Gary Matthews

Sent: 4/27/12
Received: 5/21/12
Time: 24 Days
Address: c/o Philadelphia Phillies
Item Sent: 1978 Topps, 1981 Topps Traded, 1985 Fleer
Item Received: 1978 Topps, 1985 Fleer.  Both signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
"Sarge" was the 1973 NL Rookie of the Year while playing for the San Francisco Giants.  He was an All-Star in 1979 for the Atlanta Braves.  And his monster performance for the Phillies in the 1983 NLCS earned him the series MVP award.  But to me, he's a Cub.  He was a huge addition to the Cubbies lineup in 1984, and perhaps an even bigger addition to their clubhouse culture. 

Keith Moreland

Sent: 4/26/12
Received: 5/11/12
Time: 15 Days
Address: c/o Chicago Cubs
Item Sent: 1985 Fleer, 1987 Topps
Item Received: 1985 Fleer, 1987 Topps.  Both signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
The Cubbies brought Keith Moreland over from Philadelphia in 1982 and it didn't take long for the converted catcher to establish himself as their regular right fielder.  The portly line-drive hitter became a fan favorite and averaged about 15 home runs a year as a fixture in the middle of the Cubs' lineup.  His finest year was 1985, when he hit .307 with 14 homers, a career high 106 RBI, and 12 stolen bases (a career high by far).  In 1987 the Cubs signed future Hall of Famer Andre Dawson to play right field and shifted Moreland to third base.  He responded with a career high 27 bombs (though, in fairness, a lot of ballplayers had career high home run totals in '87).  Unfortunately, he couldn't quite keep his homer total above his error total.  His 28 miscues at the league.  Moreland wasn't cut out for third and Dawson wasn't going anywhere coming off an MVP season, so the Cubbies traded Moreland to the Padres in the offseason.  His power disappeared in San Diego as he slugged a paltry .331 over 562 plate appearances.  He split the next year between Baltimore and Detroit and, just like that, his career was over.  The story has a happy ending, though.  Moreland returned to Wrigleyville last year as the Cubs radio analyst.

Richie Hebner

Sent: 4/25/12
Received: 5/4/12
Time: 9 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1984 Topps, 1985 Fleer, 1985 Topps
Item Received: 1984 Topps, 1985 Fleer, 1985 Topps.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
A star third baseman throughout the '70s for the Pittsburgh Pirates (including the 1971 World Series championship team), Richie Hebner spent the last two seasons of his long career as a pinch-hitter and backup corner infielder for the 1984 and 1985 Chicago Cubs.  Of course, that's right in my wheelhouse.  Much of my love for baseball stemmed from watching those Cubs teams on WGN, so most of my memories of this Pirates great are instead as a grizzled veteran on the Cubbies.

Brian Dayett

Sent: 4/18/12
Received: 4/26/12
Time: 8 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1985 Fleer, 1985 Fleer Update
Item Received: 1985 Fleer, 1985 Fleer Update.  Both signed and personalized in thin blue Sharpie.

Notes:
While beginning to send out requests for my new 1985 Fleer set project, I've started off by writing to a bunch of former Cubs.  I loved those mid to late '80s Cubs teams.  Don't get me wrong, the Twins were always number one in my heart, but I grew up on WGN afternoon broadcasts with Harry Caray and Steve Stone.  Harry had a way of turning Wrigley Field into the greatest place in the world, and the lovable cast on the field only helped.

Brian Dayett wasn't one of the Cubs stars.  He was a role player who had some impressive minor league seasons, but he never did win a regular big league role.  I do remember his first home run in a Cubs uniform, though.  It was a pinch hit grand slam, which to that point was one of the coolest things I had ever seen on a baseball diamond.

Ron Cey

Sent: 4/18/12
Received: 4/25/12
Time: 7 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1984 Topps, 1985 Fleer
Item Received: 1984 Topps, 1985 Fleer.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
As if I don't have enough collections to work on already, I just decided I wanted to go for the 1985 Fleer set.  I just decided it was silly for me to be working on multiple hockey sets and not a single full baseball set.  I chose this because I've always thought it was a cool, underrated design, and because I already have one of the biggest toughies in the Kirby Puckett rookie.  So, the mailing has started.  One of my first requests was my second letter to one of the hobby's great TTM signers, Ron Cey.  "The Penguin" was one of my first returns when I started this hobby and blog two years ago, and he came through again with two more beautiful signatures.

