On Monday, 1/30/12, I mailed Bert Blyleven a request (home address, Fort Myers?). Bert does not sign through the mail for free, but with a donation to the Parkinson's Foundation, he will sign anything. Cards, photos, baseballs, Homer Hankies. At least it's for a good cause. And at least he's willing to sign. He's even willing to personalize and inscribe, for a little more. Some Twins fans feel that Bert has become "stuck up" since his Hall of Fame induction. Personally, I think it was long overdue and as long as the money he's taking from autographs is going to a good cause, I guess I don't have a huge problem with it. His solo station at TwinsFest was $35 alone!
Today, Tuesday, 1/31/12, I mailed out 5 packages to Joe Benson (Spring Training), Greg Gagne (home address), Gene Larkin (home address), Jim Perry (home address), and Frank Viola (home address). My research shows that Viola requests a $5 signing fee for anything through the mail, which some people find annoying, but I find encouraging. My goal is to get their autograph. At least he's willing to do it!
That brings my current total to 11 attempts and already, just two weeks in, 1 success. I'll probably look to send another batch out early next week.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Success #1: Kevin Tapani
10 days.
10 days is all it took for Mr. Tapani to sign my baseball and mail it back to me! I've hardly begun and I've found success! I do hope my system works to return the baseballs to me safely, as I notice a small smudge on Tapani's "K" to start his name. Not too shabby otherwise!
I can remember vividly getting Kevin Tapani's rookie card in a pack of Upper Decks in 1990. I thought it was awesome because it was one of the first Twins rookie players I had gotten. Tapani went on to get Rookie of the Year votes after a great rookie season.
In my letter of request to Tapani, I remarked that two of my favorite Twins have worn the number 36. He in the 90s, and more recently Joe Nathan. Tapani went on to pitch for the Cubs and Dodgers and his number changed. Autographed baseballs I've seen of his online do not have a uniform number inscription. Mine has a "#36" above his name. I couldn't help but think it was a nice personal touch, added by Tapani after reading my letter.
Mailed: 1/18/12
Received: 1/28/12 (10 days)
Sending Baseballs TTM
I said earlier, I want to receive something of substance for my efforts. I don't have an endless supply of baseball cards to send out and besides, baseball cards aren't really my thing. I don't care if I have to spend a little extra in postage. My primary goal(s), baseballs and 8x10s.
I'm trying to make it really easy for the signer to return the item to me. I'm sending baseballs to the majority of the Twins I'm trying to contact. I've been told by a few professional autograph collectors, that former, retired guys are a good bet if their home address can be located. Some are great signers. Some are terrible signers. Some charge a small fee, which more often than not, goes toward a charity they are passionate about. The internet is a glorious thing. I'm holding out on purchasing Harvey's Sports Address List, and finding good luck in tracking down many home addresses. Some of my All-Time Favorites, live very normal lives now.
I already sent a baseball off to Kevin Tapani's home address, and shortly after, I sent baseballs to Jeff Reardon (home address) and Miguel Sano (Spring Training). I've read that Reardon is a great signer and I love Minnesota closers. An acquaintance on a Minnesota Twins message board, who relocates to Florida for the winters (he's retired and loves to golf), informed me that the Twins #1 prospect Sano, arrived late last week to begin his workouts! I decided to try and reach him before he got too busy in Spring Training routines. We'll see if he signs. I mailed both on 1/26/12.
As you can see in the photo above, I send four things in a #2 size (8x11) bubble mailer: a Bic blue ink, ball point pen (the best for signing baseballs, believe it or not), a Rawlings baseball (not the pricey MLB ones - I'll try them in really special occasions), a letter of request (LOR, not shown), and a self addressed, postage paid, #0 size (6x9) bubble mailer, for the player to send the ball back. Everything they would ever need is all in that 8x11 bubble mailer. All they have to do is sign my baseball, and mail it back.
Then the waiting begins.
I'm trying to make it really easy for the signer to return the item to me. I'm sending baseballs to the majority of the Twins I'm trying to contact. I've been told by a few professional autograph collectors, that former, retired guys are a good bet if their home address can be located. Some are great signers. Some are terrible signers. Some charge a small fee, which more often than not, goes toward a charity they are passionate about. The internet is a glorious thing. I'm holding out on purchasing Harvey's Sports Address List, and finding good luck in tracking down many home addresses. Some of my All-Time Favorites, live very normal lives now.
