Steve Shields

Sent: 4/14/10
Received: 10/30/10
Time: 199 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1989 ProCards Portland Beavers
Item Received: 1989 ProCards Portland Beavers, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
It's a new record!  Obscure Twins pitcher Steve Shields (11 games and a 7.79 ERA in 1989) just missed hitting the 200 day mark on his response.  I was almost ready to write this one off, but I guess this is further evidence that you should never assume anything in this hobby.  Thanks, Steve!

Ricky Jones

Sent: 10/18/10
Received: 10/30/10
Time: 12 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1988 CMC Portland Beavers, 1988 ProCards Portland Beavers
Item Received: 1988 CMC Portland Beavers, 1988 ProCards Portland Beavers.  Both signed in thin blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Ricky Jones was a tall, powerful second baseman who appeared in 16 big league games (for the Orioles in 1986) and never hit a Major League home run.  He did post a couple of 20+ homer seasons in the minors, including 1987.  He was acquired mid-season by the Twins and split the year between Baltimore's Rochester farm team and the Twins' Portland Beavers affiliate.  1988, also with Portland, was his last season of pro ball.  I asked him what it was like to play next to Cal Ripken, but he didn't answer.

Scott Roth

Sent: 10/13/10
Received: 10/29/10
Time: 16 Days
Address: c/o Toronto Raptors
Item Sent: 1989-90 Hoops, 1990-91 Hoops
Item Received: 1989-90 Hoops, 1990-91 Hoops.  Both signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Say what you will about the pre and post-Garnett Timberwolves squads.  The inaugural season of 1989 was fun.  Former Wisconsin Badger Scott Roth was a reserve on that team.  He averaged a little over eight points per game, but also showcased the best mullet in Wolves history.  He's now starting his first season as an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors after spending last year with Golden State.

Peter Sidorkiewicz

Sent: 10/16/10
Received: 10/29/10
Time: 13 Days
Address: c/o Erie Otters
Item Sent: 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Pro Set, 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Pro Set, 1991-92 Score Canadian.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Polish-born Peter Sidorkiewicz was a member of the 1989 NHL All-Rookie team and was an All-Star representing the inaugural Ottawa Senators team.  He has been coaching for the Erie Otters of the OHL since 2006.

Ron Zanussi

Sent: 10/23/10
Received: 10/28/10
Time: 5 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1979-80 Topps
Item Received: 1979-80 Topps, 1981-82 Toronto Maple Leafs team issued postcard.  Both signed in black Sharpie.  Pre-printed 1980-81 Minnesota North Stars team issued postcard.

Notes:
I love this return!  Part of my motivation for getting back into this hobby was my desire to track down former Minnesota North Stars.  After starting strong, my request totals tailed off over the summer.  I've been sending a ton of hockey requests out lately, though.  I recently discovered the 1979-80 "Retro" design parallel cards in the 2008-08 O-Pee-Chee set, which took their design from my all-time favorite hockey set.  Though I haven't received any of those back yet, I've been sending out a bunch, along with some original 1979-80 Topps cards.  I have no illusions about trying to go for the set, as the Gretzky rookie alone is far out of my reach, but I'm definitely going to try collecting as many autographs as I can on both the original set and the modern version.

Anyway, on to Ron Zanussi, the '79 card of the former North Stars wing is the first such card to come back to me.  In addition to signing that, he added two postcards: a Maple Leafs postcard with an authentic Sharpie signature and a North Stars card with a pre-printed facsimile autograph.

Ron Tugnutt

Sent: 10/15/10
Received: 10/28/10
Time: 13 Days
Address: c/o Peterborough Petes
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:
Of the kids my age, there was not a hockey fan around who could hold back a slight giggle at the mention of Ron Tugnutt's name.  Flipping those cards over couldn't save the poor guy, either.  They would only reveal his horrendous stats as the primary netminder for some truly awful Quebec Nordiques teams.  5-24-3 with a 4.61 goals against average in 1989-90.  12-29-10, 4.05 in 1990-91.  As it turns out, he was actually a pretty good goalie once he escaped Quebec City.  He had some downright great years for Ottawa in the late nineties, including back-to-back GAAs of 2.25 and 1.79.  He's now an assistant for the OHL's Peterborough Petes, which is where this request was sent.  Thanks, Mr. Tugnutt!

