Steve DeBus

Sent: 8/27/10
Received: 8/31/10
Time: 4 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1995-96 Minnesota Gophers Hockey Team Issue
Item Received: 1995-96 Minnesota Gophers Hockey Team Issue, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Steve DeBus is one of my all-time favorite Gophers goaltenders.  He is also one of the more decorated goalies to wear the maroon and gold, with a WCHA Final Five championship, 1996 WCHA regular season title, and a 1997 first-team All-WCHA selection present on his resume.

Jason Godbout

Sent: 8/26/10
Received: 8/31/10
Time: 5 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1995-96 Minnesota Gophers Hockey Team Issue
Item Received: 1995-96 Minnesota Gophers Hockey Team Issue, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
My first request to Jason Godbout was either an outdated or incorrect address, as it came back "Return to Sender."  After a little more sleuthing, I found a Woodbury address that looked good.  Five days later: paydirt.  Jason added a small note to my letter, wishing me luck with the rest of the set.  Unfortunately the card was very badly creased in transit.  Damn post office.  Oh well, another one down.  Thanks, Jason!

Tony Dungy

Sent: 4/19/10
Received: 8/27/10
Time: 130 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1979 Topps Steelers Team Leaders
Item Received: 1979 Topps Steelers Team Leaders, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
What a nice surprise!  According to the reports on SCN, Dungy is an automatic signer who usually replies within two weeks.  I was really worried that I was going to be the one guy who didn't get him.  I don't know if my letter got lost, or what may have caused a four month wait, but it's here now and I couldn't be happier.  Dungy never had an official card of his own while he was a player, making his appearance on this Steelers team leaders card his official rookie card.

Joe Nathan

Sent: 6/9/10
Received: 8/26/10
Time: 78 Days
Address: c/o Minnesota Twins
Item Sent: 2006 Bowman Heritage Mini, 2008 Topps Heritage, 2009 Topps Heritage
Item Received: 2006 Bowman Heritage Mini, 2008 Topps Heritage, 2009 Topps Heritage.  All signed in thin blue Sharpie.

Notes:
It's been a slow week on the return front, and this is my first success in a couple days.  It's a great one, though!  Joe Nathan is one of my all-time favorite Twins, so I'm thrilled to add his signature to my collection.  Especially on some Heritage cards!  It's been well-documented on this blog that I'm a huge fan of this line of Topps products.  They look fantastic!  Thanks, Joe!

Jeremy Roenick

Sent: 7/28/10
Received: 8/24/10
Time: 27 Days
Address: Roenicklife
Item Sent: 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Canadian "Crunch Crew", 1991-92 Score Canadian "The Franchise"
Item Received: 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Canadian "Crunch Crew," 1991-92 Score Canadian "The Franchise."  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
In addition to being one of the greatest American-born hockey players of all-time, the outspoken Jeremy Roenick has always been one of the most fan-friendly star athletes.  How many other shoe-in first-ballot future Hall of Famers have an address for fanmail on their website (roenicklife.com in Jeremy's case), with instructions to include return postage for autograph requests?  Still, I felt a little guilty about sending four cards.  I had to, though.  He has three cards alone in the 1991-92 Score set that I'm trying to complete, and I figured I might as well send an Upper Deck rookie card, too.  You know, as long as I was writing him.  No problem.  All four cards came back today, sharply signed in black Sharpie. 

Jim Strickland

Sent: 8/13/10
Received: 8/24/10
Time: 11 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1973 Topps
Item Received: 1973 Topps, signed and personalized in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
I'm strongly considering trying to start a major Twins historical autograph project involving custom made cards - as if I don't have enough on my plate already - but in the meantime, I've stepped up my requests to old-time Twins players.  Jim Strickland had two solid years as a left-handed reliever in 1971 and 1972, and he nicely personalized this card to me in blue Sharpie.  Thanks, Mr. Strickland!

Colin Powell

Sent: 6/8/10
Received: 8/23/10
Time: 76 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991 Bowman baseball card
Item Received: 1991 Bowman, signed in silver paint pen.

