My first TTM try

Even though I don't collect autographs, chase them, or enjoy a lot about that particular aspect of our hobby, I am finding I do make exceptions. Those exceptions have to do with obtaining an autograph of a player that has particularly special meaning.

It can be the player himself, or a certain situation involving the player. For example, the comment left by the daughter of former Oakland pinch-runner extraordinnaire Herb Washington on this post sealed the deal that I must obtain his autograph (since I didn't go to the card show, I'm still looking for an extra '75 card of Washington to send him, which I'll probably just obtain online now. Yeah, I'm going to drag this out for as long as humanly possible). Players that I have talked to for feature stories while working as a sportswriter also fall in that category. Although handing them a card and a pen during the interview is grounds for dismissal, I can make a request in a fan setting, away from my day (er, night) job.

But the No. 1 exception is obtaining an autograph of my all-time favorite player. Living on the east coast, I never got the chance to see Ron Cey play in person for the Dodgers. But I followed as closely as was possible during those days before the Internet or even cable. Cey's poster was on my bedroom wall, and I made sure to collect every Cey card I knew of while growing up (there weren't very many of them back then).

My brother, who lives in California, once attended a Dodger game in L.A. in which Cey was signing before the game. But he didn't get Cey's autograph (he's not into autos and has pretty much lost interest in cards altogether). I was displeased.

But now I have another opportunity. Yesterday, Brian of 30-Year-Old Cardboard received two autographed Cey cards in the mail. As you may know, Brian has been going on a TTM request spree the last few weeks and has had mind-blowing success. I saw the Cey cards and couldn't help but ask for Brian's assistance in getting Cey's address. He graciously sent it and even added some TTM tips for young autograph apprentice Night Owl.

Cey, as you may have noticed by the cards on Brian's blog, or by the facsimile auto on the 1980 Topps card at the top of the post, has one fantastic signature. It's a classic. So I'm not going to send a card that already has a stamped auto on it.

And I'm definitely not sending a card like this:

I may be a newbie, but I do know sending a card in which it appears that Cey has just struck out (although it's more likely that he is looking for a sign from the third base coach), isn't a good idea.

So my only stipulations on card choice are: a) it doesn't already feature a stamped signature; b) it must feature The Penguin in a positive manner; c) I must have duplicates of the card in case our fine U.S. postal system encounters a glitch.

These are the cards I'm sending:

1978 Topps and 1983 Topps. Two fine cards of The Penguin. I'll be including a short hand-written request as well (any other suggestions?) I'll probably send the cards on their way by the end of the week.

Thanks for the big assist, Brian! I'll let you know how it goes.