Collecting Autographs in the good old days

[Jerry G]

I also had some great luck starting in the middle '60's with autographs through the mail. I sent out dozens of large and small magazine pictures and Jay's 5x7's. they all came back signed except one. I received Greenberg, Grove, Sisler, Joe D., Casey, Koufax, Foxx and Dizzy among others. The only one that didn't respond? Willie Mays. I'll get over it. Maybe.

So, I was long on luck, but short on brains. I did not realize that you could actually go to Woolworths and buy different sized envelopes! I just used whatever Mom and Dad had in the house. Consequently, I have a few folds.

[HRBAKER]

Jerry,
Those are beauties. The folds give them character. Good to hear that Mays was his usual coopertaive self even 50 years ago.

[Jerry G]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

Jerry,
Those are beauties. The folds give them character. Good to hear that Mays was his usual coopertaive self even 50 years ago.

Jeff,

Cards with character remind me of the blind date with "a great personality."

I was late to the party for the Cardinals team issued postcards, but I sure miss them since they stopped making them. They were awesome.

[Luke]

I did the same thing as a kid (in the 1990's). Some of my favorites are Kiner, Slaughter, Feller, Doerr, Mathews, Joe Morgan, and a bunch of the current ballplayers. Never was disciplined enough to keep track of them all though.

Luke

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by Jerry G

I also had some great luck starting in the middle '60's with autographs through the mail.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those Mantle and Maris signatures are rubber stamps. I have the identical ones, obtained the same way.

[mr2686]

In 20 or 30 years THESE will be the good old days

[Jerry G]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those Mantle and Maris signatures are rubber stamps. I have the identical ones, obtained the same way.

You're just trying to make me feel better about folding them, aren't you?
I appreciate the info. Thanks.

[milkit1]

George Harrison. Got him back once. Was never successful again.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Richard I kept a journal like yours from 1977 thru 1988 on my TTM requests. I got most of the baseball addresses from The Trader Speaks, they ran a few inside the front cover for years.

One of my favorites was a Cool Papa Bell from 1979. His daughter enclosed a note that said "Cool Papa can't see no more but he liked your letter so he signed your photo." It made me feel great.

In the early 1980s one of my jobs as SID at a school was to oversee a photo lab. I used to make 8x10s from photos in books then mail them away. I ran into some strange happenings in the 1980s. A request to Jocko Conlan came back with his personal request for prayers. He died the next day. Same from Carl Hubbell, he passed a week later.

On the football side, my letter to Sammy Baugh was mailed July 17, 1986 and the photo came back July 17, 1987. A request to Bobby Layne came back in 6 days and while watching Sports Center that night I learned that he died that day. I quit writing people for a period after that.

I did a project in the late 1980s writing to the 1964 Cardinals, they were wonderful, most sent letters and additional photos since I was just sending index cards.

Earlier this year I wrote Wally Moon, Carl Erskine and George Shuba, my first letters in over a decade. I received no responses. I guess those days have passed.

I looked back through my journals this morning and I can't find a single instance from that earlier period when a football player including HOFers did not respond. I am guessing that the hockey guys were much the same. Every one that I have ever met in person has been wonderful.

[metrotheme]

That's odd because Erskine is one of the best TTM signers out there. Moon and Shuba both charge TTM.

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

Earlier this year I wrote Wally Moon, Carl Erskine and George Shuba, my first letters in over a decade. I received no responses. I guess those days have passed.

[canjond]

Growing up I was an avid TTM autograph collector. I recently sent out a few letters again to get some unique items signed. Bobby Doerr continue to be a class act and is very generous, responding to every letter he receives.