Notes:
This is a pretty cool return, I have to admit.  If you're reading this but don't know me, I lean extremely far to the left politically.  I have massive disdain for 99% of the elected Republican politicians in this country.  General Powell finds himself in that other one percent.  I wasn't sure if this was coming back, though.  I was pretty honest with Mr. Powell in my letter about where I stand on some things that have gone on over the last decade, but I did thank him for being the lone voice of reason in the Bush cabinet.  And, of course, I thanked him for the many years of brave and loyal service to our country.  I do maintain a healthy respect for Mr. Powell, and I'm pretty stoked to add this to my collection.

Craig Janney

Sent: 7/12/10
Received: 8/21/10
Time: 40 Days
Address: Home (Arizona)
Item Sent: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian.  All signed in silver Sharpie.

Notes:
A word to the wise on anyone seeking Craig Janney signatures through the mail: avoid any Connecticut address you might find.  Yes, he is a Hartford native.  But he has lived in Phoenix ever since he played for the Coyotes in the late 1990s.  Through a little bit of research (and a lot of help from the message boards at sportscollectors.net), one can ascertain that the Arizona signature, with the giant looping "C", is the real deal.  All "successes" coming from the Connecticut address are likely ghost-signed by a mother or other family member.  The signatures look nothing alike.

Bob Nystrom

Sent: 7/9/10
Received: 8/21/10
Time: 43 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1984-85 Topps
Item Received: 1984-85 Topps, signed in thin blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Bob Nystrom is "Mr. Islander."  Maybe the most beloved player in Islanders history, he scored the Cup winning goal in overtime of game six of the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals - the first of four straight Cups for the Islanders.  His son Eric has inherited the old man's grit and leadership, and will bring that to Minnesota with the Wild this season.

Ryan Kraft

Sent: 8/11/10
Received: 8/20/10
Time: 9 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1995-96 Minnesota Gophers Hockey Team Issue
Item Received: 1995-96 Minnesota Gophers Hockey Team Issue, signed and personalized in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Ryan Kraft was one of the most dynamic offensive threats on the Gopher teams of the nineties.  At 5'7", he was simply too small for the NHL.  He appeared in just seven games for the San Jose Sharks, tallying no goals and one assist.  Still, he remains one of my favorite Gophers. 

Bill Kohn

Sent: 8/16/10
Received: 8/19/10
Time: 3 Days
Address: Work
Item Sent: 1995-96 Minnesota Gophers Hockey Team Issue
Item Received: 1995-96 Minnesota Gophers Hockey Team Issue, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
I had been taking a break from tracking down elusive addresses for my 1995 Gopher hockey set, but did find Bill Kohn's work address through a Google search.  Three days later, in one of my fastest returns ever, we're rolling again.  Thanks, Bill!

Edwin Jackson

Sent: 4/15/10
Received: 8/18/10
Time: 125 Days
Address: c/o Arizona Diamondbacks
Item Sent: 2008 Upper Deck First Edition, 2009 Topps Update & Highlights, 2010 Topps Heritage
Item Received: 2008 Upper Deck First Edition, 2009 Topps Update & Highlights, 2010 Topps Heritage.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Edwin Jackson is my first successful 100+ day return.  For a guy as well-traveled as he already is, it's good to know he takes his mail with him.  The request was sent to Arizona in April.  It came back post-marked from Chicago, where he now plays for the White Sox.  Thanks, Mr. Jackson!

Curt Wardle

Sent: 8/7/10
Received: 8/17/10
Time: 10 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks
Item Received: 1982 Fritsch Visalia Oaks, signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Curt Wardle is my first repeat success since starting this crazy hobby in April.  I had sent the original request out just before finding my 1983 Visalia set and thus beginning that project.  I explained my situation in this letter and politely asked for one more autograph, at the risk of taking advantage of his genorisity.  I guess he didn't mind.  Thanks, Mr. Wardle!

Hubie McDonough

Sent: 7/29/10
Received: 8/17/10
Time: 19 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Score, 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1990-91 Score, 1991-92 Score Canadian.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Former Islanders center Hubie McDonough is the latest addition to my 1991 Score set.  His is one of the few horizontal base cards in the set.  I threw a 1990 Score card into the request, too... it was the only other card of his I had, so I figured I might as well.  Thanks, Hubie!