Jamie Moyer

Sent: 4/6/12
Received: 4/16/12
Time: 10 Days
Address: c/o Colorado Rockies
Item Sent: 1986 ProCards Pittsfield Cubs
Item Received: 1986 ProCards Pittsfield Cubs, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Jamie Moyer is back in the big leagues at the age of 49.  A non-roster invitee to spring training by the Colorado Rockies this year, after missing all of last season following Tommy John surgery, Moyer won the fifth and final spot in the Rockies rotation.  If he picks up a win, he will become the oldest pitcher in major league history to do so.  If he's remotely effective this year, he'll probably get a shot with somebody next season to pitch at the age of 50.  Unbelievable.  I've had this Pittsfield Cubs card of him since shortly after it was issued 26 years ago, which was the same season I watched him pitch as a Chicago Cubs rookie on WGN telecasts.  Baseball won't be the same when and if Jamie Moyer ever retires!

Rick Wrona

Sent: 1/14/12
Received: 1/24/12
Time: 10 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1987 ProCards Pittsfield Cubs, 1989 Donruss Rookies, 1990 Donruss, 1990 Upper Deck, 1993 Fleer/ProCards Nashville Sounds
Item Received: 1987 ProCards Pittsfield Cubs, 1989 Donruss Rookies, 1990 Donruss, 1990 Upper Deck, 1993 Fleer/ProCards Nashville Sounds.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
What a cool guy!  Rick Wrona was a quality backup catcher who was huge for the Cubs in the 1989 pennant chase.  With starter Damon Berryhill injured, Wrona took over the everyday catching duties in September.  He expertly handled the pitching staff and went on the best offensive run of his big league career to help lead the Cubs to the NL East title.  Being a big catcher guy, and a fan of the Cubs from that era, he won me over with that month.  Now, 23 years later, I'm a huge fan.  Mr. Wrona beautifully signed five cards in bold blue Sharpie.  He also added a letter where he thanked me for writing, complimented me on sending the minor league cards ("Those minor league cards are cool!") and, in closing, added "Write my anytime!"  I don't want to take advantage of his generosity, but he seems to really enjoy signing autographs.  So, I may just collect every different Rick Wrona card I can find and write him again.  This kind of response is so rewarding for a collector.

Dave Pavlas

Sent: 10/25/11
Received: 11/10/11
Time: 16 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1987 ProCards Pittsfield Cubs, 1990 ProCards Iowa Cubs, 1991 Score
Item Received: 1987 ProCards Pittsfield Cubs, 1990 ProCards Iowa Cubs, 1991 Score.  All signed in black ballpoint.

Notes:
Dave Pavlas was remarkable in a September call-up for the Cubs in 1990, going 2-0 with a 2.11 ERA down the stretch.  He looked like a definite bullpen weapon for years to come.  But somehow he only appeared in one big league game the following year and would not return to the majors until 1995, with the New York Yankees.  In 1996 he got into 16 games for the Yankees and put up a nifty 2.35 ERA.  He didn't make the post-season roster, but was still a part of that World Championship team.  He would not pitch in the majors again.  He wrote on the back of his return envelope that he married a girl who went to Bloomington Jefferson High School in suburban Minneapolis.

Bryan LaHair

Sent: 9/15/11
Received: 10/5/11
Time: 20 Days
Address: c/o Chicago Cubs
Item Sent: 2008 Topps Heritage
Item Received: 2008 Topps Heritage, signed in blue ballpoint.

