My Hall of Fame Collection - 1961 Topps #141 Billy Williams Rookie Card

Billy Williams was one of the first legends of the game to respond to my Through-the-Mail (TTM) surge in 2007 and 2008.   I was reconnecting with the game back in those years, and while I wouldn't get back into cards or following current seasons until 2011, I was once again enchanted with the game's stories and history.   Specifically, I had started working with and befriended another fan who had enjoyed a lot of recent success with TTM requests.   He gladly shared mailing address information with me and I soon had a make-shift, cottage industry memorabilia pursuit factory running out of my office.

During breaks and after hours, of course!

Anyways, I organized a complete list of all living members of the Hall of Fame.   Working forward from the oldest, I began sending letters and cards and baseballs as frequently as my budget allowed (and often more frequently than that).   I would pick up Rawlings Official MLB's from the local sporting goods stores and send them off without a moment's pause....you see, I was always an optimist AND my wife and I were still enjoying the fruits of our DINK era.

(Sigh)

Sweet-Swinging Billy Williams was one of the first to respond and so he has always held a special place in my collection.   I'm not a Cubs fan, but with the combination of constant childhood WGN telecast exposure and my recent adoption of Anthony Rizzo as an official paisan....the Cubbies are right up there.   All this to say that I always try to pick up a Williams card when I can for my vintage collection.

Then I spotted this beauty for less than half the cost of blaster..... 

This card is gorgeous.   It was listed as GOOD/VG in its listing but I have a feeling it would grade out as a VG if that grading ever went down.   There is a hairline crease to the right of Billy's right hand.   It slants upward from left to right, ending where the edge of the photo meets the top of Wrigley's brick wall.   Hmmm.

No matter, this is a sweet copy of Billy's rookie card!   A Hall of Famer's rookie card!   These are few and far between for me, particularly when you start stretching back to the 60's.   The card itself is in great shape.   It presents very nicely with some excellent centering (a challenge for some '61s) and eye-popping color.   I know, the red and yellow standard that Topps decided to go with here does absolutely nothing in combination with the blue and white of Williams' uniform....but the color itself is nice and bright, which makes for an awesome vintage enjoying experience!   The corners aren't too bad, either.

The Star-Rookie logo is as simple as it gets, but it's perfectly placed in the top right corner.   IN fact, while action shots are always preferred over these posed nuances, the total outcome for the front of this card is fantastically balanced and suits my OCD-tendencies very nicely.   On top of everything is a great sneak peek at Wrigley Field in the background (I'm 99% certain....can anybody confirm?).   I'm sold!

Was the back mangled?

Let me know if you see something that I have missed (unless it's a fake....just let me go to my grave with that one), but the back looks just as sharp as the front!   Williams was a fairly tall fellow at 6'1" and, on an unrelated note, I had no idea there is a Whistler, Alabama.   I've been to a Whistler in Canada before, though.   It's a fabulous ski-resort town where did not skit one freaking bit!   It was a Valentine's Day getaway for me and Mrs. Ryan's Pitch after I returned from deployment back in....oh, it had to be 2004?   My God, 10 years.   She wasn't even 'Mrs.' yet.....but that trip was some of my finest campaigning!

Sorry.

As we can see, Billy's debut in Chicago for 18 games during the '59 campaign was quite the tepid cup of coffee.   He returned again in '60 for a nice showing, slugging 2 long balls and batting .277 over 47 plate appearances.   This was more in line with the domination he had displayed in the farm system, as you can see in both his stat line with Houston along with the always welcomed card back cartoon!

This back is well-centered, too and doesn't show any staining or discolorations that I can see.   Beautiful.

You just can't go wrong with a vintage card, that is a rookie card, that is in decent condition, that is of a player who is now in the Hall of Fame, for less than ten bucks.   You just can't.

Welcome to my Hall of Fame Collection, Sweet-Swinging Billy!   Mighty glad to have you home!

Thanks for reading and KEEP COLLECTING!

Spring TTM 2014 - A Payoff Pitch!

For the first time in two years, the excitement of spring training and another baseball season inspired me to send off some TTM autograph requests to various players & coaches from numerous teams as they all gathered to kick off the 2014 season.

About 33 went out, by my recollection, which isn't too shabby.   I had plans for many more but I am trying to be smarter about my hobby pursuits.   I had to cut costs this year, so I neglected to purchase my usual packs of "Signature Cards".   I considered sending some cards from my collection but I have a dream that one day I will turn some of my autographs into beautifully mounted & framed auto/picture combination pieces.   Cards don't work so well for that but plain index cards do - and plain index cards are cheap!   So, planning was going well.   I was under budget at about $1.05 per request and I was on time.

Here's the catch - I went for the gusto.   Typically, you have to make a strategic decision as a "TTM-er".   Do you want to target younger and lesser-known players with the hopes that they will have smaller fan mail requests to dig through/select from or do you want to target "stars"?

