1/30/2010

No mail makes me a sad collector. I haven't gotten a TTM success in a while. I am hoping for some of the batch I sent out a couple of weeks ago to start trickling in this week.

I also made up my mind regarding my collecting. It seems to me I have been concentrating more on getting hockey and basketball autos. Yes, I enjoy watching The Devils and Knicks play and am equilly happy when one of their players (former and present) will sign an autograph for me. But, in the process of working to write letters, create customs, I have neglected the one team I truly love, the New York Yankees.

I have been a Yankees fan since 1976. In fact, the first game I watched was Game 5 of the '76 ALCS when Chris Chambliss hit the walk off home run to put the Yankees back into the fall classic since 1964 only to get swept by the Big Red Machine of Cincinnatti. I have been a follower of the Yankees since. My love for autographs started out in the 80's when I was old enough to go to Yankee Stadium by myself. I would wait outside for the players to come out. Some were awesome signers like Lou Pinella, Don Mattingly while some seemed to take glee in turning down a kid like Graig Nettles, my former favorite Yankee. He was mean then and is still pretty nasty to this day. Back then, the metal bars seperating you from the players walking in was not far at all. As the years past, the metal started getting further and further back from the entrance until they were right by the Yankee Clubhouse Store at the old stadium! If you are at all fimilar with the old Yankee Stadium, you know how far away that is. You needed binoculars just to see who was entering the stadium. Now at the new stadium, The players can just drive in to a private parking garage that is built inside the stadium. Earlier this year, you werent even allowed to go downstairs to watch batting practice or try for autos like in the old stadium. That changed though thanks to the public outcry. I guess the people who paid 2 grand for their seats didn't want a ham and egger like myself standing in their area, trying to get Teixiera to sign.

It seems I went off on a tangent. Fact is, the Yankees are my favorite team. When I started to write for autographs, I wanted to concentrate soley on the Yankees players, past and present. Over time, I started to add players who played for the Jets, Knicks, Devils and Islanders. I think it was because I was buying and trading for certified autos on baseball cards that I didn't need the ones who were signing ttm. Plus, there were some players that I just didnt have cards of. Now that I have learned to create custom cards, that shouldn't be a problem. Anyway, my quest to get as many autos of the players who played in Yankee Pinstripes has officially rebegun. Doesn't mean I will stop ttm'ing my other teams. It just means I will make a more concerted effort on the Yankees.

Anyways, thanks for reading my tangent. I hope to have some successes to report this week.

Mike

1/29/2010

Hey everyone,

Sorry for the absence. Work has been a you know what. Plus, I really haven't been getting much in. I have gotten a few items, but much of the ttm's I sent out hasn't arrived yet. I'm beginning to wonder about Johnny Bower. He's usually good within a week and it's been a month and nothing has been returned. I'm wondering if my package got lost on it's way over or from there. Then again, Same with Kevin Weekes. I sent his in early Dec in care of Hockey Night In Canada and nothining yet. I'm wondering if it has to do with customs. I sent both a puck in their packages along with the customs. I hear of some people just stamping up the envelope and sending it out rather than dealing with the customs slip. I may try that next time. Weekes is not the concern. I'd like to add Bower to my small, but growing HOF puck collection.

I'll try to post pics of my recent gets tonight when I get home from the gym.

Mike

1/6/2010

My first post of 2010. It was a very busy month for me. I wasn't able to get out as many requests as I would have liked. Plus got sick and then the holidays came and now, here we are in 2010 already. God, time flies the older you get. Seems like yesterday I was a teenager in school, wishing time flew, lol. Now I want it to slow down. This is my last year in my thirties. I want to enjoy it before I turn the big 40 in 2011.

Anyway, I did get a TTM yesterday. I'll try and get a scan up and running. I got in Brett Hull. He signed a puck and 2 custom cards in under 2 weeks. I'm still waiting for Johhny Bower, Kevin Weekes and Jeremy Roenick to return my mail. Roenick is taking a while. I'm wondering if he stopped signing all together.

