Monthly Failure Report: July 2020

No Response from July 2019:
Randy Jones
Dan Uggla
LaDainian Tomlinson
Mat Latos
Dave Andreychuk

Lee Smith Rookie

I needed to add another signed Hall of Fame Rookie Card to my collection, and Lee Smith charges $20 per signature, which was only worth it to me on his 1982 Topps card.  The seven-time All-Star saved a then-record 478 games across 18 MLB seasons.  Thanks, Lee!

Mailed: 6-24-20
Received Back: 7-20-20
Turnaround Time: 26 Days

Mark Stepnoski

A football return from Canada!  Mark Stepnoski spent 13 years in the NFL, nine of which were with the Cowboys.  He won two Super Bowls and was named to five Pro Bowls.  Thanks, Mark!

Mailed: 6-24-20
Received Back: 7-20-20
Turnaround Time: 26 Days

Dave Marcis

The racing career of Dave Marcis spanned five decades and included five wins.  He competed in the Daytona 500 in five different decades as well, including in consecutive years from 1968-1999.  Thanks, Dave!

Mailed: 7-9-20
Received Back: 7-18-20
Turnaround Time: 9 Days

Buddy Groom

Buddy Groom spent 14 years in MLB, primarily as a reliever.  He won 31 games and saved 27 games.  He played for the Yankees for part of the 2005 season.  Thanks, Buddy!

Mailed: 7-9-20
Received Back: 7-18-20
Turnaround Time: 9 Days

Chris Pronger

Chris Pronger played in the NHL for 18 years.  He scored 84 goals and assisted on 272 goals.  He was a stellar Defenseman and won a Stanley Cup with the Ducks.  He made four All-Star teams and earned a spot in the Hall of Fame.  Thanks, Chris!

Mailed: 7-1-20
Received Back: 7-16-20
Turnaround Time: 15 Days

James Stewart

James Stewart played in eight NFL seasons, scoring 48 times on the ground and nine times through the air.  He rushed for nearly 6,000 yards.  He also scored twice in the postseason.  Thanks, James!

Mailed: 7-1-20
Received Back: 7-16-20
Turnaround Time: 15 Days

Todd Greene

Todd Greene spent eleven seasons in MLB, largely as a backup Catcher.  He had a .252 batting average, and was a part of the 2001 Yankees.  I really like his signature.  Thanks, Todd!

Mailed: 6-29-20
Received Back: 7-16-20
Turnaround Time: 17 Days

Fuzzy Zoeller

Fuzzy Zoeller won ten PGA Tour events, including two Majors (Masters and U.S. Open). He has a great nickname.  Thanks, Fuzzy!

Mailed: 7-3-20
Received Back: 7-15-20
Turnaround Time: 12 Days

Al Unser

Al Unser is one of three drivers to have won the Indianapolis 500 four times, and members of the Unser family have won the race nine times overall.  He is a legendary racer from a legendary racing family.  Thanks, Al!

Mailed: 6-29-20
Received Back: 7-14-20
Turnaround Time: 15 Days

James Palmer

I had to get one more vintage card signed by Jim Palmer, this one being from the 1974 Topps set.  Palmer is a Hall of Fame pitcher who won three World Series, three Cy Young Awards, four Gold Glove Awards, and two ERA titles.  He made six All-Star teams.  He signs for $10.  Thanks again, Jim!

Mailed: 7-6-20
Received Back: 7-14-20
Turnaround Time: 8 Days

Manny Mota

"Hello!  (Hello!  Hello!)  Echo!  (Echo!  Echo!)  Pinch hitting for Pedro Borbon, Manny Mota!  (Mota!  Mota!)"
He may be in part known for that nonsensical excerpt from Ted Striker's thoughts in the iconic movie, Airplane!, a situation that never could have occurred since the two never played on the same team at the same time, but Manny Mota is also known as a solid baseball player who spent 20 seasons in MLB, hitting .304 and making one All-Star team.  He signed his 1963 Topps Rookie Card for me.  Thanks, Manny!

Mailed: 1-31-20
Received Back: 7-13-20
Turnaround Time: 164 Days

Michael Bibby

Mike Bibby played in 1,001 games during his 14 years in the NBA.  Somehow, he never made an All-Star team, despite averaging 14.7 points and 5.5 assists per game during his career.  Thanks, Mike!

Mailed: 6-29-20
Received Back: 7-13-20
Turnaround Time: 14 Days

Tom Matte

Tom Matte made two Pro Bowls, won a Super Bowl, and won an NFL Championship during his twelve-year NFL career.  He rushed for over 4500 yards and 45 TDs and had nearly 3000 receiving yards with 12 TDs.  He added two passing TDs during the regular season and three rushing TDs during the postseason.  Thanks, Tom!

Mailed: 7-2-20
Received Back: 7-13-20
Turnaround Time: 11 Days

Al Oliver

Al Oliver won a World Series and made seven All-Star teams during his 18-year MLB career.  He hit .303 with 219 home runs and 1,326 RBI.  He finished his career with 2,743 hits, and he signed his 1969 Topps Rookie Card (which Richie Hebner recently signed as well) for $10.  This was the first card I acquired from the 1960s during my childhood, and it's now a dual signed card of two great players.  Thanks, Al!

