a question about autographs?

[frosdoll]

i am wondering if any of you still right players for their autographs. i used to send cards and a self addressed stamped envelope. a guy i know recently started doing this again with baseballs. i have not been able to talk to him but i am wondering what aould i send the ball in?, and would i just send the ball to the stadium addressed to the player or would i send it somewhere else. any help would be great.

[E.Banks#14]

I did that once. I sent a ball to Don Larsen (just in a little box) with like $10 and got it back signed, then I sent it to Yogi Berra with like $30 and he signed it too.

[yes to bert & al!]

i collect autographs.
ive been very successful as long as i have been collecting.
i dont send baseballs. only baseball cards and index cards.
but id be happy to help u anytime.

[ADunn44]

anyone know any addresses for the following guys:

Kirk Gibson
Harold Reynolds
Jim Maloney
Jim O'Toole
Ryne Sandberg
Buddy Bell


any help is greatly apperciated

[ScrewBll45]

i collect autographs.
ive been very successful as long as i have been collecting.
i dont send baseballs. only baseball cards and index cards.
but id be happy to help u anytime.


Ya same here, I send either cards or photos, I have over 100 successes, If any one needs help, just tell me.
Here are some tips for ttm signing,
1. I can't stress this enough, HAND WRITE EVERYTHING!!!!!
2. ALWAYS be sincere.
3. BE PATIENT.

[E.Banks#14]

I bet HR could be reached at ESPN in Bristol.

[Ichiro51]

i collect autographs.
ive been very successful as long as i have been collecting.
i dont send baseballs. only baseball cards and index cards.
but id be happy to help u anytime.

I visit numerous through the mail autograph collector's websites...their success rate is around 35-40% for the season...so considering less than half of your mail ever comes back, it's not really a success.

And more than half of the players don't sign index cards anymore, I goes to a lot of Minor League games (I only do cards) and there is one guy that don't buy cards and try to get the entire team on index, and more than half of the players wouldn't sign because their agent told them people can copy the signature and use it on fraud so he get them signed the game programs.

[ScrewBll45]

I visit numerous through the mail autograph collector's websites...their success rate is around 35-40% for the season...so considering less than half of your mail ever comes back, it's not really a success.

ive got a much better rate than 35/40, of course I focus on retired players, right now Im pulling about 65-70%. Current players arent really good with fan mail, not all some are good like Brad Lidge.

[meatface]

ive got a much better rate than 35/40, of course I focus on retired players, right now Im pulling about 65-70%. Current players arent really good with fan mail, not all some are good like Brad Lidge.
Do you send it to the player's home address??or the ballpark address??

[ScrewBll45]

Do you send it to the player's home address??or the ballpark address??

It depends on the player, guys Al Kaline and Dwight Evans sign thru there respective teams, meanwhile guys like Joe Niekro(Phil isn't as good a signer as his little bro) and Harmon Killebrew use there home addresss. Some people; like Ralph Kiner have there mail forwrded to them thru a a business. It varies from person-to-person.

[frosdoll]

do you think i would be able to get a ball signed that way? the guy i know got matheny, eckstein and herzog so far. i have not been able to get ahold of him to see how he sent it. do you think if i sent the ball in one of those padded mailing envelopes with a self addressed prepaid mailing envelope that , this would be the best way to go.

[Yankee Pride]

I used to send a lot of mail to up and coming Yankees , and some Yankee players that really stunk. I know they arent worth anything , but It was cool when I was a kid!!

Some players were , Mel Hall , Bob Geren , Steve Balboni , Roy Smally.....

[ScrewBll45]

do you think i would be able to get a ball signed that way? the guy i know got matheny, eckstein and herzog so far. i have not been able to get ahold of him to see how he sent it. do you think if i sent the ball in one of those padded mailing envelopes with a self addressed prepaid mailing envelope that , this would be the best way to go.

That would work, very few players (retired or active) furnish thier own postage. Make sure your letter is very sincere. If you need anything else just ask.

[egautographs]

I might be a little late on this topic, but I want to crush a few myths of TTM collecting. It doesn't matter if you hand write or type the letters. My friend and I tried ithe 2 different methods and our success rates came back the same. Yes, the letter has to be sincere, but it doesn't have to be long. A few sentences are fine. I have had over 850+ mail successes since February 04, and my TTM website is http://www.angelfire.com/ky3/egautographs The number 1 source for TTM home addresses is Harvey Meiselman. His website is http://www.sportsaddresslists.com I use his list and I got only a few RTS's. I mainly collect retired players and collecting signed sets, such as Fleer Greats of the Game, Fan Favorites, and Pacific Legends. A lot of guys charge $$ for a signature, so I put up a list for you guys to see their signing rates:


