TTMCast this Week
On this week’s TTMCast podcast Canadian TTMer Robert Costa joins me to discuss the impressive autograph collection he has amassed TTMing from Canada. Robert shares all of his successes on Instagram. We learn about some of his most recent autograph successes including a special return from NHL Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux.
This Wednesday, on TTMCast 1-on-1 1983 World Series MVP Rick Dempsey reminisces about his 24 years in the Major Leagues. Dempsey talks about the inspiration for his famous Babe Ruth “called shot” rain delay performance at Fenway Park in 1977 and tells us about a funny prank joke he pulled on teammate Mike Boddicker and Lenn Sakata during spring training.
You can listen to all our podcasts at ttmcast.podbean.com.
TTM Successes this Week
Sometimes TTM returns run in cycles. For no reason you can hit a lull in returns. This week saw a slowdown at the end of the week. This prompted me to send out 35 new requests. While the number of returns were down this week, I did get a number of fun returns including signed cards from hockey great Ed Westfall, World Series MVP Rick Dempsey and no-hit pitcher Tommy Greene.
Several TTM web sites including, SportsCardForum.com and SportsCollectors.net, offer player addresses for autographs.
Here are a few of my recent successes:
Ed Westfall
Westfall played 18 seasons in the NHL with the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders from 1961-1979. He won two Stanley Cups with the Bruins in 1970 and 1972. He was selected by the Islanders in the 1972 Expansion Draft and was the Islanders first captain. Westfall scored the first goal in Islander history. He scored 231 goals during his career.
Westfall is a great TTMer. He signed his 1976-77 Topps card and included his number #18 in about a week.
Tommy Greene
Tommy Green tossed a no-hitter for the Phillies vs the Expos on May 23rd,1991. Green won 38 games for Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Houston from 1989-1997. His best season was with the Phillies in 1993 when he went 16-4 and started Game 4 of the 1993 World Series. His career was cut short because of an injured shoulder. He only pitched in 19 games after the 1994 season.
Greene signed his 1992 Score card which commemorated his no-hit game in about 10 days.
Randy Dobnak
I sent out just a handful of TTM requests to Spring Training this year. Current Twins pitcher Randy Dobnak came through signing his 2022 Topps Heritage card in a few weeks. Dobnak has been in and out of the Twins rotation since 1991. He’s won 9 games and struck out 77 batters as of Opening Day this year.
Nick Solak
A second Spring Training success came back this week. Former Texas Ranger utility player Nick Solak signed and returned his 2022 Topp Heritage card in about 10 days. Solak has spent four seasons with Texas since 2019. He was recently traded to Seattle by the Reds at the end of Spring Training.His most productive season was 2021 when he played 127 games and slugged 11 homeruns.
Jay Howell
Howell pitched for seven teams from 1980-1994 including the Reds, Cubs, Yankees, A’s, Dodgers, Braves, and Rangers. Howell was named to the All-Star team in 1985,1987 and 1989 and won a World Series with LA in 1988. He logged 155 saves and had a 58-53 record during his career.
He signed his 1986 and 1987 Topps cards in about two weeks.
Greg Coleman
Colman spent 12 seasons as punter in the NFL with Cleveland, Minnesota, and Washington. He totaled 820 punts for 33,285 yards during his career. His longest punt went for 73 yards. He was named to the Vikings 25th and 40th Anniversary teams and was inducted into the Florida A&M Football Hall of Fame. He earned the nickname “Coffin Corner” early in his career.
He signed his 1983 and 1987 Topps cards in less than two weeks.
Carl Zander
Zander played linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1985-1991 after being selected by the Bengals in the 2nd Round of the 1985 NFL draft out of Tennessee. He played in Super Bowl XXIII. Zander played in 106 games during his career. He tallied 8 sacks and grabbed 3 interceptions.
He signed his 1986 Topps card in about two months.
Jim Lorentz
Lorentz played center for the Sabres, Rangers, Blues and Bruins from 1967-1978. He won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 1970. His best season was with Buffalo in 1972-73 when he scored 27 goals. He was inducted into the Buffalo Hall of Fame in 2010.
He signed his 1976-77 Topps card in about a week.
Mike Woodson
Woodson spent 11 seasons in the NBA as shooting guard with the Knicks, Nets, Kings, Clippers, Rockets and Cavs from 1980-1991. After retiring he served as coach for 6 different teams including head coach for Atlanta and the New York Knicks. He scored over 10,000 points and totaled over 1,800 assists during his career.
Now the coach at Indiana University, Woodson signed his 1990 NBA Hoops and 1989 Fleer cards in about two weeks.
Vernon Maxwell
Maxwell spent 13 seasons in the NBA from 1988-2001 for nine different teams. “Mad Max” won two NBA championships as a member of the Houston Rockets. He scored over 10,000 points and grabbed 2,200 rebounds during his career. He is one of nine NBA players to score 30 points in a quarter when he tossed in 30 against Cleveland on January 26, 1991.
Dave Hoppen
Hoppen was selected in the 3rd round of the 1986 NBA draft by Atlanta out of Nebraska. He never suited up for Atlanta but played for Milwaukee, Golden State, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and New Jersey from 1988-1993.
He signed his 1989 and 1990 NBA Hoops cards in about three weeks.
Jeff Hornacek
A longtime NBA veteran, Hornacek played 15 seasons in the NBA for Utah, Phoenix, and Philadelphia from 1986-2000. He played in over 1,000 games and is a two-time All-Star 3-Point contest winner. He later went into coaching and is currently a consultant for the Jazz.
Hornacek signed his 1991 Upper Deck and 1989 Fleer cards in two weeks.
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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