A long overdue update: 350th Pirate auto

[subject to change]

I made a post on the main board, but in case anyone doesn't check there, news scans are on page 2 of this thread. Looks like some scans are on my laptop which is currently in the hands of Best Buy, so if it makes it back with hard drive in tact, I'll upload those as soon as possible. My original goal for the year had been to make it to 450, but it took 6 months to get from 300 to 350, so I'd be thrilled to hit 400 before the new year,

 

[subject to change]

Re: Great way to end the year: 300th Pirate Autograph Milestone

Just a quick bump for the post holiday crowd.

 

[Therion]

Re: Great way to end the year: 300th Pirate Autograph Milestone

Amazing collection! I guess NL Central collectors like to overwhelm FCB with pictures of autographs (I did this about two weeks ago with my Astros collection.)

 

[wideright]

Re: Great way to end the year: 300th Pirate Autograph Milestone

Great set!! The Topps Candelaria card was one of my favorites from that set when I was a kid. Love seeing the 80's Topps cards signed. Brings back memories. Good luck with the rest!

 

[subject to change]

Re: Great way to end the year: 300th Pirate Autograph Milestone

Therion- I always enjoy seeing your Astros collection. You've made a lot of progress in the amount of time you've been working on it.

Wideright- Thanks, Candelaria is actually one of my favorite TTM returns. He's a pretty tough signer, and I think it took somewhere around 3-4 years to get the card back.

 

[mlbsalltimegreats]

Re: Great way to end the year: 300th Pirate Autograph Milestone

Congrats to 300 !!! And one of these days your going to post your newest Pirates auto and it will be of Clemente, right !

 

[Guest]

Re: Great way to end the year: 300th Pirate Autograph Milestone

300 different players?


AMAZING COLLECTION!

I'm going to have to see how many I have and set a goal for myself.

EDIT: Just counted, I have 20. :lol:

 

[subject to change]

Re: Great way to end the year: 300th Pirate Autograph Milestone

Congrats to 300 !!! And one of these days your going to post your newest Pirates auto and it will be of Clemente, right !

I'm hoping to add a Clemente one of these days, but that's pretty much out of the question until I get my PhD and pay off student loans.

I actually had a chance at picking up a Clemente a few years back at an amazing price, but didn't have the money. I was at a card shop in downtown Pittsburgh, and a guy came in needing some quick money for car repairs. He said his father had been a sports writer in the 60's/70's and had collected some autographs of players. He had a notebook with sheets from each NL team. All told, there were two Clemente signatures, Mays, Koufax (both traced), and probably somewhere around 100-200 other signatures. The dealer lowballed him at $500, and if I had the money at the time, would have been happy to make a fair offer.

I'm hoping to pick up a few of the cheaper Pirate HOF'ers (Lloyd Waner, Max Carey) at some point in the near future.

 

[dano7]

Re: Great way to end the year: 300th Pirate Autograph Milestone

VERY impressive Pirate autographed collection. Candelaria is indeed a tough TTM sig. I've been trying for several years. I saw him play in Salem, VA when he was in the minors, when I was young and would love to get him to sign a card for me. Maybe one day!
DANNY

 

[predatorkj]

Re: Great way to end the year: 300th Pirate Autograph Milestone

Looks great! One thing I did notice...whats up with the Ian Snell auto.I actually got him IP here at Minute Maid and his sig looks way different than the one you have on your card.Just wondering.All in all you have an awesome collection.Heck...I don't think I even have 300 autographs and that includes all the no namers I have pulled let alone 300 from one team.

Keep truckin!

 

[pghbuccos]

Re: Great way to end the year: 300th Pirate Autograph Milestone

as always Mark great collection. every time I see it it gets better and better.

 

[subject to change]

Re: Great way to end the year: 300th Pirate Autograph Milestone

Mypens- Yep, 300 different players, all pictured in a Pirate uniform. Most are on cards, though a few are 8X10's or the Pirate postcards. I'll probably be adding some signed index cards to the collection in the near future, since there are quite a few good signers that don't have any cards in a Pirate uni.

Danny- I sent my request c/o the Pirate Alumni Association. He's a tough signer, but I know he stops by PNC Park a few times a year, so you might get lucky.

Predatorkj- Snell changed his autograph in either 2006 or 2007 from the version seen on the card. He now has a more 'loopy' signature. His 2004 certified autographs are signed both Ian Snell and Ian Oquendo. Donruss has both versions in their products, while Upper Deck is exclusively Snell, to the best of my knowledge. When he got married, Ian took his wife's last name (Oquendo) at the urging of her family from what I've heard. However, he changed it back to Snell after a year or two.

 

[44 Magnum]

Re: Great way to end the year: 300th Pirate Autograph Milestone

that is awesome, I am working on something similiar with the Reds

 

[mrwhitesox30]

Re: Great way to end the year: 300th Pirate Autograph Milestone

I wouldn't have even thought 300 was possible. Do you have a top 5 or top 10 list of guys that you're looking for the most right now? I used to do TTM and I know I have Jon Lieber, Tony Womack, Bob Friend, and Doug Drabek. PM me if you need any of those guys.

 

[predatorkj]

Re: Great way to end the year: 300th Pirate Autograph Milestone

Mypens- Yep, 300 different players, all pictured in a Pirate uniform. Most are on cards, though a few are 8X10's or the Pirate postcards. I'll probably be adding some signed index cards to the collection in the near future, since there are quite a few good signers that don't have any cards in a Pirate uni.

Danny- I sent my request c/o the Pirate Alumni Association. He's a tough signer, but I know he stops by PNC Park a few times a year, so you might get lucky.

Predatorkj- Snell changed his autograph in either 2006 or 2007 from the version seen on the card. He now has a more 'loopy' signature. His 2004 certified autographs are signed both Ian Snell and Ian Oquendo. Donruss has both versions in their products, while Upper Deck is exclusively Snell, to the best of my knowledge. When he got married, Ian took his wife's last name (Oquendo) at the urging of her family from what I've heard. However, he changed it back to Snell after a year or two.

Thanks for the info.I was wondering what was up with that.I have a lot of respect for the guy.I know he gives my astros pure hell.I always enjoy watching him pitch.

 

[subject to change]

Re: Great way to end the year: 300th Pirate Autograph Milestone

Thanks Dave. It's been a very fun (though never ending) project. My goal is to get to 450 by the end of the year, so we'll see how that goes.

Magnum- Do you have a website or scans of your collection? I'd love to see it. See if I have any Reds TTM's...if you need them they're yours.

Mrwhitesox- I was surprised myself just how many different autos I have. Almost half of the players have certified autographs, so that made it a bit easier. As for the top players still on my want list:

With certified autos:
Al Jackson
Barry Bonds
Bert Blyleven
Tony Pena
Sean Casey
Duke Welker
Jarek Cunningham
Quincy Latimore
Robinzon Diaz
Matt Peterson

Without certified autos:
Lloyd Waner
Harvey Haddix
Smoky Burgess
Ted Kluszewski
Richie Zisk
Don Slaught
any deceased players

Other than those, I've just been working my way through the good TTM signers as I come across their cards, or searching ebay for the occasional lot that will pop up if it has a few players I need.

I wouldn't have even thought 300 was possible. Do you have a top 5 or top 10 list of guys that you're looking for the most right now? I used to do TTM and I know I have Jon Lieber, Tony Womack, Bob Friend, and Doug Drabek. PM me if you need any of those guys.

 

[subject to change]

(some of) 300-350

 

[Therion]

Incredible stuff! I'm chasing your tail on team autographs

Do you have a cutoff year you're starting from or do you want everyone?

 

[subject to change]

Hmm...just noticed both threads ended up in hobby talk. I thought this thread had been in the TTM section. Sorry about that everyone.

Technically, I haven't imposed any restrictions on what players I'm going after. However, it has sort of happened naturally due to a combination of factors. I have been focusing on working my way backwards, focusing on picking up modern players (who are easier to get at various team functions or through certified autographs) and then working backwards towards more expensive and/or deceased players. Once I'm through with grad school and student loans are paid off, I'm planning on turning my attention to vintage and Pirate HOF'ers. I also prefer having my autographs on photos that show the player in a Pirates uniform. Obviously, this is far easier to find for players from the 80's-today due to the number of card sets produced and availability of online photo resources. To date, the oldest player I have is Nick Strincevich, who played in the late 40's, the majority of my collection is from the 70's-00's.

 

[tramers]

I have a few you don't -yet. next time thier in town i'll get you some. check roster.