TTM Mailbag: Orlando Hudson

My latest TTM autograph return comes from Orlando Hudson at San Diego Padres spring training in only 9 days. I received two cards back with a signature in blue Sharpie. The cards are a 2007 Upper Deck and 2010 Allen & Ginter. Hudson has been signing a lot during this spring training. This is a great looking return. Thanks to Mr. Hudson!

Contest at It's Like Having My Own Card Shop

As the title suggests, there is a new contest created at It's Like Having My Own Card Shop. Just click on this link to enter. The prize is an Ian Kinsler jersey card. All you have to do is guess the correct random number and click on an ad. Good Luck.

2011 Topps Box: Packs 13 & 14

I have made it to packs 13 and 14 of my 2011 Topps box. Pack 13 was rather unimpressive. The best card was a Kimball Champions of Shin Soo Choo. Why is he on an insert card? I got an Al Kaline card which is cool. The ToppsTown card was Joe Mauer. Overall, this pack was certainly not full of All-Stars. It was mostly full of roster fillers.

Pack 14 was much better. Inserts included a Ty Cobb Repro, Keith Hernandez Topps 60, and ToppsTown card of Ubaldo Jimenez. Hernandez is a broadcaster for the Mets these days after a great playing career so I’m keeping that card. That alone would beat pack 13. But wait, there’s more. The Ike Davis card is pretty cool, but the ARod card is the big grab in this pack. I’ll get to the end of this box eventually. I promise.

TTM Mailbag: Jon Rauch

My latest spring training TTM autograph return comes from Jon Rauch of the Blue Jays. He sent my 2007 Topps card back in 16 days with a beautiful signature in blue Sharpie. 2007 Topps cards can be tricky to get signed but this one came out fine. This is one less Blue Jay to get during the regular season which means I have saved money by not having to send cards to Canada. Also, I don’t quite understand how to send international mail. Anyway, this is a great looking return. I hope to get a few more back in the next couple of weeks.

TTM Mailbag: Nyjer Morgan

My latest TTM autograph return comes from Nyjer Morgan. This card came back from Nationals Spring Training in only 9 days. The card is a 2010 Allen & Ginter signed in blue Sharpie. I already owned a certified autograph of Morgan, but I wanted a TTM autograph also. Overall, the card is beautiful with no smudges or dinged edges. As an added bonus, the stamp on the return envelope was not canceled by the post office.

2011 Topps Box: Packs 11 and 12

Pack 11 of my 2011 Topps Box Break contained a nifty Gold card of Jose Guillen and my first Stephen Strasburg card. Inserts included a Topps 60 card of Ian Kinsler and ToppsTown card of Nick Markakis. The Duke and Cuddyer cards may also be good TTM autograph prospects, but that will be for a later day. That’s a pretty decent pack. Pack 12 was almost as good. I got a Roger Maris card and a Trevor Hoffman Diamond card. Also, I got a Mariano Rivera card. The photo is pretty cool with Jorge Posada coming out to the mound. The ToppsTown card was Josh Johnson.

2011 Topps Box: Packs 9 & 10

Pack 9 of my 2011 Topps Box produced a vintage reproduction of Jimmie Foxx, a Topps 60 card of Adam Dunn, and a ToppsTown card of Brett Anderson. I got some decent base cards too, including a Pujols League Leaders card and a card of new Yankee Russell Martin. Also, I may try to get that Maholm card signed TTM at some point.

Pack 10 contained one really good card. That would be the Jeter Kimball Champions card. I’m keeping that one. The ToppsTown card was Andrew McCutchen. I think Pack 10 had the best card but Pack 9 was the better pack.

2011 Topps Box: Packs 7 & 8

Here are packs 7 & 8 of my 2011 Topps Box. Pack 7 featured a nifty Duke Snider card but not much else. The Diamond Duos cards shows Greg Maddux and Jeremy Hellickson. Greg Maddux is a Hall of Famer once he is eligible, but I don’t know who this other guy is. The ToppsTown card was Ryan Zimmerman.

Pack 8 contained a Juan Marichal card. Also included was a Diamond version of the White Sox team card. These are really cool cards. The rest of the pack was pretty ordinary. The ToppsTown card was Adam Jones.

2011 Topps Box: Packs 5 & 6

Packs 5 & 6 of my 2011 Topps Box yielded some decent cards. Pack 5 brought a pair of unknown Padres, a Gold card of Xavier Nady, a Topps 60 card of Hanley Ramirez, and the mandatory ToppsTown card, this one featuring Mike Stanton. This was a decent pack but Pack 6 was better.

Pack 6 contained a Diamond Giveaway card (not pictured), an ARod card, a David Price card, a Kimball Champions of Andrew McCutchen, and ToppsTown of Andre Ethier. Also, the Soriano and Lannan cards may be future TTM Auto attempts. I still can’t get over the quality of this year’s photography. It’s really bright and vivid.

2011 Topps Box: Packs 3 & 4

Continuing on with my Topps Hobby Box, I present to you packs number 3 & 4. Pack 3 contained the following:

Reid Brignac

Vladimir Guerrero

Chris Carpenter

Roy Halladay

Cincinnati Reds

Emilio Bonifacio – Diamond

Jose Contreras

Marlon Byrd

Starlin Castro – ToppsTown

Diamond Giveaway Card (Not Pictured)

As for Pack 4:

Hong-Chih Kuo

Brandon Morrow

Chicago White Sox

James McDonald

Atlanta Braves

Mike Stanton – Gold

Jay Bruce

Yunel Escobar

Alex Rodriguez Topps 60

Hanley Ramirez ToppsTown (Not Pictured)

Pack 4 was definitely the stronger pack with a gold card and ARod card. Also, Pack 4 had a couple of potential TTM Auto attempts with Morrow and McDonald. However, I just sent a request to Morrow. I also just sent a request to Vladimir Guerrero as well. I love Topps Gold cards. I am also taking a liking to these Diamond cards. The card surface is much smoother than I expected. I still don't think that I will enter the codes for the Diamond Giveaway, but maybe I'll change my mind.