Johnny Bench-cards, baseballs-$40
Ron Blomberg-cards-$10, magazines-$17, photos-$25, baseballs-$40, caps, jerseys-$50, bats-$75
Bert Blyleven-cards, flats-$10, hats, programs-$20, baseballs-$25, bats-$75, jerseys-$100
Nino Bongiovanni-$10 for all items
Bill Buckner-$5 for all items
Gary Carter-cards, flats-$25
Roger Craig-$5 for all items
Alvin Dark-$6 for all items
Dom DiMaggio-cards, flats-$15, baseballs-$20, bats, caps-$35, will sometimes sign for free
Rollie Fingers-$8 for all items
Whitey Ford-cards-$25, books-$30, baseballs, 8x10's-$35, large flats-$40, bats, gloves-$50, jerseys-$75
Joe Garagiola-$10 for all items, will sign the first one for free
Pumpsie Green-$10 for all items
Johnny Groth-$5 for all items
Dave Henderson-$3 for all items, will sometimes sign for free
Monte Irvin-$10 for all items, will sometimes sign for free
Ferguson Jenkins-flats, baseballs-$15, bats-$25
Dave Kingman-cards, baseballs, hats, programs, postcards-$8, bats-$10
Jerry Koosman-$5-$10 for all items
Don Larsen-$7 for unliscensed cards (ex. Pacific Legends, TCMA), baseballs-$20
Mickey Lolich-$10 for all items
Felix Mantilla-$5 for all items
Willie Mays-cards, photos, magazines-$100, baseballs, hats-$150, helmets-$200, jerseys, gloves-$325
Bill Mazeroski-$5 for all items
Sam McDowell-$5 for all items
Wally Moon-$5 for all items
Bobby Murcer-cards-$10
Jim O'Toole-$3 for all items, will sign one for free
Dave Parker-$20 for all items
Gaylord Perry-$15 for all items
Rico Petrocelli-$5 for all items
Phil Rizzuto-cards, flats-$12, will sometimes sign for free
Pete Rose-cards, baseballs-$30
Nolan Ryan-cards, small flats-$30, baseballs, 8x10's-$50, hats, gloves-$75, bats, jerseys-$95
George Scott-$6 for all items
Terry Steinbach-cards, 3x5's-$2
Ron Swoboda-$5 for all items
Frank Thomas (The Original)-$5 for all items
Frank Torre-$5 for all items
Maury Wills-flats-$8, postcards, 8x10's, cachets, magazines, books-$12, baseballs-$15, large flats, hats-$20, bats, jersey-$40

If anyone needs help, please email me by using the email address on my site.

EDIT: The Meiselman website is for buying a address book to help collectors get autographs TTM. I'm not advertising it, just saying it's the best one around

[69Mets]

The best guide that I have seen for baseball players autographs is Jack Smalling's "The Baseball Autograph Collectors Handbook" This book has every major league ballplayer's home address and managers and coaches who were not active ballplayers and also umpires address as well.
Check out his web site www.baseballaddresses.com

[jamze132]

When I was a kid, I sent a letter, card, and a SASE to Cal Ripken, JR. hoping to get an autograph. What I got back was a photo of Cal Ripken, JR, that said he was too busy to sign my card. And NO I didn't get my card back.

[jamze132]

When I was a kid, I sent a letter, card, and a SASE to Cal Ripken, JR. hoping to get an autograph. What I got back was a photo of Cal Ripken, JR, that said he was too busy to sign my card. And NO I didn't get my card back.
A FREAKIN' PHOTO????????

[bobcats62]

does anyone had a good mailing address for bill mazeroski? I'm trying to get an autograph for my brother-in-law. Thanks guys. You can e-mail me at bthompson@ccboe.com

[AlecBoy006]

Good luck!

[Sashag]

anyone know any addresses for the following guys:

Kirk Gibson



I contacted Mr. Meiselman after writing Gibson many times, with a RTS each time.
I heard back from him that Gibson doesn't sign, (this was last year I believe.)

PS Someone else recommended Smalling's book, but I have had Terrible luck with Jack Smalling's "The Baseball Autograph Collectors Handbook" I believe that practically every letter I sent out got a RTS or a Change of address label. I highly suggest and have great success with Meiselman's list.

[AutographCollector]

but I have had Terrible luck with Jack Smalling's "The Baseball Autograph Collectors Handbook" I believe that practically every letter I sent out got a RTS or a Change of address label. I highly suggest and have great success with Meiselman's list.
Who exactly are you people writing to? I haven't had a RTS, or a change of address label with Smalling's book in god knows how long. Then again I know who signs, and who not to waste my time with.

[kearns643]

Very seldom do I get a RTS from Smalling/Mieselmann...I know that Mieselmann, if you contact him on his site he will give you and updated address if one goes south.

Smalling does take a RTS/re-address and updates his book from that.

I find that the best thing to do is set the RTS aside...wait untill new book(s) is out and try again, or contact author(s).

There is a difference between RTS....address unknown, unable to forward...and refused. Usually when a player deosn't want to replay it is a refused.

[bailiff]

I agree with kearns. What I do, is cross check the player's signing habits on several different sites. I also have access to a couple of address databases. If everything seems kosher, I send the request out. I can't tell you the last time I have had a bad address. (Probably 2 years).

I use HM's ultimate list as well. This is a must.


But, like Kearns said, there is a difference between RTS and a bad addy.

[AlecBoy006]

www.stararchive.com

This is where I get my addy's. No fee for individual addy's. $5 monthly, $35 yearly.