The First Spring Training TTM of 2011
March 3rd, 2011 by slangon
Earlier in the year, I had written up a State of the Blog post that was really more of a list of New Years resolutions for how I go about collecting cards. One of the goals that I had set for myself was sending out more TTM requests. Like most New Years resolutions that most people make, I started off with gung-ho, but with the year only starting to creep into March I’ve already fallen off on that goal. Just to illustrate how much I’ve already started to slack on that, in 2010, at spring training, which I guess is traditionally a boom time for TTM requests, I sent out 23 requests to different Mets players. This year, it was 3.
Today I want to share the first and only one of those 3 that I got back so far. This particular batch of cards was sent to one of my favorite Mets players when I was growing up who recently rejoined the team in the capacity of first base coach. The one man, along with Bill Buckner, who is probably most connected with the last World Series Title the Mets won. That’s right. The one, the only William Hayward “Mookie” Wilson.
Unlike many of my other TTM requests that involve custom cards, I sent Mookie 3 Topps cards of his that I had laying around. He sent back all three, with 2 being signed.
I was pretty damn excited to get these cards back signed because, as I said before, Mookie is one of my all-time favorite Mets. I really like the ’86 since that was their Championship year, but I think I like the ’84 card a little better just based on aesthetics. Also, the ’84 set always has a little bit of a special place in my heart because that was one of the first sets I really collected.
One slight disappointment with this TTM success is that the 3rd card that I sent, the one that he didn’t sign, is far and away my favorite of all of Mookie’s cards. What makes it a little puzzling is that in the letter that I sent with the cards, I let him know that he could feel free to keep any of the cards for himself if he wanted, but since the ’82 was my favorite, I’d be particularly appreciative if he could at least sign that one and send it back. I guess either I wasn’t too clear on that point, or, more likely, he didn’t actually read the letter and just signed whichever cards he grabbed first.
Either way, this is certainly one of my favorite successes so far.
Congrats on the successes! I always liked the 1984 Mookie – I guess it was the bright green background behind the head shot.
Nice success!