Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Erez Borowsky

Sent: 6/18/10 
Received: 6/29/10
Time: 11 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks
Item Received: 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
This makes four TTM returns for my 1983 Visalia team set, and all four have sent awesome letters back to me along with the signed card. Mr. Borowsky updated me on what he's doing these days and shared stories of his playing days with Kirby Puckett and the gang.  Thanks to his use of Sharpie and a great looking signature, this is probably the sharpest card in my set so far.  Damn, I'm loving collecting this set!

Bernie Nicholls

Sent: 6/18/10 
Received: 6/29/10
Time: 11 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1984-85 Topps, 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1984-85 Topps, 1991-92 Score Canadian.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
I've debated trying to collect a signed full set for some time now, and I think I have settled on the 1984-85 Topps set.  I may mix in some O-Pee-Chee cards, too, but the Topps set should be easier since it's smaller.  It's still an impossible challenge, but what the hell... it'll be fun.  Bernie Nicholls is only the fourth addition to the set, but, as one of the most dynamic scorers of the '80s, he's a pretty good one!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Dick Such

















Sent: 6/18/10 
Received: 6/28/10
Time: 10 Days
Address: c/o Salem Red Sox
Item Sent: 1986 Twins Team Issue, 1987 Donruss Opening Day Twins Logo
Item Received: 1986 Twins Team Issue, 1987 Donruss Opening Day Twins Logo, 2009 Grandstand  Salem Red Sox.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Dick Such's 17 year tenure as Tom Kelly's pitching coach for the Twins included two World Series titles, two World Series MVP pitchers (Frank Viola and Jack Morris), a Cy Young winner (Viola), three 20 game winners (Viola, Scott Erickson, and Brad Radke), an AL ERA champ (Allan Anderson), two elite closers (Jeff Reardon and Rick Aguilera), two no-hitters (Erickson and Eric Milton) and three potential Hall of Famers (Bert Blyleven, Morris, and Johan Santana).  He was much maligned by fans and media alike during the mid to late nineties, which is fair given the pitching staff's production.  In his defense, the talent he was working with during that era was not exactly of major league caliber.  As for this return, I'm pretty stoked about the '87 Donruss Opening Day logo card.  I just bought a lot of those cards to use for coaches, broadcasters, and others affiliated with the 1987 Twins for my signed 1987 Donruss team set.  Mr. Such also included a signed copy of his 2009 Salem minor league card.  Great return!

Steve Luebber

Sent: 4/27/10
Received: 6/28/10
Time: 62 Days
Address: c/o Wilmington Blue Rocks
Item Sent: 1977 Topps
Item Received: 1977 Topps, signed in blue ballpoint.

Notes:
Former Twins pitcher Steve Luebber has been a minor league pitching coach since 1995.  He has spent the last four seasons with the Wilmington Blue Rocks in the Kansas City Royals organization.  I'm slowly moving toward trying to build a signed '77 team set (which will be next to impossible, but what the hell...).

Ray Smith

Sent: 4/20/10
Received: 6/28/10
Time: 69 Days
Address: c/o Elizabethton Twins
Item Sent: 1984 Fleer, 1984 Topps
Item Received: 1984 Fleer, 1984 Topps.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Ray Smith played 83 major league games for the Twins in the early 1980s.  He has been a mainstay in the organization, though.  He took over as manager for the rookie ball Elizabethon Twins in 1987 and has been there ever since, save for a brief break in the late '90s.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Jim Shellenback

Sent: 6/2/10
Received: 6/26/10
Time: 24 Days
Address: c/o Elizabethton Twins
Item Sent: 1988 CMC Portland Beavers, 1988 ProCards Portland Beavers, 1989 ProCards Portland Beavers, 1990 CMC Portland Beavers
Item Received: 1988 CMC Portland Beavers, 1988 ProCards Portland Beavers, 1989 ProCards Portland Beavers, 1990 CMC Portland Beavers.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Most Twins fans my age and younger have never heard of him, but Jim Shellenback has been a vital part of the organization since my birth year of 1977.  He played the final season of his big league career for the Twins that year, and started coaching in their minor league system in 1978.  Since then he's done everything from major league pitching coach (1983) to Triple A manager (with Portland in 1988) to roving pitching instructor to rookie ball pitching coach (which is where he is now, with the Elizabethton Twins).  Great addition to my Twins collection!

