This Week on TTMCast
Arron Littleton steps into the co-pilot’s seat and we talk to Les Wolff about his thoughts on Fanatics’ rapid takeover of the hobby. We’ll talk TTM successes and… they let Drew into a Country Club?! Listen to the show here.
TTM Successes
A light week this week: evidence that I need to get it in gear and start writing and mailing more. My goal of mailing 10 a week is dead, and even sending 300 for the year is in jeopardy.
Fred Marion
A Pro Bowler in 1985 after his seven picks helped put the Patriots in the Super Bowl, Fred signed four cards for me in about two months.
IP Graphing
Yes, they did indeed let Drew into a Country Club! This past weekend was the rain-soaked Invited Celebrity Classic in Irving, TX. It may be the worst name in all of sports, but they make up for it with a great list of former athletes and celebrities who play alongside PGA Tour Champions players. It’s a good place to chase autographs.
I went in with high hopes but low expectations: anytime you see an event with at least seven Hall of Famers from various sports, you know it will draw in every collector in a two-hour radius. And sometimes more: I ran into my friend Doug Barnes, who came in from Tennessee for it. Now that’s a dedicated autograph collector.
To make a long story short– I did not get Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Clemens, Tim Brown, or Dwight Freeney. And we were limited to asking players to sign only in the areas around the 9th green and the clubhouse, so it was usually pretty full around there, especially anytime a big name was finishing on 9.
But my day started off quite nicely as Ivan Rodriguez laid some ink on one of my rookie cards, and then ten minutes later hit a second one. It’s not as nice as his sit down signings, but I’ll gladly take it. Terry Francona, a future Hall of Famer, also signed a card for me, finishing off the 1982 Topps Rookie Stars trio that you may have seen in a couple of previous TTM reports.
Justin Williams helped upgrade a set card for me: I had his 2002-03 Topps Total signed in black from a previous trade, but now have one signed in blue. Larry The Cable Guy signed a card from Cars for me after he finished hitting at the driving range. Former big leaguers Phil Nevin and Derek Lowe both signed coming up the hill after the 9th hole, while Clay Buchholz and Derek Holland both signed near the clubhouse. Funny moment with Holland: he was decked out in all Michigan attire with a Wolverines golf bag… and his caddy was dressed in all Ohio State. I asked “How painful is it carrying that right now?” And he just gave a thousand-yard stare and said “I seriously HATE this bag.”
Former pitcher Bud Norris was a late addition to the field so only a few of us had anything for him, and he was great about signing for us. Former Stars goalie and current NHL analyst Marty Turco signed the three cards I had as well, and recently retired third baseman and fellow collector Josh Donaldson signed at the end of his round. I forgot to grab my 2021 Topps Heritage card of him though.
Cowboys all-time sack leader DeMarcus Ware signed twice: his signature has gotten short, but he signed a couple rookie cards for me. His Dallas teammate Tony Romo signed one as well. Watch Romo when you see him sign: he will study you and remember you and call you out if you try to double-dip. He may still sign that second time, but his sig will likely be reduced to a TR9.
I hoped to go a second day, but the rains hit hard and canceled Saturday. Sunday had wet grounds and a late start so I was content with finishing my tournament with what I had in hand. Maybe next year I can snag those elusive Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz rookie cards…
“One wrong move and we risk the Cup, so play the man, not the puck.”
I will use any chance I can to quote the band Propagandhi. It’s hockey time– not just that, but PLAYOFF hockey time. And just as I did for the NFL playoffs, here are a few names from the history of each playoff team that are good through the mailbox.
Boston Bruins
John Bucyk – The forward from the Hall of Fame’s Class of 1981 and lynchpin of the Bruins Uke Line of the 1950s signs for free via the team in under two months.
Carolina Hurricanes
Stu Grimson – The Grim Reaper intimidated opponents with thunderous hits and fast fists, and now is an attorney in the Nashville area. He signs via his office in under a month.
Colorado Avalanche
Michel Goulet – I’m playing loose with the rules here as he only played for their predecessor from Quebec, but Goulet is a 500-goal scorer who signs in two weeks or less via his Colorado home.
Dallas Stars
Tony Hrkac – I used to get phone calls from Tony every week when I was working in the office of a junior hockey team as he was coaching for Concordia University. He signs through his Wisconsin home in about two weeks.
Honorable Mention: Not Craig Ludwig – The alleged Luddy autographs coming from a Wisconsin address are not his and not even close to his. Please stop mailing there. He lives in Texas and does not sign via mail.
Edmonton Oilers
Chris Pronger – I always forget that the Hall of Fame defenseman spent a year in Edmonton, but he helped them to the Finals in 2006. He signs in under a month through his Missouri home.
Florida Panthers
Ville Peltonen – Okay, maybe I’m a bit biased here as former college classmate Matt Porter used to call me ‘Ville.’ But if you don’t mind mailing to Finland, Peltonen is head coach of HIFK Helsinki and signs reasonably quickly through the team.
Los Angeles Kings
Bob Carpenter – Time for an oddity! Carpenter will only sign his 1989 Topps card on the back. But he’ll sign anything else through his Massachusetts home in a couple weeks.
Nashville Predators
Tomas Vokoun – Expected to be a placeholder until Brian Finley was ready, Vokoun instead is second all-time among Preds’ goalies in games played and third in wins (while Finley played two games). He signs through his Florida home in under a month.
New York Islanders
Glenn “Chico” Resch – Billy Smith gets all the attention, but when they were teammates Chico had the better numbers. He lives now in Minnesota and typically signs in under two months.
New York Rangers
Nick Fotiu – He never learned to skate until he was 15, always flipped pucks up to the cheap seats after warmups, and could beat anyone in the league in a fight. The first native New Yorker to play for the Rangers signs via his Massachusetts home in about a month.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Rob Ramage – The tough journeyman defenseman spent a season with the inaugural Lightning squad. He signs via his Missouri home in about two weeks.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Dave Keon – Another Hall of Famer who signs for free! Keon won four Cups in Toronto, including scoring twice in the clinching game in 1963. He lives in Florida and signs in under a month.
Vancouver Canucks
Stan Smyl – One of the greatest Canucks, Steamer was a fan favorite who could put up 30 goals or 200 PIM in a season (or both in 1979-80). He works for the team and signs through them in a couple months. Don’t forget the Canadian postage on your SASE.
Vegas Golden Knights
Tomas Hertl – Slim pickings here with such a new team, but Hertl was at least an occasional TTM signer with San Jose, though it often took upwards of a year.
Washington Capitals
Randy Holt – Holt still holds the record for most PIM in a game with 67 in 1979. But it wasn’t until he joined the Caps in the early 80s that he finally led the league in the category for a season. He signs via his Calgary home address in about a month.
Winnipeg Jets
Randy Carlyle – The only Norris Trophy Winner not in the Hall of Fame, and a Cup-winning coach with Anaheim. If Kevin Lowe is in, he should be too. Carlyle signs via his California home in under a month.
Related Stories:
TTM This Week: Spring Training Autograph Hits and Misses
TTM This Week: Ludex, VA Card Show and This Week’s Autograph Returns
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: Dappz Sports, 1973 Topps Football Autograph Returns
In Tribute: Jeff Baker (1965-2023)
TTM This Week, Part 2: Snaring Sigs at Spring Training
TTM This Week: Returns, In Person Sigs, and Your TTM Origin Story
