SoCal Autograph Odysses

 2021 was a huge year for me from a collecting standpoint.  I don't think I've ever added as many autographs to my collection in one year as I did this year.  Since I currently have zero pending through the mail requests out there, I figured now was as good a time as any to recap my Through the Mail successes.  Please keep in mind there is a tracker I update on this blog for this very purpose.  You can also search by any player name in the upper corner of the blog.  Click the link on every player to read about each and see the photos taken at the time they were returned.  To recap: NFL: Roger Staubach Lance Alworth Frank Tarkenton Aeneas Williams Tony Dorsett Steve Largent Ozzie Newsome James Lofton Sonny Jurgensen Larry Little Kenny Easley Dermontti Dawson Walter Jones Anthony Munoz Jerry Kramer Warren Moon MLB: Whitey Herzog Jim Rice Nolan Ryan Juan Marichal Brooks Robinson Rollie Fingers Bill Mazeroski Tony LaRussa Bert Blyleven Lee Smith Gaylord Pe...

 I received a great item back in the mail yesterday, which came via a signing I found on SportsCollectors.net, via a signing done through Atommic Sports, who I mentioned a few posts back.  Again, it's a very easy way to find out which athletes sign autographs through the mail as well as see which athletes are doing private signings being orchestrated through third parties.  I've added so many autographs to my collection because of that site.  This time, I got Red Sox legend Carl Yastrsemski on a card.   It's not a rookie card, because I didn't feel like shelling out $100 plus for a card, but it is vintage and the blue autograph on the jersey really stands out.  I definitely like the result of this.  I had previously sent in for a Yaz signing in which I received a signed baseball, which is posted here from a couple years back.  

 I've taken a chance on a couple Ebay items recently.  The first one is a Panini Optic blue Ryan Mountcastle on card auto numbered to 75.  The seller accepted my offer, which was 60% of the initial asking price, which surprised me a bit but I think it's a win. I know Panini doesn't hold the same value as Topps and Bowman due to their lack of MLB licensing but I really liked this card in particular.  I think it looks sharp.  Mountcastle also had a very good rookie season, so I think the value of this compared to what I paid right now will arrow up. I also purchased a Bowman Chrome prospects card of one of the better pitching prospects in baseball, Max Meyer of the Miami Marlins.  He was the third pick in the 2020 MLB draft, and while pitchers don't hold the same value as hitters in terms of collecting, for under $10 this screamed bargain bin to me.  When he gets called up, it will also go up a bit and hopefully he hits his immense ceiling. It's not a 1s...