TTM This Week: Mantle Memorabilia Book; Latest Autograph Returns

On this week’s podcast….

Author and noted Mickey Mantle collector Steven Lane joins me on the TTMCast to talk about his new book Mickey Mantle A Life in Memorabilia. Lane has amassed one of the world’s greatest and most diverse Mantle collections and his new book features some of his most prized pieces. We talked about how he acquired some of his collection and what led him to his love for Number 7.

In addition, regular show contributor Les Wolff appraised some interesting collectibles submitted by our listeners including an autographed 1963 Baltimore Orioles team ball and a signed black and white photo of Negro League star and Baseball Hall of Famer James “Cool Papa” Bell.

This Wednesday, on TTMCast 1-on-1, Danny Black of Hobby News Daily discusses what led him to launching his new site and the hurdles he has encountered getting it up and running.

You can listen to all our podcasts at ttmcast.podbean.com.

TTM Successes this Week

Finally! After two quiet weeks the flood gates have begun to open, and returns are coming in. I received two returns for my 1978 Topps baseball set that have been out for over two years. I also got a few hockey returns and a couple from NFL Pro Bowlers from the 1980s.

Several TTM web sites including, SportsCardForum.com and SportsCollectors.net offer mailing addresses if you’d like to try your luck.

Here are a few of my recent successes:

Ken Anderson

Anderson enjoyed a long career for the Cincinnati Bengals that saw him throw for 32,838 yards and 197 touchdowns from 1971-1986. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and won NFL MVP in 1981. He has been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame three times but has not yet been inducted. He served as radio broacaster for the Bengals and a coach for Cincinnati, Jacksonville and Pittsburgh since he retired.

Anderson is one of the great TTMers. He signed his 1983 and 1984 Topps cards for me in about a week.

Doug Dieken

Dieken was a stalwart on the offensive line for the Cleveland Browns from 1971-1984 playing in 203 consecutive games. He was named 1982 NFL Man of the Year and earned Pro Bowl honors in 1980. After retiring he was color commentator on Browns radio from 1985 through the 2021 season.

Dieken signed his 1983 and 1984 Topps cards in about two weeks.

Ed Newman

Newman played over 12 seasons and 167 games as All-Pro offensive guard with the Miami Dolphins from 1973-1984. He went to three Super Bowls and was a Pro Bowler four times. His career was cut short in 1985 by a knee injury. He is currently finishing off a book “Warrior Judge” which he is co-authoring with his daughter Holly Greenberg.

Newman signed his 1983 and 1984 Topps cards in about two weeks.

Tom Griffin

Griffin won 77 games for the Astros, Padres, Angles, Giants and Pirates from 1969-1981. His best season was 1974 with Houston when he went 14-10 with a 3.54 ERA and threw a one-hitter vs the Pirates. Griffin would strike out over 1,000 batters during his career.

I sent this 1978 Topps card to him more than two years ago and it finally made its way back home this past week.

Jim Norris

Just one day after receiving the card from Tom Griffin another 1978 card was returned after more than two years. Former Cleveland Indian outfielder Jim Norris signed his 1978 Topps card for me for my set. Norris played for Cleveland from 1977-79 before joining Texas for one season in 1980. Norris was a lifetime .264 hitter and hit ten home runs and drove in 110 runs during his career. He was Cape Cod Baseball League MVP in 1969 when he hit a league-leading .415. He was inducted into the Cape Cod League Hall of Fame in 2004.

John Knox

Three down and one to go. Finishing a quad rookie card from the 1970s is one of the fun things about TTMing. I enjoy tracking down players and learning about their careers. No everyone featured on a rookie card is destined for the Hall of Fame. John Knox was one such player. Knox played parts of four seasons with Detroit from 1973-76 appearing in 126 games at 2^nd base, shortstop and 3^rd base. He batted .274 during his career but never hit a home run.

Knox was the third player to sign this 1974 Rookie card after Terry Hughes and Andre Thornton. Now it’s off to form Kansas City Royal great Frank White to finish of the card.

Orest Kindrachuk

Kindrachuk played ten seasons in the NHL from 1971-1982 with the Flyers, Penguins and Capitals, winning two Stanley Cups with the Flyers in 1974 and 1975. His most productive offensive season was 1975-76 when he scored 26 goals and tallied 75 points. He played only four games with Washington in 1981-82 and retired because of injury.

He signed his 1976 and 1977 Topps card in about two weeks.

Pete LoPresti

LoPresti served as net minder for Minnesota and Edmonton from 1974-1981. LoPresti played in 175 NHL games with a record of 43-102-20 with 5 career shutouts. He stared at the University of Denver before becoming the youngest regular goal in 1974 and 1975 with the North Stars.

He signed his 1977 and 1979 Topps cards in about ten days.

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.