TTM Return From John Donati

1991 Stadium Club Dome #37

1994 Fleer Pro Cards Boise Hawks #3361

1994-95 Fleer Excel Boise Hawks #19

Donati was drafted by the Angels in 1991, in the 4th round (116th overall). He spent 1991-1995 in the Angels organization before brief stints in the Cleveland and Seattle organizations.

John returned on January 11, 2018 after 14 days sent to his home in El Dorado, CA.

November-January Listia Winnings

Getting caught up on my Listia winnings from November 2017 thru January 2018.

1970 Topps #658 Hi Numbers

1968 Topps #305

1986 TCMA All Time Angels #10-ANG

1997 Upper Deck #271

2006 Topps Turkey Red #466, #488

Picking off Nolan Ryan cards that come up.

1996 Fleer Checklists

1991 Studio Checklist Set

1991 Silver Star Nolan Ryan AuthenTicket

Unusual item, but it came with a few of the Ryan cards above.

Various other checklists.

The 2000 Baseball Magazine Yakult Swallows Team Checklist is pretty cool.

2012 Bowman Sterling Prospect Autographs BSAP-LBA

The Angels recently picked up Bard from the Twins in the Rule 5 Draft.

Misc Patriots.

And believe it or not, these were all included in various wins as card protection/extras.

Shout Out - UPDATE (I Cried)

BIG DADDY!!!

UPDATE

Vlad announced that he'll be going into the Hall wearing an Angels hat on his plaque!

I cried.

Those of you with hats already in the Hall might not understand.

Those with no hats in the Hall, you will understand someday, if not now.

The closest the Angels came to getting represented on a HOF plaque was with Nolan Ryan who ended up choosing to go in wearing a Rangers hat (even though his primary team is listed as the Angels).

And if that were anyone other than Ryan I'd never forgive them for the snub.

But now the long wait is over.

This team has made me cry tears of joy in the past:

1. Making their first (and only so far) World Series.

2. Tim Salmon hitting his first World Series Home run.

3. Winning the World Series.

(2002 was an emotional year!)

It's such a bid deal, after a lifetime of cheering for the same team, to get represented in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Thank you Vladdy.

Thank you.

(Where's that damn box of tissues.)

TTM Return From Jerry Browne

1988 Topps Toys-R-Us Rookies #3

1988 Starting Lineup Talking Baseball

1991 Upper Deck #116

The TRU and Upper Deck are for autograph sets I'm working on, the SLU is just a cool card, and I've gotten a couple different Rangers signed.

Jerry returned these sent to his home here in Mansfield, on January 3, after 20 days.

Cheap Packs at the Antique Mall

Took one of the kids to the local antique mall: she was looking for dog figurines and I always have my eye out for baseball cards. Not much baseball stuff to choose from, and what was there was insanely overpriced, but I did manage to find a little bundle in an obscure little booth, for just a couple bucks.

1992 Fleer The Performer Collection, 7-11

A 24-card set. The bundle included seven unopened 5-card packs and 10 loose cards.

I didn't know much about this set, and I was fairly sure I didn't need it, so I didn't buy the bundle right then, I wanted to get home to verify if I had any of the cards already, or if there were any Angels in the set, or any other player I might be interested in.

I discovered in my SCBC there were indeed no Angels, but there was a Nolan Ryan in the set, so I decided to go back to the antique mall and purchase the bundle in hopes of pulling the Ryan for the PC.

So I guess you got a pack of 5 cards for every 8 gallons of gasoline you bought at 7-Eleven stores.

I have to suppose that all 7-Eleven stores only carried CITGO gas? That seems odd to me being a Southern Californian: we had 7-Elevens all over the place but I don't recall any CITGO gas stations. I thought CITGO was just an East Coast thing.

Anyhow, here are the ten loose cards in the bundle:
Lots of HOFers in the set.

The design differs from the regular issue 1992 Fleer by having a darker, more bluish-green coloring and by this logo:

The Performer Collection.

I'm assuming the photos are different as well.

The backs are identical except for the logos on the lower left and the numbering font on the lower right which numbers to 24 cards.

Let's rip seven and see if I can pull that Ryan.

PACK 1

I'll have to see if Peter needs this Strawberry. 

 PACK 2

Like I said, lots of HOFers in the set.

 PACK 3

 Second Strawberry.

PACK 4

 No Ryan yet.

PACK 5

 At this point there's no sense in keeping track of the dupes.

PACK 6

 There's a nice Griffey.

Still no Ryan.

PACK 7

Seriously, I pulled the Ryan as the last card in the last pack!

And gets my vote for the best pack as well.

