Mike D's 1985 Topps Traded TTM Auto Project

[Mike D.]

It's time to start the next TTM project in my series. A few weeks back, I picked up a 1985 Topps Traded set on eBay for $3.98 ($1.99 plus $1.99 shipping). For that price, I couldn't pass it up.

The 1985 Topps Traded set consists of 132 cards and was produced in complete set form by Topps to update it's regular 1985 offering. It lists for $8 in Beckett, with the two "key" cards being the XRC of Ozzie Guillen ($5) and a traded card of Rickey Henderson ($2.50).

We'll work through the set numerically in groups of four cards each, looking at each players signing habits and sending requests to the good signers in the set.

[Mike D.]

Let's get rolling with the first four cards in the set.

The first four cards are:

1T. Don Aase (Front) (Back)
2T. Bill Almon (Front) (Back)
3T. Benny Ayala (Front) (Back)
4T. Dusty Baker (Front) (Back)

Don Aase has only a 65% success rate on SCN, but a good number of recent successes. I'll give him a shot!

Bill Almon, who lives about a mile as the crow flies from my house, has a 96% success rate on SCN. I'll send a request his way.

Benny Ayala has only a 42% success rate on SCN and no successes since 2005, so we'll skip him.

Dusty Baker has a 79% success rate, and appears to sign fairly regularly c/o the Reds. We'll give him a try there.

Total Cards: 4
Total Requests: 3
Successes: 0

[Mike D.]

The next four are:

5T. George Bamberger (Front) (Back)
6T. Dale Berra (Front) (Back)
7T. Rich Bordi (Front) (Back)
8T. Daryl Boston (Front) (Back)

George Bamberger is deceased. RIP.

Dale Berra has a 49% success rate on SCN and a spotty track record. We'll pass.

Rich Bordi has a 97% success rate on SCN, so we'll give him a try!

Daryl Boston has only a 6% success rate on SCN, so we'll skip him.

Total Cards: 8
Total Requests: 4
Successes: 0

[Mike D.]

The next four:

9T. Hubie Brooks (Front) (Back)
10T. Chris Brown (Front) (Back)
11T. Tom Browning (Front) (Back)
12T. Al Bumbry (Front) (Back)

Hubie Brooks has only a 21% success rate on SCN, so we'll pass on him.

Chris Brown has a 64% success rate on SCN, but no successes since 2006. We'll skip him.

Tom Browning has only a 26% success rate on SCN, so we'll pass.

Al Bumbry has an 80% success rate on SCN, but very few successes this year, and none since May. We'll pass for now.

Total Cards: 12
Total Requests: 4
Successes: 0

[Mike D.]

Up next:

13T. Ray Burris (Front) (Back)
14T. Jeff Burroughs (Front) (Back)
15T. Bill Campbell (Front) (Back)
16T. Don Carman (Front) (Back)

Ray Burris charges a $5 fee per autograph these days. I'll pass.

Jeff Burroughs has a 44% success rate on SCN with no successes since 2004. We'll skip him.

Bill Campbell has a 70% success rate on SCN, but seems to have stopped signing of late. I actually have a request I sent his way on 9/30 still outstanding. We'll skip him.

Don Carman has a 91% success rate on SCN. A few outstanding requests since the summer, but we'll give him a try.

Total Cards: 16
Total Requests: 5
Successes: 0

[Mike D.]

The next four:

17T. Gary Carter (Front) (Back)
18T. Bobby Castillo (Front) (Back)
19T. Bill Caudill (Front) (Back)
20T. Rick Cerone (Front) (Back)

Gary Carter charges $25 per card to sign since making the HOF. We'll pass.

Bobby Castillo has only one success on SCN (in 10 total requests) and it was back in 2003, so we'll skip him.

Bill Caudill has no successes on SCN at all, in 17 total requests. We'll skip him.

Rick Cerone has a 93% success rate on SCN with recent successes, so we'll give him a try.

Total Cards: 20
Total Requests: 6
Successes: 0

[Mike D.]

Had a success from:

Bill Almon #2T

Total Cards: 20
Total Requests: 6
Successes: 1

[Mike D.]

