That list was referring to the post about 1989 Topps. For 87, you are correct. Lopez is extremely tough, Maris impossible and Wright next to impossible.

Sorry Derek, I'll cross reference with 87s

No worries! Here's a quick run-down of toughies (IMO) for '87. As before I may have missed someone or added someone who is no longer considered tough, but you get the gist.

EDIT: Also, Maris TBC was in the '86 set I believe. The impossible TBC in '87 is Clemente.

HOFers-
Gary Carter (base and All-Star)
Kirby Puckett (base and All-Star)

Deceased players-
Dick Howser (died in '87, was around during spring training but that's basically it)
Bo Diaz
Frank Williams
Aurelio Lopez
Donnie Moore
Carmen Castillo
Rod Scurry (tougher than you'd think)

Toughies-
Ricky Wright
Mel Hall (especially if looking for a nice one)
Urbano Lugo
Juan Espino
Al Pulido
Roy Lee Jackson
Randy Myers
Rob Wilfong (I think)
Jackie Gutierrez
Barry Bonds
Andy Allanson
Mike Diaz
Tony Bernazard (base and All-Star)
Terry Forster
Doyle Alexander

A few guys I got in person years ago I have heard are now tough as they don't respond to fan mail. Guys like Brad Havens, Ron Shepherd, Darryl Motley, Jim Traber...I can't verify that as I do little to no TTM.

Except Tony Armas is doing a show in New York this week though he's from Venezuela. Certainly 1987 players who live in other countries can be brought in like Armas did and those who live here can always do a show. You never know when.

Are you saying that because Tony Armas is doing a signing that Espino, Lugo, Pulido, etc. should not be considered tough? I'm just asking because I'm not sure I understand the point you're trying to make.

I see Andy Allanson's name on both the 87 and 89 lists. What makes him so tough?

Just my opinion, but from my experiences with him he didn't like signing. I got him once in about 6 attempts, and from what I know, unless something changed, he's unresponsive TTM. I don't know that I'd put him in the Ricky Wright-tough category but I wouldn't call him easy.

There is the potential for a Doyle Alexander private signing coming up. Nothing set in stone, and likely wouldn't be cheap. It will be posted on SCN and Facebook if it happens, so I guess just keep your eyes open.

All I'm saying is it's possible that if Armas could come to the States for a show, so could the others.

I got my Charlie Hough back yesterday.

TTM - 1987 Topps Baseball
 

Received two in the mail today,

Ron Cey and Tim Stoddard.

Took just over two weeks TTM back to Canada!!

Sweet.

Two of the best signers, both from the 1984 Cubs. Awesome.

I had seen a success before of Ron Guidry at the Yankees Spring Training address. So I gave it a shot and my card came back signed today.

Double Whammy!!
 

It's going to be a great March towards building my 1987 Topps set. I have two sources on the go including my TTM returns through the mail, and my father who is watching Spring Training in Florida.

TTM success this month:

Jimmy Key
Johnny Ray
Greg Brock
Tony Larussa
Gary Redus
Ron Cey
Tim Stoddard
Sid Bream

IP at Spring Training:

Chili Davis
Larry Anderson
Wally Joyner
Terry Pendleton
Roger MacDowell

I will keep this post updated for the rest of the month.

Andy

That's amazingly awesome. Keep going!

TTM - 1987 Topps Baseball
 

Three more in the mail today.....

Whitey Herzog
Andre Thornton
Steve Sax....had to send donation for this one

Whitey was a freebie? Nice!

Boggs
 

A few from one of the greatest hitters !!!

Is that the address you used for him? Those are great!

Address
 

Yes,

I sent a $10 donation for three cards and SASE. Very classy guy to sign as much as he does. He has a killer signature as well.

Quick turnaround as well, since I live in Canada.

Cheers,

Andy

No more hiatus. I got Dan Petry back from a mail order for the Redford Show this past weekend with a COA included.

254/792

Congrats, nice journey so far and nice play by play analysis thread.

Well thanks.

Finally got my Armas back from the mail order I did for the New York show. I might do the one with Sutter next month where he's $29.00.

Also sent Curt Ford his $3.00 fee and got back my personalization in pen.

256/792

I got Steve Lyons with the Psycho inscription.

I got Joe Cowley and his $5.00 fee today. I requested, but did not receive, the no-hitter inscription.

258/792

Ozzie Virgil back from a private signing makes it 259.

