On the TTMCast Podcast This Week
Brian Ludden, Founder and CEO of LUDEX joins me on TTM Cast this week to talk about his new app for collectors. LUDEX is a sports and trading card scanning app that accurately identifies and tracks the value of your card collection.
Also, Russell Savage from 757cardshow.com comes on in this week’s Collectors Corner to give us a preview of his Nov 12 card show at the Virginia Beach Field House. Admission to the show is free.
Former New England Patriots linebacker and 2X Super Bowl champion Tully Banta-Cain spent a few minutes with me at the recent Northeast Collectors Expo in Quincy, MA. We talk Patriots and signing autographs.
Go to: ttmast.com or ttmcast.podbean.com to listen to this week’s show.
TTM Successes this Week
I did not send any about requests out about three weeks ago and as a result the volume of returns was a little low. What was lacking in quantity was surely made up in quality, though, with successes from a few NFL Pro Bowlers, an NBA All-Star and a great historic return.
Michael Cooper
Larry Bird called Cooper the toughest defender he ever played against. Cooper was a vital member of five NBA championship teams where he played shooting guard from 1978-1991. He was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1987.
Cooper signed his 1981-82 Topps card for me in less than two weeks. Interestingly the front of his card listed him as “Mike” while he has always been known as Michael during his playing career.
Boomer Esiason
Esiason was selected by the Bengals out of Maryland in the second round of the 1984 NFL Draft. He would play for the Bengals from 1984-1992 before joining the Jets, and Cardinals for three seasons. He’d play his final season back in Cincinnati in 1997. Boomer was NFL MVP in 1988 and was a 4x Pro Bowler. After retiring he became a broadcaster and host of a morning radio program in New York.
Esiason is an outstanding signer via the mail and returned his 1986 Topps rookie card for me in about three weeks.
Rich Karlis
Karlis was a barefooted place kicker in the NFL for nine seasons for the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. He’s best know for his game-winning field goal for Denver in the 1986 AFC Championship Game. Karlis hit 172 Field goals during his career.
He signed his 1986 Topps card for me in about three weeks.
John Smith
Kicker love continued this week with two returns from former All Pro kicker for the New England Patriots John Smith. The English born Smith kicked for the Patriots from 1974-1983. He made the Pro Bowl in 1980 and lead the NFL in scoring in 1979 and 1980. He scored the only points in the famous “Snow Plow Game” in 1982 when a convict released for the weekend cleared the field which allowed Smith to hit a field goal that beat the Miami Dolphins.
Smith signed his 1976 and 1981 Topps cards for me in about two weeks.
Wilma Briggs
Briggs, who recently celebrated her 92nd birthday played 7 seasons in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1948-1954. She is second in career home runs for the league and led the league in 1951. She was a left-hand hitting outfielder known for her powerful bat. She also was a great base stealer.
Briggs played for two Hall of Famers, Jimmie Fox and Max Carey and credits Carey as helping make her a better ball player. She retired from baseball at the age of 23 when the league folded in 1954.
She made an appearance in the movie A League of Their Own.
A native of Rhode Island, Briggs has been inducted into numerous Hall of Fames. I had the opportunity to interview her this past week and will be featuring our interview on my podcast in a few weeks.
She signed this custom card for me and returned it in less than a week.
Steve Crawford
Crawford was a right-handed relief pitcher for the Red Sox and Royals for ten seasons from 1980-1991. He saved 12 games in 1985 for the Red Sox and struck out over 300 batters during his career. He pitched in three games in the 1986 World Series for Boston vs the New York Mets, earning a win in game 2.
Crawford signed his 1988 and 1985 Topps cards for me in less than two weeks.
Most athletes’ mailing addresses are available on several TTM related web sites including SportsCardForum.com and SportsCollectors.net.
Here are some other retired players who are currently signing for free. I have had success with all of them in the past:
- Dick Vermeil – Hall of Fame coach, Philadelphia, St. Louis Rams and Kansas City
- Bert Campaneris – Sbortstop for the A’s, Angels and Rangers
- Jon Matlack – 1972 NL Rookie of the Year, Pitcher Mets and Texas
- Don Marcotte – 2 X Stanley Cup winner with the Boston Bruins
- Ron Hansen – 1960 AL Rookie of the Year
- Brian Winters –Bucks and Lakers guard
- Roger Craig – Running back Vikings, Raiders and 49ers
- Steve Busby – 2x All-Star who threw two no-hitters with KC Royals
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TTM This Week: Nolan Ryan Collector, 1-On-1 with Otto Moore; Weekly Autograph Returns
TTM This Week: 5,403 Day Wait for Former Hockey Player’s Autograph Ends
TTM This Week: Selling a Lifelong Collection; Autograph Assessments; Fenway Fun; TTM Successes
TTM This Week: Card Life Talk, Football Autographs in the Mailbox
TTM This Week: Returns, ‘Graphing Season and Creating Custom Cards for Autographs
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