My Topps Cardinals Autograph Collection (modern stuff)

Up next is a 1972 Topps RBI LL signed by Joe Torre. This very nearly completes my 1972 Topps set. I have every card autographed, but on the multiplayer rookie card I only have Bibby's signature. I still need Roque and Guzman.

This raises the total to 1,337.

Up next is my first 2 Dennis Eckersley signed cards - a 1997 and 1998 Topps.

This raises the total to 1,340.

Up next is one that is surprisingly tough. It is a 1988 Topps Tony Pena and it is my first signature from him.

This raises the total to 1,342.

In order to get caught up, I am adding 9 more (on 8 cards) that have been on the back burner.

1994 Topps Richard Batchelor
1995 Topps Allen Watson
1998 Topps Gary Gaetti
1998 Topps Jeff Brantley
2001 Topps Shawn Boyd
2005 Topps Stuart Pomeranz
1988 Topps Danny Cox
1988 Topps Cardinals Team signed by Red Schoendienst and Tony Pena

This increases the total to 1,351.

Up next is a 2002 Topps Mark McGwire authenticated by PSA/DNA. It is personalized to someone named "Brady". Apparently "Brady" didn't think enough of it to keep it. His loss is my gain. I'm glad to have it after searching for this one for a while.

This raises the total to 1,355.

Up next is a 1971 Topps Milt Ramirez. Mr Ramirez only played in 94 games in parts of 3 years, but this is a 1971 high number and his signature is tough to come by.

This one raises the total to 1,363.

Up next is a 1962 Topps Don Lanrdum. Mr Landrum passed away in 2003.

This raises the total to 1,365.

This card completes the entire 1972 Topps Cardinals team set. I never thought I would be able to find all 3 of these signatures on this rookie card. Guzman and Roque are very tough. I just got the Guzman a couple of weeks ago. Just a few days ago I was able to find Jorge Roque. Strangely enough this card has Roque's signature twice. Looks like maybe the ink was running out and he tried to redo it. Anyway, his signature on this card totally completes the team set.

This increases the total to 1,373.

Up next is a 1973 Topps Lou Brock League Leaders card.

This increases the total to 1,375.

@GreenSneakers said:
As I admire your collection, and your dedicated focus, I’ve wondered two things:

1. What’s your most favorite piece? Is it your favorite because of the player, the story behind the auto, or what?

2. What’s your least favorite piece? A player you never really cheered for? A sloppy auto?

Thanks for continuously updating the thread.

>

To narrow it down to one favorite is almost impossible. Therefore I have come up with a few that are high on my list.

I'll start with my 2001 Topps Traded Albert Pujols. He was my favorite player by far while he was with the Cardinals. His at-bats were must see TV. He does not sign this card very often. You don't see very many of these around. It's the only autograph that I have not busted out of the holder and put in my album. I actually have this one on my shelf.

Next I would say are two special ones. For Christmas my wife got me a couple of autographed cards. One year she bought me a 1959 Topps Bob Gibson rookie that is signed. Another year she bought me a 1986 Topps Vince Coleman signed. Vince Coleman was my favorite player growing up in the 80s.

The best story that I have is about some of my Red Schoendienst autographs. I was able to get a few of his through the mail and then it was like he got tired of signing through the mail and he started putting return to sender on the envelope. After trying a few more times to no avail I had an idea. Since he was with the Cardinals for so long I figured he had some loyalty to Cardinals fans. I'm sure many of the cards that got sent to him were simply put on eBay to sell. So on the outside of the envelope I wrote in big letters "please sign for a lifelong Cardinals fan". It worked like a charm on multiple occasions.

I don't really have a least favorite. They are all Cardinals so I like all of them. However I do have a story that kind of aggravates me. When I was sending off Cardinals team cards to different players I lost a 1956 Topps team card that was already signed by the late Terry Moore. I bought the team card on eBay already signed by Terry Moore and then I sent the card to several players that were living. After a few signatures the card got lost or kept by one of the players. I can't remember who but I wish I still had that card.