Ken Hodge, Jr.

Sent: 6/14/10
Received: 6/26/10
Time: 12 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Pro Set North Stars Logo, 1990-91 Upper Deck Young Guns, 1991-92 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1990-91 Pro Set North Stars Logo, 1990-91 Upper Deck Young Guns, 1991-92 Upper Deck.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Hodge only played five games as a North Star in 1989, and it appeared that they really let one get away when he posted a 30 goal rookie season for Boston in 1990-91.  Since he never had a card in a Minnesota sweater, I sent one of the 1990 Pro Set logo cards for him to sign.  I love that I've found a purpose for those previously useless cards after all these years!

Todd Krygier

Sent: 6/11/10
Received: 6/25/10
Time: 14 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Pro Set, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Pro Set, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Upper Deck.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Krygier was the kind of gritty, workmanlike player that I loved.  He also wore the Hartford Whalers sweater, which I loved even more.  I have a fascination with defunct NHL franchises.  I'm sure I'll be sending to plenty of players from the Whalers, Winnipeg Jets, and Quebec Nordiques.  Probably because I still can't get over the loss of my Minnesota North Stars.  Todd added the note "Dan, My Pleasure!  Todd" to the back of my letter.  Thanks, Todd!

George Frazier

















Sent: 6/18/10
Received: 6/25/10
Time: 7 Days
Address: c/o Colorado Rockies
Item Sent: 1987 Donruss, 1987 Fleer, 1987 Topps
Item Received: 1987 Donruss, 1987 Fleer ,1987 Topps.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
George Frazier was one of the only members of the 1987 Twins team who I failed to get an autograph from as a kid.  That was his final year in the majors, and since I got most of them in person back then, I simply never had a chance.  The Donruss card is the key addition here since I started working on that team set 20 years ago.  This is the first addition to it since around that time.

Reed Olmstead


Sent: 6/16/10
Received: 6/25/10
Time: 9 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990 ProCards Orlando SunRays
Item Received: 1990 ProCards Orlando SunRays, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
I'm bummed about this one.  Not because of Mr. Olmstead, who kindly signed and returned the card in a quick nine days, but in the US Postal Service.  Since my headfirst dive back into the world of TTM collecting a couple of months ago, this is my first return to be mutilated by the post office.  Oh well... if it's gonna happen, I guess it's better that it happens here than on a card for a set that I'm working on.  Perhaps I'll try Reed again one day.

Jeff Francis

Sent: 5/17/10
Received: 6/25/10
Time: 39 Days
Address: c/o Colorado Rockies
Item Sent: 2009 Topps Heritage
Item Received: 2009 Topps Heritage, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
The one-time Rockies ace is enjoying a nice comeback this season.  I really do love the Topps Heritage series, and the '09 set (using the 1960 design) looks amazing signed.  I'm definitely going to be attempting more of them.

Guy Sularz

Sent: 5/20/10
Received: 6/25/10
Time: 36 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1983 Topps
Item Received: 1983 Topps, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Minneapolis native Guy Sularz played 108 games over four partial season for the Giants from 1980 to 1983.  He's the newest addition to my "Minnesota-born" collection.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Curt Kindred

Sent: 6/16/10
Received: 6/24/10
Time: 8 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks
Item Received: 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks, signed in thin black Sharpie.

