Mike D's 1987 TTM Auto Project

[Mike D.]

With my 1986 Topps Traded TTM Project wrapping up, it's time to start another project. Using the same multi-set system I used in the 1990 TTM Auto Project, I'm going to start a project based on several 1987 sets I have.

The 1987 sets I'll be working with are:

1987 Donruss Rookies - 56 cards

1987 Fleer Update - 132 cards

1987 Topps Traded - 132 cards

That's 320 total cards. I'll break the cards up by team and work through each team to see who signs and will get requests.

I'll work through the teams in alphabetical order, which means we'll start with the Atlanta Braves. Hope you find this project enjoyable...hopefully we'll see a decent number of good signers and a lot of successes!

[Mike D.]

Before we dive in, let's take a look at the sets we'll be working with:

The 1987 Donruss Rookies set contains 56 cards and has a book value in Beckett of $25. The key cards are Mark McGwire ($10), Bo Jackson ($5), Matt Williams ($2.50), Rafael Palmiero ($5), and Greg Maddux ($8).

The 1987 Fleer Update set contains 132 cards and has a book value in Beckett of $12. The key cards are Greg Maddux ($8) and Mark McGwire ($5).

The 1987 Topps Traded set contains 132 cards and has a book value in Beckett of $8. The key card is Greg Maddux ($5).

[Mike D.]

Atlanta Braves

The first team we'll look at is the Atlanta Braves. The sets contain a total of 5 Braves cards, with 3 unique players.

1987 Donruss Rookies

none

1987 Fleer Update

U39. Albert Hall (Front) (Back)
U51. Dion James (Front) (Back)

1987 Topps Traded

41T. Albert Hall (Front) (Back)
54T. Dion James (Front) (Back)
85T. Graig Nettles (Front) (Back)

Let's take a closer look at the players and their signing habits:

Albert Hall has a 25% success rate on SCN, with no successes since 2007. We'll pass on him.

Dion James shows no successes on SCN, ever, in 15 total attempts. We'll skip him.

Graig Nettles has a 54% success rate on SCN, with no successes since 2010. We'll pass on him, as well.

Not a great start, although with only 3 Braves players in the sets, it's a small sample!

Total Cards: 5
Total Players: 3
Total Requests: 0
Total Cards Sent: 0
Successes: 0

[Mike D.]

Baltimore Orioles

The next team we'll look at is the Baltimore Orioles. The sets contain a total of 16 O's cards, with 9 unique players.

1987 Donruss Rookies

2. Eric Bell (Front) (Back)
3. Mark Williamson (Front) (Back)
16. Billy Ripken (Front) (Back)
24. Ken Gerhart (Front) (Back)

1987 Fleer Update

U2. Eric Bell (Front) (Back)
U34. Ken Gerhart (Front) (Back)
U56. Terry Kennedy (Front) (Back)
U58. Ray Knight (Front) (Back)
U124. Alan Wiggins (Front) (Back)

1987 Topps Traded

3T. Eric Bell (Front) (Back)
37T. Ken Gerhart (Front) (Back)
57T. Terry Kennedy (Front) (Back)
59T. Ray Knight (Front) (Back)
88T. Tom Niedenfuer (Front) (Back)
102T. Cal Ripken Sr. (Front) (Back)
126T. Alan Wiggins (Front) (Back)

Let's take a closer look at the players and their signing habits:

Eric Bell has a 95% success rate on SCN, with recent successes. We'll send a request his way.

Mark Williamson has an 89% success rate on SCN. We'll give him a try.

Billy Ripken has an 80% success rate on SCN, but no successes since 2010. It appears he has stopped signing.

Ken Gerhart has a 93% success rate on SCN with recent successes. We'll send a request his way.

Terry Kennedy has a 69% success rate on SCN, but only one successes since the summer of 2010. It looks like he's stopped signing, as well.

Ray Knight has only a 13% success rate on SCN. We'll skip him.

Alan Wiggins is deceased. RIP.

Tom Niedenfuer has a 90% success rate on SCN, with recent successes. We'll send a request his way.

Cal Ripken Sr is deceased. RIP.

Total Cards: 21
Total Players: 12
Total Requests: 4
Total Cards Sent: 8
Successes: 0

[Mike D.]

Boston Red Sox

The next team we'll look at is the Boston Red Sox. The sets contain a total of 6 Red Sox cards, with 3 unique players.

