TTM Success - Jake Westbrook

One of my longest TTM turn-around times happened recently when I got this lot of cards back signed by Jake Westbrook.  I had sent the cards out in 2020, and finally got them all back signed this past August.  A five-year turn.  I never give up on my TTMs, but at some point, you have to be realistic that some of that old stuff isn't coming back.  I was able to cross Jake Westbrook off of the ledger, and that was a great feeling.

I sent an assortment of Topps cards, from 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011.  On top of that (and this post), I also sent a 2008 Upper Deck.

All of the cards turned out great.  I was surprised that he signed all of the cards.  I try not to send that many these days, if I can help it.  Still, he signed them all and I'm glad.

Westbrook (b. 1977) played in the majors from 2000 to 2008 and 2010 to 2013 for the Yankees, Indians and Cardinals.  He had a career record of 105-103 with 965 strike outs and a 4.32 ERA.  He was an All Star in 2004.  He won the World Series with the Cardinals in 2011.

I mailed to Westbrook on June 5, 2020, and got the cards back on August 12, 2025, for a 1,894-day TAT.

TTM Success - Dan Cevette

This was another card that came in the stack that Ryan sent me a while back.  Dan Cevette was signing, so the card got sent out.  The signature got smeared, probably because the card was put back into the envelope still wet.

Cevette (b. 1983) was a third round pick by the Indians in the 2002 June Amateur Draft out of Elkland High School in Pennsylvania. He played in the minors from 2002 to 2009 and 2013 in the Indians, Royals and Pirates systems. The highest level he reached was AAA.  Because he was in the Indians system, I checked, and he played in Kinston in 2007 and 2008.  Overall in the minors, he had a record of 20-19 with 346 strike outs and a 3.79 ERA.

I mailed to Cevette on July 17 and got the card back on August 11 for a 25-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Yusniel Diaz

When I heard that Yusniel Diaz was doing a private signing, I was excited to get some of the cards I had pulled in the past signed.  In addition, I had pulled the above green foil parallel out of 2023 Topps series 2.  I was afraid it wouldn't get signed, but here we are.  The card turned out great!

I pulled a handful of my cards from the Box Of Shame and sent them along. I'd have sent more, but I felt like 5 cards was plenty.

Diaz (b. 1996) had one at bat for the Orioles in 2022.  That at bat ended in a strike out.  Diaz was the key piece coming from the Dodgers in the Manny Machado trade in 2018.  He didn't really pan out and has been surpassed by Dean Kremer, who has settled into a role at a back end starter for the Orioles.

I mailed to the signing on July 22 and got the cards back on August 7 for a 16-day TAT. I paid a fee of $5/card.

TTM Success - Jay Buhner

Here's a guy that I was very exc9ted.to see was signing TTM lately.  When I was growing up, Jay Buhner was kind of a bad ass.  He was a pretty potent hitter on some good Mariners teams.  I was glad to send along the above 1996 Topps Gallery, it looks really great signed.

I had Buhner's 1988 Topps Glossy Rookies card, which turned out well.  I haven't gotten many of those signed, so it was easy to pick that one to send out.  I also got his 1994 Studio and his 1995 Collectors Choice SE done.

Buhner (b. 1964) played in the majors from 1987 to 2001 for the Yankees and Mariners.  He had 1,273 hits, 310 home runs and a .254 batting average.  He was an All Star in 1996.  His best MVP finish was 5th in 1995 (AL).  He appeared on the 2007 Hall of Fame ballot and received 0.2% of the vote.

I mailed to Buhner on July 16 and got the cards back on July 28 for a 12-day TAT.  I paid his fee of $5.00/card.

TTM Success - Debbie Harry

When I saw that lead singer of Blondie, Debbie Harry, was signing TTM, I wasn't sure what to send.  Obviously, I wanted to have her sign a checklist from 87 Topps to help fill out another page of celebrities.  I wanted to send something else, so I went with a New York theme, since Blondie is considered a New York band.  I was able to get the above 2008 Upper Deck Piece of History Statue of Liberty card out of my box.

The above 2020 Allen and Ginter Steinway Tower "Reach For The Sky" insert was another cool one to send out.  Also shown above is the 87 checklist that she signed.  It has no significance or tie to Harry or Blondie other than she was active in 87 and it will be another celebrity card for that album.

Harry (b. 1945) is a singer, songwriter and actress.  She has been with Blondie since their formation in 1974.  The band is known for hits such as Heart of Glass, Call Me, Rapture, Atomic and The Tide is High.  She also appeared in movies: Videodrome, Hairspray, Body Bags, Tales From the Darkside - The Movie and Elegy.

I mailed to Harry on January 23, 2023, and got the cards back on July 26, 2025, for a 915-day TAT.

TTM Success - Tommy Sommer

Tommy Sommer is a guy who's cards I ordered for the road trip this summer.  I missed him when I went to see Kane County play Sioux City.  He had been released, and i was stuck trying to see how I could get the cards into the autograph album. 

I took a shot at TTM and luckily got bith cards back signed in red Sharpie. 

Sommer (b. 1998) was a 10th round pick by the White Sox in the 2021 July Amateur Draft out of Indiana University. He played in the White Sox system from 2021 to 2023, reaching AA.  He had a record of 9-12 with 238 strike outs and a 3.64 ERA.

I mailed to Sommer on July 8 and got the cards back on July 26 for an 18-day TAT. 

Another TTM Success From Brandon Kintzler

A third TTM success came in from Brandon Kintzler back in July.  I had the above 2019 Topps gold parallel that I wanted to get signed. I was.glad to get this card into the autograph album. 

I also sent this 2021 Topps that Kintzler signed.  The problem was, I didnt check my past successes until today and saw that he had already signed a 2021 Topps for me.  Oh well, now there are two in the autograph album. 

I mailed to Kintzler on September 4, 2024, and got the cards back on July 17, 2025, for a 316-day TAT.