Stan Holmes

Sent: 6/14/10
Received: 8/14/10
Time: 61 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks, 1986 ProCards Orlando Twins, 1988 CMC Edmonton Trappers
Item Received: 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks, 1986 ProCards Orlando Twins, 1988 CMC Edmonton Trappers.  All signed in thin blue Sharpie.

Notes:
It took a bit for a return from Mr. Holmes, but I am thrilled to add the signature of the biggest slugger on the 1983 Visalia Oaks to my team set.  No, not Kirby Puckett.  Stan Holmes hit .302 with 37 homers and 115 RBI, tallying a .983 OPS for the Oaks that season.  He followed that with a 25 homer season at AA Orlando in 1984, but started declining from there and was out of the Twins organization after 1986.  After struggling at the AAA level, he resurfaced with the Angels' AA Midland team in 1987 and hit .309 with 30 homers.  He was out of pro ball two years later.  All told, he slugged 143 home runs over nine minor league seasons, but never did get a chance to flex his muscle in the big leagues.

Rich Robertson

Sent: 7/13/10
Received: 8/14/10
Time: 32 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1993 Fleer Final Edition, 1998 Collector's Choice
Item Received: 1993 Fleer Final Edition, 1998 Collector's Choice.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
The fact that lanky lefty Rich Robertson spent two full years in the Twins' rotation in the late '90s is an indictment on the team at the time.  Robertson simply was not a major league starter.  He had good stuff, but was far too erratic.  He could have been a solid bullpen lefty, but pressed into service as one of the Twins' workhorses in 1996 and 1997.  1996 was an amazingly peculiar season for Robertson.  In 186.1 innings, he gave up 197 hits and a league-leading 116 walks.  That's 313 baserunners in 186.1 innings -- a 1.68 WHIP!  It showed in his record, too, as he finished 7-17.  However, among those 7 wins was a league-leading three shutouts!  It's one of my favorite anomalies in Twins history.  Thanks for the signatures, Mr. Robertson.  I am sincerely thrilled to have them in my Twins collection!

Gary Shuchuk

Sent: 8/7/10
Received: 8/14/10
Time: 7 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Upper Deck.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
This is a pretty cool addition to help start my 1991-92 Score hockey set.  Gary Shuchuk was an All-WCHA and All-America forward for the Wisconsin Badgers.  He led the WCHA in goals (41) and points (80) during his 1989-90 senior season.  That didn't translate to NHL success.  He played in six games for the Detroit Red Wings, then spent parts of four seasons with the Los Angeles Kings.  He was recently named an assistant coach for the Badgers.

Mark Cartwright

Sent: 7/13/10
Received: 8/13/10
Time: 31 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks
Item Received: 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks, signed in black ballpoint.

Notes:
Chalk up another awesome return from the 1983 Visalia Oaks team set.  Mr. Cartwright signed his card and sent a letter wishing me luck on the project and thanking me for bringing up the old memories.  He mentioned that he roomed with Kirby Puckett in the Florida Instructional League following the 1983 season and played one more year in the Twins organization before finishing his career with a year in Italy.  He has now worked for the Marysville  (California) School District for 25 years, spending ten as pitching coach for the high school baseball team.  It's been a blast hearing from these players.  Thank you, Mark!

Butch Wynegar

Sent: 7/29/10
Received: 8/12/10
Time: 14 Days
Address: c/o Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
Item Sent: 1977 Topps, 1981 Topps, 1982 Donruss
Item Received: 1981 Topps, 1982 Donruss, 1983 Topps.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
This, unfortunately, is a bittersweet return.  I sent Mr. Wynegar three cards.  Of them, the one that I really wanted signed was the 1977 Topps.  Since 1977 is the year of my birth, I have begun working on a signed Twins team set from that year.  Wynegar's "All-Star Rookie" card would have been a great addition to that set, plus (unlike some of my other cards in that set) the one I sent was in great shape.  Anyway, I received the return today.  He signed two of the three cards I sent, but substituted a 1983 Topps card (in a Yankees uniform, no less... dis!) for the '77.  Anything could have happened here.  Maybe he doesn't sign his rookie for some reason.  Or maybe he was signing multiple requests at once and just got the cards mixed up.  I'll try again someday, after I pick up another '77 Topps Wynegar card.  It's still a great return with three beautiful blue Sharpie signatures.  Thanks, Butch!

