TTM Success 2019-01 - Matt Mieske

My first TTM request of 2019 is, probably not coincidentally, also my first return. To begin my MLB Born in Michigan collection, I sent out this Matt Mieske 1997 Topps #168 on February 2nd to his home address. On Valentine’s Day I received the card back with a brief note written on my original letter. How cool is that!

Born in Midland, Matt was a stand-out player at Bay City Western high school (three-time all-state) before playing ball for the Western Michigan Broncos, where he earned All-American honors three times and set 11 school records (a handful of which stand to this day!).

He was selected by Oakland in the 20th round of the 1989 draft, but chose not to sign and was chosen a year later by the Padres in the 17th round. Matt toiled at the Single-A level in the Padres system until being traded (along with Ricky Bones and Jose Valentin) to Milwaukee in 1992 for Geoff Kellogg and Gary Sheffield. A year later, Matt broke into the Bigs and spent the next four years with the Brewers.

From there came stints with the Cubs, Seattle, Houston and Arizona before Matt hung up his cleats following the 2000 season. In his 8-year, 663-game career, Mieske played exclusively as an outfielder and hit .262/.318/.434 with 56 home runs and 226 RBI.

In an interview a few years ago, Matt recalled his most memorable moment – which occurred during his one season in Chicago. At the end of the 1998 season, the Cubs found themselves tied with the Giants for the final playoff spot. In the sixth inning of the tie-breaking game, with the bases loaded, Matt came in to pinch-hit for Henry Rodriguez. He came through with a two-run single, putting the Cubs ahead 4-0, and that hit would ultimately be the deciding factor in sending the Cubs to the playoffs because the Giants fought back to score three runs in the top of the ninth.

Although never a Tiger, Matt is nevertheless one of Michigan’s baseball heroes. Thanks for signing, Matt!

Sent: 2 February 2019
Received: 14 February 2019
Time: 12 days

2019 TTM Stats
Sent: 3
Received: 1
Success Rate: 33%

TTM Success: Craig Smith

Sent: 21 February 2013
Received: 13 March 2013
Transit Time: 20 days

Here's a nice, relatively quick return from one of Nashville's youngsters. Centerman Craig Smith was drafted by the Predators in the 4th round of the 2009 draft and spent a couple of years with the University of Wisconsin Badgers before joining the NHL club last season. The Wisconsin native put together 36 points (14 goals and 22 assists) in the 72 games of his rookie season. This year has been a bit of a sophomore slump for Craig, however. I sent this 2012-13 OPC base card to the team address just after Craig scored his first goal of the season - against my beloved Red Wings, no less.

Current TTM Stats:

32 Sent; 13 Received; 20 Pending - 41% Success Rate

TTM Success: Keith Yandle

Sent: 25 October 2011
Received: 21 February 2013
Transit Time: 485 days

Wow. This return shatters my record, by a mile, for the longest transit time. I guess this sort of thing lends credence to that whole "never give up hope" mindset that some people are always shilling. I sent out this 2010-11 Donruss card of Keith just after his two-point night on October 23rd, 2011, when he scored the game-winning goal against Anaheim.

While the photo of Keith that graces this card is a fairly decent action shot, I am dismayed by the Red Wings fan sitting against the glass in the background (just to the left of the number "3" on Keith's shoulder). Really, kid? Wearing your hat sideways? Like it's still 1994? Sad.

Current TTM Stats:

29 Sent; 12 Received; 17 Pending -  41% Success Rate

TTM Success: Nick Foligno

Sent: 24 January 2013
Received: 9 February 2013
Transit Time: 16 days

Traded from Ottawa to Columbus on July 1st of 2012 for blue-liner Marc Methot, Nick is one of several new Blue Jackets taking to the ice for the 2013 "season". Born in Buffalo (where his father Mike played for the Sabres), Nick has had a solid career over five seasons as a centerman for the Senators. So far this season his production is off his recent performances (1 goal, 4 assists), but if Monday night's puck handling exhibition was an indicator of things to come it won't be long before Nick starts racking up the goals again.

I sent this 2011-12 Score #325, the most recent card I have of Nick, just a couple of days after he scored his first goal as a Blue Jacket during the team's season opener against Nashville. Not a bad signature along with his #71 (which is a reverse of his dad's number 17).

Current TTM Stats:

24 Sent; 11 Received; 13 Pending - 46 % Success Rate

TTM: Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings

Sent: 22 October 2011
Received: 14 May 2012
Transit Time: 205 days

I sent this 2011-12 Donruss common to Dustin c/o the Kings after he scored the game-winning goal against Phoenix on the 20th of October. Who could've guessed back then that those two teams would be back at it in the Western Conference Finals?  The card was postmarked on May 10th, so it looks like the Kings' captain took some time after knocking the Blues out of the chase (with Dustin scoring the game-winner in the fourth and final game of that series) to catch up on some auto requests.

After a bit of a shaky start to his NHL career, the Ithaca, New York, native has consistently been over the 50-point mark his last five seasons and this year tied his career-high assist total with 32. Typically not a statistical leader, Brown has been tearing it up in the playoffs this year and shows no signs of letting off the gas anytime soon.

Current TTM Stats:

20 Sent; 10 Received; 10 Pending - 50% Success Rate