November 2010
Mailday – November 5
Two more cards arrived in the mailbox last week, proving that even though the 2010 MLB season is done, there are still some cards with my name on them out in the wind. Let’s hope they continue to trickle in.
Both cards added to my two favourite collections — my 2008 Ginter set and my Blue Jays set.
Here’s the first card:
Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman signed this Ginter insert card care of his home in about a month. I’ve sent out a few of these insert State cards, and this is the fourth I’ve received back. Zimmerman joins Pat Neshek, Brad Ausmus and Ian Snell as players who’ve signed inserts for me.
Here’s card number two:
Blue Jays play-by-play man Buck Martinez signed this 1983 Donruss card in about six months, care of the team. I rag on Buck from time to time, but I’m glad to have this card back. I think his signature looks great and I like its placement. It’s always nice when a player takes an extra second to place his signature where it looks best (ie: Not on his face!). Over the last few years, I’ve gotten a handful of Blue Jays broadcasters – Martinez, Pat Tabler, Darrin Fletcher and Rance Mulliniks – all of whom were former Jays.
My Blue Jays collection just keeps growing!
RIP Sparky Anderson
There were few better people in the history of the game of baseball than Sparky Anderson, who died yesterday at the age of 76. A Hall of Fame manager with three World Series on his resume, two AL manager of the year honours and 2,194 wins (sixth all-time), Anderson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.
But despite his on-field honours, it was his character off the field that endeared him to so many fans. Always seemingly happy to visit with fans, sign autographs and make time for the media, Anderson’s demeanour will certainly be missed in baseball circles. His niceties can certainly serve as a lesson for today’s players and managers — even in a busy schedule, it doesn’t cost anything nor hurt you to be polite and friendly to fans.
Anderson was always a friend to the TTM autograph hobby, and many people took advantage of his kindness in later years. I’m sure there are hundreds of Sparky Anderson autographs on eBay today, because he was a prolific signer. I got Anderson’s signature on a blank index card about four years ago, and even then, it was obvious his health was in decline. I’d hoped to get him on a ball, but wanted to leave the man in peace. He’d done so much for the game and for the hobby. Still, I’m glad to have obtained his signature, and it’s a precious one in my collection.
Here it is:
malcolmmacmillan
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