One of my New Years resolutions is to get at least 20 requests out. Let see if that actually happens. Spring Training is coming up fast and I need to get myself in gear and start writing those st requests to current and former Yankees. Plus there are still a few more Devils, Knicks and Jets players I need to hit up for graphs.

Speaking of the Jets. I was at the game Sunday, freezing my tukous off, but watching my J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets beat up on the Bengals. I know Cincy played a vanilla offense and rested a bunch of players, but I really think we can beat the Bengals Saturday. We have the 4:30 game, so I'll have my steak and Blue Moon ready.

Stay warm, my friends.

12/15/2009

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to post a quick one this morning. I have been a bit under the weather as of late, plus the lack of anything in the mail has kept me from posting. I'm hoping to get something, anything this week so I have something to post. Would also love for this cough to take a hike as well. I usully dont get a cough, but when I do, it likes to unpack a lunch and stay awhile.

Hope everyone is getting all their xmas shopping done. I still have a few things to take care of, but it should be done this week.

Talk to you all soon.

12/2/2009

Hey everyone,

Sorry I have been off a bit. I haven't actually gotten anything recently, plus I have been a bit sick this week. Just wanted to show off some recent gets:

Former Flyers Great Bobby Clarke signed 2 custom index cards and a Puck for me. The cool thing was Clarke actually took the time to seperate my items in diffrent envelopes instead of just shoving everything into one envelope. The "Bob" part on the puck got a little smudged, but the effort was much appreciated. I wish alot of athletes were this thoughtful

NBA Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens signed 4 custom Knicks index cards for the Knicks PC. Wilkens is the only HOF'er in as both a player and coach. Great TTM'er.

I managed to snag a autographed card from of former Knicks coach Red Holzman off ebay for a pretty good price. I do hope it's a legit auto. For what I paid, if it turns out it's a fake, it won't be too big a deal.

I also added two new Marty Brodeur cards to the PC. Was able to make a deal with a SPAWN forum boardmember from Canada for two of the 2009-10 McDonalds cards.

Also managed to snag a Roberto Luango signed 8x10 from a group break of UD Portraits. I had the Devils and Canucks as my teams and will frame this bad boy and hang it up.

Last note, was saddened to hear of the passing of former Yankee great Tommy Henrich. From what I was told, he was to the Yankees of the 30's and 40's what Paul O'Neill was to the Yankees of the 90's. The man came through in big situations for the Yankees. He batted a career .282, , was a 5 time all star, 5 time world champion with the Yankees. In game 4 of the 41 series against the Dodgers. He swing and missed a full count breaking pitch, but Dodgers catcher Mickey Owens missed the ball, allowing Henrich to reach first and keep the inning going. Dimaggio singled, Keller doubled and Gordon doubled in 2 more runs and the Yankees had a 7-4 victory and a 3-1 series lead, which they would win.

He was 96 when he passed. God Rest his soul.

11/19/2009

Hey everyone,

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit. Work has kept me busy and tired. I did get a few things in the mail from TTM, Box Breaks and Ebay. I'll get them posted over the weekend.

I decided to start an ambitous project. I want to get the 2009 Yankees World Series Team on 2009 World Series baseballs. I know this will take me a long while and plus, I know it will be very expensive, but I am willing to try. Players like Jeter, Arod, Rivera and Matsui are some of the few players I may have to pay Steiner Prices for, but I'll do it, hence the length of time it will take me to complete this project. Plus, the players aren't readily avalable to the public like the Philies were last year as I have been following a few blogs and seen a few 2008 Phillies WS auto ball collections. I'll of course leave posts and pics of what I get.

I'll talk to guys later. I'm hoping the rumors I hear about AI coming to the Knicks aren't true. Please no.

11/12/2009

Hey everyone,

Sorry I haven't posted a blog recently. Been a bit busy with work and plus, I haven't had any returns TTM-wise. I did get a Broduer dual jersey card off ebay that arrived recently, so I will get a pic of it up tonight.

Just a quick request, if anyone reads my blogs, please post a quick comment so I know someone is reading these, lol. Other than posting pics of my wins or sucesses, my main goal here is making new friends.

Let's Go Knicks/Devils!