Notes:
I'm three for three.  All three players to return a signed 1983 Visalia card to me to date have included amazing personal letters with their response.  Curt Kindred's tells a great story of playing in the minors with Kirby Puckett when Kirby got his first glove contract from Wilson.  I'd write more about it here, but I kind of want to keep it for myself for a bit.  Awesome return, though.  Thank you, Curt!

Chris DeLarwelle

Sent: 6/16/10
Received: 6/24/10
Time: 8 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991 ProCards Tomorrow's Heroes
Item Received: 1991 ProCards Tomorrow's Heroes, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Former Twins prospect Chris DeLarwelle put together a nice .280, 16 HR, 19 SB season at high-A Visalia in 1991, and back then I remember thinking he was a name to keep an eye on in the organization.  He only hit two home runs in 94 games at Orlando in 1992, however, and was out of pro baseball after that.  In trying to find out what happened to him, a Google search revealed that he has spent many years as a member of the Team USA national softball team.  The things you learn...

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Mike McHugh

Sent: 6/14/10
Received: 6/22/10
Time: 8 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Pro Set North Stars Logo, 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1990-91 Pro Set North Stars Logo, 1991-92 Score Canadian.  Both signed in metallic blue paint pen.

Notes:
What do you do with those annoying team logo cards that ran rampant in early '90s sets?  Find a player from that year's team who didn't have a card in the set and send to them.  It worked here for Mike McHugh, who played in 12 games over a couple of seasons for the Minnesota North Stars, but never had a card of his own until the 1991-92 Score set (as a member of the San Jose Sharks).  Seemed like a perfect use of the card to me, and I'll be sending out more of those logo cards to other obscure players.  I didn't ask him to sign the logo card in paint pen, but I'm glad he did.  It looks great over the dark background.  Thanks, Mike!

Dana Kiecker

















Sent: 6/16/10
Received: 6/22/10
Time: 6 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990 Fleer Update, 1991 Upper Deck, 1992 Topps, $3 cash
Item Received: 1990 Fleer Update, 1991 Upper Deck, 1992 Topps

Notes:
Sleepy Eye, Minnesota native and former Boston Red Sox cult hero Dana Kiecker is well known as a generous signer in exchange for an extremely worthwhile $1 per signature donation to his scholarship fund.  Cost of stamps and envelopes aside, I had not paid for an autograph for many years, but this one was absolutely worth it to add to my collection of Minnesota-born players.

Lee Belanger

Sent: 6/16/10
Received: 6/22/10
Time: 6 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks
Item Received: 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks, signed in black ballpoint.

Notes:
Like yesterday's Phil Franko return, Lee Belanger signed a card for my 1983 Visalia set in black ballpoint and wrote me a full thank you letter.  He mentioned that his son played ball for the Mankato (Minnesota) Moondogs and when he visited him, he called Kent Hrbek to play a round of golf, and that his former minor league teammates Hrbek, Kirby Puckett, and Gary Gaetti would always take care of him and his sons whenever the Twins would visit Anaheim.  He ended his letter, "I still + always will pull for the Twins!!"  Unique and personal returns like this are what this hobby is all about.  Thanks, Lee.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Phil Franko

Sent: 6/16/10
Received: 6/21/10
Time: 5 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks
Item Received: 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks, signed in black ballpoint.

Notes:
The 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks set contains Kirby Puckett's only minor league card.  I had Kirby sign the card in 1988.  I kept it stored, along with the rest of the team set, in a fireproof safe for over 20 years until last week, when I dug out the remainder of the set and decided I wanted to get as many of the other cards signed as possible.  My first return is from Phil Franko... and what a return!  Not only did he sign and return the card in five days, but he wrote me a two-page letter talking about his career, what Kirby was like in the minors, and telling me about his family.  Fantastic... thanks, Phil!

