TTM This Week: Baseball Card Art; Latest Autograph Returns

TTMCast this Week

This week I interviewed baseball card artist Ben Caraher from Sports Card Mosaic. Ben takes thousands of junk era baseball cards and make mosaics of iconic cards like Rickey Henderson’s 1980 Topps, Nolan Ryan’s 1968 Topps and Michael Jordan’s 1986 Fleer card.

His most recent creation featured Tom Brady and was made completely from Brady cards.

Ben is a collector as well and we talk about his art and card collecting.

Author and soccer expert Clementi Lisi give us things to watch for in this year’s World Cup. We also review the new Panini Prizm World Cup release and talk about his new book FIFA World Cup: A History of the Planet’s Biggest Sporting Event . We are giving away a copy of his book, to enter just send your name and mailing address to [email protected]. Finally, we are joined by former Boston Bruins goalie Andrew Raycroft. We talk about signing autographs and his career in the NHL. You can listen to the podcast below.

Happy Thanksgiving from Drew, Les, Clemente and me.

TTM Successes this Week

I’m starting to see the fruits of my labor as my mailbox was full all week. I picked up a bunch of cards at the recent Shriners Show here in Wilmington, MA to send out for autographs and the returns are already starting to roll in.

Willie Wilson

Willie Wilson was fast. So fast that he ranks 12^th all-time among base stealers with 668 career swipes He played 19 seasons in the Majors with Kansas City, Oakland and the Cubs from 1976-1994. We was a 2X All-Star, led the AL in stolen bases in 1979 and won a Gold Glove in 1985. He was a member of the World Series champion Royals in 1985 and has been inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame. He amassed 2,2077 hits during his career.

He signed his 1982 and 1984 Topps cards for me in less than two weeks. He requires a donation and I sent along $10 with my request.

Dick Bosman

Bosman stated the final game for the Washington Senators and first game for the Texas Rangers. He threw a no-hitter for Cleveland over the Oakland A’s in 1974 but missed a perfect game as a result of an error he committed. He led the AL in ERA in 1969. He was traded along with Jim Perry to Oakland for Blue Moon Odom.

Bosman signed his 1971 and 1972 Topps cards for me in less than ten days.

Buck Martinez

Did you know…Buck’s given name is John? He played 17 seasons in the majors as catcher for three different teams. He would go into broadcasting after he retired but went back on the field as manager for Toronto in 2001 and 2002 winning 100 games as manger.

Buck is a great TTM signer and returned his 1971 and 1972 Topps cards for me in little over a week.

Steve Blass

Blass was a very successful pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates winning over 100 games from 1964-1974. He inexplicably lost the ability to throw strikes and saw his ERA climb to 9.85 during the 1973 season. Players like Rick Ankiel, Mark Wohlers, Dontrelle Willis, Ricky Romero and Daniel Bard have all has “Steve Blass Disease”. However, Blass did enjoy some success, too. He was an NL All-Star in 1972 and won a World Series with the Pirates in 1971. He went into broadcasting after his playing days.

I sent Blass two cards. He signed and returned the 1970 Topps card but kept the 1972 Topps card I had sent to him. It about two weeks to get my card back.

Roger Repoz

Repoz was a hard-hitting outfielder playing nine seasons in the Majors with the Yankees, KC A’s and California Angles from 1964-1972. Repoz bashed 82 home runs while hitting .224 during his career. He spent five seasons in Japan playing for the Taihgeiyo Club Lions and Yakult Swallow from 1973-1977.

Repoz signed his 1970 Topps card for me in about ten days.

Dennis Harrah

Harrah played 13 seasons with the Los Angles Rams from 1975-1987 who selected Harrah with the 11^th overall pick in the 1975 NFL Draft out of Miami. Harrah was an 11 time Pro Bowler as Guard and was selected as s member of the Los Angles Rams 40^th Anniversary Team.

Harrah signed his 1986 and 1987 Topps cards for me in less than two weeks.

Rod Martin

Martin played his entire NFL career with the Raiders from 1977-1988.He was a 12^th round selection by Oakland in the 1977 NFL Draft. He intercepted three passes in Super Bowl XV for the Raiders. He played in two Pro Bowls and earned First-Team All-Pro in 1984. He would record 14 interceptions during his career and score four touchdowns. He signed his 1983 and 1986 Topps cards for me in about a month.

Tom Skladany

Skladany and Ray Guy are considered the two greatest punters in college football history. After a great career at Ohio State where he was a three-time All-American, Skladany was selected by Cleveland in the 2^nd round of the 1977 NFL Draft. He became the first NFL draft pick to hold out for an entire season and never played for the Browns. He was traded to the Detroit Lions and played five seasons from 1978-1982. He spent one season with the Eagles before retiring because of a back injury. He was a 2x First Team All-Pro and played in the 1981 Pro Bowl. Skladany’s four daughters all played Division I college soccer.

He signed his 1983 Topps card and included a custom card from his college days in about a week.

Here are some other former players who are currently signing for free. I have had success with all of them in the past: