TTM Return # 31 - Former Phillies' Outfielder & Coach, Milt Thompson || Fan Pack Return #19 Da Bears

Player: Milt Thompson
Sent: 7/6/19
Return: 9/21/19 (77 days)
Ratio: 2/2
Address Source: Cincinnati Reds' Stadium listed on SCF.


Team: Chicago Bears
Sent: 9/13/19
Return: 9/21/19 (8 days)
Items: 2 stickers, 2 2019 pocket schedules
Address Source: email from SCF.
See all Fan Pack Returns Here

Nice way to end the week, getting two returns in a day.  That's pretty uncommon here, considering the low volume of requests I actually send out.  But it was nice to get Milt Thompson back after almost two months (77 days).  And an 8 day turn around to get a couple of Chicago Bears schedules is really good, too.

Fan Pack #18 - Pittsburgh Steelers (First NFL Fan Pack Return, First Fan Pack Since July!)

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Sent: 9/13/19
Return: 9/18/19 (5 days) [TTM HOF Entry]
Items: sunglasses, lanyard, can coozie, 2 stickers, 2019 pocket schedules
Address Source: email from SCF.
See all Fan Pack Returns Here

I've only been a football fan for about a decade, going back to a run working for a semi-pro team in South Jersey in the old NAFL.  One of our boys from that team went on to play a couple years indoor and had a cup of coffee with the BC Lions.  From there, I spent some time trying to build my own semi-pro team, and finally settled in doing some work with Globe Games.  Those experiences lead me to being a fan of the indoor and Canadian game, but I never had much time for the NFL.

Big Box of Citizens Bank Ballpark Pocket Schedules

The last of my recent eBay wins arrived today.  It was a Phillies pocket schedule lot that included at least 1 pocket schedule from every season the Phillies have been at Citizens Bank Park, as well as the 2003 schedule, which was Veterans Stadium's swan song.

Biggest Mail Day Yet With TTM Success #19 Tom Qualters Plus Pocket Schedules and Adds to Mike Schmidt PC

Player: Tom Qualters
Sent: 7/6/19
Return: 7/18/19 (12 days)
Ratio: 4/2
Address Source: Somerset, PA address listed on SCF.

Let's start at the top. Three packages in on mail day.  (Well, 4, the Kindle HD 10 that I picked up on Amazon Crash Prime Day came in as well.)  Two of my recent eBay wins cams in as well as a return from Tom Qualters towards my Phillies TTM Frankenset.  Mr. Qualters, who is 84 years old, signed two custom cards beautifully with a black pen and included 2 copies of his '54 Topps (which I guess is a '94 Archives set?). 

Mail Day: Providence Bruins Cards, Pocket Schedules & Pins

Won a couple eBay auctions on Sunday, in between doing laundry and watching the new Spiderman movie.  The first to arrive is this package, with a smattering of smalls from the Providence Bruins.  Going into my 3rd hockey season (which - as much as I do love baseball - I can't wait for), and I think I've officially transitioned from being a Philadelphia Phantoms (RIP) fan to a Providence Bruins fan.  It's easier to make the change, considering the Phantoms have moved twice since the last time I saw them as the "home team".

Fan Pack #17: Lake Elsinore Storm with a Killer Return and a Ben Franklin Story

Team: Lake Elsinore Storm
Sent: 3/11/19
Return: 7/9/19 (120 days)
Items: 2015 Scout Night patch, 2016 All-Star Game ticket & "Playball" program, 2018 schedule magnet, 2018 pocket schedule, 2019 pocket schedule, 2 logo stickers, postcard, "Ace" mascot autographed card and a toothbrush.
Address Source: email from SCF.
See all Fan Pack Returns Here.

This is my favorite fan pack return I've gotten.  There's a lot of cool stuff to unpack here.

Fan Packs #14 & 15: San Jose Sharks & Clearwater Threshers

Team: Clearwater Threshers
Sent: 6/15/19
Return: 6/21/19 (6 days) [TTM HOF Entry]
Items: Game day program, jar opener, drink coozie, phone wallet, 2 2019 pocket schedules
Address Source: email from SCF.
See all Fan Pack Returns Here


Team: San Jose Sharks
Sent: 6/15/19
Return: 6/21/19 (6 days) [TTM HOF Entry]
Items: Logo magnet, sticker & temporary tattoo, 2 oversized cards (Joe Pavelski and Joe Thorton).
Address Source: email from SCF.
See all Fan Pack Returns Here

Two returns today after an eight day drought.  These two both come back in under a week and are from a recent volley of fan pack requests sent out after listening to a recent episode of TTM Cast with @TrentFanPackTTM.

