Craig Counsell

Sent: 4/7/12
Received: 6/1/12
Time: 55 Days
Address: c/o Milwaukee Brewers
Item Sent: 2009 Topps Heritage, 2011 Topps Update
Item Received: 2009 Topps Heritage, 2011 Topps Update.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Counsell announced his retirement this past winter after one of the more unlikely 16 year careers in recent memory.  An old school great glove/weak bat infielder, he came up big when the spotlight was the brightest.  A winner wherever he went, Counsell was a key player on two World Series champions.  He scored the Series-winning run as a rookie for the 1997 Florida Marlins.  Four years later he was the NLCS MVP for the Arizona Diamondbacks en route to their title.  Despite his biggest success coming in those two eyesore uniforms, I'm happy with my card selections here (both as a Milwaukee Brewer).  The 2009 Topps Heritage, utilizing the horizontal 1960 Topps design, is one of my favorites in the Heritage series.  The 2011 Topps card is just a great shot at Target Field in a border battle against my beloved Twins.

R.A. Dickey

Sent: 2/21/12
Received: 5/29/12
Time: 98 Days
Address: c/o New York Mets Spring Training
Item Sent: 2010 Topps Twins Team Card, 2011 Topps Heritage
Item Received: 2011 Topps Heritage, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Who would have thought that "the one who got away" from the Twins might have been R.A. Dickey?  Since getting released by the Twins during the 2009 season, he has been the most dependable starter for the New York Mets.  He's been better than dependable, actually.  He has been outstanding.  Now in his third season for the Metropolitans, he's having an All-Star caliber year.  I'm thrilled to get this back, but am a bit disappointed that he didn't return the other card I sent.  Dickey never had a card as a member of the Twins.  The only card he appeared on in a Twins uniform is the 2010 Topps Twins team card, which pictures him in the background while Joe Mauer and Ron Gardenhire celebrate a Twins victory in the foreground.

Shane Robinson

Sent: 5/3/12
Received: 5/29/12
Time: 26 Days
Address: c/o St. Louis Cardinals
Item Sent: 2009 Topps Heritage
Item Received: 2009 Topps Heritage, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
A former top prospect who has been plagued by injury over the last two seasons, Shane Robinson is finally healthy and is getting his first regular exposure to the major leagues.  While he's been a bit slow with the bat, he has played a sparkling center field while subbing for the injured Jon Jay and seems to have a nice role as a reserve outfielder and pinch-runner for the always solid Cardinals.

Bryn Smith

Sent: 5/11/12
Received: 5/26/12
Time: 15 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1985 Fleer, 1990 Score, 1991 Topps
Item Received: 1985 Fleer, 1990 Score, 1991 Topps.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Bryn Smith was a crafty pitcher with great control and a greater beard.  He's one of the last guys who I remember being known for throwing a palmball as a changeup.  Not only are there great blue Sharpie signatures on these cards, but when I flipped the 1991 Topps card over I learned that he is "a huge fan of the rock band Rush and followed them on their 1984 tour."  And now that trivial knowledge is filed in my brain for eternity, probably replacing something insignificant like one of my credit card numbers.

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. 

Paul Broten

Sent: 1/6/12
Received: 5/19/12
Time: 134 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Score Traded, 1992-93 Ultra, 1993-94 Upper Deck, 1994-95 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1990-91 Score Traded, 1992-93 Ultra, 1993-94 Upper Deck, 1994-95 Upper Deck.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
The youngest of the three Broten brothers, Paul followed in the footsteps of Neal and Aaron from Roseau High School to the University of Minnesota to the NHL.  He didn't put up the gaudy scoring totals of his older brothers, and his pro career didn't last quite as long, but he did find a niche as a high-energy battler for the early '90s New York Rangers teams.  Paul was also the only Broten who didn't get a chance to lace up the skates for the Minnesota North Stars.  He was a year too late as he joined Neal on the newly relocated Dallas Stars in the fall of 1993.

Ray Miller

Sent: 5/11/12
Received: 5/18/12
Time: 7 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1986 Topps, 1986 Twins Team Issue
Item Received: 1986 Topps, 1986 Twins Team Issue, Baltimore Orioles postcard.  All signed in black ballpoint.

Notes:
Ray Miller has an interesting place in Twins history.  I'm not sure how many of today's Twins fans can name the man who was skipper before Tom Kelly, or can recall a time when the team went outside the organization to find a manager.  The Twins surprised a lot of people by contending late into the 1984 season and finishing the year at .500.  Hopes were high in 1985, but they struggled badly out of the gates.  Manager Billy Gardner was fired and Miller was brought in.  Miller had been one of the top pitching coaches in the game while with the Baltimore Orioles and he did reasonably well with the Twins over the rest of the 1985 season.  Great pitching coaches do not necessarily make great managers, though.  The Twins scuffled through another disappointing year in 1986.  Near the end of the season, Miller was fired after just over a year on the job.  Third base coach Kelly was promoted and a year later the Twins were celebrating their first World Series title.  Miller would spend several more years as a pitching coach for the Pirates and, later on, back with the Orioles.

In addition to signing my cards, Mr. Miller added an Orioles postcard.  On the back of that, he thanked me for my letter and for being a fan.

Mike Marshall

Sent: 5/1/12
Received: 5/18/12
Time: 17 Days
Address: c/o San Rafael Pacifics
Item Sent: 1982 Donruss, 1982 Topps, 1985 Fleer
Item Received: 1982 Donruss, 1982 Topps, 1985 Fleer.  All signed in black gel pen.

Notes:
While the Dodgers were winning the 1981 World Series, their most-prized prospect was tearing up AAA pitching.  Mike Marshall had a historic year for Albuquerque that season, hitting .373 with 34 home runs, 137 RBI, and 21 stolen bases.  Without a job opening on the defending champs, he started 1982 in the minors and proceeded to hit .388 over 66 games.  He was soon in the big leagues for good.  The hulking right fielder showed flashes of superstar ability both on and off the field (he was an item with Belinda Carlisle), but he was never able to fully harness his raw power at the plate.  He only hit the 20 home run plateau three times in his 11 year career, peaking with 28.