Pat Neshek

Sent: 7/24/10
Received: 8/12/10
Time: 19 Days
Address: c/o Rochester Red Wings
Item Sent: 2006 Topps '52, 2010 Topps
Item Received: 2006 Topps '52, 2010 Topps.  Both signed in thin blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Pat Neshek could be as responsible as anyone for getting me back into this hobby as an adult.  It was his arrival to the Twins a few years ago, along with the introduction of his autograph blog that first reminded me of the fun I had collecting as a kid.  Even though it took a few years for me to begin, I suppose the seed has been planted in my mind since then.  The reason it took me over three months to send a request to Mr. Neshek is simple: I didn't have any of his cards.  After finally acquiring a couple of them, I sent a request to Rochester.  I'm pretty happy with the result - and I certainly don't mean this as a complaint of any kind - but I am a bit surprised that a seasoned autographer as renowned in the hobby as Pat would use such a dry marker on his cards.  It doesn't look terrible.  I do love that he added the baseball stitches - a staple of his unique signature - to the facsimile autograph printed on the Topps '52 card.  Thanks, Pat!

Bob Tinkey

Sent: 7/13/10
Received: 8/12/10
Time: 30 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1988 ProCards Kenosha Twins
Item Received: 1988 ProCards Kenosha Twins, signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Bob Tinkey spent the last two of his four minor league seasons playing for Class A Kenosha in the Twins organization.  The blue Sharpie signature on this card looks great, and is a fine addition to my collection of former Twins minor league players.

John LeClair

Sent: 8/3/10
Received: 8/10/10
Time: 7 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991-92 Parkhurst, 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1991-92 Parkhurst, 1991-92 Score Canadian.  Both signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
I'm especially excited about this return!  John LeClair was, of course, best known as the prototype power forward/sniper on the Philadelphia Flyers "Legion of Doom" line in the '90s, with Eric Lindros and Mikael Renberg.  He was one of the greal goal scorers of the last two decades, and will certainly end up in the Hall of Fame eventually.  I didn't have any Flyers cards to send, but I did get two rookie cards signed.  They look great, too!

Larry Pashnick

Sent: 5/13/10
Received: 8/10/10
Time: 89 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1984 Twins Team Issue
Item Received: 1984 Twins Team Issue, signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
It took almost three months for former Twin Larry Pashnick to sign and return the only card picturing him in a Twins uniform.  That's about a month longer than his career tenure with the Twins.  I'm not complaining by any means -- the card looks fantastic.  Thanks, Larry!

Bob Carpenter

Sent: 8/4/10
Received: 8/10/10
Time: 6 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1991-92 Score Canadian.  Both signed in thin black Sharpie.

Notes:
Former Boston Bruins wing Bob Carpenter is the latest addition to my fast-growing 1991-92 Score set.  I also sent a 1990 Pro Set card for him to sign because... well... I had it.  That looks great, too!  Thanks, Mr. Carpenter!

Mike Smithson

Sent: 7/21/10
Received: 8/9/10
Time: 19 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1984 Topps Traded, 1985 Donruss, 1987 Donruss, 1987 Fleer
Item Received: 1984 Topps Traded, 1985 Donruss, 1987 Donruss, 1987 Fleer.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Big Mike Smithson, at 6'8", was the tallest player in Twins history until the arrival of Jon Rauch last season.  He came to the Twins before the 1984 season, along with John Butcher, in exchange for All-Star left fielder Gary Ward.  The trade reaped immediate rewards as Smithson and Butcher stepped into the second and third slots in the Twins rotation (behind Frank Viola).  They each posted double-digit wins, sub-4.00 ERAs and over 200 innings pitched.  Butcher fizzled quickly after, but Smithson was a workhorse for the next three seasons.  He never matched his 1984 numbers, but worked a ton of innings into the 1987 season.  Ineffectiveness and injuries marred his '87 season, where he was a member of the Twins World Series team but left off the playoff roster.  He was traded to the Red Sox in 1988.  Mr. Smithson beautifully signed four cards for me, including an '87 Donruss for my team set.  Thank you, sir!