TTM Success #12 & Fanpack #12 Arrive on the Same Day: Cookie Rojas & St. Louis Cardinals Mail Day

Player: Cookie Rojas
Sent: 5/12/19
Return: 6/1/19 (20 days)
Ratio: 1/2 Item: 2 custom cards sent, returned 1 signed.
Address Source: Naples, FL address listed at SCF. 

Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Sent: 3/11/19
Return: 6/1/19 (82 days)
Items: 3 cards, 2 jumbo cards, 1 logo sticker, 1 schedule magnet, 1 pocket schedule
Address Source: email from SCF.

Fan Pack: Bowie Baysox

Team: Bowie Baysox
Sent: 4/11/19
Return: 4/20/19 (9 days)
Ratio: 0/2
Item: 1 pocket schedule, cello 4-pack of 2016 Topps flagshipAddress Source: email address via Sports Card Forum

I wasn't expecting a return from the Baysox.  The only other SCF entry for the team is a return from last June.  There was no letter, and just a pack of cards and a pocket schedule in a PWE.

Fan Pack: Sacramento River Cats

Team: Sacramento River Cats
Sent: 3/11/19
Return: 4/11/19 (30 days)
Ratio: 0/5
Item: 3 2018 team edition cards, 2 pocket schedules
Address Source: email address via Sports Card Forum

This is the longest return so far (very small sample set, obviously), but I'm going to guess that it was a much shorter turn around as the minor league season did just kick-off in the last few days, and it's unlikely the Cats had much staff in the offices in the off season.

Fan Pack: Boston Red Sox

Team: Boston Red Sox
Sent: 3/11/19
Return: 3/21/19 (10 days)
Ratio: 0/4
Item: Fenway dirt, sticker, schedule, handwritten note
Address Source: email address via Sports Card Forum

Anyone else old enough to remember the "yellow and blue make green!" Ziplock commercials?  No?  Just me?  Okay.

Fan Pack: Philadelphia Phillies

Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Sent: 3/11/19
Return: 3/18/19 (7 days)
Ratio: 0/3
Item: 2 oversized cards, pocket schedule
Address Source: email address via Sports Card Forum

What an offseason these freaking guys had.  Figures, they wait until I move out of state to "spend stupid money" to bring in three 2018 All-Stars and one of my favorite character players.  And seriously, find me a scarier middle of the line-up than Segura, Harper, Hoskins and Realmuto.  If it were the Mets, I'd say "that should be illegal".

Fan Pack: Chicago White Sox

Team: Chicago White Sox
Sent: 3/11/19
Return: 3/16/19 (5 days)
Ratio: 0/10
Item: 4 stickers, 1 4-pack of 2018 Topps cards, 2 pocket schedules, mascot flyer, form letters
Address Source: email address via Sports Card Forum

This might be the biggest fan pack return I get this season.  The Whtie Sox stuffed an envelope full of stickers and Topps baseball cards.  Plus a couple schedules a flyer about their mascot (who, let's face it, isn't Gritty).  Great return from the ChiSox.

Fan Pack: Pawtucket Red Sox

Team: Pawtucket Red Sox
Sent: 3/11/19
Return: 3/15/19 (4 days)
Ratio: 0/2
Item: pocket schedules
Address Source: email address via Sports Card Forum

This is the new "hometown" team.  Closest pro team to my new home up here in Massachusetts.  Unfortunately, I didn't even get all my bags unpacked before we found out the team would be moving to a new stadium in Worcester (Woostah, khed!).  A real shame, too.  McCoy Stadium, for it's weird raised seating bowl and concrete jungle concourse, has a lot of history (and they have no problem reminding you that the longest game in history was played there).  Not to mention, the move will probably displace the Worceester Bravehearts NEBL organization.

Two pocket schedules featuring the "50 years" anniversary logo.  It's a shame we won't get to 52.