 I ended up with 22 of the 24 card set, pretty good overall. Just lacking #13 Jose Canseco and #17 Rickey Henderson.

But I don't think I'll keep this as a set, I don't really need it and I want the Nolan Ryan for my PC.

Splash Three

The Commish knocked off three cards from my Top Ten in the sidebar. I sent Bob some Batman cards a bit back, always great to share the Batman with another collector.

1963 Fleer #21

This is great because it's the last card I needed to complete the 4-card team set together with Don Lee, Albie Pearson, and Bob Rogers.

1965 Topps #374

Down now to needing three cards for the team set. 

Cardenal had come over from the Giants system in a trade for Jack Hiatt, (that's why his hat was airbrushed black) and the young, all grins Simpson spent the first three years of his career with the Halos.

1969 Topps #183

Although the card is for the Houston Oilers, it depicts Mitchell in his Boston Patriots uniform, for whom he played in 1967 and 1968, even getting an AFL All-Star selection in 68.

That's why I wanted it for the Patriots team set.

2016 Topps Archives Topps 69 Super 69TS-MT

Though not super in size like the real 69 Supers (which are very cool if you've never seen one), this little guy is a beauty just the same.

 

1993 Duracell Power Players Series II Order Form

Way cool, because now I need to track down all the other cards in this series. Looks like I'll need to get six different order form cards just for the Duracell Series II set.

(And I believe Series I would have six different order form cards as well.)

Hmmm, if I had to pick only one set from those available I'd go with Set 4 which includes Jim Abbott.

Summer of 74, Part Late

These came a while back from Matt, I think these were a part of the winnings for playing in his Rob Dork Contest (hilarious title if I hadn't said it already).

Small sampling of sweepstakes, info cards, and checklists.

But this is the card I really wanted to get to:

1990 Topps Spring Fever Baseball Sweepstakes entry card

Super stoked to get this one, as it's one I haven't seen before, didn't know it existed.

It goes right along with the other "Spring Fever" cards put out in Topps baseball products in the late 80's early 90's. It's of the smaller size , so as indicated on the back, came in the mini Major League Leaders packs.

So cool.

TTM Return From Taylor Ward

Ward is number 11 on the Angels Top 30 Prospects list.

He's currently with the Mobile BayBears (AA).

2015 Panini Contenders School Colors #14

2015 Panini USA Stars & Stripes #90

2015 Bowman Draft/Dividends DD-TW

Returned on January 13 after 215 days sent to the Inland Empire 66ers.

TTM Return From Dennis Van Pelt

1994 Fleer Pro Cards Boise Hawks #3371

Dennis played a single season in the minors for the Hawks.

He's now a high school history teacher and also is the NJ Director of Player Development for Baseball U.

Dennis signed this card for me via his high school address, and it was returned on December 28, 2017 after 17 days.

TTM Return From Ryan Wheeler

Not that Ryan Wheeler. The one you're all probably thinking of is the guy who pitched for the Diamondbacks and Rockies. This Ryan Wheeler is even better (no offence other Ryan Wheeler). This Ryan Wheeler played briefly in the Angels system, for the Boise Hawks, before pursuing a career in coaching, where he's been very successful.

1994 Fleer Pro Cards Boise Hawks #3366

No doubt, I love getting signed cards back in the mail, but I also love it when a player takes the time to answer a couple questions. The best part of this return was Ryan's thoughtful response to my first question:

And that's why I love writing to these ballplayers. I like to think that one of my gifts is encouragement, I like to encourage people. By including a note, and asking questions of the ballplayer, not just wanting him to "sign these cards", I hope to let them know that they are still thought of and not forgotten, and that their contributions to baseball are important and appreciated. That people care.

That's why I still collect autographs and correspondence.

Sent to St Josephs University, Ryan returned this in 12 days, on January 13, 2018.

TTM Return From Todd Greene Again

I don't know why I'm obsessed with getting every Todd Greene card I own signed. Maybe because he's a PC and one of my favorite Angels; maybe because he always signs stuff sent to him, so dependable; maybe I just like to get mail. This is the sixth time I've sent him cards: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018. I'm not gonna tell you how many cards he's signed for me because it feels like excess, and I'm really not an excess guy. I just love getting Todd Greene's autograph.

1994-1995 Fleer Excel #20

1995 Topps #633

1995 Collectors Choice #34

1996 Score Board All Sport PPF #61

Today he's a Special Assistant to the GM and a Major League Scout for the Diamondbacks. 

DANG! I should have asked for a signed business card!

Todd signed these cards sent his home in 11 days, returning them on January 13, 2018.