I was at the Twins game in 2022 when they retired #36 for Jim Kaat. The team was able to get special baseballs for that game and I was fortunate to purchase a game used one, as well as a couple unused ones, for my collection. Tom O (orr23mj on SCN) offered up a couple Christmas deals and one of them was one of those baseballs already signed and inscribed with “#36 Retired 7/16/22” and I bought it. It was cheaper than if I got one of my own signed with postage and the autograph fee, etc. I am waiting to get the game used one signed exactly the same way.
Frankie
I often think how the Twins postseason would have gone had Francisco Liriano not gotten injured in 2006. We had Justin Morneau winning the AL MVP and Johan Santana winning the AL Cy Young award and the 1-2 punch of Johan and Frankie was probably the best in baseball. Alas, Frankie had to be shut down and eventually had Tommy John Surgery and the Twins got swept by the A’s in the divisional round.
Today, however, I was able to add a couple items to my collection signed by Liriano. The first was a Topps Now Turn Back The Clock card from when he threw his no hitter. The other was a pair of tickets from his ML Debut. Ryan S (rls2239 on SCN) held a private signing and got these items signed for me.
Sir Rodney
A pile of Rod Carew signed items showed up today! Tom O (orr23mj on SCN) had a signing with Rod Carew as well as with Travis Wood. I started to acquire oddball Carew items since I had just about everything else signed by him and sent in a few of those oddball items. Travis Wood was signing at a different date but they were close enough that I mailed one package to Tom. Travis signed my 10.10.2016 Sports Illustrated issue. It now has been signed by twelve out of the nineteen players on the cover. This started on a whim knowing I would probably not get even half and here I am 63% complete! The Carew items I received today are:
1971 Cord Sportfacts magazine
07.01.1974 Sports Illustrated magazine
June 1975 Baseball Digest
1977 Sertoma Stars card
March 1978 Baseball Digest
Also arriving today was my April 1961 Baseball Digest signed by Al Spangler. Now that issue is off to Tony Kubek for completion!
Loose As a Goose
Today brought a single signed item but it is a cool one! Goose Gossage signed my 2008 stamped and postmarked Hall of Fame induction ticket. He signed it perfectly in the perfect location on the ticket!