Header - Baseball by the Letters

Month: June 2010

Admiring "The Amazing Shea Stadium Autograph Project"

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“Get your own autograph!”

No, I don’t think that was a line from a Seinfeld episode. I do think it might be good advice for collectors.

Take a look at The Amazing Shea Stadium Autograph Project blog. I think collector Lee Harmon is doing many things right in his hobby game plan. The Mets have amazed Harmon. Harmon amazes me.

1. He found a way to go beyond blank index cards as collectibles. These homemade, customized cards are beauties! The only problem I could imagine is the player who loves the look of the custom so much they want to send back a common gum card substitute.

2. He’s set a specific goal. I think too many collectors flame out trying to get every card ever made signed, one signature of every player in history or some other huge, frustrating task.

3. He’s letting ex-Mets be famous again. If you were told that you were one of just 791 people being asked for a signature because of your unique past (playing in Shea), wouldn’t you want to help? Retirees should like helping Harmon with his goal, considering that they tried to achieve goals for years as players.

4. His collection is personal. Harmon’s blog shows how he loves the team. Most of all, through his own card (and HIS OWN autograph), he proves how he treasures the memory of Shea.

For some of the tough signers, I’d think Harmon could point them to the blog. Here’s proof that he’d honor any autograph he receives. While he’s not promising to get any old-timer back in the Mets lineup, he’s sharing their career and life story with more than 10,000 readers. Not a bad consolation prize.

A standing O to Lee Harmon. I’ll stay tuned!

Slugger Mike Sandlock Made Dodgers Move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles?!?

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“Joke.”

I don’t get credit for that one. It’s from Mike Sandlock, yet another witty catcher.

Oh, the punchline comes last. Here’s Mike, offering a fun letter at age 94:

“Remember?!

My first home run in the Polo Grounds. I saw the ball go over the Chesterfield Sign.

Second? The one in Ebbets Field, that one hit the clock in center.

They couldn’t fix it, so they moved to L.A.

Joke.

Both off the same pitcher, Harry Feldman.

P.S. – I wish I could type??”

Why is Mike Sandlock on my heroes list? He is a World War II veteran who delayed the start of his major league career. He’s been a staunch supporter of the Baseball Assistance Team, getting financial aid to disadvantaged former players. Plus, I think he could go joke for joke against Garagiola, Uecker or any other receiver!

Twin Frank Quilici’s Italian Nickname

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One of the things I love about baseball? You can’t assume anything.

Growing up in the Midwest, it seems like Frank Quilici is a Twins tradition. Whether infielder, manager or long-time color commentator, he’s a big part of team history.

Reading about Frank, the first surprise that popped up was his nickname:

Guido.

Not being Italian, I puzzled at the accounts of teammates tagging Frank with “Guido.” Was this just a sign of more relaxed, less-politically correct times?
Try listing all ethnic nicknames for current players. Can you think of any?

I asked in a letter, along with a request for memories of Metropolitan Stadium and that 1965 A.L. Championship squad. I received a sparkling reply to my letter:

“Guido is my Dad’s name in italian. he loved baseball and we enjoyed every day that we could play catch and go to the park. Guido means ‘Guy’ in English. I was proud and happy that the guys called me my dad’s name. I was very proud of him and my mom.

Metropolitan Stadium was a big playpen for my four children. As they grew up, they loved being there and loved the people who worked for Calvin Griffith. It was like extended family. Bob Showers has a great book out called The Twins at the Met

“The 1965 team was led by our silent leader, Harmon Killebrew. Our veterans were really class guys and we played day by day, forgetting the last game and looking forward to the next.

“My life in baseball was magic but not without setbacks and fighting for everything I earned. I loved every minute that I wore a Twins uniform.

“Best of Luck. Go Twins! Frank Quilici”

Gifts For All Collectors!

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Happy Birthday, Diana!

My wife has been a wonderful friend to me. On her birthday, she gives gifts.

Therefore, I want to follow her sterling example. Here are three tips to help anyone wanting to stand out in your correspondence with a current or former player:

1. Choose a strong question. WHY works. HOW is a close second. Let them explain a moment in baseball history to you. WHAT was your greatest thrill? Don’t expect an entire sentence to answer that one, let alone a paragraph.

2. Quote them. You’re sure to get a “the answer should be in my latest book…” Well, if you’ve read the book and wonder why they feel that way, ASK! Collectors have said that they’ve seen Dave Winfield sign in person, choosing to first autograph copies of his books before signing any cards or baseballs.

3. Learn from greeting cards! Here’s my ultimate secret. Never pass up those stray greeting card envelopes at Hallmark or stationery stores. The envelopes and the cards never match, so the store sells a pile of colorful envelopes for as little as a penny apiece. When did you ever get a bill or bad news from one of those cheery envelopes with the Hallmark logo on the back? That happy memory might make a player open your letter first.

Are there any “extra touches” you use to help increase your response rate?

Finding Updated Player Addresses

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This is the logo I remember from when I first started collecting autographs by mail in the early 1970s.

One of the first techniques I learned was adding ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED under my return address.

Logos change. So do the times.

On a whim, I called my local post office. Essentially, the USPS voice said:

Your letter gets forwarded for one year. For the next 6 months, you’ll get your letter back with the new address label (if available).

No need to write ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED.

I’ll try to verify this in the days ahead. However, I hope it’s true. Adding those words made me feel like a bill collector trying to track down a deadbeat.