Chip Lohmiller

Sent: 7/9/10
Received: 10/26/10
Time: 109 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1989 Topps, 1990 Fleer, 1991 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1989 Topps, 1990 Fleer, 1991 Upper Deck.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Probably the greatest kicker our fine state has ever produced, Chip Lohmiller left the University of Minnesota as the Gophers all-time leading scorer.  He was selected in the second round of the 1988 draft by the Washington Redskins, and peaked in 1991 when he led the NFL in scoring, earned his only Pro Bowl appearance, and won a Super Bowl ring.

Dave Jacas

Sent: 10/18/10
Received: 10/25/10
Time: 7 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1988 ProCards Kenosha Twins, 1990 CMC Portland Beavers
Item Received: 1988 ProCards Kenosha Twins, 1990 CMC Portland Beavers.  Both signed in black ballpoint.

Notes:
David Jacas appeared to have a future as a big league backup, at the very least, based on his prodigious speed.  Unfortunately for him, the Twins had a surplus of super fast outfielders who couldn't hit a lick in their system at the time, and it was Jarvis Brown who got the call to be the pinch-running specialist on the 1991 World Championship team.

Mike Squires

Sent: 10/19/10
Received: 10/25/10
Time: 6 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1981 Topps, 1985 Donruss
Item Received: 1981 Topps, 1985 Donruss.  Both signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Former White Sox first baseman Mike Squires wasn't much of a hitter, but he sure could field.  He won the 1981 AL Gold Glove award at first base, but is probably best remembered for two other defensive accomplishments.  In 1980, he became the first left-handed thrower in 32 seasons to appear in a major league game at catcher.  Three years later, he became the first lefty in over 50 years to appear as a third baseman.  Not just a one-off there, he actually started 13 games at third in 1984.  It's these oddities that made him one of my favorite players of the '80s.

Bernie Federko

Sent: 10/16/10
Received: 10/23/10
Time: 7 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1984-85 Topps
Item Received: 1984-85 Topps, signed in thin blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Have I mentioned my amazement at the willingness of so many hockey Hall of Famers to sign for free through the mail?  (Yes.  Yes, I have.)  Add St. Louis Blues legend Bernie Federko to the list, as he got back to me in only one week with a nice signature on his '84 Topps card.

Jamie Moyer

Sent: 10/12/10
Received: 10/21/10
Time: 9 Days
Address: c/o Philadelphia Phillies
Item Sent: 1987 Topps, 2010 Topps Heritage
Item Received: 1987 Topps, 2010 Topps Heritage.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
I have been watching the ageless wonder pitch for 24 years, since he was a rookie pitching for the Cubs in 1986.  It only seems right that a guy who I've been watching pitch for longer than anyone is finally a part of the collection.

Dick Stigman

Sent: 10/14/10
Received: 10/19/10
Time: 5 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1963 Topps
Item Received: 1963 Topps, signed in thin blue Sharpie.

Notes:
October has been a huge dry spell for TTM returns.  Granted, I did go a couple weeks without sending out any requests while busy with a brand new baby, but paternity leave has unexpectedly given me a good deal of free time to write request letters while my wife and baby are sleeping.  The first return from huge batches sent out between the 13th and 18th of October is Minnesota native and former Twins lefty Dick Stigman, who applied his classy signature to a 1963 Topps card.  Thank you, Mr. Stigman!

Jon Rauch

Sent: 9/20/10
Received: 10/13/10
Time: 23 Days
Address: c/o Minnesota Twins
Item Sent: 2008 Topps Heritage, 2010 Upper Deck
Item Received: 2008 Topps Heritage, 2010 Upper Deck.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Big Jon is about to enter free agency, so there's a good chance he has thrown his last pitch for the Twins.  He was awesome, though, admirably filling in for Joe Nathan over the first half of the 2010 season.  I'd like to see him back, but I can say that about a lot of the Twins current free agent class.

