Back to the drawing boards... Also, a success and an outing!

I picked up the box set of 1989-90 Pacific cards on eBay this week, hoping to get the corrected Scoop Stanisic card, as well as hope that it might have the corrected Chris Hundelt card.

Instead, all I got were the errors.

So, my quest to find these still sits at a big fat zero. I had my doubts about the Stanisic at the beginning, and now I'm even doubting the existence of the Chris Hundelt correction. NASLJerseys.com is the only place I've ever seen the Stanisic version, and I've never seen the Hundelt, only seen it listed on Trading Card Database, who does not have a scan of it.

Is there anyone out there who can confirm without a doubt the existence of either?

And if so, what's your price to sell them to me?

I did have one success just after the eBay bonanza in my previous post arrived.

I mailed to Godfrey Ingram in the UK and had gone a few months with nothing so I assumed the worst, that it had disappeared.

On the contrary: it arrived a couple weeks ago with a US stamp over the British one, postmarked from San Diego, with all seven cards signed including the San Diego Storm All Stars card already signed by Daryl Doran.

Nice timing for that: after the FC Dallas-NE Revolution game, I waited outside and got Tom Soehn on three cards, and Fernando Clavijo signed 18, including the St. Louis card. It's now just missing Usiyan and Preki.  I likely will try Tomo after tax season is over. For those who don't know, he works as a tax accountant in California, so he's probably a bit busy for the next few weeks.

Give me a week or two and I'll do a post on players I'm missing for the sets, as well as cards I even need unsigned.

Another 1987-88 variation, and an eBay goldmine

Let's get the boring note out of the way first: Card 22, Godfrey Ingram is in two variations: Godfrey and Godfry. So we're at 127 for that and 801 total. Dammit, I liked the nice even 800...

And now, eBay.

About a week ago, Ray notified me to an eBay auction full of Sidekicks stuff, unsigned cards, signed cards and photos, signed shirts, game programs... and all for $20, plus $10 shipping. So I dug into my stamp budget for April and decided to pull the string on it.

And oh am I ever glad I did.

I contacted the seller about the cards, asking if there were more signed ones and he initially said just the ones in the photos-- but also mentioned Slobo Ilijevski was in among them. Additionally, I needed the Chico Moreira that I saw.  He then messaged to add that there were a bunch more, too many to list in full.

Today the box arrived. I'll let the photos tell the story (ignore the black spots, they're on the lens of my camera, which has been broken for over a year; the spots won't come off)...

If you're counting, that's 80 signed cards and 42 sigs on photos and certificates. There are also two shirts with autographs all over them as well. The shirts are unfortunately stained and worn, but still, I'll take them.

New additions to the Pacific project: Bill Crook, both variations of Ingram, Erik Rasmussen, Slobo Ilijevski, Chico Moreira, and Andy Chapman.

There also are probably over 1000 unsigned cards in here as well. Total price paid including shipping...

$30

I basically paid 25 cents per signature and got the shirts and unsigned cards and shipping free.

Now that's a deal I'll take ANY day.

March Update

So as I said, I've definitely slowed down a bit. My TTM attention lately has been more on baseball, but hopefully I'll have some new soccer ones to try soon. I'm hopefully getting some unsigned copies of the unsigned cards that I've sent out and failed on. Plus there's an eBay auction that *hopefully* will get me a Chico Moreira (and possibly a Slobo Ilijevski?) that I need as well as some others that I think I already have signed (plus a ton of unsigned cards, and signed smaller photos).

I did at least have a few successes plus an eBay purchase come in, as well as one more IP outing in Allen.

I totally forgot to mention my Lee Cornwell success. Via home, he signed my card and wrote a full letter back in about six weeks. It arrived back in the middle of January.

Three days after him, I got broadcaster JP Dellacamera. After getting Sidekicks broadcaster and radio legend Norm Hitzges on one checklist, I figured I'd get Dellacamera on the other one. He also wrote a short note back.

The following day, Dali responded from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Unfortunately the envelope got soaked somewhere between there and here. I think the envelop may have tried to swim across the Atlantic. The signatures bled everywhere, the cards' corners were severely bashed up, and the water damage was crazy. So I likely will try him again. At least I know he signs!

On February 10 Sean Phillips came back to me. I sent to a soccer shop in Maryland, but the postmark was from California. He signed my card on both sides and also wrote a letter back.

And finally, a long one: It took almost a year and a half (513 days to be exact) but Gregg Blasingame signed three cards for me via the team he coaches.

