TTM Success(es)- Pete Burnside

I sent two TTM requests to Pete Burnside, one on December 14, 2009 and the other on October 22, 2010. Well, they both came back to me last week on January 27, 2011. I sent the second request because I saw that Pete had signed for some other collectors since I sent the first request and in retrospect, sending requests 11 days before Christmas was probably a bad idea, so I figured that my first TTM request was a goner.

The card sent in 2009 is my longest return to date checking in at 409 days. The unpersonalized card is for trade if anyone is interested. I find it interesting how he only personalized one when I requested personalization on both and that he returned both of them in the separate SASEs that I sent. I'm guessing that he noticed that they were both coming to me. I'm not complaining though, I'm just happy to add the autographs to my collection

Thanks for signing Pete, better late than never!

Bad Traders- A Rant

I'm sure that most of you fellow bloggers and some of you readers have come across a bad trader during your time collecting cards. Whether it was a kid on the playground who always wanted Ken Griffey Jr. for Chris Sabo, someone who never fulfilled their half of a trade, or a collector who thinks that their cards are worth so much more than yours, unfortunately, bad traders are out there.

Over the past fourteen months or so, I've been trying to work with a very difficult trader who somehow thinks that his cards are worth much more than mine. And on top of that, it takes a few months and multiple emails to get any sort of response from the guy. He seems to think that he's the only person in the world who has a Jim Hutto Orioles signed card.

 Well he's not. Now I have one too.

After months of emails, I was able to work out a trade for one player I needed last December. Since then, it's been fruitless emails & trade requests, some of which were replied to, while others were flat out ignored. I've attempted to work out another trade but calling his communication sporadic would be a compliment.

 Oh look, another tough Orioles autograph. (This is a drab looking card, isn't it?)

I'm above naming names, but I would imagine that some of you other Orioles autograph collectors know who I'm talking about. After about two months of non-response following one of his emails, I sent an ultimatum to my frustrating trade partner last week. I either wanted to trade or be done with "our" discussions. If you don't want to trade, that's fine, but just say it and stop jerking me around. You might have a few tough Orioles autographs that will be hard to find elsewhere, but I can find Pete Burnside Crown cards elsewhere brotha.

 

He surprisingly responded to my final attempt to contact him and it looks like we won't be doing any more "trading". But you know what, I'm glad. I'll let some other poor sucker waste a year of their life for a single autograph. You just keep hoarding all your cards and I'll be a happier person without your three emails a year. 

Anyone feeling me, or did I go off the deep end?

Pol comes through again! 1 of 2

Last week I received another amazing package from Pol. This time he not only sent me a bunch of his of extra TTM returns, but also added an almost completely signed 2009 Frederick Keys set! It was only missing the guys who were released from the organization or have already been promoted to Bowie. For today, I'm going to focus on the guys who have already played for the O's but will probably show off the Keys autos soon.

Gino Cimoli 1964

Gino was an outfielder who appeared in only 38 games for the O's towards the end of his career. He was a member of the 1960 World Series Champion Pirates; that was the series that featured Bill Mazeroski's walk-off series winning HR in the bottom of the ninth inning in game 7 against the Yankees. He also led the AL in triples on the 1963 KC Athletics.

Mark Corey 1979-81

Mark had 57 ABs in 59 games over 3 seasons for the O's. I can't really find any other information about him. He looks like a guy named Larry that I went to high school with.

Angie Dagres 1955

Angie/Angelo played in 8 games for the O's during September in the 1955 season.

Dick Drago 1977

Dick had a fairly long career, appearing in 519 games, mostly as a reliever. He was on the O's for most of the 1977 season after being traded by the California Angels for Dyar Miller. Dick finished fifth in the 1971 AL Cy Young voting while he was a member of the KC Royals and gave up Hank Aaron's 755th and last career home run in 1976 while pitching for the Red Sox. I think his name sounds like a character in one of the Double Dragon video games.

Jim Pyburn 1955-57

Jim played all three OF positions, 3B and even caught one game for the O's over 158 games spanning 3 seasons.

Art "Artie" Quirk 1962

Art pitched in 7 games for the O's, going 2-2 with a 5.93 ERA, so I guess he got some decent run support. He was traded after the '62 season along with Marv Breeding & Barry Shetrone to the Washington Senators for Bob Johnson & Pete Burnside.

Jeff Rineer 1979

Jeff appeared in one game for the Orioles, pitching 2/3 of an inning and retiring both batters he faced. It is people like Jeff that make my project so difficult, but I am glad I have his autograph.

Ken Rowe 1964-65

Ken was a middle reliever for the O's who appeared in 12 games over 2 seasons. He is currently the pitching coach for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the New York Penn League short season A ball affiliate of the Indians. The Scrappers gave away liposuction at last night's game. Really.

Art Schallock 1955

Art finished his 5 year career with the Orioles after pitching the majority of his years with the Yankees. Art was on the 1953 Championship Yankees team.