Had a success from:

Rich Bordi #7T

Total Cards: 20
Total Requests: 6
Successes: 2

[Mike D.]

Had a success from:

Rick Cerone #20T

Also had a RTS from Dusty Baker #4T.

Total Cards: 20
Total Requests: 6
Successes: 3

[Mike D.]

Up next:

21T. Bryan Clark (Front) (Back)
22T. Jack Clark (Front) (Back)
23T. Pat Clements (Front) (Back)
24T. Vince Coleman (Front) (Back)

Bryan Clark has no successes on SCN in 11 total requests.

Jack Clark has only a 13% success rate on SCN, so we'll skip him.

Pat Clements has a solid 76% success rate, but no successes since Feb. We'll pass on him for now.

Vince Coleman has only one success on SCN, and it was way back in 1990. We'll skip him.

Total Cards: 24
Total Requests: 6
Successes: 3

[Mike D.]

The next four:

25T. Dave Collins (Front) (Back)
26T. Danny Darwin (Front) (Back)
27T. Jim Davenport (Front) (Back)
28T. Jerry Davis (Front) (Back)

Dave Collins has only a 24% success rate on SCN, and no successes since 2008. We'll skip him.

Danny Darwin has a 91% success rate on SCN with recent successes, so we'll send a request his way.

Jim Davenport has a 96% success rate with successes in November, so we'll give him a try, as well.

Jerry Davis seems to be very hit-or-miss, although it's a bit tough to tell because there was a long-time ump with the same name. We'll pass on him for now.

Total Cards: 28
Total Requests: 8
Successes: 3

[Mike D.]

Had a success from:

Jim Davenport #27T

Total Cards: 28
Total Requests: 8
Successes: 4

[Mike D.]

Up next:

29T. Brian Dayett (Front) (Back)
30T. Ivan DeJesus (Front) (Back)
31T. Ken Dixon (Front) (Back)
32T. Mariano Duncan (Front) (Back)

Brian Dayett has a 95% success rate on SCN with recent successes, so we'll give him a shot.

Ivan DeJesus had a 81% success rate with some recent successes C/O the Cubs. We'll give him a shot.

Ken Dixon has only a 62% success rate, but a pretty good track record recently. I'll give him a try.

Mariano Duncan has an 81% success rate on SCN, but he seems a bit hit or miss. I actually sent him a request in May of 2010 and never got anything back, so I'll skip him.

Total Cards: 32
Total Requests: 11
Successes: 4

[Mike D.]

Had a success from:

Danny Darwin #26T

Total Cards: 32
Total Requests: 11
Successes: 5

[Mike D.]

The next four:

33T. John Felske (Front) (Back)
34T. Mike Fitzgerald (Front) (Back)
35T. Ray Fontenot (Front) (Back)
36T. Greg Gagne (Front) (http://www.baseball-trivia-game.com/.../html/36b.html)

John Felske has a 87% success rate on SCN, with recent successes, so we'll give him a shot.

Mike Fitzgerald 77% success rate, but no successes since last May, so we'll pass.

Ray Fontenot has an 85% success rate with some recent successes, so we'll give him a try.

Greg Gagne has a 97% success rate on SCN, with recent successes. We'll send a request his way.

Total Cards: 36
Total Requests: 14
Successes: 5

[Mike D.]

Up next:

37T. Oscar Gamble (Front) (Back)
38T. Scott Garrelts (Front) (Back)
39T. Bob Gibson (Front) (Back)
40T. Jim Gott (Front) (Back)

Oscar Gamble has only a 19% success rate on SCN, so we'll skip him.

Scott Garrelts has an 88% success rate and recent successes, so we'll give him a shot.

Bob Gibson has a 78% success rate, but no successes since early last year. Guessing he's stopped signing.

Jim Gott has an 85% success rate and recent successes, so we'll give him a shot, as well.

Total Cards: 40
Total Requests: 16
Successes: 5

[Mike D.]

The next four:

41T. David Green (Front) (Back)
42T. Alfredo Griffin (Front) (Back)
43T. Ozzie Guillen (Front) (Back)
44T. Eddie Haas (Front) (Back)

David Green has only one successes, ever, on SCN, so we'll skip him.

