TTM Success: Bobby Floyd

This TTM Success came back from former Oriole Bobby Floyd. Since Mr, Floyd only has one Orioles card where he is pictured by himself and I am (mostly) only interested in autographed Orioles cards as TTMs, my options were limited.  I also wasn't sending a 1969 Topps that he shares with Larry Burchart and some guy named Rollie Fingers ( I wonder how he turned out).  That's a high number card and he isn't pictured alone. That's all fine and dandy, because I tend to enjoy 1970 Topps and they look pretty darn good signed.

Bobby Floyd moved onto the Royals in a trade which brought relief pitcher Moe Drabowsky back to the Orioles.  It would have been tough for Bobby to shoulder his way into the infield mix with Brooks at Third, Mark Belanger at Short, Davey Johnson at Second, and Boog Powell at First.  The outfield was just as crowded with Merv Rettenmund, Paul Blair and Frank Robinson.  An embarrassment of riches that Earl Weaver had to work with during that Golden Era.

I mailed this card out on November 4, 2023 and it returned on November 16, for a 12 day TAT.  Thank You Mr. Floyd!

TTM Success: Merv Rettenmund

 A recent TTM success I had come back to my mailbox was from Merv Rettenmund.  Both of the cards I sent turned out beautifully.  Merv played for the Orioles in the late 60's and into the early 70's before he was traded to Cincinnati.  He played a key role as an outfielder on those great Orioles teams from that time period.  

I'm not the biggest fan of 1972 Topps but I think this card turned out great. The nice blue Sharpie signature compliments the light blue (nearly teal) frame nicely.

I'm a bigger fan of 1970 Topps.  Gray isn't always my go to color but for the design of the card I think it works.

I sent these 2 cards out on November 4th, 2023 and got them back on November 16th for a 12 day TAT.  Thank You Mr. Rettenmund!

A Trade with Greg of Night Owl Cards

 I recently made a trade with the astonishingly consistent Night Owl.  Its probably been nearly 10 years since I made a trade with Greg.  He sent some great cards this time.

Not a baseball card, but I don't remember Night Owl having his own business card.  Nice touch!

I've been working on a full run of Diamond Kings from 1982 thru 1996.  Night Owl was able to knock these two off of the 1986 list.

He was able to hit my 2023 Orioles wantlist with these awesome cards.  I'm super excited with the Henderson mini!

I've added some vintage food issues to my Orioles team set wantlist including the Kellogg's 3-D cards. Any Eddie Murray card is an awesome one, but this has three dimensions of that stare.  I'm just getting started with the 3-D's, Post, and..... 

the Hostess food issues.  This Doug DeCinces Hostess from 1977 is just the beginning of my team sets of them.

Greg also sent a pile of UD Masterpieces from 2008 to fill some holes on my second set build.

Thanks Greg for the awesome cards.  Hopefully we wont wait a decade to trade again.

TTM Success: Wally Bunker

 Here's a nice TTM success that showed up in my mailbox a few weeks back.  Wally Bunker was a teenage phenom for the Orioles in the mid 60's.  He made his MLB Debut at the age of 18 and fired a complete shutout against the Dodgers in the 1966 World Series.  Arm troubles and ineffectiveness plagued him after that defining game and threw his last major league pitch when he was 26.

He and his wife also published some children's books in 2015.

I've grown in a appreciation of the 1968 Topps set over the years. I've come to like the burlap sack borders and the simple design overall.

I'm not sure what else I can say about 1965 Topps other that its an all-time favorite of mine and they look great autographed.

I mailed these 2 cards out on November 1st, 2023 and got them back November 14th 2023 for a 13 day TAT.  Thank You Mr. Bunker!

2023 Topps Chrome Update value box pack 7

My last pack of the box break is finally here:  Lets see what's inside:

Two Solid Rookies, 

and a partridge in a pear tree light red refractor of a Giants pitcher.  Not too bad of a pack.

My last selection of goofball, oddball Christmas songs is one by John Denver.  He actually did several Christmas albums including one with the Muppets!  He mostly did the traditional songs that everybody knows but this song is a little different:

 Thanks for enduring my value box of Topps Chrome Update and my selections for some off the wall Christmas songs. 

2023 Topps Chrome Update value box pack 6

 We're down to the penultimate pack of the value box.  Lets see what today's pack holds:

Nothing super crazy in this pack.  The Yarbrough is a regular refractor and the Corbin Carroll Future Stars insert is very nice looking.   

Tonight's Christmas selection is from rockers August Burns Red.  They put out an entire Christmas album of covers.  Take a listen:

TTM Success: Al Bumbry

Today is the last of the TTM requests I sent out back in 2014.  Coincidentally, I am posting this success on the same day as another request to him was just picked up from my mailbox.

Al Bumbry is often forgotten as an Orioles star from the late 70s and early 80's, The O's had plenty of star power that included Brooks Robinson Reggie Jackson, Eddie Murray, Ken Singleton, Dennis Martinez,  Jim Palmer and Cal  just to name a few. Its not hard to see how you could get lost in the mix when you mention those guys.

Bumbry stands on his own as a great Orioles player.  He had one All-Star appearance in 1980 and won the World Series in 1983.  He was a great table setter for many of the greats that I named above.

He lives in Maryland so it's not unusual to see him at Orioles events including Fanfest, and Charity Events.

1981 Fleer

1981 Fleer has its faults but this is a nice card if Al smiling into the stands as his picture was snapped.

1981 Topps

Here's a good action shot of Bumbry.  It looks great signed.

He also added an signed Orioles postcard to the package.  I pleasant surprise!  The Orioles have always seemed to do a great job of helping out collectors over the years and having these postcards available at team events.  I've got a ton of them from Fanfest and various other team events.

I sent my cards out on December 17th, 2014 and received the return package on March 9th 2015 for an 81 day TAT

2023 Topps Chrome Update value box pack 5

I'm beginning to wonder if I wasted my money on this value box.  Not a whole lot of true rookie cards and no Orioles as of yet.  Rookie Debut cards are ok, and I've gotten some decent trade bait but nothing I really collect.  Lets see what today's pack holds:

As far as keepers, nada. I might keep the Miller since he seems like a good prospect for the Dodgers.  the second and final Sepia refractor is Juan Yepez along with the base version.

The fifth card in the pack:

Wow, I wasn't expecting and autograph much less it being a green #'d to 99.  Though it is a sticker autograph, it still has some value.  If anybody is interested in making a trade for it, I'm open to offers.  If not, its probably going to go up on the Bay of E.

So tonight's off color Christmas song is pretty appropriate I think.  AC/DC - Mistress for Christmas.  The mistress of course being cardboard.