Header - Baseball by the Letters

Year: 2012

The Envelope, Please: Roger ‘Super RC’ Chen Shares The Autograph Joy On Youtube

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Look for
this RC
on Youtube!

Don’t be afraid to wish.

After viewing another empty mailbox by my front door, I grumbled, “I hope other collectors are getting some responses today.” No, I didn’t run down the street, peeking in other mailboxes.

With Youtube, I didn’t have to!

I’m so happy to see collector videos on Youtube. When I saw a great story about pitcher Ryan Tatusko, posted by “Super RC,” I had to know how “Super” this collector was.

He didn’t disappoint. The “RC” wasn’t a Rookie Card abbreviation. This truly super collector is Roger Chen. I thank him for the e-interview, which I share with you:
“Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share some thoughts about my ‘graphing experience: it’s always been a passion of mine and though my ultimate goal is to have a good collection, I want to be able to show others how to do it; to help them build the confidence that they TOO can have their favorite player’s autograph through the mail (or in person).

The love affair for TTM autos was Will Clark signing my 87 Topps rookie card about 20 years ago. It came full circle last week when I met Will at AT&T park and he signed my ball and I had a 45 second conversation with my boyhood hero.”

Q: How did Ryan Tatusko respond to your tribute, showing all the cards he signed?

A: He was VERY appreciative of the video. I did the video because I wanted to honor him the right way for making the time to sign. I hope I did just that.

Q: Do you have any of the cards left to give out? If so, please offer detailed instructions of how you’d like requests/contacts to be made?

A: I have a few left. Just reach out to me on youtube or this email address and provide a U.S. mail address (limit 1 per person).

Q: What kind of in-person ‘graphing do you do?

A: Primarily at the minor league ball parks: I enjoy the closer quarters and more personal interaction with the athletes because I can spend more time talking with them often times one on one. Most of the guys are generous to sign my entire stack of cards but I try to keep it to 2-3 cards per person per encounter.

I’ve also had success waiting outside the player’s parking lot. It provides a great opportunity for chatter and eye contact without the separation of a dugout, fence or a beam.

Q: You mentioned the response from JW Porter on another great video. Have you gotten by-mail answers to questions from other former players?

A: Though I haven’t gotten responses from former players, I did a personalized response from Leilani Munter: race car driver and environmental activist. As you can see in the video, her care package was really awesome.

Q: I’ve never tried Twitter. What type of responses have you gotten tweeting current and former players?

A: I’ve reached out to prospects during spring training and got more responses then as opposed to the regular season: simple ask to send stuff & get signed, wait for a response.

Q: I’m sure other collectors jumped at asking for a Ryan T card. You made a very generous offer. But what other kind of feedback have you gotten from other Youtube videos of yours? How has it helped connecting with other collectors?

A: Fellow ‘tubers have given me a lot of support and encouragement for the gesture, and my main goal was to share in Ryan’s generosity. A lot of people I’ve sent to are also TTM and IP auto collectors as well.

Q: What’s your current focus or specialty for baseball autograph collecting?

A: Right now I focus on the in-person autograph: I enjoy that instant gratification and personal interaction. I have also dabbled in the TTM auto of former players as well turning old baseball cards into signed beauties.

Q: Future goals?

A: I see myself doing more TTM’s and trading fellow graphers for their IP or TTM autos 50/50.

Q: Advice for other collectors thinking about posting their own Youtube hobby video?

A: Absolutely DO IT: you are on a platform to let the original signers know that the package was recieved, and you appreciate their time for signing your stuff… also, people who see how generous a signer is may follow suit and send stuff to that person as well.

Roger is an “old school” hobbyist. I’m grateful that he’s sharing all he knows. You’ll see in his Tatusko video a helpful aside about using Staedtler pens. Anyone with other questions, write him at superrc@gmail.com. His twitter handle is @roger_chen.

Coming Friday: A Review of Jim Abbott’s “Imperfect: An Improbable Life.”

D-backs Pitcher Brad Ziegler Reveals A Shocking Stat For TTM Autograph Collectors

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If you get Brad by mail, be assured that a
Bible verse will be attached!

