I recently received a Baseball Digest back signed by Bobby Shantz. Bobby was on the cover twice and I had to track down the first one he was on. It proved difficult to find a nice one but I did and today I received it back signed. Bobby signed my August, 1952 issue beautifully and included “1952 AL MVP” which is cool since it is the year he won it!
I also received a pair of signed tickets today! A buddy of mine sent me a pair of tickets from the June 14, 2023 Giants at Cardinals game from when Luis Matos made his Major League debut. I noticed Luis was doing a signing with Mike C (Mac6185 on SCN) and sent them in. Mike got Luis to sign them beautifully with “MLB Debut”. They are fantastic!
Puttin’ On The Rizz(o)
A real tough signer, Anthony Rizzo, was lined up for a private signing event recently. Chris R (rifon on SCN) was taking orders for him. I have dealt with Chris a lot over the years and knew my items were in good hands so I sent in my 03.28.2016 and my 10.10.2016 Sports Illustrated magazines to be signed. It was not cheap! Both were signed perfectly in blue Sharpie as I wished. I am down to needing just Kris Bryant on the 03.28 issue and only five (out of the total nineteen!) on the 10.10 issue. I started the 10.10 issue on a whim years ago and am surprised how far I have gotten on it! Truth be told, I am surprised on the 03.28 issue as well!
Oh Mr Wilson!
This return took a coordinated effort and real fast turnaround on Nik Key and my parts. I recently received my 11.08.2010 Sports Illustrated magazine back from Nik who was able to facilitate a signing with Buster Posey. To my surprise, the other person on the cover, Brian Wilson, was having a rare signing as well. I had to receive and mail it to Lefty’s Sportscards just before leaving for Arizona a couple weeks ago. Nik sent it quickly and I received it and shipped it to the Wilson signing the same day. Today I received it back signed by Brian Wilson. It is signed by both players in perfect blue Sharpie!
Campy
Today provided a pretty neat return from Bert Campaneris. I found an October, 1969 issue that had a cool black and white photo of a play at the plate and did a little digging to see who the players were. I was able to identify the baserunner sliding home by his uniform and the ballpark. I knew it was Bert Campaneris and the play was at Oakland Alameda Colosseum. Since it was October, 1969, I guessed the photo was from late in the 1969 season. I went through a bunch of game logs for the A’s home games in September and August to see if I could identify a play where Bert was out at home. I could not but I found a few where he scored. I gave up and posted a picture as well as a closeup of the catcher’s partial patch in a Facebook group hoping someone could identify the team at least but received no replies. So, I sent the magazine to Campy and in my note asked who the catcher was. I received the magazine plus a 1972 Topps card he threw in signed for me along with a note stating the catcher was Ed Hermann of the 1969 Chicago White Sox. I thought it was pretty cool that he read my note and could remember the player. Sadly, Hermann passed away in 2013 so I won’t be able to complete the cover but at least the mystery is solved on who it is!