who mysteriously lost his control and gave up pitching to become an outfielder. Well, everybody might want to keep an eye opened. He is healthy now and is playing everyday for AAA Memphis. He is tearing it up with 21 HR and 56 RBI's in just 254 at bats. The Cardinals say that they would have already called him up, but he is out of options and they would have to put him on waivers in order to send him back down. They want to make double sure that he is major league ready and will be in the majors to stay.

I am rooting hard for this guy. Everyone thought his career was over. He is just 27 years old. It looks like he is going to make an unbelievable transition to the outfield.

Anyway, I thought that I would go ahead and send him some cards to sign before he gets called up and gets too busy. I sent them to the Memphis Redbirds. I got these back in 6 days. I know one of these is not Topps, but I thought I would show it anyway. He has only been featured on 2 regular Topps card, plus, I wanted to get him to sign something with him batting.

This makes 189 Topps cards.

prscott933 · June 29, 2007 7:39AM

I love your collection. Nice job all around!

My Topps Cardinals Autograph Collection (1952 - 2002 Topps complete!)

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