TTM This Week: HOF Signers; Cards Hockey Players Won't Sign; Sooz and Les on the Show

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 13^th 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 9^th 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.