It was a good week of TTM autograph requests, starting with a Baseball Hall of Famer, whose signature I acquired with a modest donation. Here are a few of the former players I connected with for little or no cost:
Orlando Cepeda
Baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda played first base, outfield and designated hitter for six teams from 1958-1974 including the Giants, Cardinals, Braves, Athletics, Red Sox and Royals. He was an 11 time All-Star, NL Rookie of the Year (1958), NL MVP (1967) and won a World Series in 1967 with the Cardinals. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
Cepeda signed his 1966 Topps card for me in about three weeks with a charitable donation of $10.
Jamaal Wilkes
Basketball Hall of Famer Jamaal Wilkes was a three-time NBA All-Star and won four championships with the Golden State Warriors (1) and LA Lakers (3). After staring at UCLA, Wilkes was selected in the first round of the 1974 draft by the Warriors. He won Rookie of the Year and won the NBA championship in his first season. He played three seasons with Golden State before joining the Lakers. He finished his career in 1986 with the LA Clippers.
I sent him two cards and he signed and personalized his 1979 and signed his 1980 Topps cards for me in about ten days.
Kellen Winslow Sr.
Professional Football Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow played his entire nine-year career as a tight end with the San Diego Chargers. He was drafted out of Missouri by the Chargers with the 13th pick in the first round in the 1979 draft. A five-time Pro-Bowler amassing 45 touchdown receptions and 6,741 yards during his career, Winslow was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995 and College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
He signed his 1981 Topps rookie card and added the HOF inscription for me in less than two weeks. I sent a $10 donation along with my request.
Mark Duper
Mark “Super” Duper was one of Dan Mario’s favorite targets as a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins in the 1980s and early 90s. He was selected by the Dolphins in the second round of the 1982 draft out of Northwestern State and played ten years with the Fins. He grabbed 59 touchdown catches for over 8,800 years during his career. He was a three-time Pro Bowler. Duper was inducted along with fellow wideout Mark Clayton into the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll in 2003.
Duper signed his 1987 Topps and 1990 Pro Set cards for me in about four weeks. I included $10 with my request. Mark signed my cards but sent along a note the saying I “was $10 short” but still signed both of my cards. He added his number and signed both “Super Duper” which was kind of different.
Sonny Siebert
Sonny Siebert won 140 games during his major league career as a right-handed pitcher for Cleveland, Boston, Texas, St. Louis, San Diego, and Oakland from 1964-1975. He was a two-time All-Star and threw a no-hitter in 1966 against the Washington Senators as a member of the Indians. He hit two home runs in a game as a member of the Boston Red Sox in 1971 against the Orioles.
I sent him his 1965 Topps card that I picked up in a quarter bin at a local card store and his 1972 Topps card that I grabbed for a dime at a recent card show. He signed both and returned them to be in about a week. Siebert requests a $7 donation for each autograph.
Reggie Theus
Reggie Theus played 13 seasons in the NBA with five different teams including the Bulls, Kings, Hawks, Magic and Nets. He stared at UNLV and was taken by the Bulls with the 9th overall pick in the 1978 draft. He signed his 1979 Topps card which I sent to him at Bethune-Cookman University in Florida where he is currently head men’s basketball coach.
I made the mistake of not inspecting the card prior to sending it out. As you will notice in the picture, you can see the wax residue on the surface of the card. You should always inspect, clean, and prep your cards prior to sending them out.
Here’s a few more notables who are currently signing for free. I have had success with all of them in the past:
- Dell Curry – Charlotte Hornets
- Dennis Hull – Chicago Blackhawks
- Mike Vrabel – Titans Coach and former New England Patriot
- Jim Marshall – Minnesota Vikings
- Don Kessinger – Cubs and White Sox Shortstop
Have a TTM success story you would like to share with me? Please, send it me at [email protected]. If I use it in my column, I’ll send you a prize. Most athletes’ mailing addresses are available on several TTM related web sites including SportsCardForum.com and SportsCollectors.net.
TTM Tip of the Week
Courtesy of my podcast co-host Drew Pelto, we continue with the list of former athletes who refuse to sign specific cards and the reason they will not sign them. This week we focus on hockey players:
- Kevin Adams: 2007-08 Upper Deck
- Brent Ashton: 1991-92 O-Pee-Chee/Topps; only signs for family
- Ken Baumgartner: 1990-91 Upper Deck
- Radek Bonk: Las Vegas Thunder items
- Mel Bridgman: 1983-84 O-Pee-Chee
- Randy Carlyle: 1987-88 O-Pee-Chee and Topps
- Bob Carpenter: 1989-90 Topps; will only sign back
- Kevin Collins: 1990-91 Pro Set
- Yvan Cournoyer: 2005-06 In The Game Heroes & Prospects; not him pictured
- Russ Courtnall: 1991-92 Pro Set
- John Davidson: 2001-02 Fleer Greats of the Game
- Kevin Dineen: 1995-96 Edge Ice; only signs for family
- Pelle Eklund: 1994-95 Parkhurst
- Bob Errey: 1989-90 O-Pee-Chee
- Craig Fisher: 1990-91 Upper Deck; Jay Wells on front, but will sign back
- Mike Foligno: 1993-94 Upper Deck; only signs for family
- Adam Foote: any Upper Deck Victory
- Ron Francis: cards with him pictured with the Stanley Cup
- Garry Galley: 1991-92 Pro Set (All-Star); only signs for family
- Aaron Gavey: 1993-94 Upper Deck
- Doug Gilmour: 1990-91 Upper Deck
- Martin Gerber: licensed NHL photos
- Chris Gratton: 2003-04 Topps Traded
- Mike Green: 2003-04 Pacific Prospects; photo is Andy Reierson (maybe?)