Ben Oglivie

















Sent: 6/11/10
Received: 6/21/10
Time: 10 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1979 Topps, 1983 Topps, 1987 Fleer, 1987 Fleer Record Setters
Item Received: 1979 Topps, 1983 Topps, 1987 Fleer.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Former Brewers slugger Oglivie hit the longest recorded home run at the Metrodome back in 1983 (the Dome's second season).  He kept one of the cards I sent, but considering he signed three for me, I'm certainly not complaining.

Rob Ramage

















Sent: 6/14/10
Received: 6/21/10
Time: 7 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1984-85 Topps, 1991-92 Pro Set, 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1984-85 Topps, 1991-92 Pro Set, 1991-92 Score Canadian.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
I was pretty excited about Ramage's arrival with the North Stars in 1991.  He was an All Star defenseman with the St. Louis Blues, a Stanley Cup winner with the Calgary Flames, and the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs.  His lone season with the North Stars was disappointing.  This return is not.  I picked up two cards to add to my signed North Stars collection, and the 1984-85 Topps card is a potential gateway to working on that set, which is something I have unfortunately been mulling.

Curt Wardle

















Sent: 5/13/10
Received: 6/21/10
Time: 39 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1985 Fleer Update, 1985 Twins Team Issue, 1986 Fleer
Item Received: 1985 Fleer Update, 1985 Twins Team Issue, 1986 Fleer.  All signed in black Sharpie.  Added pre-printed 1985 Twins Team Issue Postcard.

Notes:
After posting a 0.69 ERA and 17 saves at AA Orlando in 1984, Wardle was regarded as one of the Twins top-pitching prospects heading into the 1985 season.  He struggled mightily with the Twins, posting a 5.51 ERA in 1985 before becoming a key piece in the trade with Cleveland that brought Bert Blyleven back to Minnesota.  Mr. Wardle beautifully signed three cards for me in blue Sharpie and included a 1985 Twins team issued postcard of him (with a pre-printed facsimile autograph).  Now comes a dilemma.  How long do you wait before writing to a person a second time?  Because in between sending my request and receiving it, I decided to try putting together a signed 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks team set.  (This was the set that contained Kirby Puckett's only minor league card, which I had Kirby sign in 1988.  Since I have him out of the way, I've decided to undertake the challenge of tracking down players who played A-ball in 1983.)  Wardle is part of that set, but I didn't realize it until a couple of weeks after I had already written him.  Given his genorosity of signing three cards and including the postcard, I figure if I'm honest when I write back, the chances are pretty decent of receiving a response.  I just don't want to come off as greedy or ungrateful.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Tony Hrkac

















Sent: 6/14/10
Received: 6/19/10
Time: 5 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum, 1991-92 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum, 1991-92 Upper Deck.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
My introduction to Tony Hrkac was his 1991-92 Upper Deck card.  With his Busey-esque face and almost-white hair, I had a hard time accepting that he was just 25 years old.  In reading the back of the card, I learned that he had won the Hobey Baker Award while in college at North Dakota, so I decided to keep my eye on him.  He was maddeningly inconsistent as a pro, but was a nice role player on the 1999 Stanley Cup winning Dallas Stars team.  Still, I had not thought about him in years until just a few months ago.  After a Minnesota Wild game on FSN, a tape-delayed Houston Aeros (the Wild's AHL affiliate) game was aired.  I kept hearing the name "Hrkac."  Curious as to if Tony had a son in the Wild system, I looked up the Aeros roster.  Unbelievably, it was a 43 year old Tony Hrkac, attempting a comeback seven years after his last NHL game.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Ben Bianchi

















Sent: 6/10/10
Received: 6/17/10
Time: 7 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1986 ProCards Visalia Oaks, 1987 ProCards Portland Beavers, 1989 Best Orlando Twins
Item Received: 1986 ProCards Visalia Oaks, 1987 ProCards Portland Beavers, 1989 Best Orlando Twins.  All signed in thin black Sharpie.