I opted for a mix this spring, with a slight and uncharacteristic bias towards some big names.   Was I throwing money down the drain?   Statistically?   Definitely.   But I'm cursed as an eternal optimist and in a weird way, I love writing those letters to those favorite players.   You see, when I'm putting down my thoughts and praise and best wishes (with a small request at the end!), I imagine every single one coming back.   It's tantalizing and requires a heavy dose of imagination/wishful thinking - but it sure helps to push my weary hand along as I use valuable time towards what might be some very unproductive results.

So the letters went out and time just kept on tickin'.......I timed my mailings to coincide with pitcher & catcher arrivals, my attempt to try and be at the proverbial "head of the TTM line".   This date varied for every team, so I planned accordingly with a staggered approach.

Nothing.

All teams had reported and then full squads began workouts....

Nothing.

The spring games started.

Nothing.

And then SOMETHING.   Yesterday.

A small envelope with my own handwriting scribbled across the front showed up in my mailbox with a postage stamp from Arizona.....an instant smile rolled across my face and I carefully sliced open the envelope, being sure not to bring harm to anything that might be inside.   There was my index card!

BLANK.

I flipped it over in my hands since I had purposely used two-sided blank cards to avoid any line issues.....

BLANK.  

Crap.   But wait!   There was more in the envelope.....a......card?!

Hell yes.   A card.   THIS card, to be exact:

The $30M Man himself, Clayton Kershaw.   Some consider him to be the best pitcher in baseball right now.   I know I do - and he really doesn't have a lot of love in my collection.   A few base cards here and there, but no relics or rookies and certainly no autographs.

Consider that hole plugged.

This card is from that Hobby Ice Age that occurred between my Collecting Periods I and II.   It's a Goudey throw-back, I suppose?   The Kid makes an appearance at the bottom.   Strange, but I don't care.   Kershaw's "22" inscription is a bit difficult to make out on top of the glove.....but again, couldn't care less.

Will any more of my requests from this year find their way back home?   Hey, if they do - bonus.   I couldn't be more content.

Clayton Kershaw was kind enough to send me this card and sign it before he dropped it in the envelope.   Thank you, Mr. Kershaw!   So far, this has been your BEST delivery of the year for me!

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend -

Ryan

A Hobby Farewell, Ralph Kiner

A few years ago, I was very fortunate to get the wild idea of sending a bunch of baseballs to Hall of Fame legends in the hopes of achieving TTM success.

Systematically and for obvious reasons, I began with the oldest members first and worked my way forward in time.   As many of you can probably confirm, I enjoyed MUCH  more success with the oldest players and slowly saw my return success rate dwindle to NOTHING by the time I reached the players who retired in the late 70's and beyond.....

One of those earlier success stories was the late Ralph Kinder. Mr. Kiner passed away recently at the age of 91.   He played in the majors for an injury-abbreviated 10 years but completely OWNED the League with his slugging ability from '46 to '52 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Get this - Kiner arrived on the scene in '46 with a respectable 22 home runs but troubling 109 K's.   Hank Greenberg was set to retire but the Bucs convinced the slugger to stay on with the club, during which time he tried to impart some of his batting wisdom to the young Kiner.   It must have worked because Ralph blasted 51 home runs that very next season and struck out less than 100 times.  

Kiner's 51 round trippers led the League, a feat he would then continue for seven consecutive years. SEVEN!   He was known to deposit a fair amount of his homers into the short left porch at Forbes Field - an area that had been known as Greenberg's Gardens.   Rightfully, the landing pad was bequeathed to Ralph and acquired the name of Kiner's Korner, a name that Ralph would later use for  his own broadcasting show.

Mr.  Kiner was elected into the Hall in 1975.   He finished his ten years of playing with an average of over 36 home runs and 100+ RBI every year he played.   He was also a six-time All Star.   Ralph Kiner would go on to be a manager for several clubs before settling into the role of radio announcer for the New York Mets, a job he held and excelled at from the first game the Metropolitans ever played until the day Mr. Kiner passed away this month.

I am so glad I have Mr. Kiner as a part of my collection.   I am sad to say that I don't yet have any cards of Mr. Kiner but here is the baseball and signature cards that he signed for me:

 

Despite being in his late 80's, Mr. Kiner put a couple of great looking signatures on these items and I really appreciate his HOF inscription on the ball.   I'm going to make it a priority to add some cards of his to my collection.   I can't wait to begin my search.

By all accounts, Mr. Kiner was another one of those Greatest Generation, true gentlemen GOLDEN ambassadors for the game.    Everyone who knew him LOVED him and there doesn't seem to be a bad thing said about the man.   My grandfather helped to instill my love for the game and he himself was a product of PA - so he always had a soft spot in his heart for the Pirates.   I can recall that he was very excited to see Mr. Kiner's autograph in my collection.   At the time, I thought this was a little odd considering some of the other names on the other baseballs......but now, I kind of get it.

