TTM This Week: Celtics Collector, Hobby Talk, Happy Returns

TTMCast this Week – January 30

Boston Celtics super collector Jarrett Leahy joins TTM Cast this week. Jarrett has been collecting since he was a kid and has some incredible Celtics stuff.

*Celtics collector Jarett Leahy in his hobby room.*

Hobby veteran Les Wolff joins me to answers some more lister mail and we get his take on new Hall of Famer Scott Rolen and the recent Panini Babe Ruth autograph mix up.

Our new TTMCast 1-on-1 show debuts Wednesday with Scott Wright, founder of the Next Gem app and I sitting down to discuss what his free collecting tool is all about. There’s plenty of general hobby talk along the way.

TTM Successes this Week

Autograph returns last week included a cool return from a very reluctant baseball signer, a few stars of the 80’s, and a former NHL goalie. In addition we remember a couple of former players who passed away last week.

Andy Messersmith

Every so often the mailman brings a surprise. Andy Messersmith has been an historically reluctant signer and rarely signs through the mail. Some players have a window when they decide they will answer requests. Over the years, Messersmith’s window has been almost non-existent.

I was pleasantly surprised the other day when I opened my envelope and found my 1978 Topps card signed by the reclusive former pitcher.

Messersmith pitched 12 seasons in the Majors from 1968-1979 with the Angles, Dodgers, Braves and Yankees. He was a 4x All-Star, won two Gold Gloves and lead the NL in wins in 1974 with the Dodgers. He won 130 games and posted an impressive 2.86 career ERA. Messersmith was one of baseball’s first free agents when he signed a three-year $1 million dollar contract with the Braves in 1976.

Terry Kennedy

Kennedy was a four-time All-Star catcher who played for the Cardinals, Padres, Orioles and Giants from 1978-1991. He won the Silver Slugger in 1983 as a member of the Padres. He appeared in the 1984 and 1989 World Series. He and his father Bob became the first father and son duo to drive in runs in a World Series when Terry drove in two runs against the Tigers in 1984 in his first at bat.

Kennedy signed his 1980 Topps card and 1987 Topps card in about two weeks.

Roger Mason

Roger Mason pitched for seven different teams in ten seasons from 1984-1994 including the Tigers, Giants, Pirates and Phillies. He was a September call-up for the Tigers who won the World Series in 1984 and pitched for the Phillies in the 1993 World Series vs Toronto. He was used primarily as a relief pitcher during his career. He won 22 games and struck out 286 batters in ten seasons.

He signed his 1986 Topps Update card and 1987 Topps card in less than 10 days.

Jeff Reed

File this one under “Big Dummy” move. I accidently sent Jeff Reed two Jerry Reed (pitcher with Cleveland, Seattle and Boston) cards to sign by accident. Jeff must have opened the envelope, shook his head, and laughed (I hope). He was nice enough to send me this 1988 Topps card of him which I am happy to add to my collection.

Reed played 17 seasons catching for six different teams including the Reds, Rockies, Twins and Giants. He played in over 1,200 games slugging 61 home runs and knocking in 323. He played in four playoff games with the Reds in 1990 but did not play in the World Series vs Oakland which the Reds won.

Ken Hill

The pride of Lynn, MA, Hill won 117 games for seven different club during his 14- year career from 1988-2001. He won 16 games in two different seasons, going 16-5 for Montreal in 1994 and 16-10 for Texas in 1996. He won two playoff games for Cleveland in 1995. He was named to the All Star game in 1994.

Hill required a $5 donation per signature. He signed his 1992 Topps card for me in less than two weeks.

Terry Hughes

Hughes played three season in the majors from 1970-1974 with the Cubs, Cardinals and Red Sox. He played in 54 games amassing 18 hits and a .209 batting average. He was acquired by Boston along with Reggie Cleveland and Diego Segui in a trade with St. Louis for Lynn McGlothen, John Curtis and Mike Garman. He hit his only home run off Cleveland’s Milt Wilcox as a member of the Red Sox in 1974. Despite being featured as a Red Sox in 1975 he spent the entire season in Triple A with Pawtucket.

He signed his1974 Topps rookie card and 1975 Topps card for me in less than two weeks.

Andy Moog

Andy Moog is a three-time Stanley Cup champion (with Edmonton) winning the Cup in 1984, 1985 and 1987. He played with four NHL teams from 1980-1998 including Edmonton, Boston, Dallas and Montreal. He won the William M Jennings Trophy in 1989-90 along with Reggie Lemelin for allowing the fewest goals against in the regular season. Moog played in four All-Star games. He won 372 games during his career, the most by any goalie not in the Hall of Fame.

Moog signed his 1990-91 Pro Set card in about three weeks.

Henry Ellard

Ellard stared at wide receiver for three NFL teams from 1983-1998 including the Rams, Redskins and Patriots. Ellard best season was 1988 when he led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,414 yards and grabbed 10 touchdowns. He was a 3X Pro Bowler as a member of the Rams being named in 1984, 1988 and 1989. He finished his career with 13, 777 receiving yards and 65 touchdowns. He has been a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame but has not gained induction.

Ellard is a consistent signer through the mail. He signed and personalized his 1986 Topps card in about a month.

Sal Bando

Former Oakland A’s and Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Sal Bando passed away last week at the age of 78 after several years battling cancer. Bando was a four-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion with Oakland. He was captain of the great A’s teams of the 70’s, then signed as a free agent with the Brewers, where he would spent eight more years as the team’s GM. He was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013 and the A’s Hall of Fame in 2022.

Bando was a guest on my podcast in 2021. Click here to listen to our interview (9:50 mark). Sal was a regular signer through the mail, autographing his 1970 card for me that year.

Gary Peters

Pitcher Gary Peters died last week at the age of 85. Peters was named AL Rookie of The Year in 1963 when he won 19 games and fashioned a 2.13 ERA for the White Sox. He led the league again in ERA and wins again a few years later. He was a two-time All-Star with Chicago before finishing his career with the Red Sox from 1970-72. He was a very accomplished hitter as well slugging 15 home runs and knocking in 71 runs during his career. Peters was traded to Boston along with catcher Don Pavletich for Syd O’Brien, Billy Famer, and cash after the 1969 season.

A reliable TTMer over the years, he signed his 1971 Topps card for me last year.