Meanwhile, I picked up a Preki sig on eBay from the 1987-88 set. I'm hoping to try a few more via mail soon once I get the unsigned ones. I had no luck via a Washington home address, but he's coaching in St. Louis now, so I'll try him there.

Lastly, an IP outing in Allen:
Willie Molano 5/5
Kiley Couch 2/2
Jamie Lovegrove 2/2
Juan Gamboa 2/2
Ricardinho 2/2
TJ Nelson 2/2
David Kamali 2/2
Clark Binning 2/2
Tony Guillen 2/2
Fabinho 2/2

One of each of the 2/2 guys went to Ray in Baltimore. Not too bad-- 17/20 on the year for this year's team set!

If I end up winning my eBay auction (less than two hours until I know) I'll put a full list of sigs I picked up. A lot of them will be available for trade.

Debunking theories: the 1987-88 Tatu "Promo" and 89-90 Scoop headshot card

Well, that was quick!

Ray in Maryland emailed me yesterday to show me the source of the blank-back Tatu.

In most sports, a card displayed on a box is taken straight from the normal set (see all of Topps Baseball in the 1980s). This is the rare situation where it was completely different. Granted, other sports collectors may also recall that several companies did put cards for cut-out on the bottom or sides of boxes, however I highly doubt that was the intention with these Pacific boxes.

I also won't count the Michael King card on the 1988-89 box either.

Ray also said he hadn't seen the 1989-90 Scoop Stanisic headshot card anywhere except on the site that I saw it on, so I believe it is just a well-made graphic and not an actual physical card.

So it appears we can lay the concerns to rest and have a nice, even 800 sigs needed for the project.

Another error found, plus a rare promo

Well, at least now the project is at a nice, round 800 sigs needed.

The bad news is the new one is Slobo Ilijevski, who is deceased.

Look at Scoop Stanisic's 1989-90 Pacific card. That's not him. Big thanks to Rob Parker for pointing that out. He thought it was Scott Manning, but upon further review it's Slobo. He's wearing the same shirt on his 1988-89 All-Decade card.

I did also see this card of Scoop-- a corrected version. However, I don't know if this was a fan mock-up or an actual card. Can someone confirm?

If real: well, that puts us at a not-so-round 801.

ADDENDUM

Or was at 800.

I forgot about being shown this blank-back Tatu card, evidently a pre-press promotional/proof card that has been making the rounds on eBay. I would love to know more about it. Bottom right, photo lifted from an eBay auction that currently has it.

So we're at 801, maybe 802.

EDIT: Check the comments. I'm leaning more toward Manning again.

Help Wanted: Identify These Players

Help me out, folks. Who is on the 1990-91 Pacific San Diego Sockers "We're #1" card? It's card #159 in the set.

A couple are easy to pick out: Ralph Black is at the top left. Wes Wade is the top right. Who are the other five?

I believe Donald Cogsville, Jacques Ladouceur, and Paul Wright the three in the middle but correct me if I'm wrong (outside chance one is Ben Collins). Are the other two (bottom left and bottom right) Rod Castro, Rene Ortiz, Zoltan Toth, Waad Hirmez, or someone else I'm totally forgetting?

Either way being a seven-player card, it'll be a nightmare to get signed.

An Outing in Allen

Only ten days between updates?!

Fortunately I was able to go to the Sidekicks' Alumni Game. The list of players was smaller than previous years, but it still was good. The Alumni Game lasted a whole three minutes. I know at least one player wasn't too happy about that. I hope they expand it out more next season. It's just kind of insulting and a waste of time to give them only three minutes. Perhaps they could do like the Dallas Stars and make it into a postgame event. Play the regular game at 4 pm, then have a shorter game, maybe two ten-minute halves starting an hour afterward.

I only had cards on six players, but as usual they signed everything I had. I was hanging out with the three other local collectors I've probably mentioned on here, Brian, Dave, and Mark. Mike Powers was the first one we saw, and he signed all ten cards I had. Powers is always great, enjoys talking to fans, gives a great sig, and is careful on his placement of it, trying to put it in a good, visible spot.

Doc Lawson came by next, signing nine. Brian used to work with him so of course they had a great time chatting. I've probably mentioned Doc's charity on here before but if I haven't definitely go and check it out. And even if I have, it certainly can use extra promotion. Donami Sport is working to expand youth soccer in Lawson's birth land of Liberia, a West African country that has been hit hard by civil war and outbreaks of Ebola.