Yes....I will have to seek out some Ralph Kiner cards for my collection.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my letter, Mr. Kiner.   I am glad we were able to connect if but for a simple TTM so that I can now learn more about you and appreciate your contributions to the game.   Rest in peace, sir.

Thanks for reading!

Semper Fi, Colonel - A Hobby Farewell to Jerry Coleman

There isn't much left to say about Jerry Coleman that hasn't already been said by so many.   By all accounts, he was a wonderful human being who just so happened to be pretty darn good at baseball after contributing to the saving the world from tyranny during World War II.

No big deal.

I believe he is the only professional baseball player to see combat in two wars (120 combat flight missions, World War 2 and the Korean War).   In between and after his time in the skies as a Marine Corps Aviator, he went to six World Series with the Yankees and managed to win four of them - .667 - not bad!

Despite all of that success, he may very well be known most for his days as the voice of the San Diego Padres (whom he managed in 1980), a role he relished and excelled at until he passed away last Monday.

Fortunately, I had the good sense to drop a note to Lieutenant Colonel Coleman a couple of years ago.   It was a part of my last true "batch" of Yankee/HOF TTM requests before my autograph adventures budget was significantly reduced.   I'm so glad I wrote that letter.

I won't bore you with every detail, but here is a quick glance at the highlights of what Colonel Coleman sent back.   As I always do, I asked several questions throughout my letter (mostly about baseball), and he was kind enough to answer those in addition to providing some comments on other portions of my note where I told him about my family's service connection to World War II and my days in the nuclear navy.   I've included these excerpts along with the pictures.

I hope you enjoy!

Here are the pages to the letter - you can see where Lt Col Coleman responded!

At the very top of the letter, he began by saying, "LT - I don't write well and can't type" to explain his annotations throughout……no problem, Sir!   Here are my questions (in bold) and his responses (in italics):


What is your favorite memory from being with the club for those four World Series titles in '49, '50, '51 and '56?

"Just winning…it was everything."

You completed your career with only 89 errors in 3,168 fielding opportunities and turned 532 double plays - what did you focus on to achieve such great success in the field?

"Always ready for the ball."

He was kind enough to sign my ball in black ink and it looks great!

Were there any moments in the field (or at the plate) that stick out to you the most?

"Just being there."

My grandfather served in the WWII European Theater as a Radioman on B-24 Liberators….

[referring to the B-24] "…Bad plane…"

...He and his crew were shot down over Occupied France but survived the crash.

"Lucky Man…"
    
He and my grandmother, who was a Navy Nurse, are still with us….

"Your background sounds great!"

That last comment from the Colonel made me chuckle.   He began writing the compliment right above the word  'grandmother'.   He very carefully began all of his notes right above the exact word he was referring to or he would circle the exact word/phrase.   A part of me is most certain the 'ol fighter pilot may have been referring to how great a navy nurse sounds more so than my lineage.   Ha.   A Maverick of the Greatest Generation?   Wouldn't doubt it.

He also signed the Autograph Card I threw in the package! Blue ink this time...

I was a nuclear propulsion officer aboard the USS Alabama (SSBN-731)…

"I get claustrophobic - couldn't do what you did!"

This made me laugh, too.   I often joke that we (navy nukes) were just a bunch of nerds doing math underwater and it certainly didn't compare to combat dogfighting against the Japanese and Korean air forces.   At the very least, I am prone to air sickness - despite my lineage of aviators - so, I guess the admiration is mutual.

When talk amongst friends turns to the topic of greatest players, I will continue to champion your four World Series Championship titles, exemplary fielding record and All-Star selection in 1950 - but…it may be your days in uniform that will mean the most to me.

[referencing the 4 titles] "We won because we were a team, first & foremost."

…if there is ever anything I can do for you, please let me know.   Thank you of your time and consideration, Colonel.   Very Respectfully, Ryan

"Thank you for the sub picture.   Ryan - you have  my admiration for your service.   Hope you and your wife raise a Yankee Family.   Jerry Coleman"

The Colonel's generosity was too much, he threw in this gorgeous 8x10!

Unbelievable experience to read through his thoughts.   I couldn't be more proud to know that Jerry Coleman gave me and my family a moments thought.   Such a gentleman!   These items will be treasured as a key part of my baseball memorabilia collection.   As you guys know, I really enjoy this era and collecting items that deal with players who served in the military.  

I only have one card of Colonel Coleman in my collection right now - his 1955 Bowman.   It's a great card but I would love to add some more!

REMEMBER - "…always ready for the ball…"

Then as now, his biggest thrills and memories are TEAM-oriented.   AMAZING!

