Collecting Autographs in the good old days

[vintagechris]

Originally Posted by packs

10 or 15 years ago my dad bought me and my brother a book of addresses and we sent out cards to every living HOFer. Most wrote back and were happy to sign my card for me. But others were real grimey about it and returned my letter and card in my SASE without a signature and with a list of the prices they charged for various autographs, even though I had sent them a pretty worthless card to sign, which they could have just personalized if they really felt like I was out to gain anything but a signature from someone I respected. Always rubbed me the wrong way. When you're at a show that's one thing, people know well in advance you'll be charging. But through the mail? I wrote each of them back advising them to get a job if they needed my ten dollars that badly.

IMO, you writing back to them and chastising them was pretty disrespectful. It is their choice to sign for free or charge if they like. The thing is too, had you paid what they were asking back then, most would be worth quite a bit more today.

[vintagechris]

In 1983 I saw an ad in SCD for Jack Smallings address list. I bought it thinking I would try a few players and see if it worked.

I sent for Mickey Mantle, Pete Rose, and Ted Williams. After a couple of months of waiting, I gave up. Then about 6 months after I mailed them, my Dad brings me some mail for me. Ted Williams had signed my card! Wow! I was one excited 14 year old.

I then spent a couple of summers writing to HOF'ers and got players like Mays, Aaron, Joe D. , HUbbell, Roush just about all the living HOF'ers. Never did get Mantle or Rose back.

As far as Mays, I probably sent to him 10 times back then and he always signed. I know his reputation but he was always nice to this 14 year old kid.

[milkit1]

I did a lot of ttm in the late 80's. one of my fave things that I still have is Donald Honigs Baseball in the 30's book that I got signed 74 signatures in, almost all through the mail. The book got so beat up from me mailing it that my dad had to reinforce the spine but its super cool still. Sure miss those days.

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[milkit1]

some more of my fave through the mail items:
I collected reprints pages from the 1933 whos who in baseball book and got about 50 of them signed through the mail.
Also got this 1930 and 31 Philadelphia ASthletics team photo signed by Dib Williams and Roger cramer. Dib williams wrote on the back :"I think roger cramer and I are the only players still alive from this team". I got Williams first. I sent to Cramer and 2 weeks later found out he died. A few days later this came in the mail. It must of been about the last thing he ever signed.

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[packs]

Who was one guy you guys thought would never write back to you and did?