We saw Victor Moreland come through after that. He was walking with a cane, but we did see him on the field moving around alright during the game. He signed the four I had with me (and 8 more later on) and mentioned that he signs his full name on Wichita Wings cards, but just his last name on others. I always like knowing about signing quirks like that.

Gordon Jago stopped and chatted for a good while as well. It's always great hearing his stories. For example, we learned that he worked with the Baltimore Orioles during their 1970 Championship season. While coaching the Baltimore Bays, who were owned by Orioles' owner Jerold Hoffberger, he worked in the Orioles' front office on the side as well. It's not every day you get to say you talked to someone who was member of a World Series winner AND is an Indoor Soccer Hall of Famer AND  was knighted a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. He has a book coming out soon as well, and he signed three cards for me.

I also was able to help Ray in Baltimore out with a Jay Bednar sig. Brian actually played defense in high school in front of Bednar.

We watched the first half of the game and the Alumni match before heading to the concourse. David Doyle was the first one we saw, and he signed the three cards I had. I keep forgetting but I'll have to post the Doyle sigs I have, as he's changed how he signs the last few years.

Moreland passed by later and signed again, as did Billy Phillips who signed the two I had.

After the game we waited around hoping to see a few others that I wanted to get for Ray, but had no luck; I think they may have taken the stairs down rather than the elevator.  Out on the field, I was able to get a few current players: Fernando Garza, David Kamali, and Carlos Videla each signed two (one for me and one for Ray), and Tony Santibanez signed the card Ray sent along.

Overall, a pretty good outing. I'm hoping for more and there's still talk that the team might do a salute to the 1987 Champs later in the season, so I'll keep an eye out for that. I'll also be hoping for the next card giveaway to be on a weekend when I'm in town.

Update to start 2017

Not much to talk about on the TTM front. Or in-person for that matter.

DECEMBER 15: George Katakalidis, c/o work, 2/2, 1 month
DECEMBER 19: Craig Allen, c/o son's team, 2/1, 2 months to the UK (wrote note back)
DECEMBER 22: Donald Cogsville, c/o work, 1/1, 1 month
DECEMBER 24: Marty Templin and Herb Silva, 6/4, 9 months (each wrote a note back)
DECEMBER 24: Nenad Markicevic, c/o team, 1/1, 2 months to Serbia

In-person, I went for the Sidekicks on their first trading card giveaway. Looks like they'll have two, maybe three this season. I also got a few signed for Ray out in Baltimore.

Gabe Arredondo 3/3 (2 for Ray)
Ray Aguayo 2/2 (1 for Ray)
Cameron Brown 2/2 (1 for Ray)
VcMor Eligwe 2/2 (1 for Ray)
Cody Ellis 2/2 (1 for Ray)
Mike Jones 2/2 (1 for Ray)
Clint Ritter 2/2 (1 for Ray)
Billy O'Dwyer 1/1 (for Ray)
T.J. Nelson 1/1 (for Ray)
Jose Guillen 1/1 (for Ray)
Clark Binning 1/1 (for Ray)

Sidekicks have their Alumni Game on January 14, so I'm hoping to go out to that one, plus whatever other card giveaways I can get to. My band is hitting the road on a few weekends so my availability may be limited.

That said, if you're near Dallas, Amarillo, Oklahoma City, Fayetteville AR, Little Rock, or Abilene, come check us out in the next month or two-- Death Before Breakfast.

Successes in brief

Been busy-- I made a trip to Cleveland for Game 7 of the World Series and now joined a band.  But the mailing continues!

NOVEMBER 14: Steve Pittman, c/o son’s team, 2/1, 1 month to the UK (also signed my letter)

NOVEMBER 18: Mike Dowler, c/o work, 9/4, 1 month to the UK (wrote letter back and signed both the front and back of cards)

NOVEMBER 23: Dominic Feltham, c/o work, 3/2, 1 month (wrote note back)

NOVEMBER 28: John Stollmeyer. c/o work, 1/1, 1 week

International Success

Got my first of the most recent international batch back last week while in Ohio-- Gary Stanley signed his 1987-88 card in about two weeks via his current workplace. He signed it on the back of the card, but I can't complain much-- I have a few that are signed that way.

Definitely one I'm glad to get as a Chelsea fan, where Stanley plied his trade throughout the 1970s.

Aside from that, the mailbox has been slow. I hope to hit the mailings hard soon though-- I should be grabbing another roll of stamps this weekend.