Fun stuff to do
Get that autograph
It’s not as easy to get an autograph in person as it was when your dad was your age.
Professional athletes today tend to keep their distance, and some will sign autographs only for money. Still, there is a way to get autographs both from current players and from players who have been retired for years: the U.S. mail.
HERE’S HOW:
- Go through your sports trading cards and identify a player you would like to ask for an autograph. It’s probably best to start with less well-known players, because they’re less likely to receive as many requests.
- Write a polite, friendly letter asking the player to autograph your card. Remember that athletes, like all celebrities, receive many requests from fans. Writing a thoughtful letter is key.
- If the player is still active, simply mail him your request in care of his team. Addresses for all Major League teams can be found at www.mlb.com. For retired players, most libraries will have a book or two containing player addresses. Try Jack Smalling’s “The Baseball Autograph Collector’s Handbook,” available in some libraries or at www.baseballaddresses.com. This book, updated periodically, contains more than 11,000 addresses of players, coaches and umpires.
- Once you have a player’s address, mail the letter and the card with a self-addressed stamped envelope, and be patient. It can sometimes take months to receive a reply. Good idea: Send only cards of which you have duplicates. Some players won’t respond, and you’ll never see the card again.
When you do get a signed card back, be sure to send a thank you note.
WHAT AUTOGRAPHS DO YOU HAVE?
Tell us which autographs you’ve collected and how you got them in the comments field below.
Read 71 comments about “Get that autograph”
Comment page: « 8 7 6 5 [4] 3 2 1 »
Comment page: « 8 7 6 5 [4] 3 2 1 »
May 11th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
I have a bert blyleven micheal cuddyer nolan ryan harmon killebrew scott erickson jason tyner and babe ruthe autographs
May 10th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
I have signed Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon rookie cards worth $900 a pop.
May 9th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
He says to write a thoughtful letter, but doesn’t tell you how!
May 7th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
I have Tiki Barber, Joe Morris,Charles Way,Willie Pondor,Sparky Lyle baseball, and Alex Smith jersey card bucs.
May 6th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
oh yeah? i have a john smoltz autographed baseball that I got from Sid bream,
And a Randy johnson rookie card, a Manny ramerez rookie card, barry bonds rookie,
john smoltz rookie, Curt schilling rookie,a 1981 Phil Neciro. beat that!!!!!
May 6th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
where can you find the wizards address?
May 5th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
I have (not autographed) 2 Roger clemens cards, both vintage,Cesar Itzuris NL Rawlings golden glove card, Barry Bond, Ivan Rodriguez, Wade Bogs,Jason Bay rookie of 2004,Vernon Wells Al Rawlings golden glove card, And Golden 54 years of collecting Aramis Ramirez Card!!!! P.S. some of them are topps (not THAT rare) and a couple of these are The Franchise,Score and Donrus!
May 5th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
i have one of babe ruth!!!
my grand dad got it from him because they were great friends
May 3rd, 2007 at 7:55 pm
I have jackie robinson, babe ruth, and lou gehrig
May 3rd, 2007 at 1:45 pm
I have collected 25 Hockey Hall of Famers, 25 Football Hall of Famers, and 40 Baseball Hall of Famers. I have met: Johnny Unitas, Magic Johnson, Jaromir Jagr, Gordie Howe, Y.A. Tittle, Larry Doby, Rollie, Fingers, Goose Gossage, Al Kaline, Ralph Kiner, Cal Ripken, Sergei Federov, Lem Barney, Eddie Matthews, Scottie Bowman, Phil Esposito, Tony Esposito, Ted Lindsay, Guy LaFleur,Dale Hawrechuck,Marcel Dionne, Craig Monroe, Placido Polanco, Bob Feller, Ralph Kiner, Brooks Robinson, Boog Powell, Earl Weaver, Bob Gibson, and many more that slip my mind!