I got some stuff from a family friend to help me out.

Jerry Reuss
Steve Boros
Jim Fregosi
Mike Flanagan
Joe Niekro

264/792

Ok, so I have a very slight complaint about this thread...

I would appreciate it much more if you posted pictures of each card, so that we can more follow your journey.

Just telling us that you got something is a bit of a "big deal, I got stuff today too" kind of thing. As long as you're going to tell us that you got it, show it to us.

Also, are all 792 cards "signable"? If I remember correctly, there are 6 checklist cards in this set, and they do not have pictures on them, so really there are only 786 cards in the set (or less) to get signed. Your total at the moment should be 264 / (amount that can get signed).

See, I just helped knock 6 cards off you want list.

You're welcome.

Doug

Checklist cards can be signed. If they are numbered then they are part of the set and have to be completed....

This comes across as a bit high and mighty to me.

Checklists are numbered and count, so do Team Leaders.

Also, I did post before but I can't do it from my phone and my laptop doesn't run like it used to.

For the team cards I would get Peter Uberoth to sign them since he was the commissioner. In the past I have see a lot of set collectors get Sy Berger to sign them.

I am working on a 57 set and thankful the checklists aren't numbered cards :)

I've gotten checklists signed but just by players on the checklist.

Try finding those pesky managers from the 1952 topps set, or umpires from 1955!

Thanks for the updates

I certainly don't mean to come across as high and mighty.

I see that leaders cards would be signed, I assume by the players pictured, but who would sign the checklist card? If it's any player listed on the card, then don't you need to get a card signed by every player in oder to have a complete set?

Ultimately, I'm just asking for pictures of your new pickups, instead of a list of what you are picking up. If that comes across as high and mighty, well sorry.

Doug "watching you all from atop my mountain" Goodman

How's the view up there, Doug? :p

There is a turn back the clock card of Clemente. So you really can't have a complete signed set.

Try finding a 1957 Dodgers Sluggers card signed by Furillo, Dodgers, Campy and Snider...

Roberto Clemente Jr signed?

For my sets I have a key player from the checklist sign or someone interesting. Sy Berger was a popular checklist signature while he was living. My friend had key political figures from his set years sign the checklists. The possibilities are really open for it. Vera Clemente is a popular choice for for that TBTC issue. Really, saying it's incompletable because a specific card can't be signed is like saying the monster can't be completed because you'll likely never own a Wagner, Plank, or Doyle. You can collect to the extent you please.

I passed on one, even though it had a, get this, 'non-malicious secretarial' Campanella. It was the closest I've ever seen. Also, it has been in my radar to find signed for 20+ years!

Worng thread, sorry.

Pics
 

Here are some pics of two I got in the mail today!!

Andy

Any player on the card can sign a checklist. Same for Leaders if pictured.

Much as I'd love to provide pictorial proof, it's complicated.

I'm not looking for "proof", I believe you, I just like seeing pictures of stuff when people get things. If you can't, then you can't, not that big of a deal.

When I collected Topps cards, I considered a complete set to include all variations (black & red backs for the 1952 lo numbers, as an example).

Using similar logic, if I collected autographed sets (which I don't) I would consider a checklist to be a card that didn't need to be signed, because it doesn't have a picture. IF I was going to get a player listed on the card to sign it, then my complete-ist nature would cause me to need a card signed by EACH player listed, which obviously would get cumbersome (to say the least).

For cards that have a deceased player, I would consider them as cards that don't need to be signed to have a "complete" set, but getting somebody related to sign it would be a bonus.

But I could be wrong, there are no "rules", I understand that,
Doug "still sitting on my mountain" Goodman

I spent 14 hours stuck at a truckstop in Rock Springs, Wyoming a couple days ago, when I-80 was closed in both directions, the view was crap.

I guess we just have our own personal rules. I have my own.

#1 Get the player to sign their base card.

#2 At least one person depicted must sign a Leaders card.

#3 One player on the checklist must sign it.

#4 Deceased players do count in helping me toward my set. While I will not obsess over them, they are important and would have my sights set for a decent price.

So maybe to you personally that criteria wouldn't work if you did a set. With my criteria, that's how I have the number I do.

1987 topps ttm
 

Two new ones in the mail today!!!

It's now 267.

Hal Lanier
Frank Viola
Frank Viola Twins Leaders

I forgot I sent to Ed Hearn. Back today makes it 268.