Thank you for this amazing "through the mail" experience, Colonel Coleman.   I wish I had the chance to meet you in person but your legend will live on in the tales I tell, regardless.   I promise to do my very best to raise a proper Yankee Family!   Thank you for defending this great land and contributing to our great game.   You are missed - rest in peace.

Thanks for reading!

Size Matters with Another 'Spring TTM 2012' Return!!!

Ah, yes.   The large bubble mailer.   This bad boy was waiting for me at home a couple weeks back:

"Through The Mail" autograph requests are one of those parts of life where size really does matter.   Okay, I betcha TTMs aren't exactly the first topic up for debate when the discussion arises, but we're talkin' baseball today, folks!

You see, the size of a TTM matters for several reasons.   There's the cost.   It simply costs more to send more to our favorite athletes.   Yes, thank you Captain Obvious.   But there's also the awkwardness of the large-sized, bulky packages.   Envelopes with cards and letters can be stacked and piled and slipped in lockers rather easily.   It doesn't guarantee anything, but at least the logistics are in your favor.   Our heroes are busy, and toting around large packages from their fans (or asking someone from their entourage to do so) just isn't probably on their list of favorite things to do.   Ever.   And over-sized, over-achieving autograph requests, whether in person or through the mail, can sometime completely backfire and leave a well-intentioned fan empty-handed with a bitter memory of a particular athlete.

I get that.   And I respect that.   And I even fear that when I send a baseball.   But I still try, sometimes!

And sometimes..........you get lucky.   Very lucky.

Earlier this spring, I started a new spring training tradition of TTM quests that I colorfully called: "Spring TTM 2012".   I know........amazingly pithy, yes?!?!   A bunch of cards, in small TTM envelopes, went out to a bunch of players.   A few baseballs went out to a few, select players.    Mostly because the balls simply cost more and so I have to be selective about who I would like to send them to.   After all - they might not come back.   However, they weren't necessarily sent to the most popular players (which is usually a lost cause anyways) but my personal favorites or the ones that would mean the most to me.  

One of them was a ROMLB (previously discussed here) and a couple of cards to my current, favorite player from my favorite team - David Robertson of the New York Yankees.   That's right, a middle reliever.   The Bombers' 8th inning guy.   Mo's set-up man and, right now, heir apparent.   Not the most exciting idea for most collectors, probably - but I was stoked to give David a try.

Yeah.   I just called him David.

I returned to the hobby last year and, admittedly, returned to baseball as well.   I have always tuned in for the post season every year but I had really been a poor excuse for a baseball fan since I left the hobby and the sport for [girls, my HS sports, college, wife, job, family, etc.] back around '94/'95.   It was time for a change early last year though, when I found out I was going to have a son.   A boy's Dad has to know what's going on in baseball, now, come one!   As Homer Simpson would say, "the boy" is now here and so is my addiction to the game.   I tuned in whenever I could to catch a game last season and, as luck and the law$ of marketing would have it, a lot of those games were glorious Yankees games.   And in a lot of those Yankees games that ended with a W for New York, I was mesmerized by the 8th inning pitching machine that is David Robertson.

He often got himself into trouble with a hit there or a walk here......but he always pitched himself out of it, earning the nickname of "Houdini" by many fans.   He earned a spot on the All-Star roster last year where he retired the side in the 2nd inning with, appropriately, one hit and one strikeout.

Ironically, Michael Pineda struck out TWO NL batters in the 3rd inning......but I digress.   Sorry, the "Jay Buhner Part Deux" horror show is still too fresh on my mind!

Back to Mr. Robertson....

I also have a vivid memory of catching an inter-league game between the Rockies and the Yanks and watching Robertson strike out Tulowitzki with runners in scoring position to end the inning.   It was epic!   The guy has a 7-foot stride when he steps towards home plate in his delivery.   This enables him to serve up some strong pitches while minimizing the reaction time for the batters he's facing.

Great stuff.   Good baseball!   Size matters.

Plus.....he sports the 'high socks' look which is just flat out cool.   Even cooler is that Robertson (a University of Alabama alum) set up his charity, "High Socks for Hope" in order to raise money for disaster relief in the tornado-ravaged town of Tuscaloosa, AL.   They were hit pretty hard last year and David wanted to help out.   He also guest-celebrity-bartended at a watering hole in New York City at some point and donated all tips from that night to charity.   A great pitcher for my team and, by all accounts, a great guy.

So, he easily earned a spot on my "Player Collections" roster and has become one of my favorite players.   If you have any Robertson's, especially the parallels that I just can't seem to find.....let me know and I'll be more than happy to work up a swap!