- Ron Greschner: 1978-79 Topps; will only sign O-Pee-Chee Rangers version
- Wayne Gretzky: 1988-89 Topps, cards with his son Ty on the back; only signs for family
- Greg Hawgood: 1993-94 Leaf; only signs for family
- Phil Housley: 1990-91 Upper Deck; only signs for family
- Mark Howe: 1989-90 Topps
- Tim Hunter: 1997-98 Pacific Dynagon Best Kept Secrets
- Gord Hynes: 2000-01 Upper Deck DEL; photo is Wayne Hynes
- Peter Ing: 1990-91 Score; says he was not compensated for the card
- Arturs Irbe: 1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Red Army
- Mike Keane: Montreal Canadians Centennial cards; was not paid for his appearance in it
- Petr Klima: 1992-93 Score
- Alexei Kovalev: NY Rangers items
- Milan Kraft: 2000-01 Upper Deck Reserve
- Niklas Kronwall: 2012-13 Score; photo is Tomas Holmstrom
- Guy Lapointe: 2001-02 Fleer Greats of the Game, 2004-05 Upper Deck Legends
- Gary Leeman: Montreal Canadiens items
- Reggie Lemelin: 2006-07 Parkhurst; photo is Yves Belanger
- Mario Lemieux: cards with him pictured with the Stanley Cup
- Mike Liut: 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Upper Deck: only signs for family
- Jack Lynch: 1977-78 O-Pee-Chee; photo is Bill Collins
- Al Macinnis: 1991-92 Upper Deck (All-Star); only signs for family
- Sergei Makarov: 1991-92 Upper Deck; only signs for family
- David Maley: 2002-03 Fleer Throwbacks
- Dave Manson: Toronto Maple Leafs items
- Kip, Kelly, and Kevin Miller: 1991-92 Upper Deck Bloodlines
- Stanislav Neckar: 1994-95 Upper Deck
- Brian Noonan: 1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier; photo is Dan Vincelette, Noonan will sign the back
- Teppo Numminen: Adds the year he signed it to all rookie cards
- Steve Ott: 2005-06 In The Game Heroes & Prospects; hated playing for Hamilton
- Robert Reichel: 1993-94 Lea
- Gary Roberts: 1992-93 Pinnacle Heroes
- Stacy Roest: Cards that have wrong player pictured
- Christian Ruuttu: 1991-92 O-Pee-Chee/Topps, 1992-93 Upper Deck, 1992-93 Bowman
- Tommy Salo: 1995-96 Edge Ice; photo is Milan Hnilicka (Hnilicka will sign it)
- Al Secord: 1990-91 Bowman; photo is Duane Sutter (Secord will sign back)
- Alexander Semin: 2003-04 Topps C55
- Darryl Sittler: 1990-91 Pro Set; only signs for his kids
- Billy Smith: 2006-07 In The Game Heroes & Prospects
- Ryan Smyth: 1997-98 Upper Deck Collectors Choice
- Mario Tremblay: 1975-76 Topps; photo is Gord MacTavish
- Marty Turco: 2015 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions
- Darren Turcotte: 1995-96 Pinnacle
- Wes Walz: Cards that have wrong player pictured
- Doug Wilson: Rookie cards and reprints of them
- Tyler Wright: 1998-99 Upper Deck; only signs for family
This Week’s TTM Cast Show
Collector and writer Susan Lulgjuraj, currently with Golden Auctions, joins the TTM Cast this week. We had a good chat with “Sooz” in which we discussed the potential impact of Fanatics on the hobby, the recent discovery of the 2022 Topps Wander Franco Platinum 1-of-1 in a pack sold at Walgreens, her thoughts on the treatment of women in our hobby and her collecting interests.
In addition, hobby legend Les Wolff joins the show to talk about being prepared when you get autographs in person. What’s the best pen to use for baseballs, how about pictures, should you ask for inscriptions? Les chimes in with his recommendations and suggestions.
Next week Director of Communications for the National Sports Collectors Convention, Ray Shulte, joins the show to give us the low-down on the upcoming event in Atlantic City.
Go to ttmcast.com or ttmcast.podbean.com to listen to this week’s show.
Related Stories:
TTM This Week: Artis Gilmore, Autograph Successes and More Stuff Players Won’t Sign
TTM Collecting This Week: Visit with Sam McDowell; Autographs in the Mailbox; Price of Stamps
Childhood Autograph Collection Includes Sports Icons, Great Memories
At 90, Thomas Using Autograph to Help Kids with Cancer
Last Minute (Mostly) Cheap Gift Ideas for Sports Collectors
Arkansas Collector Gets Signed Cards of Glenn Hubbard — 16 1/2 Years After They Were Mailed
“Waiting for a Sign” Tells Tales of Autograph Seeking
Rockies’ Neshek Burns Greinke Over Autograph Snub