Mailed: 7-3-20
Received Back: 7-13-20
Turnaround Time: 10 Days

Wayne Chrebet

Wayne Chrebet was a New York Jets Wide Receiver for eleven years, catching 580 passes for 7,365 yards and 41 Touchdowns.  He added two Postseason touchdowns.  Thanks, Wayne!

Mailed: 7-2-20
Received Back: 7-11-20
Turnaround Time: 9 Days

Lou Whitaker

Lou Whitaker had a stellar 19-year career with the Detroit Tigers.  He was a five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger winner, three-time Gold Glove winner, 1984 World Champion, and 1978 AL Rookie of the Year.  He hit 244 Home Runs with 1,084 RBI.  He signed his 1978 Topps Rookie Card for $10, and he is apparently a Jehovah's Witness.  Thanks, Lou!

Mailed: 7-2-20
Received Back: 7-11-20
Turnaround Time: 9 Days

Andrei Kirilenko

Andrei Kirilenko played in the NBA for 13 seasons, making one All-Star team.  He averaged 11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game.  Thanks, Andrei!

Mailed: 7-2-20
Received Back: 7-11-20
Turnaround Time: 9 Days

Stan Bahnsen

Stan Bahnsen won 146 games with a 3.60 ERA during his 16-year MLB career.  He was the 1968 AL Rookie of the Year with the Yankees.  Thanks, Stan!

Mailed: 7-1-20
Received Back: 7-11-20
Turnaround Time: 10 Days

Bill Fitch

Bill Fitch is best-known for turning around struggling franchises.  He took the Cavaliers, Nets, and Clippers to the playoffs.  He also won an NBA Championship with the Celtics and took the Rockets to the NBA Finals.  He won 944 regular season games and 55 postseason games during his coaching career.  This is the first time I can remember getting ATTM cards back that were signed on both sides.  He even corrected an apparent error on his birth year on the back of one of the cards.  Thanks, Bill!

Mailed: 6-29-20
Received Back: 7-7-20
Turnaround Time: 8 Days

Phil Jackson

Epic return!  Phil Jackson had a successful twelve-year NBA playing career with the Knicks and Nets, winning two Championships.  He's best known for his coaching career, in which he won 1,155 regular season games and 229 postseason games with the Bulls and Lakers.  He coached the Bulls to six NBA Championships and the Lakers to five NBA Championships.  With eleven rings as a coach, he is widely regarded as one of the best coaches of all-time.  Thanks, Phil!

Mailed: 5-4-20
Received Back: 7-7-20
Turnaround Time: 64 Days

Michael Shanahan

Mike Shanahan won 170 regular season games and 8 postseason games as an NFL Head Coach.  He led the Denver Broncos to two consecutive Super Bowl Championships in the 1990s.  Thanks, Mike!

Mailed: 8-26-19
Received Back: 7-6-20
Turnaround Time: 315 Days

Vida Blue

Vida Blue spent 17 seasons in MLB, winning 209 games with a 3.27 ERA.  He won three World Series and made six All-Star teams.  He won the AL Cy Young award and the AL MVP Award in 1971, when he led the league with a 1.82 ERA, won 24 games, and struck out 301 batters.  He signed his 1970 Topps Rookie Card for me.  Thanks, Vida!

Mailed: 6-17-20
Received Back: 7-6-20
Turnaround Time: 19 Days

Rodney Combs

Rodney Combs was a NASCAR driver a and an inductee in the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame.  Thanks, Rodney!

Mailed: 6-25-20
Received Back: 7-6-20
Turnaround Time: 11 Days

JaCoby Jones

JaCoby Jones has hit 25 home runs and stolen 26 stolen bases during his first four years with the Tigers, consisting of 982 plate appearances.  Thanks, JaCoby!

Mailed: 6-17-20
Received Back: 7-2-20
Turnaround Time: 15 Days

Richie Hebner

Richie Hebner played in MLB for 18 seasons, hitting 203 home runs and driving in 890 runs.  He was part of the 1971 World Series Championship team during his time with the Pirates.  Thanks, Richie!

Mailed: 6-8-20
Received Back: 7-1-20
Turnaround Time: 23 Days

Troy O'Leary

Troy O'Leary hit 127 home runs and drove in 591 runs during eleven MLB seasons.  He spent seven years with the Red Sox. Thanks, Troy!

Mailed: 4-9-20
Received Back: 6-29-20
Turnaround Time: 81 Days

Jim Paxson

Jim Paxson made two All-Star teams during his eleven years in the NBA.  He averaged 14.3 points per game during the regular season.  Thanks, Jim!

Mailed: 6-19-20
Received Back: 6-29-20
Turnaround Time: 10 Days

Mike Saxon

Mike Saxon was an NFL Punter for eleven years, winning a Super Bowl with the Cowboys.  Thanks, Mike!

Mailed: 6-8-20
Received Back: 6-29-20
Turnaround Time: 21 Days

Bobby Knoop

Bobby Knoop played in MLB for nine years, making one All-Star team and winning three Gold Gloves.  He hit 56 home runs and drove in 331 runs.  Thanks, Bobby!

Mailed: 6-19-20
Received Back: 6-29-20
Turnaround Time: 10 Days

Darrell Lee Waltrip

Darrell Waltrip is a racing legend who won many races, including the 1989 Daytona 500.  Thanks, Darrell!

Mailed: 5-28-20
Received Back: 6-27-20
Turnaround Time: 30 Days