Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
This is outstanding! The last time I looked at this thread it was still on the first page. Just went through every page. Thank you for sharing this with us and good luck.
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Everytime I see this thread has been updated, I hope that some other major leaguer has taken the time to respond to your questions. I guess Gary Ward is a sort of. Did he sign the back of that card or just not understand the intent altogether?
This is the first card I have had signed in person Lee Smith was the free auto with paid admission at day 3 (Aug - 18) of the East Coast National. I was able to talk with him for a minute about his homerun. He looked really shocked that I asked about it but had a huge smile as he was telling me that he when he hit it down the line he thought it was a double and slide into second but ump said hey Smitty that ball is gone, get up and run home. He shook my hand and thanked me for asking about it.
I am getting the data on all the homeruns hit on my birthday since my arrival on terra firma. Five HR where hit on the daay of my birth. The first one may have been hit by Willie Mays, still trying verify time of day. Mickey Mantle and Roberto Clemente also homered that day. Mickey repeated the feat the next year, but was unable to three-peat sincee the Yankees did not play on my birthday that year. It will be interesting to see the toal number of home runs as well as the eventual leader.
Great job Mike. I would think players like to have something out of the ordinary to sign and talk about. Sounds like Lee Smith's reaction is probably typical of most players. Glad it is going well.
Looking forward to seeing the next batch.
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Collecting: Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
<< <i>Great job Mike. I would think players like to have something out of the ordinary to sign and talk about. Sounds like Lee Smith's reaction is probably typical of most players. Glad it is going well.
Looking forward to seeing the next batch. >>
Thanks Mike
Here are a handful more --- I have a few others to post but they are great 1st HR stories and I will post them tomorrow --- heading off to sit on a couch for 10+ hours and watch some football
Have a trio of cool 1st Homerun stories Will post them in date order First Up
Jack Reed
Jack played in 3 seasons for the New York Yankees and hit only 1 homerun in his career --- but what an awesome HR it was.
Flash back to Sunday afternoon ~~ June 24, 1962 Tiger Stadium ~~ the New York Yankees vs the Detroit Tigers
All the big Yankee hitters started the game Berra, Maris, Skowron and in RF Mickey Mantle
First inning the Yankees put 6 runs on the board Tigers answered with 3 in the bottom
Yankees added another run in the 2nd and were done scoring for "awhile"
Tigers added 3 in the bottom of the third and one more in the bottom of the sixth to tie it at 7
Jack Reed had a great seat in the dugout watching all these runs being scored - in fact we was able to watch another 7 innings from the bench until he was asked to replace Phil Linz in RF to start the bottom of the 13th (Linz pinch hit for Joe Pepitone in the top of the 13th --- Pepitone replaced Mickey Mantle in RF during the bottom of the 7th)
Also at the start of the 13th the lights went on at Tiger Stadium
Reed had at bats in the 15th, 18th, 20th with nothing note worthy
At the top of the 22nd the Tigers brought in Phil Regan Bobby Richardson led off the inning by lining out (This was his 11th at bat of the game) Roger Maris walked Jack Reed stepped up and hit his first and only HR putting the Yankees in the lead 9-7 Bottom of the 22nd --- 2 quick outs, a single and then a fly out to end the game.
This is the longest game in Yankees history 22 innings which lasted a nice 7 hours. What an awesome 1st HR
I really love when I receive a card signed by a pitcher --- as we know most pitcher's are light hitters (I am sure some of the better ones would have issue with that statement)
I am not sure if Skip Pitlock is one of those light hitters since he had only 25 at bats in his career - and with those 25 at bats he had 2 hits.
His first hit is what I am concerned with
August 8, 1970 a nice Saturday game between the Houston Astros and the San Francisco Giants in Candlestick Park
Skip Pitlock is making his 9th start of the season and the Astros are not too kind since they jump on him for 3 runs in the first 2 innings.
Bottom of the 5th comes around and the first 2 Giants batters make out --- Skip Pitlock strides to the plate (he has had 15 other at bats prior to this one)
Bang!!! a shot to center field his first ever hit --- not sure if there was a strong wind blowning out, in, or sideways because it did not matter --- Pitlock's ball never left the stadium --- his first hit happened to be an inside-the-park homerun --- Pitlock pitched into the 8th and is pulled after John Mayberry hits a 2 run Hr -- which makes him on the losing end of a 5-1 score --- Giants get him off the hook though by scoring 5 in the bottom of the 9th to win the game.
Doug Clarey played in 9 games in 1976 -- had 4 at bats with 1 hit That 1 hit happened to be a HR That HR happened to win the game and the winning HR was hit in the 16th inning Awesome
Your card designs are beautiful. Love the period-correct logos. So much more special a project than my basic sets collection or even my 1978 Topps signed set. A real heirloom. Thanks for sharing these.
