On this week’s edition of the TTM Cast, new Beckett CEO Kunal Chopra joins us to talk about his plans to grow the company over the next 12 months. We dive into how technology is expected to play an important role in the company’s future. We also discuss Beckett’s plans for the National Sports Collectors Convention.
With The National less than three weeks away, hobby legend Les Wolff comes on to share tips on how to have the best experience at the show this year.
Listen to this week’s episode below.
Next week Principal Autograph Authenticator at PSA and author of the new book Waiting for a Sign Volume 2 Kevin Keating will join me to talk about this new book and share some of his fun autograph collecting stories that date back many years.
TTM Successes this Week
This week saw some returns from former Super Bowl Champions, Pro Bowlers, and a whole bunch of wide receivers and tight ends. I sent out 16 baseball requests this week so hopefully we will start seeing some baseball returns in a few weeks.
Please note: Most athlete’s mailing addresses are available on several TTM related web sites including SportsCardForum.com and SportsCollectors.net.
Charlie Waters
Charlie Waters played safety for the Dallas Cowboy from 1970-81. He was a 2x Super Bowl Champion and 3x Pro Bowler during his career. Selected in the third round of the 1970 NFL Draft out of Clemson, Waters would play 160 games with the Cowboys, intercepting 41 passes during his career.
He played in five Super Bowls and 25 playoff games. Waters was nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001 but did not get elected.
Waters signed my 1975 Topps card and sent me an extra 1979 Topps card as well. Interestingly, he signed both cards but with different color ink and added his number just to my 1975 card. I sent along a $10 donation with my request. It took less than two weeks.
Ray Hamilton
Ray “Sugar Bear” Hamilton stared as a defensive end for the New England Patriots from 1973-1981. He was a 14th round pick out of Oklahoma in the 1973 NFL Draft. Every Patriots fan remembers Hamilton for tipping a Ken Stabler pass in a 1976 playoff game on the play where referee Ben Dreith (who ranks right up there with Bucky Dent in Boston sports folklore) called roughing the passer against Hamilton, giving the Raiders a first down which led to the deciding score. The Patriots would have to wait until “The Tuck” call in the 2001 playoffs to get even with the Raiders.
Hamilton went on the have a long and successful coaching career with many teams including the Patriots, Buccaneers, Raiders, Jets, Browns, Jaguars, and Falcons.
Ray is a great TTMer. He signed his 1976 Topps card and added “Sugar Bear” for me in about one week.
Wallace Francis
It was a big week for returns from former wide receivers. Former Buffalo Bill and Atlanta Falcon Wallace Francis led the way this week signing his 1980 Topps card for me in about two weeks.
Francis was a 5th round pick by the Bills in 1973. He would play two seasons there before joining the Falcons in 1975 where he’d play for the next seven seasons before he retired in 1981. He played in 132 games during his career with 27 touchdown catches. His best season was 1979 when he caught 74 passes for 1,013 yards and seven scores.
Francis signed his 1980 Topps card for me in four weeks.
Reggie Langhorne
Langhorne played nine seasons in the NFL as wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts from 1985-93. He was the 175th pick in the 7th round out of Elizabeth City State in 1985. Langhorne had his best season as a member of the Colts in 1993 when he caught 85 balls for over 1,000 yards.
He signed his 1989 Topps card for me in about a week.
Tim McGee
Tim McGee earned All-American honors at Tennessee and was a first round pick by the Bengals in 1986. He would go on to score 28 touchdowns and catch 321 passes during his career from 1986-1995 with the Cincinnati and Washington. He played in Super Bowl XXIII with the Bengals and caught two passes in that game.
He signed his 1989 Topps card for me in less than two weeks.
Paul Coffman
Paul Coffman played in three Pro Bowls during his NFL career which spanned ten seasons from 1978-1988 with Green Bay, Kansas City and Minnesota. He went undrafted out of Kansas State but went on to have a stellar career which was capped when he was elected to the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame in 1994. A durable, reliable receiving threat in Green Bay, Coffman scored 42 touchdowns and amassed over 4,300 receiving yards during his career.
He signed his 1980 Topps card for me in about three weeks, adding a Bible verse.
Jeff West
West was drafted in the 5th round of the 1975 NFL draft by the Bengals out of University of Cincinnati. He never played for the Bengals but became a dual threat at punter and tight end for the Cardinals, Chargers and Seahawks from 1975-1985. He appeared in 123 games during his career.
He signed his 1980 Topps card for me in less than two weeks.
Here are some others who are currently signing for free. I have had success with all of them in the past:
- Elroy “Roy” Face – Pittsburgh Pirate Relief Pitcher
- Doug Radar – MLB 3rd baseman and Manager
- Phil Roof – MLB Catcher
- James Lofton –HOF Wide Receiver with the Packers and Bills
- Pat Haden – USC great and former Los Angeles Rams QB
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.
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