How I do TTM

[cubsfan-budman]

Just thought I'd show a few pictures for new-to-TTM folks out there. I feel like there have been a few questions about how to do this, and I certainly didn't really know what to do when i started, so I hope this helps a few people.

This is for TTM ROMLB, but something similar (without the bubble mailers) could be done.

Necessary Parts:





Bundling it up



Good luck!

A few links that I've found helpful:

http://autographsupplies.com/
Cheapest place for ROMLBs that I've found

http://www.sportscardforum.com/forum.php
Good database of player's TTM addresses, % success tracker and a nice tool to track your own TTMs.

[shelly]

I know this is about bb. Has anyone on here tried a politician. I am even asking if anyone has tried the President. Conservatives need not respond.

[Jay Wolt]

That was well done, very helpful to the newbie.
In the day I would only send cards or HOF plaques & I always encl an SASE
Never even thought about a baseball

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by shelly

I know this is about bb. Has anyone on here tried a politician. I am even asking if anyone has tried the President. Conservatives need not respond.

I was going to but Bob Woodward said they were autopens.

[AndyG09]

Nicely done, Christian.

I once got Gerald Ford on the baseball ttm. I requested he add 38th President and he obliged. Didn't hurt that I was a Michigan fan either.

Best,

Andy

[HRBAKER]

I sent ttm as a kid in the early 70's and then really got re-engaged in about 1986. From about 1990 thru the 2005 season(s) I sent out close to 800 a year. I have literally amassed a collection of over 20,000 signed cards as well as hundreds of photos and PCs. I curtailed it when the current players all but stopped signing completely leaving the George Kells, Mickey Vernons and Bobby Doerrs of the world as the group of diminishing reliable returns. All great players but once you got a couple dozen it's time to stop.

It's a GREAT segment of the hobby and strongly supported by sites like sportscollector.net.

[mighty bombjack]

Nice post for us visual learners!

Has anyone ever tried a book? I don't know about using media mail for the return, and I wonder if it would prove too bulky and inconvenient for a signer.

[Runscott]

Chris - this is super helpful. I have a friend who is contemplating mailing a HR ball off to be signed, and this makes the process brainless.

Thanks!

[collectbaseball]

Originally Posted by shelly

I know this is about bb. Has anyone on here tried a politician. I am even asking if anyone has tried the President. Conservatives need not respond.

Jimmy Carter is known to be really good through the mail

[cubsfan-budman]

Hope someone gets some use out of this. I remember when I was asking someone the best way to do this, I wanted to get Ryne Sandberg and I wanted to give myself the best chance of success. They wrote it out in prose form and it just wasn't as clear as I wanted it to be, so I didn't feel as confident as possible when I sent my ball to Ryno.

Anyhow, it's definitely not rocket surgery, but I hope the pics help someone.

Regards,
Christian

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by cubsfan-budman

Hope someone gets some use out of this. I remember when I was asking someone the best way to do this, I wanted to get Ryne Sandberg and I wanted to give myself the best chance of success. They wrote it out in prose form and it just wasn't as clear as I wanted it to be, so I didn't feel as confident as possible when I sent my ball to Ryno.

Anyhow, it's definitely not rocket surgery, but I hope the pics help someone.

Regards,
Christian

You did a great job!

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by shelly

I know this is about bb. Has anyone on here tried a politician. I am even asking if anyone has tried the President. Conservatives need not respond.

Trying not to introduce politics in this. I am a independent, free thinking middle of the roader with views all over the spectrum, but not for discussion here. You can get either a free autopenned photo of the president or an un-autopenned photo by writing the White House Greetings Office. They are free as your taxes pay for them. No SASE required. All congressman and senators have autopens as do the SC Justices. There is a chance you would get a real one from a cong or sen, but that is small. Some of the SCJ's do answer though there is one, not sure which one (Sotamayor?), does not respond to autograph requests, even in person other than her book. If you are in D.C. you can go to the house office buildings - Rayburn, Cannon, Longwood which are southwest of the Capitol or to the senate office buildings - Russell, Dirksen or Hart which are northeast of the Capitol. They are open to the public. You can go to the appropriate office and at least get a free unsigned photo, business card and other items. It is especially good if you are from out of town and from their district. It is better if they are in session as there is a good chance you may see members walking the halls. I have seen a few around town, I work a few blocks north of the Capitol. Most of the SCJ's attend events at the Kennedy Center, though you never know who will be there.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by collectbaseball

Jimmy Carter is known to be really good through the mail

Jimmy Carter and Rosalyn Carter will sign care of the Carter Presidential Library at Emory University in Druid Hills, Georgia. It is my understanding that they will sign any of their books, but only one per request. They still have autopens for use. The photos below are ones I took while a member of the press (college radio) at the dedication of the Kennedy Library next to my college in October, 1979. In the mid to late 1980's I attended a small lecture that Carter gave in Boston. I had an unsealed envelope with several photos I took inside along with a letter explaining that I took them. After the lecture Carter had to walk along the side wall to leave out the front door. I handed the envelope to one of the secret service agents with him. Showing him what was inside. I learned from a fellow collector who was a Mass State Trooper and who had a brother in the secret service that the best way to get something to an ex-President at an event is to show one of the agents the item and hand it to them. They will give it to the President. This is only for ex-Presidents at smaller events. I got the envelope back a few days later, mailed while he was still in Boston. The bonus is that he backdated the first photo to when he was President.

I have a friend in Atlanta who attended Emory. In the late 1990's I was in town and brought these photos along. He told me about them not signing regular items but said he would drop these off at their office. I included a letter explaining I took the photos while in college etc. etc. and that they were for me. It probably helped that the first one is drymounted for framing.
I received them back in less than a week now with Mrs. Carter's signature added. The Ted Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy signatures were both signed in person at the unveiling of the JFK statue outside of the State House in Boston.

[footlong]

cubsfan, what brand of pen do you use and what are the envelpoe sizes? just to be sure. thanks for the help.

[isaac2004]

Great writeup, the only thing I add is that I put the ball in a ziplock with a sticky note on the ball asking again. Otherwise, spot on to what I do.

Great thread!

[cubsfan-budman]

Originally Posted by footlong

cubsfan, what brand of pen do you use and what are the envelpoe sizes? just to be sure. thanks for the help.

Great question. The pens are regular old blue BIC ballpoint pens. They say "Round Stic" on them. I write my letter to the player in the same ballpoint that I send to them so that I know that it writes nicely the first time they use it.

The envelopes are 3M. The smalls are 6x9.5 and the bigs are 8.5x11.25. I like these "Smart Mailers" from 3M because the envelope is self-adhesive, which I feel is much easier for the recipient (i.e. they don't have to lick stuff).

http://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Mailer-...+bubble+mailer

http://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Mailer-...m+smart+mailer

[cubsfan-budman]

Originally Posted by isaac2004

Great writeup, the only thing I add is that I put the ball in a ziplock with a sticky note on the ball asking again. Otherwise, spot on to what I do.

Great thread!

Isaac, thanks for the response. I have put items to multi-sign in bags before so the already-existing sig doesn't smudge...but I use a regular old non-zipping lunch bag. I think they mail better and are easier to stuff in the mailer (especially for some of the signers that have reached an advanced age).

Good idea to put a sticky note on the ball. I haven't gotten one back yet that wasn't signed in the sweet spot, but that would be annoying if I did