Category: TTM

Oh Balls!

My grandfather had a saying that when something did not go right, he would say “Oh balls”. Whether it was working in the yard or garden or playing cards or whatever. Today was a day worth saying “Oh balls” but not for something not going right! Today I received two packages and each contained a pair of baseballs! The first box had a pair of Oakland A’s signed baseballs. I noticed on Twitter that A’s Authentics posted that they just got in some Jesus Luzardo signed baseballs. Jesus is going to be a big time pitcher real soon so I thought I would purchase that one. And, why stop at one? So I added a Matt Chapman baseball to my order. Both arrived today. My other package was from Drew Coble. You may have noticed a couple posts recently regarding Drew and his wife Cindy. I originally wrote to Drew asking him to do a story ball on the 1987 ALCS pickoff of Darrell Evans but later found out the boxscores were all wrong and it was Joe Brinkman who was manning third base that game. After going back and forth via email with Cindy, I ended up sending a pair of baseballs to Drew to do storys on the 1991 World Series pick off play of Ron Gant at first base and also on George Brett’s Pine Tar Game, both of which he was involved in. I got them today and am really excited about them. They also included a cool 1987 Twins pennant and a pair of signed postcards and Drew included a nice note. I appreciate all the effort Drew, and especially Cindy, did in helping me acquire these baseballs.

A Ticket Stieb

Today I received a pair of items in the mail. The first package was four Sports Illustrated magazines signed by Dave Stieb. I had one issue already signed in black Sharpie by Andre Dawson and got Stieb to finish it. I had three other issues in great shape sitting around so I sent those as well. Those were signed in blue Sharpie. I hope to get Dawson on the other three to complete those as well someday.
My other package was a ticket from Rafael Palmeiro’s 3,000th hit game. I already had a season ticket version signed and had acquired a box office ticket along the way. When I saw the Palmeiro was signing via his home for $30 (later lowered to $20), I sent the ticket with a request to inscribe it “3000th Hit” and he did. It arrived today and looks great!

Right on the Brink of it!

Today I received a baseball signed by former American League umpire Joe Brinkman. What makes this baseball interesting is the process that went into getting it signed. I was recently reading a book and came across a part of it where the author wrote of the Darrell Evans pickoff play in Game 4 of the 1987 ALCS. It mentioned Drew Coble as being the third base umpire in it so I thought it would be cool to have a baseball signed by him talking about the play. I confirmed that Coble was the 3B umpire by looking into online boxscores from the game and sent off a baseball. A week or so later I received an email from Drew’s wife Cindy who told me that Drew was not the 3B umpire for that game. I replied with examples of the book and boxscores showing that he was. She said Drew told her he was in right field that night and clearly remembered it. I found my dvd of the game and watched the play and sure enough, I could not tell who it was but could tell it was not Drew. Cindy asked Drew who it was and he told her it was Joe Brinkman. So, I sent off the baseball to Joe Brinkman who replied today with the baseball that he was, in fact, the third base umpire for that game. He wrote that after the play Gary Gaetti told him he tried to get his attention before the play to let him know it was going down. Pretty neat adventure getting the baseball! Joe also included a signed business card showing him in the middle of the George Brett Pine Tar Game. Thanks Drew, Cindy, and Joe!