Tim Stauffer

Sent: 8/4/10
Received: 10/8/10
Time: 65 Days
Address: c/o San Diego Padres
Item Sent: 2010 Topps
Item Received: 2010 Topps, signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
A top prospect for the Padres a couple seasons ago, Stauffer found himself in the long-relief role out of their bullpen for most of the year.  And for most of the year his ERA hovered around 1.00.  In September, when injuries and ineffectiveness struck the rotation, Stauffer slid right in and was arguably San Diego's most dependable starter down the stretch.  He could be very good next year, so I'm pretty stoked about this, my lone birthday return.

Matt Capps

Sent: 9/23/10
Received: 10/7/10
Time: 14 Days
Address: c/o Minnesota Twins
Item Sent: 2004 Topps Traded, 2007 Topps Heritage, 2009 Topps Heritage
Item Received: 2004 Topps Traded, 2007 Topps Heritage, 2009 Topps Heritage.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
With the abrupt and disappointing ending to the Twins 2010 season, the jury remains out on whether Capps was worth Wilson Ramos, but you can't fault him for that.  Mr. Capps was very solid after arriving and taking on the Twins' closer role in July.  He'll be back in 2011, providing some nice late-inning security in the event that Joe Nathan is not yet fully recovered from Tommy John surgery.

Rick Stelmaszek

Sent: 7/20/10
Received: 10/7/10
Time: 79 Days
Address: c/o Minnesota Twins
Item Sent: 1987 Donruss Opening Day Twins Logo, 1987 Twins Team Issue
Item Received: 1987 Donruss Opening Day Twins Logo, 1987 Twins Team Issue.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Stelly needs no introduction to true Twins fans.  He has worn the uniform longer than anybody else.  Serving as the bullpen coach since 1981, bridging the gap from Met Stadium to Target Field.  He just wrapped up his 30th consecutive season as a Twins coach, the third longest streak in baseball history for consecutive years of coaching service for one team.  I had him sign his 1973 rookie card at the Dome when I was a kid, but it's nice to finally have his autograph in a Twins uniform. 

Randy Flores

Sent: 8/30/10
Received: 10/7/10
Time: 38 Days
Address: c/o Minnesota Twins
Item Sent: 2001 Bowman Heritage
Item Received: 2001 Bowman Heritage, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
When Jose Mijares and Ron Mahay both went down with injuries in August, I peeked at the free agent left-handed pitchers on the market and Flores' name immediately jumped out.  He had respectable numbers in Colorado and a World Series ring from the 2006 Cardinals.  I thought it was a fine pickup when the Twins signed him.  Shortly after, though, they picked up Brian Fuentes and Flores found himself in mop-up duty.  He likely won't be back in 2011, but hey... it's another Twin for my collection.  With the Sharpie signature on the black and white card, this looks great.  Well... other than the damn Yankees uniform.

Butch Goring

Sent: 7/9/10
Received: 10/4/10
Time: 87 Days
Address: c/o New York Islanders Alumni
Item Sent: 1984-85 Topps
Item Received: 1984-85 Topps, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
According to Hall of Famer Mike Bossy, Butch Goring is the originator of the hockey "playoff beard."  The longtime Los Angeles Kings star came to Long Island in 1980, just in time to help lead the New York Islanders to four straight Stanley Cups.

Fred Valentine

Sent: 9/25/10
Received: 10/2/10
Time: 7 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1966 Topps
Item Received: 1966 Topps, black & white postcard.  Both signed and personalized in black ballpoint.

Notes:
A former All-American quarterback at Tennessee State University, Valentine was a talented athlete who only harnessed his combination of power and speed for one standout big league season.  In 1966 he compiled a .276/.351/.455 batting line with 16 home runs and 22 stolen bases.  I love getting signatures from guys who played in the '60s, and these are fantastic additions to the ol' collection.

Leslie Frazier

Sent: 6/12/10
Received: 10/2/10
Time: 112 Days
Address: c/o Minnesota Vikings
Item Sent: 1984 Topps, 1986 Topps
Item Received: 1984 Topps, 1986 Topps.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Now in his fourth season as the Vikings defensive coordinator, Leslie Frazier is always in the rumor mill as a candidate for each head coaching vacancy that opens in the NFL.  Personally, I hope the Vikings have learned their lesson.  Over the last ten years, former Vikings coordinators Tony Dungy, Brian Billick, and Mike Tomlin (Frazier's immediate predecessor) have each won Super Bowls.  Obviously, it's not a given that Frazier is next, but I like my chances with him over Brad Childress.