Notes:
Bianchi's chance at the big leagues faded with arm problems that kept him out of the 1987 and 1988 seasons.  I knew nothing about him, but always liked him.  I thought he had one of the best mustaches on my old Twins minor league cards.  I'm a little curious as to what the significance of the little "L" marks is above each of these signatures.  Regardless, great return!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Rob Wassenaar

Sent: 4/26/10
Received: 6/17/10
Time: 52 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990 ProCards Orlando SunRays
Item Received: 1990 ProCards Orlando SunRays, signed in thin black Sharpie.

Notes:
Rob Wassenaar is a Minnesota native who came to the Twins organization from the Angels in a trade for Bert Blyleven in November 1988.  He never did make the majors and became a minister after his playing career ended.  He has been the Twins' team chaplain for at least a couple of years... not sure how many.  Anyway, he returned this card signed and added a note apologizing for the long delay in his response.  Quite all right, Rob, and thank you!

Rusty Kryzanowski

Sent: 6/10/10
Received: 6/17/10
Time: 7 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1988 ProCards Kenosha Twins, 1989 Star Kenosha Twins
Item Received: 1988 ProCards Kenosha Twins, 1989 Star Kenosha Twins.  Both signed in thin black Sharpie.

Notes:
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin native Rusty Kryzanowski is the latest former Twins minor league player to add himself to my collection.  Thanks, Rusty!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Jim Walewander

















Sent: 5/6/10
Received: 6/14/10
Time: 39 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1988 Score, 1989 Topps, 1989 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1988 Score, 1989 Topps, 1989 Upper Deck.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Only in baseball.  In what other sport would an eccentric athlete gain notoriety for his love of the Dead Milkmen?  That was the first thing I ever knew about Jim Walewander, and was my introduction to the Dead Milkmen.  In a way, you could make an argument that this light-hitting, 160 pound backup middle infielder could have been partially responsible for my discovery of punk rock.

Tommy Mason

Sent: 6/7/10
Received: 6/14/10
Time: 7 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1963 Topps
Item Received: 1963 Topps, signed in blue Sharpie.  Included note.

Notes:
Tommy Mason was the first Viking.  In 1961, he was the team's first-ever draft pick.  So what Vikings collection would be complete without him?  He signed his 1963 Topps card in blue Sharpie, inscribing "NFL 61-72," and added a note on the back of my letter that he wanted to try calling me to see how I wanted the card signed, but couldn't since my number is unlisted.  Wow... that's a lot of effort from an NFL great.  Class act.  Thanks, Mr. Mason!












Friday, June 11, 2010

Mick Tingelhoff

Sent: 6/7/10
Received: 6/10/10
Time: 3 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1964 Philadelphia, 1973 Topps
Item Received: 1964 Philadelphia, 1973 Topps.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Amazingly fast return from the legendary Vikings center, who will hopefully be enshrined in Canton sometime soon!

Darrell Thompson

Sent: 5/17/10
Received: 6/10/10
Time: 24 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990 Pro Set, 1990 Score, 1990 Topps
Item Received: 1990 Score, 1990 Topps.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Gopher football legend Darrell Thompson has the honor of being the first athlete to keep one of the cards I sent him.  I sent three 1990 rookie cards.  He signed and returned the two that depict him in his college uniform, but did not return the Pro Set card, which has him in a Green Bay Packers uniform.  I did mention in my letter that I had a hard time rooting for the Packers, so I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it... I guess we'll never know.  Anyway, I did get back the two I really wanted.  Thanks, Mr. Thompson!

Glenn Borgmann

 















Sent: 5/27/10
Received: 6/10/10
Time: 14 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1976 Topps, 1977 Topps, 1979 Topps
Item Received: 1976 Topps, 1977 Topps, 1979 Topps, 1978 Team Issue Postcard.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
I'm really on a roll with '70s Twins catchers lately!  Hot on the heels of George Mitterwald and Phil Roof comes the immortal Glenn Borgmann, who signed all three of the cards I sent and added a 1978 team issued postcard, inscribed "Best Wishes."