Frank Ramppen

Sent: 7/12/10
Received: 8/9/10
Time: 28 Days
Address: c/o Bobby Valentine's Sports Gallery Cafe
Item Sent: 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks
Item Received: 1983 Fritsch Visalia Oaks, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
I learned quite a bit about Mr. Ramppen in trying to find his contact info.  It turns out he's been the right-hand man of longtime big league manager Bobby Valentine for the past couple of decades.  He has managed Valentine's restaurant, worked as an instructor at his baseball school, and most recently served as bench coach for the Japanese league team Bobby V managed.  Like most of the responses from this set, he included a brief letter.  It's another awesome return for my favorite project!

Bobby Dustin

Sent: 8/5/10
Received: 8/9/10
Time: 4 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1995-96 Minnesota Gophers Hockey Team Issue
Item Received: 1995-96 Minnesota Gophers Hockey Team Issue, signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Bobby Dustin is the tenth signature added to my 1995 Gophers team set.  Like some of the other guys who I've been able to add, I initially found him on Facebook and sent a message requesting permission to send the card.  He never responded to that, but I eventually found an address that looked good on whitepages.com.  Four days later, it's here!  Thanks, Bobby!

Brett Abrahamson

Sent: 8/5/10
Received: 8/9/10
Time: 4 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1995-96 Minnesota Gophers Hockey Team Issue
Item Received: 1995-96 Minnesota Gophers Hockey Team Issue, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Brett Abrahamson was one of my favorite Gophers of the mid-'90s.  He was always solid, fundamentally sound.  He also wore number eight, which has always been my number.  He now lives a couple of miles from where I grew up.  It's kind of weird to address a request to Plymouth.  I almost feel like I could just stop by and ring the doorbell next time I'm on my way out to visit my parents.  I would never do that, of course... but it would save some stamps!  Anyway, thanks for adding to my '95 Gophers team set, Brett!

Jimmy Carson

Sent: 8/3/10
Received: 8/9/10
Time: 6 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Topps, 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum, 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1990-91 Topps, 1991-92 Score Canadian.  Both signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
A prodigious offensive talent as a teenager with the Los Angeles Kings, Carson was the key prospect shipped to Edmonton in the landmark Wayne Gretzky trade.  Less than two years later, he was back in his hometown of Detroit, with injuries taking a toll on his once-endless potential.  Mr. Carson quickly and nicely signed two of the cards I sent, but kept the third.

Joe Sacco

Sent: 7/28/10
Received: 8/9/10
Time: 12 Days
Address: c/o Colorado Avalanche
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1991-92 Score Canadian signed in red Sharpie.

Notes:
Sacco took over a young Avalanche team last season that had just about hit rock bottom, and built them into a contender faster than anyone could have expected.  They led the Northwest Division for a good chunk of the year and are now talked about as one of the up and coming teams in the league.

Catherine E. Coulson

Sent: 7/28/10
Received: 8/7/10
Time: 10 Days
Address: c/o Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Item Sent: 1991 Star Pics Twin Peaks Trading Cards #s 41, 42, 43
Item Received: 1991 Star Pics Twin Peaks Trading Cards #s 41, 42, 43, all signed on back in thin black Sharpie.  Stamped "log" card inscribed in thin black Sharpie: "To Dan & Maria, love, Catherine E. Coulson."  5"x7" glossy photo inscribed in thin black Sharpie: "To Dan & Maria, Now Watch Out!  Catherine E. Coulson." 