I already sent a baseball off to Kevin Tapani's home address, and shortly after, I sent baseballs to Jeff Reardon (home address) and Miguel Sano (Spring Training). I've read that Reardon is a great signer and I love Minnesota closers. An acquaintance on a Minnesota Twins message board, who relocates to Florida for the winters (he's retired and loves to golf), informed me that the Twins #1 prospect Sano, arrived late last week to begin his workouts! I decided to try and reach him before he got too busy in Spring Training routines. We'll see if he signs. I mailed both on 1/26/12.
As you can see in the photo above, I send four things in a #2 size (8x11) bubble mailer: a Bic blue ink, ball point pen (the best for signing baseballs, believe it or not), a Rawlings baseball (not the pricey MLB ones - I'll try them in really special occasions), a letter of request (LOR, not shown), and a self addressed, postage paid, #0 size (6x9) bubble mailer, for the player to send the ball back. Everything they would ever need is all in that 8x11 bubble mailer. All they have to do is sign my baseball, and mail it back.
Then the waiting begins.
My First Attempt(s)
Just when I decided my efforts would be strictly focused on getting autographs through the mail of Minnesota Twins greats, the New England Patriots beat the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round of the 2012 Playoffs. I just couldn't help myself.
I've heard that Tom Brady is impossible to get but my research has shown that some luck has been had through the mail with Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker. So on 1/17/12, I sent them off a few 8x10s. I bought a pack of 9x12 envelopes and wrote my name as the mailing address. I paid for enough return postage, folded it in half, and stuck it inside another 9x12 envelope with a blue Sharpie and the player photos. My goal was to make it as easy as possible in case it does find the guys.
On the same day that I mailed out the photos c/o New England Patriots (1/17/12), I sent out my first Minnesota Twins fan mail. I mailed a baseball to one of my favorite pitchers from the 1990s, Kevin Tapani. I will describe how I mailed the baseball in a future post.
I've heard that Tom Brady is impossible to get but my research has shown that some luck has been had through the mail with Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker. So on 1/17/12, I sent them off a few 8x10s. I bought a pack of 9x12 envelopes and wrote my name as the mailing address. I paid for enough return postage, folded it in half, and stuck it inside another 9x12 envelope with a blue Sharpie and the player photos. My goal was to make it as easy as possible in case it does find the guys.
On the same day that I mailed out the photos c/o New England Patriots (1/17/12), I sent out my first Minnesota Twins fan mail. I mailed a baseball to one of my favorite pitchers from the 1990s, Kevin Tapani. I will describe how I mailed the baseball in a future post.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Where, Oh Where to Begin . . .
. . . Fox Sports North's list of 50 Greatest Twins seems as good a place as any!
Rick Aguilera, Bob Allison, Earl Battey, Bert Blyleven, Lyman Bostock, Tom Brunansky, Rod Carew, John Castino, Michael Cuddyer, Gary Gaetti
Greg Gagne, Ron Gardenhire, Dan Gladden, Dave Goltz, Mudcat Grant, Eddie Guardado, Larry Hisle, Kent Hrbek, Torii Hunter, Jim Kaat
Tom Kelly, Harmon Killebrew, Chuck Knoblauch, Jerry Koosman, Corey Koskie, Gene Larkin, Billy Martin, Gene Mauch, Joe Mauer, Sam Mele
Paul Molitor, Justin Morneau, Jack Morris, Joe Nathan, Tony Oliva, Camilo Pascual, Jim Perry, Kirby Puckett, Frank Quilici, Brad Radke
Jeff Reardon, Johan Santana, Roy Smalley, Rick Stelmaczek, Kevin Tapani, Cesar Tovar, Zoilo Versalles, Frank Viola, Dave Winfield, Al Worthington
Now I have to admit, when the list was announced last year, I hadn't heard of everyone on that list. I'd heard of most of them but a few names escaped me. A few names were head scratchers and surely wouldn't be on my own list of "50 Greatest Twins". Like John Castino, Frank Quilici, and Rick Stelmaczek. Others were great MLB players but not necessarily for the Twins, like Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield. And some were deceased and would be very difficult to obtain through the mail, like Kirby, Harmon, Lyman Bostock, and Zoilo Versalles. Other names I expected to see on the list (or wanted to see on that list), were the likes of Randy Bush, Scott Erickson, Jacque Jones, Matt Lawton, Shane Mack, Doug Mientkiewicz, and Butch Wynegar.