1987 Donruss Rookies

4. Mike Greenwell (Front) (Back)
5. Ellis Burks (Front) (Back)
30. Todd Benzinger (Front) (Back)

1987 Fleer Update

U15. Ellis Burks (Front) (Back)
U37. Mike Greenwell (Front) (Back)

1987 Topps Traded

14T. Ellis Burks (Front) (Back)

Let's take a closer look at the players and their signing habits:

Mike Greenwell has a 12% success rate on SCN, with no successes since 2008. We'll skip him.

Ellis Burks has a 31% success rate on SCN, with no successes since 2009. We'll skip him, as well.

Todd Benzinger has a 58% success rate on SCN. We'll pass on him.

Total Cards: 27
Total Players: 15
Total Requests: 4
Total Cards Sent: 8
Successes: 0

[Mike D.]

California Angels

The next team we'll look at is the California Angels. The sets contain a total of 15 Angels cards, with 6 unique players.

1987 Donruss Rookies

6. DeWayne Buice (Front) (Back)
7. Mark McLemore (Front) (Back)
8. Devon White (Front) (Back)
9. Willie Fraser (Front) (Back)

1987 Fleer Update

U14. DeWayne Buice (Front) (Back)
U33. Willie Fraser (Front) (Back)
U61. Jack Lazorko (Front) (Back)
U77. Mark McLemore (Front) (Back)
U80. Greg Minton (Front) (Back)
U123. Devon White (Front) (Back)

1987 Topps Traded

13T. DeWayne Buice (Front) (Back)
35T. Willie Fraser (Front) (Back)
62T. Jack Lazorko (Front) (Back)
75T. Mark McLemore (Front) (Back)
79T. Greg Minton (Front) (Back)

Let's take a closer look at the players and their signing habits:

DeWayne Bruice has a 72% success rate on SCN, but no successes in over a year. He had long wait times, so I'll hold off and see if some successes for him start to roll in.

Mark McLemore has only a 26% success rate on SCN, and no successes since 2004. We'll skip him.

Devon White shows only one success on SCN, ever, in 33 total attempts. It was way back in 2001, so we'll pass on him.

Willie Fraser has an 82% success rate on SCN, but no successes since last September. Appears to have stopped signing.

Greg Minton shows only 2 successes on sCN, ever, the last in 2008. We'll pass on him.

Jack Lazorko has a 96% success rate on SCN, with recent successes. We'll send a request his way!

Total Cards: 42
Total Players: 21
Total Requests: 5
Total Cards Sent: 10
Successes: 0

[Mike D.]

Chicago Cubs

The next team we'll look at is the Chicago Cubs. The sets contain a total of 15 Cubs cards, with 10 unique players.

1987 Donruss Rookies

10. Lester Lancaster (Front) (Back)
47. Rafael Palmeiro (Front) (Back)
51. Paul Noce (Front) (Back)
52. Greg Maddux (Front) (Back)

1987 Fleer Update

U24. Andre Dawson (Front) (Back)
U25. Brian Dayett (Front) (Back)
U68. Greg Maddux (Front) (Back)
U73. Mike Mason (Front) (Back)
U91. Dickie Noles (Front) (Back)
U114. Jim Sundberg (Front) (Back)

1987 Topps Traded

27T. Andre Dawson (Front) (Back)
70T. Greg Maddux (Front) (Back)
73T. Dave Martinez (Front) (Back)
92T. Dickie Noles (Front) (Back)
119T. Jim Sundberg (Front) (Back)

Let's take a closer look at the players and their signing habits:

Lester Lancaster has a 90% success rate on SCN with recent successes. We'll send a request his way.

Rafael Palmeiro has only an 11% success rate on SCN and no successes since 2005. We'll skip him.

Paul Noce has a 98% success rate and recent successes. We'll send a request his way.

Greg Maddux has a 31% success rate on SCN, and no successes since 2008. We'll skip him.

Brian Dayett has a 96% success rate on SCN. I actually sent the '87 Fleer Update card of Dayett with my 1985 Topps Traded send-out request to him. It came back successfully and can be viewed here.

Andre Dawson charges a fee to sign TTM. We'll skip him.

Mike Mason has a 90% success rate on SCN with recent successes. We'll give him a shot.

Dickie Noles has a 76% success rate on SCN, but no successes since 2010. We'll skip him.

Jim Sundberg has an 85% success rate with recent successes. I actually sent the two Sundberg cards here out when I was working on the 1985 Topps Traded TTM Project, on 3/6.

Dave Martinez has a 21% success rate on SCN and no successes since 2010. We'll skip him.

Total Cards: 57
Total Players: 31
Total Requests: 10
Total Cards Sent: 16
Successes: 1

[Mike D.]