Notes:
My first non-sports success is a rousing one!  Catherine E. Coulson was "The Log Lady" Margaret Lanterman in David Lynch's Twin Peaks - an unforgettable character from my all-time favorite television show.  I sent her three cards from the 1991 Twin Peaks trading card set produced by Star Pics: the two she appeared on and a card of the log.  She signed each on the back of the card, sent a thank you letter on her own stationary, sent a 5" x 7" glossy Log Lady photo, and a small white index card featuring a stamp of the log.  She personalized each to my wife and me.  Pretty incredible success.  Thank you so much, Catherine!

Paul Flatley

Sent: 7/17/10
Received: 8/7/10
Time: 21 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1965 Philadelphia, 1968 Topps
Item Received: 1965 Philadelphia, 1968 Topps.  Both signed in black ballpoint.

Notes:
One of the first offensive stars in Vikings history, Paul Flatley was the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1963.  He spent five seasons in purple before finishing his career in Atlanta.

Rod Brind'Amour

Sent: 7/28/10
Received: 8/5/10
Time: 8 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded
Item Received: 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
I'm going for it.  And then some.  Sort of.  I found myself accumulating a few autographs on 1991-92 Score hockey cards and really liked how they looked.  I decided that this is the first major set I'm going to try collecting.  The problem is, there are some variations in the set and I had to decide how hardcore I wanted to go.  The U.S. version is a single series, 440 card set with purple borders.  The design is the same, but the color scheme and player selection is different on the Canadian version.  The Canadian set was issued in two different 330 card series, for 660 total cards.  The series one cards featured red borders and series two has light blue borders.  Most of the pictures remain the same for the cards that are produced in both the American and Canadian version, but some are different.  In addition, the Canadian sets were issues in both full English versions and bilingual (English and French) versions.  (The fronts of the cards are identical, but the text on the back of the cards is in both languages.)  Finally, there was an American produced 110 card "Rookie & Traded" set which features completely different photos from either the Canadian or standard American versions and has dark green borders.  Got it?  Anyway, I decided to ditch the ugly purple-bordered U.S. base set.  I purchased a factory sealed Canadian Bilingual set for dirt cheap on eBay (there don't seem to be any factory sealed Canadian English sets around) and an American Rookie & Traded set for even cheaper.  Let the games begin.

Rod Brind'Amour has three cards in the set that I'm trying to complete.  He is also one of the finest leaders the NHL has seen over the last two decades.  The longtime Carolina Hurricanes captain started with the St. Louis Blues and became a star with the Philadelphia Flyers before becoming a Stanley Cup-winning legend in Carolina.  He also signed and returned three cards in just eight days.  Absolutely awesome.  Thanks, Rod!

Sean O'Sullivan

Sent: 7/23/10
Received: 8/4/10
Time: 12 Days
Address: c/o Kansas City Royals
Item Sent: 2009 Topps Heritage
Item Received: 2009 Topps Heritage, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
I haven't liked a lot of the Royals personnel decisions over the last two decades, but I do applaud them for picking up a really nice pitching prospect (O'Sullivan) from the Angels for a mediocre infielder (Alberto Callaspo).  This was also an experiment for me.  I sent to a handful of players who were moved around the MLB trade deadline, care of their brand new teams.  O'Sullivan paid off very quickly.

Jim McMahon

Sent: 7/20/10
Received: 8/2/10
Time: 13 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1983 Topps, 1989 Score
Item Received: 1983 Topps, 1989 Score.  Both signed and personalized in black Sharpie.

Notes:
As a kid, the title "My Favorite Player" was a fast-moving one, at least until I settled on Jim Kelly.  Tommy Kramer was the first player to hold the honor, as the quarterback of the Vikings. Two-Minute Tommy was also the first athlete I met and received an autograph from, at a sporting goods store in Bloomington called Pro Central, circa 1982.  After a flurry of Vikings following Kramer's 1983 injury, I found Jim McMahon.  He was easy to love.  He was a cartoon character.  He was brash.  He wore sunglasses and a headband, and was about as badass as a quarterback could be... which was a perfect fit for the legendary '85 Bears.  Several years later, he came to Minnesota to lead the Vikings to a division title (1993).  I'm pretty thrilled to add his signature to the collection.