Some of these names I was not interested in, even as a Twins fan. The rest, gave me a good place to start! Oh, and I compiled a list of my own personal All Time Favorite 15, and listed it to the right hand side of the blog. They are currently in alphabetical order, but sometimes when I'm in the midst of a dry spell (autograph receiving that is) I may post about the 15 and count backwards to my #1 favorite Twin of All Time and why they're worthy of my mention.
Rick Aguilera, Bob Allison, Earl Battey, Bert Blyleven, Lyman Bostock, Tom Brunansky, Rod Carew, John Castino, Michael Cuddyer, Gary Gaetti
Greg Gagne, Ron Gardenhire, Dan Gladden, Dave Goltz, Mudcat Grant, Eddie Guardado, Larry Hisle, Kent Hrbek, Torii Hunter, Jim Kaat
Tom Kelly, Harmon Killebrew, Chuck Knoblauch, Jerry Koosman, Corey Koskie, Gene Larkin, Billy Martin, Gene Mauch, Joe Mauer, Sam Mele
Paul Molitor, Justin Morneau, Jack Morris, Joe Nathan, Tony Oliva, Camilo Pascual, Jim Perry, Kirby Puckett, Frank Quilici, Brad Radke
Jeff Reardon, Johan Santana, Roy Smalley, Rick Stelmaczek, Kevin Tapani, Cesar Tovar, Zoilo Versalles, Frank Viola, Dave Winfield, Al Worthington
Now I have to admit, when the list was announced last year, I hadn't heard of everyone on that list. I'd heard of most of them but a few names escaped me. A few names were head scratchers and surely wouldn't be on my own list of "50 Greatest Twins". Like John Castino, Frank Quilici, and Rick Stelmaczek. Others were great MLB players but not necessarily for the Twins, like Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield. And some were deceased and would be very difficult to obtain through the mail, like Kirby, Harmon, Lyman Bostock, and Zoilo Versalles. Other names I expected to see on the list (or wanted to see on that list), were the likes of Randy Bush, Scott Erickson, Jacque Jones, Matt Lawton, Shane Mack, Doug Mientkiewicz, and Butch Wynegar.
Some of these names I was not interested in, even as a Twins fan. The rest, gave me a good place to start! Oh, and I compiled a list of my own personal All Time Favorite 15, and listed it to the right hand side of the blog. They are currently in alphabetical order, but sometimes when I'm in the midst of a dry spell (autograph receiving that is) I may post about the 15 and count backwards to my #1 favorite Twin of All Time and why they're worthy of my mention.
A Guy Needs a Hobby
On July 3, 2006, my wife Kelli and I were sitting in Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO watching the Twins wrap up batting practice. Joe Nathan, the Twins career saves leader (although not at the time), one of my all time favorite Twins, made his way toward the fans lined up along the third baseline and began signing autographs. We had splurged on good tickets so this was unfolding right in front of us yet I was frozen to my seat. My wife grabbed a baseball, ran down in line, and before I knew it was back up sitting next to me with Joe's name written on the ball. Luckily, I had another so I got up the courage to go down and get one for myself.
I remember him signing forever that day. And I remember thinking how cool it would be to have a man cave with autographed Twins memorabilia displayed. Well, that day is now. While planning a small basement remodel, I decided to turn to the mail to begin my collection of Twins autographs. Occasionally, when possible, I'm going to try and seek out player appearances, and occasionally I will branch out from just obtaining Twins players. But the Twins are the team I love the most, the Twins are the team I know the most, and so they are the team I will focus the majority of my efforts on.
I had a baseball card collection when I was younger, but it's nothing terribly impressive. Besides, even if I did have tons of cards to send out, I want items of a little more substance autographed. I want pieces I can display proudly. I'm willing to pay a little more in postage to make it happen. Baseballs and 8x10s are where I'll begin.
I plan on using this blog to document my process, my mailings, and my successes, as well as some off the cuff Minnesota Twins rants.
I had a baseball card collection when I was younger, but it's nothing terribly impressive. Besides, even if I did have tons of cards to send out, I want items of a little more substance autographed. I want pieces I can display proudly. I'm willing to pay a little more in postage to make it happen. Baseballs and 8x10s are where I'll begin.
I plan on using this blog to document my process, my mailings, and my successes, as well as some off the cuff Minnesota Twins rants.
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