Chicago White Sox

The next team we'll look at is the Chicago White Sox. The sets contain a total of 13 White Sox cards, with 8 unique players.

1987 Donruss Rookies

11. Ken Williams (Front) (Back)
48. Bill Long (Front) (Back)

1987 Fleer Update

U66. Bill Long (Front) (Back)
U72. Fred Manrique (Front) (Back)
U102. Gary Redus (Front) (Back)
U126. Jim Winn (Front) (Back)
U128. Ken Williams (Front) (Back)

1987 Topps Traded

15T. Ivan Calderon (Front) (Back)
47T. Donnie Hill (Front) (Back)
67T. Bill Long (Front) (Back)
99T. Gary Redus (Front) (Back)
106T. Jerry Royster (Front) (Back)
130T. Jim Winn (Front) (Back)

Let's take a closer look at the players and their signing habits:

Ken Williams has an 85% success rate on SCN, but no successes since early 2011. We'll hold off and see if he starts signing again.

Bill Long has a 96% success rate with recent successes. We'll send a request his way.

Fred Manrique shows no successes on SCN, in only 1 attempt. He may live in his native Venezuela. We'll pass on him.

Gary Redus has a 13% success rate on SCN, and no successes since 2008. We'll pass on him, as well.

Jim Winn has a 21% success rate and no successes in over a year. We'll skip him.

Ivan Calderon is deceased. RIP.

Donnie Hill has a 50% success rate on SCN, and no successes since 2007. We'll skip him.

Jerry Royster has only an 11% success rate on SCN, and no successes since 2006. We'll skip him, as well.

Total Cards: 70
Total Players: 39
Total Requests: 11
Total Cards Sent: 19
Successes: 1

[Mike D.]

Cincinnati Reds

The next team we'll look at is the Cincinnati Reds. The sets contain a total of 9 Reds cards, with 7 unique players.

1987 Donruss Rookies

none

1987 Fleer Update

U45. Guy Hoffman (Front) (Back)
U55. Tracy Jones (Front) (Back)
U74. Lloyd McClendon (Front) (Back)
U94. Paul O'Neill (Front) (Back)
U127. Frank Williams (Front) (Back)

1987 Topps Traded

34T. Terry Francona (Front) (Back)
48T. Guy Hoffman (Front) (Back)
93T. Pat Pacillo (Front) (Back)
128T. Frank Williams (Front) (Back)

Let's take a closer look at the players and their signing habits:

Guy Hoffman has a 84% success rate on SCN, but no successes since the middle of last year. Appears to have stopped signing?

Tracy Jones has a 59% success rate on SCN, but a very spotty track record. He appears to work for a radio station in Cincinnatti and occasionally sign c/o there. We'll hold off for now, though.

Lloyd McClendon has a 77% success rate on SCN, but no successes since last Sept. Appears to have stopped signing, as well.

Paul O'Neill has a 23% success rate on SCN. We'll pass on him.

Frank Williams is deceased. RIP.

Terry Francona has a 76% success rate on SCN, but no successes since 2010. I keep hoping that he'll start signing now that he's got a lower stress job. We'll see!

Pat Pacillo has a 93% success rate on SCN. We'll give him a try.

Total Cards: 79
Total Players: 46
Total Requests: 12
Total Cards Sent: 20
Successes: 1

[Mike D.]

Cleveland Indians

The next team we'll look at is the Cleveland Indians. The sets contain a total of 7 Indians cards, with 4 unique players.

1987 Donruss Rookies

none

1987 Fleer Update

U17. Steve Carlton (Front) (Back)
U26. Rick Dempsey (Front) (Back)
U116. Greg Swindell (Front) (Back)
U120. Ed Vande Berg (Front) (Back)

1987 Topps Traded

19T. Steve Carlton (Front) (Back)
28T. Rick Dempsey (Front) (Back)
123T. Ed Vande Berg (Front) (Back)

Let's take a closer look at the players and their signing habits:

Steve Carlton charges a fee to sign TTM ($29). We'll pass for now.

Rick Dempsey has a 71% success rate on SCN, but no successes since 2010. Appears to have stopped signing.

Greg Swindell has no successes on SCN, ever, in 25 total attempts. We'll skip him.

Ed Vande Berg has a 72% success rate on SCN, but no successes since October. Has he stopped signing, as well? We'll hold off for now.

Total Cards: 86
Total Players: 50
Total Requests: 12
Total Cards Sent: 20
Successes: 1

[Mike D.]

Detroit Tigers

The next team we'll look at is the Detroit Tigers. The sets contain a total of 12 Tigers cards, with 5 unique players.