Also I do have one regret in the 13 years I have done this project. I wish I had never sold my 1968 Topps Roger Maris that was signed. I had to sell it because I needed the money at the time. That's the only card that I have sold out of my collection. I still have not replaced it but one day I hope to do so.

Got a couple of big ones that I will post shortly. This one is a 2000 Topps Joe McEwing. Mark McGwire was Big Mac, and Joe was Little Mac.

This raises the total to 1,377.

@GreenSneakers said:
Where’s 1378?

1,378 is Lou Brock on that card. 1,379 is Curt Flood.

The number is not for cards. The number is for autographs.

@mrmopar said:
Not only is the 64 Flood hard to find in general (thanks hoarder!), finding one signed is a sweet accomplishment. Always enjoy checking back for updates. Congrats on completing 72. Someday I am going to inventory my Dodgers cards so I can see exactly where I stand. I may have completed the 72 set, but I am thinking not. That set is loaded with toughies, maybe not hard to find, but expensive.

Go for it! I would love to see your 1972 Dodgers team set signed!

Folks....this is one post that I thought I would never be adding to this thread, but here it is. I just scored my first 1952 Topps autographed high number.

In the 1952 Topps Cardinals team set there are 4 high numbers. There is #334 Wilmer Mizell, #378 Les Fusselman, #386 Eddie Yuhas, and #398 Hal Rice. All of these men passed away years ago. Mizell died in 1999; Fusselman died in 1970; Yuhas died in 1986, and Rice died in 1997. So it goes without saying that the easiest one to obtain would be the Mizell, since he is the most recent deceased. It is indeed the one I have obtained.

Mizell autographs are not super plentiful by any stretch, but they can be had. There are currently 21 Topps Mizell autographs listed on Ebay with most of them being Topps Archives or reprint type cards. I have searched Ebay for 13 years and have never found one single 1952 Topps Mizell listed until this one. I do remember one of the major auction houses sold one a few years ago. I bid competitively, but I came out the loser. I think it went for over $1700. PSA/DNA has authenticated a whopping total of 3. Fusselman has a total pop of 1; Yuhas pop is 1; and Rice pop is 1.

A couple of weeks ago this Mizell and a Hal Rice (along with several other 1952 and 1953 Topps signed cards) were listed on Ebay from a reputable seller. Almost all of them had the border trimmed off. There was my 52 Mizell, a 52 Hal Rice, and a 53 Hal Rice that I was watching like a hawk. Since these were trimmed I thought I had an excellent chance at all 3. Boy, was I wrong. I was able to snag the Mizell for $215 which I was happy with. I had bid much higher. However, I was the high bidder on the 52 and 53 Hal Rice cards for less than a second at the very end. I bid around $500 each. The 52 went for $1775 and the 53 went for $1026. He must not have signed very much at all because while the 1952 is a tough high number, the 1953 card is a common card. Plus, he died in 1997, which means there should be more available. He must be one tough autograph to snag.

Anyway, I am super excited to have this one. Since it was trimmed, I had a plan to make it look a little better in my album along with my other 1952s. I looked through my duplicate 1952 Topps and found a Billy Johnson that was begging to try to make a difference in this world. He wanted be a part so much that he was willing to sacrifice and donate part of himself. Granted, I am not a professional at things like this, but I think it turned out acceptable. At least it now has a border.

Also, this is my first 1952 Topps to have the facsimile autograph erased with the real one penned in it's place. I have seen and heard of people doing this, but never owned one until now.

Below are scans of the original trimmed card, plus the front and back after the cosmetic surgery was performed. I also included a picture of what he looks like next to his teammates.

This raises the total to 1,381.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why I didn't have this one already when I was sending through the mail. I had already sent several cards to Todd Worrell and he sent them all back signed. For some reason I didn't send him a 1987 Topps AS card. So, I found one on Ebay for next to nothing. Here it is.

This raises the total to 1,383.