Thane Gash

Sent: 1/20/12
Received: 1/30/12
Time: 10 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991 Score, 1991 Stadium Club, 1991 Topps, 1991 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1991 Score, 1991 Stadium Club, 1991 Topps.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Stay with me here.  Do you watch American Pickers on the History Channel?  You know how they like to go on "freestyle" picks?  This is like my version of a freestyle autograph request.  I have two boxes full of cards that I have already picked out, with the intent of sending autograph requests.  When I'm writing letters, I usually take from those two boxes.  Every once in a while, though, I'll scan recent successful returns on SCN and something will catch my eye -- someone I hadn't considered sending to before, but upon seeing another collector's success I'll instantly search for a couple of cards and whip off a quick letter.

I had not thought of the name Thane Gash in years.  But as soon as I saw his name, I had to go for it.  He had such a great name.  Thane Gash.  Perfect name for a hard-hitting safety.  He didn't have a long career and was hardly a star.  Just a really cool football name, and sometimes something like that is enough to earn its way into my collection.  Thanks, Mr. Gash!

Ozzie Newsome

Sent: 11/20/10
Received: 11/30/10
Time: 10 Days
Address: c/o Baltimore Ravens
Item Sent: 1984 Topps, 1989 Score, 1991 Pro Set Legends
Item Received: 1984 Topps, 1989 Score, 1991 Pro Set Legends.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Few Hall of Fame players in any sport have had the kind of post-career front office success of Ozzie Newsome.  He retired from the Cleveland Browns as the owner of just about every career tight end receiving record.  He moved with the team to Baltimore, built a Super Bowl champion, and continues to design competitive teams year after year. 

Kevin Mack

Sent: 5/8/10
Received: 5/14/10
Time: 6 Days
Address: c/o Cleveland Browns
Item Sent: 1986 Topps, 1989 Score, 1991 Pinnacle Idols
Item Received: 1986 Topps, 1989 Score, 1991 Pinnacle Idols.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
I really dug watching Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner double-team NFL defenses during their shared time in the Cleveland Browns backfield.  I'm pretty excited about this return.  Not only did I pick up Mack's signature on his rookie card and in the tough 1989 Score set, but in signing the Pinnacle "Idols" card, I now have a nice opportunity to send it to Byner, too.  If successful there, it would be my first multi-signed card since the 1988 Fleer Kirby Puckett & Matt Nokes card I got as a kid.