Which brings me to the purpose of the whole post............David responded to my autograph request and was kind enough to sign and return the mementos I had sent!   I couldn't have been more excited to chalk up another success from Spring TTM 2012 with my favorite current Yankee, David Robertson:

I like to think he may have shuffled through my fan mail and some others while sipping a cold brewskie and nursing his bizarre foot injury during spring training.   He seems to have recovered nicely since his apartment-moving mishap though, as he currently sports a 0.00 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 8 K's in 11 innings pitched.   And I'll certainly be cheering him on during every inning to come.

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my request, Mr. Robertson and good luck as the 2012 season unfolds!

Thanks for reading!

What's a Rah-Mulb & How Is It Made?

I'm guessing that many of you out there have seen this before but I felt like it was worth sharing!

Here's a quick 5-minute video that shows the making of a Rawlings Official Major League Baseball or, as we like to call it in the blogosphere......a ROMLB.   You know, a "Rah-mulb".

Never waste an opportunity for a good acronym, I always say.

I love these balls.   When there's one in the shopping cart or on my desk at the house, it usually means one thing:  an autograph opportunity has presented itself or I'm in the process of cooking something up.

Wait.   That's two things.

These ROMLBs certainly aren't cheap but they are, by far, my favorite memento to have signed by a ball player.   SO, when a TTM request or "fence waiting" session at an actual game doesn't yield some ink - it can be expensive AND frustrating.   You can normally find these balls, in a nice clear-plastic-cube display case for about $14 at your local Target.   Not bad, but again, not cheap when you add in the postage, time and then any signing fees that might be required by a particular player you're hoping to have sign.

So, yes - I've complained about the price tag.

But after watching this video, I think I'll temper my rants just a little bit.   Hand-stitching?!   Pretty special.   Glad I stumbled upon this behind-the-scenes look at the creation of a FAVORITE part of my baseball memorabilia collection!

By the way - I recently had another very exciting return from my Spring TTM 2012 adventure and, as it just so happens, involved one of these beautiful, pristine baseballs from Rawlings........and my favorite current Yankee!   I'll be sharing this real soon.   Stay tuned.


Thanks for reading!

Epic TTM - "Mule"

First of all - much thanks to my friends William (Foul Bunt) and Drew (Drew's Cards) for passing along their own great TTM experiences with Mr. John Miles.   Even before my pursuit of Mr. Miles, they have been very generous in their sharing of TTM experiences, knowledge and information.   William is responsible for several of my great successes over the past year and has opened my eyes in general to some great legends of the game that fell outside of my previously all-too-narrow "HOF-er only" approach to seeking autographs through the mail.   Drew is a fellow Yankees fan, so we often email back and forth as I scramble to maximize the 'Pinstripe' part of my collection.

They also run two of the best blogs out there and I would encourage everyone to check them out on a regular basis!

Now, on to my own great experience with Mr. John "Mule" Miles.   He signed the ROMLB that I sent to him along with a Signature Card and one other very special item.   He also took the time to write a letter in response to several questions that I had inserted throughout my letter to him.  

There's something special about reading through the incredible memories of extraordinary times from his own hand.   His story is quite remarkable.   Here's my attempt to do it justice.

I asked Mr. Miles what his fondest memories were from his playing days with the Giants in the Negro American League:

"The players accepted me as a player, brother and friend - helping me along the way.   There were tears, joys, triumph and laughter as we played the game.   We won most of our games.   Those we lost we did so in a very sportsman-like manner.   I have no regrets.   The Giants were good." *

John Miles never played in the major leagues but I think we could all agree that a mental asterisk could be applied to a discussion of players who played the game in any of the Negro Leagues during baseball's segregated period.   Mr. Miles only played professionally for a few years, from 1946 to 1952.   At the urging of his friends, he tried out for the Chicago American Giants in '46 and made the team, where he went on to play professional ball for about $300 per month.   At 6'3" and almost 230 pounds, Miles was an imposing figure.   He was known to have strong wrists and "wiry arms".   Despite a lack of speed, he played both 3B and all three outfield positions and was known to have pretty good range with a strong arm.

I asked Mr. Miles if there was any particular home run from his career that sticks out in his mind:

"In 1948, hitting two home runs in one ball game.   The nickname "Mule" was originated by the manager, Jim "Candy" Taylor.   Also, hitting 11 home runs in 11 straight games.   Still sticks out." *

In retrospect, I now feel like my question was a bit rhetorical!   Of course it would be his streak of 11 and dual-homer game that resonate in his memory as he looks back.   I love the introspective sense that you get with his wording.   I can almost see him referring to the streak of 11 before leaning back in his chair for a moment and then nodding to himself and, with a quick grin, whispering "...still sticks out..."

In 1948, John Miles slammed 27 home runs despite batting in the bottom half of the Giants' order, hitting at a steady .250 clip for the season.   Most of those 27 home runs came during his famous streak of 11 home runs in 11 games.   It shattered any existing record at the time and would still stand today in the major leagues.   This particular record has special meaning for me as a Don Mattingly fan.   Donnie's clubbing of eight home runs in eight consecutive games in 1987 is one of my favorite highlights for my favorite all-time player.   The Hitman matched Dale Long's previous mark in 1956 and then Ken Griffey Jr. repeated the feat in 1993.   Pretty good company!

