Collecting Autographs in the good old days

[Writehooks]

In 1980 I sent a ball to Catfish Hunter, c/o "General Delivery, Hertford, N.C." I also enclosed a short note requesting that he personalize the autograph, and a money order for $10 to cover return postage. A few weeks later, I was thrilled to receive a package marked "special delivery." Inside was the ball — beautifully inscribed — along with two signed color photos and the UNCASHED money order, along with a handwritten note from Hunter that said he was "just happy to have fans up in Canada." Truly a classy guy.

[danc]

I wrote TTM's from 1980 to roughly 1986 with great success as well. I would have success (usually a 1927 Yankee) and hound them until they told me that they have signed enough for me. I would then use another address. I apologize to James "Cool Papa" Bell, Mark Koenig, George Uhle and George Pipgras.

Today, through StarTiger, I still do a little as "side fun", but mostly non-baseball as all you get with baseball it seems nowadays is "no success" or a a dreaded price list.

A few years ago I wrote to every pitcher (that I could) that gave up Maris' home run ball (no stars unless you count Pappas and Larsen) and I actually got 80% back, to my surprise. Those were the days though.

DanC

[slidekellyslide]

back in the early to mid 1980s I used to send some TTM requests and got back quite a few...I think they were mostly rubber stamps. What made me mad though was that I sent probably 10 requests to the Boston Red Sox...my favorite team and I didn't get a single one back. I sent Pete O'Brien three cards to sign..one each of his rookie cards from 1984..he signed the Fleer, but sent the other two back unsigned...maybe he thought I was going to try to sell his autograph for a whole 25 cents or something?

Last year I tried an experiment and sent out about 20 requests to players who played for Lincoln in the minors from 1947 to 61...I only got one back signed - Larry Shepard who managed in the mid 1950s and went on to manage the Pirates and coach for the Reds. In May I saw a newspaper article on a guy who played for Lincoln in 1948 and I just happened to have a photo of him so I had the photo copied and sent him a few which I told him he could keep. He sent me back the signed photo and even typed up a letter to me which he also signed. I thought that was awesome. He's 89 years old.