TTM autographs received: Al Kaline

The 82-year old Kaline signed my cards in blue Sharpie in 10 days - he is a fairly consistent TTM signer, even though I've read he can be grumpy in person and at times signs a sloppier 'Angry Al' version of his autograph.

I've been holding off on sending to him, but he isn't getting any younger, so I finally scrounged up a TTM request - with the appropriate amount of cash money for Kaline to sign three of his Topps Allen and Ginter cards and a relic card I pulled out of a $50 pack of cards.

Because the card had a shiny, glossy surface, I wanted to prep the card with more effort - trying to make it so an autograph has less of a chance of getting smeared or streaked, especially when I'm trying to get the card signed randomly TTM as opposed to an organized signing.

Relic cards are usually thicker and I didn't want to take a chance that the card would get wrecked using a regular envelope - to help insulate the thicker card in the 6x9 manila SASE envelope I enclosed with my request, I cut up a piece of a bubble mailer used as a 'holder' when my cards were sent back to me.

Vintage baseball card display #1

During a pit stop at the McDonald's by the Salt River Fields in Arizona, I was wandering around and found a couple of baseball card related displays - no apparent theme, just a bunch of cards someone decided to matte and frame.

I assume many of the cards are original - but I can't really say for all them and there might be a few reprints.

2012 Topps Tribute pack break

I hit the casino card shop I go to and while most of the time I'm the guy looking to make 'dinky' purchases out of the quarter box - I was looking to make see if the shop still had a certain baseball card product [2011 Playoff Contenders] and when the shop apparently didn't, I impulsively picked up a pack of 2012 Topps Tribute.

I could get all philosophical about me picking up this $50 pack - but it is what it is and in a 20 second pack rip, this is what I got.

#55 Derek Jeter
#72 C.C. Sabathia
#51 Joe Mauer
#17 Duke Snider - parallel serial #'d 009/199; front is scratched up a little so I'll send this for a replacement.

#RR-AK Al Kaline - Retired Remants relic card serial #'d 50/50; I like the fact Kaline is a Hall of Fame legend, though I feel like the card is a glorified version of the one per blaster patch cards out of 2012 Topps.