As Mr. Miles described above, he displayed his raw power throughout his years with the Giants, earning his nickname after hitting two homers in one game.   His coach, 'Candy Jim' Taylor quipped to his young player, "You hit that ball like a mule kicks!" - the name stuck.   With the color barrier broken in baseball by Jackie Robinson, "Mule" Miles went on to become the first African American ball player in the South Texas League where he would play for the Laredo and San Antonio until he retired in '52.

John Miles played with many great ball players.   I asked him who the best pitcher, hitter or defensive player was that he ever faced on an opposing team.   I followed that query up by asking who amongst the present-day players did he enjoy watching the most: 

"The best pitcher was Satchel Paige.   I never got a hit off of Satchel.   Josh Gibson was the best hitter and defensive player, with the Homestead Gray's.   Present-day team - the Texas Rangers.   Player - Josh Hamilton with the Rangers." *

Most impressively to me, John Miles is a military veteran.   As a veteran myself and the son/grandson/brother-in-law of four servicemen in my family, I can't help but admire the players from baseball's golden age who put on their country's uniform in addition to playing professional baseball.   Add to this the additional challenge of severe racial prejudices that African Americans faced during World War II and his legacy becomes even more awe-inspiring.   In 1942, John Miles enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and attended Aircraft Mechanic Journeyman Rating School in Tuskegee, Alabama.   It was here that contributed to the maintenance of aircraft destined for service with the Nation's first African-American aviation program, the "Black Wings".   This group of pioneering patriots is more famously known as the Tuskegee Airmen.   I was very hesitant to ask Mr. Miles about his experience as a Tuskegee Airman.   For so many veterans, their service during times of war is very personal.   Often times, they are either too humble to expound upon their memories or are reluctant to do so because of the pain, loss or regret those times might represent.   In the end, I decided to thank him for his service and related my own military connections to let him know that I understood how special his sacrifice had been.   I'm glad I did.   Mr. Miles was very honest and succinct in his response but his pride in the accomplishments of that courageous group of pioneering aviators is what really shines through.

What was the most moving moment for you, good or bad, during your time in the service?


  "I did not fly in combat on missions but I am proud that I am a member of a group that established all kind of records flying fighter planes.   despite the racial barrier of that time they never lost a bomber to the enemy.   The Tuskegee Airmen, the 99th Squadron." *

The paragraph above is an absolute treasure for me.   One of my grandfathers was a radioman on B-24 Bombers and flew combat missions out of England during World War II.   He seldom spoke of his experiences, as they seemed to conjure up painful memories of terror-filled moments and friends who never made it home.   My Grandad completed the requisite number of missions that was required of bomber crews in order to fulfill their obligation and earned a ticket home - but not before surviving a crash landing behind enemy lines during one of their final missions.   The French Resistance provided support in their escape back to Allied-occupied territory......

Long story short - I am here only because my grandfather fought and survived.   And I am sure that at some point - support and protection from fighter escorts helped his B-24 return to soil on the western shores of the English Channel.   After some preliminary research, I am fairly certain that his squadron and/or bomber group were never escorted by the 'Red Tails' of the 99th Fighter Squadron - but they were certainly a part of that fearless fraternity in those skies over Europe and Africa.   A group of warriors that saved the world while selflessly risking all they had with honor, courage, discipline and pride in what they were doing.   I feel like this picture embodies this notion quite well:

Though he is not specifically in this image, Mr. Miles was a member of that group of warriors and has lived by the values I described above for his entire life.   He was kind enough to sign this picture for me and I am very excited to share it with you.   It is a snap shot of the first graduating class of cadets from the Tuskegee Program, taken on the flight line at the base where Mr. Miles and his fellow soldiers trained, worked and defended the nation.   Major James. A. Ellison is shown returning the salute of Cadet Mac Ross.

As you can see, every part of this TTM return has a special meaning for me.   As a baseball fan.   As an American.   As a lover of history.   As a veteran.  

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and sign some keepsakes for me, Mr. Miles.   I will treasure them always, and attempt to pay tribute to Americans like you and my grandfather by following in your footsteps with how I live and passing along the lessons of your life to a new generation.

Thanks for reading.



* Some of Mr. Miles' comments from his letter were altered slightly by me (syntax & grammar) for ease of reading in this blog post
  

More Returns From Spring TTM1! (and some fist-pumping)

Back in '97 (good grief....that's when I graduated from high school.....BACK in '97?!?!?), Nine Inch Nails put out a pretty edgy song entitled, "The Perfect Drug".   It walked that wonderfully thin line of appropriateness that was so very enjoyable at that point in life.   I can't go rolling through my neighborhood with that song blaring out the windows anymore, but you better believe that if it ever streams across the Apple TV's Internet radio while my kids aren't around - I'll be reaching for the volume and doing some serious fist-pumping.