Notes:
Bryan LaHair is not a hot young prospect by any means, but it's fair to say he has conquered Triple-A pitching.  LaHair appeared in 45 games for the 2008 Seattle Mariners, but even that offensively starved club didn't think enough of him to give him a shot as an everyday player.  He signed as a minor league free agent with the Cubs in 2010 and proceeded to hit 25 homers with a .942 OPS for Iowa that season.  That was not enough to earn a call-up to the Cubs, though, even after they traded first baseman Derrek Lee in August.  Back at Iowa for 2011, he had a sensational year.  he hit .331 with 38 home runs and 109 RBI, posting a 1.070 OPS and winning the Pacific Coast League MVP award.  He finally earned a September call-up with the Cubs and, in his first big league playing time in three years had an .885 OPS in 69 plate appearances.  With Carlos Pena a free agent, LaHair is a dark horse candidate to be the Cubs first baseman in 2012, though they are expected to be in on the bidding for free agents Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder.

Randy Bush

Sent: 8/10/11
Received: 8/20/11
Time: 10 Days
Address: c/o Chicago Cubs
Item Sent: 1984 Topps, 1984 Twins Team Issue, 1987 Topps, 1988 Score, 1993 Donruss
Item Received: 1984 Topps, 1984 Twins Team Issue, 1987 Topps, 1988 Score, 1993 Donruss.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Randy Bush is one of my all-time favorite Twins.  From 1982 to 1993 he was a key role player for the club, and one of seven players to be a part of both the 1987 and 1991 World Series squads.  From 1983 to 1989, he was a near-automatic in the lineup against right-handed pitchers.  In fact, here's one of the most ridiculous stats in Twins history: of Bush's 3,045 career at bats, only 100 came against left-handed pitchers.  All 96 of his career home runs came off righties.  By 1991, his role had been essentially reduced to pinch-hitter (albeit one of the top pinch-hitters in baseball).  He'll always be remembered for the "Randy Bush Fan Club" banner that hung in section 212 of the Metrodome, and for his magnificent head-first slide at home plate in game two of the 1987 World Series, where he slid outside the plate, around Tony Pena, and reached out with his left arm to swipe the plate.  He has been the assistant GM of the Chicago Cubs for several years, and was just named their interim GM this weekend following Jim Hendry's dismissal.

Chris Speier

Sent: 7/27/11
Received: 8/15/11
Time: 19 Days
Address: c/o Cincinnati Reds
Item Sent: 1985 Topps, 1987 Fleer, 1987 Fleer Update
Item Received: 1985 Topps, 1987 Fleer, 1987 Fleer Update.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Chris Speier was my introduction to the trading deadline.  As I've noted a few times on this blog and others, the 1984 season was a special one for me.  That was the first year I was really obsessive about the Twins and was also my first exposure to a pennant race.  When the Twins traded for Speier that August (and for Pat Putnam a few days later), it was exciting to me to witness this new phenomenon of adding players for a playoff push.  As it turns out, neither move paid dividends.  Speier hit .212, Putnam hit .079, neither homered, and they combined for five runs batted in.  For Speier, it was a most insignificant blip on his 19 year big league career.  While Putnam was completely done, Speier went on to have a few more successful years as a utilityman for the Cubs and Giants.

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.

Ryan Dempster

Sent: 6/2/10
Received: 7/2/10
Time: 30 Days
Address: c/o Chicago Cubs
Item Sent: 2008 Topps Heritage, 2010 Topps
Item Received: 2008 Topps Heritage, signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Dempster seems like a cool dude.  For whatever reason, it seems like most Canadian ballplayers fit that bill.  I've always liked him, so I sent a couple of cards to be signed.  When the SASE arrived yesterday, it wasn't sealed.  Inside was the 2008 Topps Heritage that I sent him, signed beautifully in blue Sharpie.  The 2010 Topps card I sent was nowhere to be found, so I'm not sure if it was kept by Mr. Dempster or an employee of the USPS.

Ron Cey

Sent: 4/13/10
Received: 4/20/10
Time: 7 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1978 Topps, 1985 Topps
Item Received: 1978 Topps, 1985 Topps.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
"The Penguin" is widely known as a generous TTM signer, so as a big fan of the mid-'80s Cubs teams, I thought I'd try him.  He didn't disappoint.  I know have a signed Dodgers card and a signed Cubs card of his in my collection, both signed elegantly in black Sharpie.  Thanks, Mr. Cey!