Living Players with Pre-War HOF RCs

[GehrigFan]

I've started getting into the idea of collecting Vintage HOF RCs that are somewhat affordable. I'd really like to try a few guys through the mail, although at their age now I just don't know if they would sign. Plus, sending a RC through the mail is a lot riskier than some reprint.

Here are a few I thought of off the top of my head who are still living. I decided to include a few 1940's/1950's guys as well.


Pre-War:

*1938 Goudey Heads Up Bobby Doerr


40's/50's guys:

1948 Bowman Yogi Berra
1948 Bowman Red Schoendienst
1951 Bowman Monte Irvin
1951 Bowman Willie Mays
*1951 Bowman Whitey Ford
1954 Topps Al Kaline
1954 Topps Ernie Banks
1954 Topps Hank Aaron
1954 Topps Tom Lasorda
1955 Topps Sandy Koufax
1956 Topps Luis Aparicio
1957 Topps Bill Mazeroski
1957 Topps Brooks Robinson
1957 Topps Frank Robinson
*1957 Topps Jim Bunning
*1957 Topps Whitey Herzog
1958 Topps Orlando Cepeda
*1959 Topps Bob Gibson

The players with an asterisk (*) are cards I still need if anyone has one for sale (lower end/cheaper preferred as I will likely lose it in the mail if I send for their signatures that way)!

Does anyone know the signing habits of any of these guys through the mail (and an address)?

Are there websites that consolidate upcoming signings (private signings or shows) you can send cards to for signing?

Thanks for any info!
Mark

[Luke]

When I was doing autographs 15 years ago Bobby Doerr would sign everything you sent him for free, super nice guy. Ernie Banks, Brooks Robinson and Al Kaline all had charities where you donated like $15-30 for a signature. I'm not aware of the other guys signing through the mail back then. And obviously a lot of time has passed.

[HRBAKER]

Whitey Herzog - $5 per item

Jim Bunning - usually free c/o home, can take awhile

[GehrigFan]

Thanks guys!

I got Doerr through the mail, too, long ago. Just not sure if he still signes aat his old age now. I hate to lose a pretty big card like that in the mail.

Does anybody know a site where they still list addresses of players?

[sycks22]

Just got a Bunning OMLB ball with a couple inscriptions through the mail for $5. Took about a month.

[39special]

I got Lasorda about a year ago,no fee,sending to Dodger stadium.

[HotSpringsBaseball]

Here are some answers to your questions.
1) Bobby Doerr has always been great with fanmail.
3) Monte Irvin is no longer signing due to poor eyesight.
3) Yogi Berra is usually very difficult and more so now that Carmen has passed away and their house is on the market.
4) Brooks Robinson signs once per year through his website the fee for cards is $40.00.
5, 6) Both Hank Aaron and Willie Mays are near impossible to get via mail and a signing is your best bet.
7) Jim Bunning is very nice through the mail.
8) Al Kaline is VERY hit and miss and is known for keeping both your card and money.

Hopefully this helps and keep us updated on your progress.
Good Luck!

[cubsfan-budman]

From personal experience:

Doerr still signs
Aaron is with Steiner and will TTM for a fee via Steiner
Kaline sent my ball (and money) back
Berra no longer signs
Banks signs at shows, but sent my ball back that i sent him TTM

for schoendienst, gibson, mazeroski, cepeda, aparicio and the robinsons, i used a guy who sets up signings. pm me if you'd like his email.

[packs]

Write to Whitey Ford and mention Veronica Hirt. She was my grandmother and they were neighbors in Queens all the way up until Whitey was signed by the Yanks. I've gotten him quite a few times TTM using her name in my letter. You can say she was your aunt.

[GehrigFan]

Thanks for all the advice guys. To start, I'm going to send a few cards with friends going to the larger upcoming shows and have them get them signed for me. I know - I hate to pay $30-50 each, but I'm just afraid that most players will keep my card if I send through the mail. I used to do a lot of TTM requests about 10-15 years ago and only received responses from maybe 3-5%. On a few of the guys that soound like they still sign TTM I'll send that way if their RC is on the cheaper side.

For those who do TTM a lot - which website do you prefer to use:

SCN (SportsCollectors.Net) or StarTiger? Both cost money, curious which seems more updated?

Mark

[cubsfan-budman]

i used scn and it was pretty good. scn has updates nearly every day.

i did not use startiger...because its called startiger.

[gypsyking13]

I got Kaline's autograph through the mail a year or so ago by sending to the Tigers' stadium with a $5 donation. It seems like whether he signs or not is about a 50:50 shot.

[39special]

I use Sports card forum. Its free and they have a nice amount of addresses.

[Louieman]

I've also heard positive news regarding Bobby Doerr signing. However I sent him a 1949 Leaf in the mail about 2 months ago, and never received anything back. But overall I've heard success stories with him