Not Just For Fridays, Anymore!

What was the point of that weird diversion?   Well, NIN's song could be a very applicable anthem for TTM requests when they return victoriously.   There's really nothing quite like the joy of seeing one of those envelopes or packages waiting for us.    You immediately start guessing who might have responded and then tear into the little reward that you put some effort into and, probably, a little bit of cash.   It's a gamble and a collector's high - but in the end, it's also just some good, clean fun that connects us with a person we admire or a game we enjoy.

And this past Monday delivered another round of goodness from my STTM1 adventure!   There were two little envelopes waiting for me on the counter with the familiar "TAMPA" USPS stamp on the front (naturally).   Let's see what we had!

Many of you might  know him as "General Palpatine"

My first baseball "Front Office" TTM request - New York Yankees Senior Vice President and General Manager, Brian Cashman.   He is certainly a polarizing individual in the lexicon of our sport and hobby, existing as an integral player in the ongoing operational and personnel decisions of the most expensive large-market teams in major league baseball.   Joining the organization in 1986 as an intern after finishing college (where he excelled as the lead off hitter for his school's baseball team), Brian worked his way up the ranks and found himself in the role he now fills by 1998.   Since his tenure as GM began, the Yanks have brought home six American League pennants and four World Series championships.

It hasn't been all butterflies and unicorns, though, as Cashman experienced tension with other Yankees executives over the years - fulfilling what almost seems to be a requirement for the job.   Despite differences that almost led to Brian leaving the team in 2005, the 2009 MLB Executive of the Year is now serving under a contract that will have him with the team through the end of the 2014 season.

Working to become a better fan and collector over the past year, I followed the organization's moves this past season with renewed interest.   The surprising Montero-Pineda deal was a reminder that there is a greater plan at work and even though I was disappointed to learn of Montero's departure, I applaud the executive office's gutsy nerve to think outside of the box.   We may not know the true Winners and Losers form the deal for several seasons, but it will sure be fun to watch!   I am sure Cashman had a part in that deal, along with the club's moves to add lefty slugger (I feel like I'm going out on a limb with that title, but what the heck) Raul Ibanez at a serious discount and even the long-term roll of the dice on Joba's TJ surgery rehab partner-in-crime, David Aardsma.  

Cashman was kind of enough to take the time to sign my Autograph Card and I love how he added the tiny inscription of "GM" to the side of his signature.   I think it's pretty sharp and I'm excited to have it in my collection, highlighting the often controversial yet necessary business side of our national pastime.   Thank you for the keepsake, Mr. Cashman, and good luck with our team as we move into a new season and drive for the post season!

From the front office to behind the plate, here's the other great return from Monday:

Like Luke Skywalker, he shall redeem his father's career with the Dark Side!

(I know - two Star Wars references in one post.   Bare with me, folks!)

Austin Romine is one of the Yankees' fine catching prospects.   In fact, the prospects for his chances to see more action in the near future may have become a little greater with Montero's off season departure (even though Jesus was never given much thought for his defensive capabilities!).   I had not yet picked up a baseball card for Austin when I sent out the TTM (I now have a few) but I think his signature looks great on the signature card shown above.

Mr. Romine came up to the Big's for some coffee last fall after making the move to Triple A on September 1st.   They always say "you're an injury away" and this was certainly the scenario for Austin  as unfortunate injuries befell both Russell Martin and Francisco Cervelli.   Needing immediate help, Joe Girardi reached for the Manager's Bat Phone to give Romine a call but, weirdly, the numbers he had didn't work.

Maybe Austin upgraded to an iPhone when he achieved AAA status?   Serious Organizational Phone Tree FAILURE.

Anyways, the story goes that Joe then enlisted the help of Romine's brother and Anaheim Angel, Andrew.   Andrew knew how to get in touch with his brother but when Girardi finally reached his young catcher, it was via Austin's girlfriend's phone while the two lovebirds were shopping in a Kentucky Walmart.

I read this on the Internet - so it's definitely true!

Regardless of the details, Austin joined the team on the west-coast swing and saw his first action as a major leaguer against his brother's Angels on September 11, 2011.   He picked up his first hit the following day.   Good stuff!

I'm excited about Austin's ability but I am a little worried about his back.   It gave him some trouble last August and now seems to have flared up again in spring workouts.   Forgive my nervousness, it is a result of being a Mattingly fan, I'm sure.   Skipper Girardi seems to have some strong confidence in the young fellow, though, and is hoping to have Austin back in a strong position to become an everyday catcher for the team or at least secure the back-up slot this season.   I'll certainly be rooting for him as he tries to earn his spot, along with this dude:    

FOUND: Joba's flat-brim inspiration!

