This week’s show features an interview with CEO of Collectables.com Ezra Levine. We talk with Ezra about the Fractional Collectable Market as well his take on some important happenings in the hobby.
With the FIFA World Cup about a month away Clemente Lisi and I talk soccer cards as well dive deep into Clemente’s new book The FIFA World Cup: A History of the Planet’s Biggest Sporting Event.
Go to: ttmast.com or ttmcast.podbean.com to listen to this week’s show.
There is still time to help the Lampila family who lost their home and entire baseball card collection in Hurricane Ian.
We are trying to help the kids Finn,13, and Kinzley, 8, rebuild their collection and asking fellow collectors to send cards, autographs, balls, and any other baseball memorabilia to the kids.
As of Monday October 17, we have received over 15 donations totaling more than 12,000 new and vintage cards, hundreds of autographs, baseball books and yearbooks, autographed mini helmets, an autographed ball and more.
Since the storm the kids have gotten to a see two Marlins games, had a night out at Applebee’s and purchased some new close thanks to donations from friends and family. They are currently living in a hotel but work has begun replacing all the flooring and walls in their decimated house. The Lampillas and their friends will begin school at the end of this week. Once they have settled into a more permanent residence, we will be sending them all the items that have been donated.
After learning about the Lampila’s losses via our previous article is Sports Collectors Daily, a Fort Myers TV station will be doing a feature about their losses and our efforts to help rebuild their collection. We have been sending their dad pictures of all the donations as they are received. The kids know that people are sending them cards but have no idea the magnitude of what the will be receiving.
The family does not currently have a permanent home so we are asking that all donations should be sent to me: Jeff Baker, 4 Littlewood Rd, Wilmington, MA 01887. I will be forwarding them everything I receive as soon as they are settled.
You can listen to my interview with Jeff Lampila here.
TTM Successes this Week
The mailbox was packed with good stuff this week with returns from and Pro Football Hall of Famer, a Hockey Hall of Famer, some 80’s football and basketball stars and two Boston Red Sox returns.
Dermontti Dawson
Dawson played his entire career in Pittsburgh from 1988 to 2000 after being selected by the Steelers out of Kentucky in the 2nd round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He was a 7X Pro Bowler and played 184 at guard, center and long snapper for the Steelers. Dawson was nicknamed “Dirt” because he would dry to grind opponents into the ground. He was elected tothe Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012. His #63 is retired by the Steelers.
Dawson signed his 1992 GameDay card for me in about two weeks. He does require a $10 donation.
Vaclav Nedomansky
Nedomansky was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019. He stared in Czechoslovakia before playing for the Red Wings, Blue and Rangers in the NHL. He played in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics and 8 World Hockey Championships. He defected in 1974 and played three seasons in the WHA before joining the Red Wings in 1977. He retired in 1982-83, playing a season with the Rangers. He scored 135 goals in the WHA and 122 in the NHL after tallying 354 in international play.
He signed his 1979-80 Topps card for me in about 10 days. He added the “HOF 2019” inscription as I asked.
Doug Cosbie
Cosbie was 3X Pro Bowl Tight End for the Dallas Cowboy from 1979-1988. He was selected by Dallas in the 3rd round out of Santa Clara. He played in 144 games, catching 300 passes for over 3,700 yards during his professional career.
He signed his 1983 and 1986 Topps cards for me in less than two weeks.
Glenn Blackwood
Blackwood formed “The Bruise Brothers” with his brother Lyle as a member of the Miami Dolphins. Glenn spent his entire career playing safety for the Delphins from 1979-1988. He led the NFL in fumble recoveries with four in 1980.
He signed his 1983 and 1986 Topps cards for me in about three weeks.
Nat Moore
Moore played 13 seasons with the Dolphins from 1974-1986. He is a member of the Dolphins Ring of Honor and the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame. He played 183 games, grabbing 74 touchdown passes. In 1984 he was voted NFL “Man of the Year”. After he retired he broadcast games for the Florida Gators and Dolphin preseason games with Bob Griese.
He signed his 1986 and 1987 Topps cards for me in about ten days.
Truck Robinson
Leonard “Truck” Robinson was a great power forward for a number of teams in the late 70’s and early 80’s and is know as a great signer through the mail since he retired.
Robinson signed his 1980-81 Topps card and leader card for me in less than a week. I’ll be sending the leader card to Alvin Adams in hopes of adding his signature to it.
Michael Ray Richardson
Drafted two spots ahead of Larry Bird, Richardson played for the Knicks, Warriors, and Nets in a tumultuous basketball career that lasted parts of three decades. He was a 4X NBA All-Star and led the NBA in steals three times but was banned for life in 1986 by Commissioner David Stern for violating NBA’s drug policy three times. He regained his rights to play in the NBA in 1988 but continued his career in Europe instead.
Richardson is a very reliable signer through the mail and signed his 1980-81 Topps card for me in about a week.
Mike Napoli
Napoli was a power hitting catcher and first baseman for six teams (all America League) from 2006-2017. He was an AL All-Star in 2012 and won a World Series with Boston in 2013. He slugged 267 homers during his career. He is currently first base coach for the Chicago Cubs.
I sent my request to Napoli care of the Cubs, and he signed and returned this cool Topps Triple Thread Card I purchased at The National in Atlantic City this year. It took about three weeks to get my card back.
Pat Dodson
After being picked in the sixth round of the 1980 draft by the Red Sox, Dodson played parts of three seasons with Boston. He hit his first home in September of 1986 against Tim Stoddard. He never quite lived up to “Future Star” status his 1987 Topps card proclaimed, having hit only four home runs and driving in ten runs in the majors.
He signed and returned the 1987 Topps card in about two months.
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.
Most athlete mailing addresses are available on several TTM related web sites including SportsCardForum.com and SportsCollectors.net.
Here are a few more athletes who are currently signing for free. I have had success with all of them in the past:
- Martin Perez – Pitcher, Texas Rangers
- Matt Young – Pitcher, Seattle, Boston
- Gary Peters – Pitcher White Sox, Red Sox
- Mark Carrier – Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay
- Tim Dwight – Wide Receiver, Atlanta
- Jim Kern – Pitcher Cleveland, Texas
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South Florida Collecting Family Loses Everything to Hurricane
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