As always, really kewl to see your new additions. Keep 'em coming.
STAY HEALTHY!
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Michael, Fastball, Busby had sore arm - no zip on his FB. Did not get ball back as I hit it into right field fountains - electrical hazard - wouldn't let me go on after it. One of my biggest thrills waving to my parents for 1st time from ML dugout/field Best Wishes DB
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Well last January 1, 2012 I started this thread to show my 1st HR project and at the time I had over 600 returns - well to close out 2012 I now have hit the 1,000 mark
Here is the 1000th return ----- Mr. Dale Murphy Saw that some returns were starting to come back from him ~ took a shot ~ and he happened to be the 1000th reurn
I have hit a TTM wall recently --- I think I have sent to most of the "automatic" signers and now have been sending to the lower % signers --- I did start to make up cards for everyone from 1970 to present in the hopes that when I see a signing return I will shoot out a request. In the picture (right side) below you will see all the cards I have made up (over 1000) I have everyone from 1970 - 1991, 2011 and 2012 --- and about 70% from 1992-2010 (I hope to have them all done by opening day)
For giggles here are some stats --- based on 1004 (returns)
Number by Team Phillies_____55 Cubs_____49 Tigers_____49 White Sox_____47 Indians_____46 Red Sox_____46 Cards_____45 Giants_____44 Dodgers_____43 Twins_____43 Reds_____41 Angels_____40 Pirates_____40 Senators_____35 Mets_____35 Orioles_____34 Yankees_____29 Brewers_____27 Padres_____26 Expos_____24 Astros_____23 Kan City A's_____22 Braves_____21 A's_____20 Royals_____20 Rangers_____19 Mariners_____13 Mil Braves_____11 Rockies_____10 Blue Jays_____8 Philly A's_____8 Browns_____6 D-Backs_____5 Marlins_____5 Bos Braves_____4 Colt 45_____4 Nationals_____3 Rays_____3 Pilots_____1
It's always fun to look at this thread. Job well done!
STAY HEALTHY!
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Comments
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Nice note to go along with Dan Graham's return
My Sandberg topps basic set
My Sandberg Topps Master set
Super thrilled with the Davey Johnson return!!!!
My first return from someone that hit a HR this year
& a cool return from Ryan Christenson
I would have understood if he sent it back unsigned
Mr. Ward has let me know that it was a fastball
Both signed for a small donation
Over the last few months Wade Boggs has been signing everything sent to him (with a very affordable donation)
What are Niekro and Boggs charging?
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
<< <i>This project is AWESOME! Thanks for sharing.
What are Niekro and Boggs charging? >>
Hey Doug
I sent along $10.00 to both of them --- they might look for more for balls/bats/oversized photos etc....
Boggs is getting a lot of love over on SCN he really has stepped up his signing
Mike
Cool thing about the Mark Hutton card is that he lives in Australia but still signs TTM (Nice return stamp too)
A couple of cards with the description of the HR
This is the first card I have had signed in person
Lee Smith was the free auto with paid admission at day 3 (Aug - 18) of the East Coast National. I was able to talk with him for a minute about his homerun. He looked really shocked that I asked about it but had a huge smile as he was telling me that he when he hit it down the line he thought it was a double and slide into second but ump said hey Smitty that ball is gone, get up and run home. He shook my hand and thanked me for asking about it.
I am getting the data on all the homeruns hit on my birthday since my arrival on terra firma. Five HR where hit on the daay of my birth. The first one may have been hit by Willie Mays, still trying verify time of day. Mickey Mantle and Roberto Clemente also homered that day. Mickey repeated the feat the next year, but was unable to three-peat sincee the Yankees did not play on my birthday that year. It will be interesting to see the toal number of home runs as well as the eventual leader.
Looking forward to seeing the next batch.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Collecting:
Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
<< <i>Great job Mike. I would think players like to have something out of the ordinary to sign and talk about. Sounds like Lee Smith's reaction is probably typical of most players. Glad it is going well.
Looking forward to seeing the next batch. >>
Thanks Mike
Here are a handful more --- I have a few others to post but they are great 1st HR stories and I will post them tomorrow --- heading off to sit on a couch for 10+ hours and watch some football
Signed the back
Will post them in date order
First Up
Jack Reed
Jack played in 3 seasons for the New York Yankees and hit only 1 homerun in his career --- but what an awesome HR it was.
Flash back to Sunday afternoon ~~ June 24, 1962 Tiger Stadium ~~ the New York Yankees vs the Detroit Tigers
All the big Yankee hitters started the game Berra, Maris, Skowron and in RF Mickey Mantle
First inning the Yankees put 6 runs on the board
Tigers answered with 3 in the bottom
Yankees added another run in the 2nd and were done scoring for "awhile"
Tigers added 3 in the bottom of the third and one more in the bottom of the sixth to tie it at 7
Jack Reed had a great seat in the dugout watching all these runs being scored - in fact we was able to watch another 7 innings from the bench until he was asked to replace Phil Linz in RF to start the bottom of the 13th (Linz pinch hit for Joe Pepitone in the top of the 13th --- Pepitone replaced Mickey Mantle in RF during the bottom of the 7th)
Also at the start of the 13th the lights went on at Tiger Stadium
Reed had at bats in the 15th, 18th, 20th with nothing note worthy
At the top of the 22nd the Tigers brought in Phil Regan
Bobby Richardson led off the inning by lining out (This was his 11th at bat of the game)
Roger Maris walked
Jack Reed stepped up and hit his first and only HR putting the Yankees in the lead 9-7
Bottom of the 22nd --- 2 quick outs, a single and then a fly out to end the game.
This is the longest game in Yankees history 22 innings which lasted a nice 7 hours.
What an awesome 1st HR
BTW, I also spent yesterday afternoon watching football and enjoyed every minute of it.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Collecting:
Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
I am not sure if Skip Pitlock is one of those light hitters since he had only 25 at bats in his career - and with those 25 at bats he had 2 hits.
His first hit is what I am concerned with
August 8, 1970 a nice Saturday game between the Houston Astros and the San Francisco Giants in Candlestick Park
Skip Pitlock is making his 9th start of the season and the Astros are not too kind since they jump on him for 3 runs in the first 2 innings.
Bottom of the 5th comes around and the first 2 Giants batters make out --- Skip Pitlock strides to the plate (he has had 15 other at bats prior to this one)
Bang!!! a shot to center field his first ever hit --- not sure if there was a strong wind blowning out, in, or sideways because it did not matter --- Pitlock's ball never left the stadium --- his first hit happened to be an inside-the-park homerun --- Pitlock pitched into the 8th and is pulled after John Mayberry hits a 2 run Hr -- which makes him on the losing end of a 5-1 score --- Giants get him off the hook though by scoring 5 in the bottom of the 9th to win the game.
Doug Clarey played in 9 games in 1976 -- had 4 at bats with 1 hit
That 1 hit happened to be a HR
That HR happened to win the game
and the winning HR was hit in the 16th inning
Awesome
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Here is what he wrote:
Michael, Fastball, Busby had sore arm - no zip on his FB.
Did not get ball back as I hit it into right field fountains
- electrical hazard - wouldn't let me go on after it.
One of my biggest thrills waving to my parents for 1st time from ML dugout/field
Best Wishes
DB
Once again some really nice items. CONGRATS.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Here are some new returns
Saw that some returns were starting to come back from him ~ took a shot ~ and he happened to be the 1000th reurn
I have hit a TTM wall recently --- I think I have sent to most of the "automatic" signers and now have been sending to the lower % signers --- I did start to make up cards for everyone from 1970 to present in the hopes that when I see a signing return I will shoot out a request. In the picture (right side) below you will see all the cards I have made up (over 1000) I have everyone from 1970 - 1991, 2011 and 2012 --- and about 70% from 1992-2010 (I hope to have them all done by opening day)
For giggles here are some stats --- based on 1004 (returns)
Number by Team
Phillies_____55
Cubs_____49
Tigers_____49
White Sox_____47
Indians_____46
Red Sox_____46
Cards_____45
Giants_____44
Dodgers_____43
Twins_____43
Reds_____41
Angels_____40
Pirates_____40
Senators_____35
Mets_____35
Orioles_____34
Yankees_____29
Brewers_____27
Padres_____26
Expos_____24
Astros_____23
Kan City A's_____22
Braves_____21
A's_____20
Royals_____20
Rangers_____19
Mariners_____13
Mil Braves_____11
Rockies_____10
Blue Jays_____8
Philly A's_____8
Browns_____6
D-Backs_____5
Marlins_____5
Bos Braves_____4
Colt 45_____4
Nationals_____3
Rays_____3
Pilots_____1
Number by Decade
1930's_____2
1940's_____24
1950's_____149
1960's_____246
1970's_____233
1980's_____171
1990's_____114
2000's_____47
2010's_____18
Longest Return____ 574 days --- Jeff Russell
Average Return____ 30.05 days
I wish you all a Happy New Year and hope that 2013 brings you some exciting collecting moments
Mike Cosgrove
It's always fun to look at this thread. Job well done!
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.