Monday, June 7, 2010

Phil Roof

















Sent: 5/27/10
Received: 6/7/10
Time: 11 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1972 Topps, 1976 Topps, 1989 ProCards Portland Beavers Team Checklist
Item Received: 1972 Topps and 1976 Topps, signed in blue Sharpie.  1989 ProCards Portland Beavers Team Checklist signed in black ballpoint.

Notes:
After serving as a backup catcher for the Twins in the 1970s, Phil Roof spent over two decades as a minor league coach, manager, and instructor in the Twins organization.  He was the manager of the 1989 Portland Beavers, but ProCards did not produce a card for him in the set.  I asked him to sign the team checklist card to add to my autographed team set.  He did so, inscribing it "Mgr."

George Mitterwald

Sent: 5/27/10
Received: 6/7/10
Time: 11 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1972 Topps, 1974 Topps
Item Received: 1972 Topps, 1974 Topps.  Both signed in thin blue Sharpie.

Notes:
"The Baron" was one of the more powerful hitting catchers in Twins history and enjoyed a long coaching career after his playing career ended, including a stint as the manager of the Duluth-Superior Dukes in the '90s.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Ray Corbin


Sent: 5/27/10
Received: 6/5/10
Time: 9 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1973 Topps, 1976 Topps
Item Received: 1973 Topps, 1976 Topps.  Both signed in black ballpoint.

Notes:
Man, these old Topps Twins cards look great signed - even when they're in ballpoint.  Thanks, Mr. Corbin!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Pete Filson

















Sent: 5/25/10
Received: 6/4/10
Time: 10 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1984 Donruss, 1984 Fleer, 1985 Topps
Item Received: 1984 Donruss, 1984 Fleer, 1985 Topps.  All signed in black Sharpie (personalized the 1984 Donruss)

Notes:
After a 17-3, 1.90 ERA season spread out between the A and AA levels in the Yankees organization in 1981, Filson was the key prospect in the trade that sent Butch Wynegar and Roger Erickson to New York in 1982.  He had some decent seasons on some horrible Twins teams, but never quite did live up to the hopes of Twins fans.  Of course I knew nothing of those expectations as a five year old.  I simply knew him as one of the better pitchers on the team.

Aaron Broten

Sent: 4/20/10
Received: 6/4/10
Time: 45 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1990-91 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1990-91 Upper Deck.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Roseau High School and Minnesota Golden Gopher great Aaron Broten was much more than just "Neal Broten's little brother."  He starred for many years for the New Jersey Devils before briefly joining Neal with the North Stars during the 1990 season.

David Aardsma

Sent: 4/19/10
Received: 6/4/10
Time: 46 Days
Address: c/o Seattle Mariners
Item Sent: 2009 Topps Heritage
Item Received: 2009 Topps Heritage, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
There are strange allegiances that develop for certain players simply by having them on one's fantasy baseball team.  Always intrigued by Aardsma's stuff, I picked him up early last season when it appeared he had a shot at taking over the Mariners closer role.  He was very good for me before I traded him away, so I had no reservations about drafting him this year.  So far, so good. 

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Casey Hankinson

Sent: 5/27/10
Received: 6/2/10
Time: 6 Days
Address: Work
Item Sent: 1995-96 Gophers Team Issue
Item Received: 1995-96 Gophers Team Issue, signed in thin black Sharpie.

Notes:
I worked hard for this addition to my 1995-96 Gophers team set.  My initial request to Casey was sent to his hockey school.  I figured it was a risk since the website had not been updated for a couple of years, and sure enough it came back marked "Return to Sender."  Since I had already written the letter, I was determined to find another address.  After about an hour of searching throughout the far corners of the internet, I found a potential work address and decided to give it a shot.  Six days later, I have my signed card.  Thanks, Mr. Hankinson!