1987 Donruss Rookies

12. Matt Nokes (Front) (Back)
13. Jeff Robinson (Front) (Back)
32. Mike Henneman (Front) (Back)

1987 Fleer Update

U42. Mike Heath (Front) (Back)
U44. Mike Henneman (Front) (Back)
U69. Bill Madlock (Front) (Back)
U90. Matt Nokes (Front) (Back)
U105. Jeff Robinson (Front) (Back)

1987 Topps Traded

46T. Mike Henneman (Front) (Back)
71T. Bill Madlock (Front) (Back)
91T. Matt Nokes (Front) (Back)
104T. Jeff Robinson (Front) (Back)

Let's take a closer look at the players and their signing habits:

Matt Nokes has a 32% success rate on SCN, with no successes since very early 2010. We'll skip him.

Jeff Robinson has a 75% success rate on SCN, with some fairly recent successes. We'll give him a try.

Mike Henneman has a 38% success rate on SCN and no successes since 2006. We'll skip him.

Bill Madlock has a 40% success rate on SCN and no successes since 2008. We'll skip him, as well.

Mike Heath has an 84% success rate on SCN, with recent successes. We'll give him a try.

Total Cards: 98
Total Players: 55
Total Requests: 14
Total Cards Sent: 24
Successes: 1

[Mike D.]

Had successes from:

Tom Niedenfuer (1987 Topps Traded #88T)

Jack Lazorko (1987 Fleer Update #U61) (didn't return 1987 Topps Traded #62T)

Total Cards: 98
Total Players: 55
Total Requests: 14
Total Cards Sent: 24
Successes: 3

[Mike D.]

Kansas City Royals

The next team we'll look at is the Kansas City Royals. The sets contain a total of 10 Royals cards, with 6 unique players.

1987 Donruss Rookies

14. Bo Jackson (Front) (Back)
15. Kevin Seitzer (Front) (Back)

1987 Fleer Update

U3. Juan Beniquez (Front) (Back)
U8. Thad Bosley (Front) (Back)
U97. Bill Pecota (Front) (Back)
U108. Kevin Seitzer (Front) (Back)

1987 Topps Traded

4T. Juan Beniquez (Front) (Back)
7T. Thad Bosley (Front) (Back)
36T. Billy Gardner (Front) (Back)
51T. Danny Jackson (Front) (Back)
111T. Kevin Seitzer (Front) (Back)
120. Danny Tartabull (Front) (Back)

Let's take a closer look at the players and their signing habits:

Bo Jackson has a 33% success rate on SCN. We'll skip him.

Kevin Seitzer has a 70% success rate, but other than a few random ST successes the last couple of years, no consistant returns in quite a while. We'll hold off for now.

Juan Beniquez has a 12% success rate on SCN. We'll skip him.

Thad Bosley has a 19% success rate on SCN. We'll skip him, as well.

Bill Pecota shows no successes, ever, on SCN, in 16 total attempts. We'll pass on him.

Billy Gardiner has a 95% success rate on SCN with recent successes. We'll send a request his way.

Danny Jackson has a 13% success rate on SCN and no successes since 2003. We'll pass on him.

Danny Tartabull has a 73% success rate, with recent successes. I sent this card to him as part of the 1986 Donruss Rookies project, and am still waiting.

Total Cards: 108
Total Players: 61
Total Requests: 15
Total Cards Sent: 25
Successes: 3

[Mike D.]

Houston Astros

The next team we'll look at is the Houston Astros. The sets contain a total of 5 Astros cards, with 2 unique players.

1987 Donruss Rookies

46. Dave Meads (Front) (Back)
55. Chuck Jackson (Front) (Back)

1987 Fleer Update

U47. Chuck Jackson (Front) (Back)
U79. Dave Meads (Front) (Back)

1987 Topps Traded

77T. Dave Meads (Front) (Back)

Let's take a closer look at the players and their signing habits:

Dave Meads has a 70% success rate on SCN, but seems very hit or miss...he'll sign a few, then none for months. We'll hold off for now.

Chuck Jackson has only one success on sCN in 9 attempts, and it was back in 2007. We'll pass on him.

Total Cards: 113
Total Players: 63
Total Requests: 15
Total Cards Sent: 25
Successes: 3

[Mike D.]

Had a success from:

Eric Bell (1987 Donruss Rookies #2) (1987 Fleer Update #U2) (1987 Topps Traded #3T)

Total Cards: 113
Total Players: 63
Total Requests: 15
Total Cards Sent: 25
Successes: 4