Alfredo Griffin has a 58% success rate on SCN, so we'll pass.

Ozzie Guillen has a 19% success rate on SCN. Probably too busy twittering to sign. We'll skip him.

Eddie Haas has an 87% success rate, but a bunch of unfullfilled requests going back to the end of summer. We'll hold off on him for now.

Total Cards: 44
Total Requests: 16
Successes: 5

[Mike D.]

Had a success from:

Brian Dayett #29T

Total Cards: 44
Total Requests: 16
Successes: 6

[Mike D.]

Had a success from:

Greg Gagne #36T

Total Cards: 44
Total Requests: 16
Successes: 7

[Mike D.]

The next four:

45T. Terry Harper (Front) (Back)
46T. Toby Harrah (Front) (Back)
47T. Greg Harris (Front) (Back)
48T. Ron Hassey (Front) (Back)

Terry Harper has no successes on SCN in 9 total attempts. We'll skip him.

Toby Harrah has an 82% success rate on SCN, but no successes since April of 2010. He appears to have stopped signing.

Greg Harris has a 77% success rate on SCN, but nothing since July. Another guy who's stopped signing?

Ron Hassey has a 57% success rate on SCN, with no successes since 2008. We'll pass on him.

Total Cards: 48
Total Requests: 16
Successes: 7

[Mike D.]

Had a success from:

John Felske #33

Total Cards: 48
Total Requests: 16
Successes: 8

[Mike D.]

The next few:

49T. Rickey Henderson (Front) (Back)
50T. Steve Henderson (Front) (Back)
51T. George Hendrick (Front) (Back)
52T. Joe Hesketh (Front) (Back)

Rickey Henderson shows two successes, ever, on SCN. We'll pass.

Steve Henderson has a 69% success rate on SCN, but no successes since early 2010. He appears to have stopped signing.

George Hendrick has one success, ever, on SCN in 33 total attempts. We'll pass on him, as well.

Joe Hesketh has a 34% success on SCN and no successes since 2009, so we'll pass on him.

Total Cards: 52
Total Requests: 16
Successes: 8

[Mike D.]

The next four:

53T. Teddy Higuera (Front) (Back)
54T. Donnie Hill (Front) (Back)
55T. Al Holland (Front) (Back)
56T. Burt Hooton (Front) (Back)

Teddy Higuera has an 87% success rate on SCN with recent successes. We'll send a request his way.

Donnie Hill has only a 50% success rate, with no successes since 2007. We'll skip him.

Al Holland has never had a success on SCN, in 12 total requests. We'll pass on him.

Burt Hooton has an 86% success rate on SCN, but no successes since early summer. Wondering if he may have stopped signing. We'll hold off on him.

Total Cards: 56
Total Requests: 17
Successes: 8

[Mike D.]

Up next:

57T. Jay Howell (Front) (Back)
58T. Ken Howell (Front) (Back)
59T. LaMarr Hoyt (Front) (Back)
60T. Tim Hulett (Front) (Back)

Jay Howell has a 79% success rate on SCN, but recent successes, so we'll give him a try.

Ken Howell has a 43% success rate and no successes since 2006, so we'll skip him.

LaMarr Hoyt has a 56% success rate with no success since early 2009, so we'll pass.

Tim Hulett has only a 13% success rate on SCN, with no successes since 2009. We'll skip him, as well.

Total Cards: 60
Total Requests: 18
Successes: 8

[Mike D.]

The next four:

61T. Bob James (Front) (Back)
62T. Steve Jeltz (Front) (Back)
63T. Cliff Johnson (Front) (Back)
64T. Howard Johnson (Front) (Back)

Bob James has a 96% success rate with recent successes. We'll give him a try.

Steve Jeltz has no successes on SCN, in 14 total requests. We'll skip him.

Cliff Johnson has a 71% success rate on SCN, with recent successes. We'll give him a shot.

Howard Johnson has only a 43% success rate on SCN. We'll pass on him.

Total Cards: 64
Total Requests: 20
Successes: 8