Proud Papa

Sure, Austin's old man played for that terrible Chicken 'n Beer outfit from Massachusetts, but any father-son legacy aspect is always pretty cool!

Thanks for taking the time to sign my card, Austin, and best of luck to you as you chase your spot with the team.

Thanks for reading!

First Return for the 1st Annual Spring TTM Experiment

I knew it.

I just had a feeling that there would be one of those glorious little SASE's waiting for me on the counter when I got home from work today.   An inkling, perhaps?.....(cheesy pun TOTALLY intended)

And there it was...

Don't worry - I was the animal that caused THAT tear!

Who could it be?   Probably one of the lesser-known players, right?   Somebody who might have had a little more time, maybe a bit more patience or excitement about receiving TTM requests in the first few days of their first or second time at camp.

I let the cards inside gently slide out into my hands.

"My God..."  I whispered to no one in particular.   Here's what dropped out:

500 Saves is SO 100 Saves Ago

My Kind of Art

                



















Thank you, Mr. Rivera!

That's right - the most successful closer of all time spent a few moments to sign my cards.   This wasn't supposed to happen.   I focused most of my efforts on preparing requests for the more 'probable' responders off of the Bombers' and others' spring rosters.   I had sent to Rivera before, during the off season in late 2007.   I had mailed off a Game Program from Yankee Stadium that I had held on to since my first and still ONLY visit to the Bronx in 2000-ish.   Mo was on the cover - it was going to look AWESOME.

It never came back.

That's okay.   I knew Rivera was a 'big name' and that the volumes of mail he probably received would be working against me.   So it was that I finished his letter a few weeks ago, with that "...might as well, because you never know" eternal optimism that I seem to be cursed/blessed with.   The cards I chose were kind of random, as you can see.   My choices were slim as I hadn't been back in the hobby long enough to amass too many Mo's for the collection.   But I liked the layout, background and balance of the Peak Performance card from 2010.   It marked a pretty solid milestone and it would look pretty cool with a signature across the front.

Same thing for the Gypsy Queen green-border parallel.   I am normally indifferent to parallels but I was enamored with almost all aspects of the GQ release last year, these greenies included.   This Rivera was beautiful to me as an artsy rendition of his classic delivery with a border and background color scheme that just worked.   It too would look fairly solid with some ink across the middle......if I ever even saw these cards again, that is.

But here they are, and I think they turned out beautifully!   These are my first autographs of Mariano Rivera.

This might very well be Mo's last season in the game he has dominated so effortlessly.  Ironically, he might be handing the reigns of Yankee Closer to my latest favorite player and PC quest - David Robertson - or somebody else, at the end of this year.   So this might have been the last shot before years of potential chance run-ins at shows or auctions.   How poetic!

Thank you, Mr. Rivera.   Thank you for your contributions to the team I live and die with every season.   Thank you for your contributions to the game of baseball and all of those epic moments in your career that are memories for me.   Let's make a few more!

Okay....I'm done with my drama  :)

The first return for STTM1 is in the books, ladies and gentlemen!   Who will be next?

Stay tuned and thanks for reading!    

STTM1 Update...

I was up way too late last night and grew very, very weary of writing my own address.   That can mean only one thing!   Okay, probably two things.   First off, I didn't make it to the gym before work today.  

Drats.  

More importantly, the first salvo of the 1st Annual Spring Through the Mail umm, adventure (or something?), has been fired!



Hope Springs Eternal - Pun Totally Intended

Godspeed, my little friends.

Do You Smell That?

It's almost here.

That time of the year when we all receive some fresh hope, some warmer temps and maybe get the hankerin' for some sunflower seeds as we maneuver our way through the peculiarities of Flagship Series 1.

Spring Training!

I know that the Marlins kicked off early - but if my memory serves me right, I believe pitchers and catchers for most clubs are set to report in about 6 days or so......

So what does that mean?

Time for Ryan's 1st Annual Spring Through The Mail (STTM1).

Better make 'em "forever" stamps - just in case!

I've always been a huge fan of TTM autograph seeking.   I discovered this joy in 2007 and have been going at it from time to time ever since.   I've had some amazing returns and crushing non-responses.   $450, Willie?   Really?   I can't wait to share some of those stories here.

But it's always a good time for a new crop.   As my beautiful wife always says, "MORE baseballs and autographs?"

Yes, babe.   MORE.

What exactly is STTM1?   I'm not quite sure yet.   But it's going to be epic, of course.   Success or failure?   THAT is the question.  

More details to follow but I'm starting to get ready around here.   It's time to get writing and time to get stamping.

And the occasional, early offering to Jobu for a little luck never hurts.

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Here goes nothing.   Thanks for reading!