There may have been a few groans when Pat Neshek shared May advice for autograph collectors. Don’t forget the SASE? Some veteran hobbyists snorted. Who wouldn’t enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope? Where was the advanced, top-secret formula for guaranteed autographs?

I decided to cross-check Pat’s concern. Could it be? I sought out Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brad Ziegler. How many fan letter autograph requests does he get NOT including a SASE? I told him that veteran collectors hope to get the word spread, to reduce the number to ZERO.

He replied:

Thank you 🙂 5%. Most have SASE.
 The ones that don’t, I keep the cards.

Five percent is five percent too many.

I’m grateful to Stephanee (Mrs. Pat) Neshek, who asked the same question to her talented husband. She wrote:

Pat loves the hobby himself so he tries to be as accessible as he can be. He said about 1 out of every 10 requests don’t have a SASE.

Come to think of it…one out of 10 is one too many.

Why? That one could push a current or former player into finding the needed scapegoat. Imagine. “I hate it when they do this. I’m not going to do fan mail any more!”

I salute everyone who’s learned the rules of TTM collecting. To everyone who shares those rules, I offer an extra cheer.

Coming Wednesday: Youtube, the next stop for autograph enlightenment!

Japan’s Masanori Murakami Shares Memories!

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Living in Japan, baseball fan Kohei Nirengi is anything but typical. Approximately, 95 percent of his collection consists of American major leaguers.

He had reached Masanori Murakami years ago, wanting an autograph because of the pitcher’s Jackie Robinson-like fame in being the first Japanese barrier breaker to reach the majors.
Kohei writes autograph requests by hand. Anyone who hears from this collector knows the purpose of the letter:

“Baseball is the most beautiful game.”

Helping add such touches in translating David Patton’s words, Masanori Murakami included an additional response to questions.

Here’s the translation of the response Kohei helped secure:

Q1: Are you a Giants fan?
Murakami: “Of course! I go to San Francisco almost every year. I saw Willie Mays in person last year.  I sent his 80th Birthday gift to him. Mays’ and my birthday is May 6, but he is older than me by 13 years.”

Q2: I would be interested in hearing of your favorite memory of your U.S. playing days.

M: “Willie Mays and Tom Haller invited me to each of their homes. I still treasure to keep a cuff links which was a gift by Mays. Also I got a chance to talk with Roberto Clemente at a locker room, especially I was impressed by his volunteer works. Lastly, I got a ‘save’ as Marichal hit Roseboro over the head with his bat  and then we had a brawl against the L.A. Dodgers at Candlestick Park.”
I asked the humble Kohei if he was prepared for other collectors clamoring for his skills.

His answer? Kohei has contacted Murakami again. Kohei’s charities of choice have been his local animal shelter and Japanese organizations aiding tsunami and earthquake survivors. He’s asking the fabled pitcher what charities he supports, in hopes of the two of them combining on a private signing to help causes they both favor.

Kohei assures me that BBTL readers will be among the first to learn of the details of how and when such an opportunity could happen. Please, add a comment below if you’d be interested in Murakami’s autograph while aiding Japanese charities.

Coming Monday: Do all TTM collectors include a SASE? What happens when someone doesn’t? Diamondbacks pitcher and collector Brad Ziegler explains.

Giants Pitcher Masanori Murakami: Tracking Down A Baseball Pioneer’s Elusive Autogaph

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David Patton’sprize!

Hobby tales always fascinate me. The best ones have morals. Here are three lessons I learned from the following story:

1. The power of the Internet.
2. The power of focus.
3. The power of ASKING.

I’ve always agreed with Albert Einstein, who felt that genius came not in knowing all the answers, but in knowing where and how to look for those answers.

I loved how hobbyist David Patton got a surprise Christmas bonus from Tony Oliva. Tony O appreciated David’s sincerity, and gave him a no-charge autograph with a greeting.

When David told me about his one big autograph project, I had a suggestion. He needed Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese player to pitch in the majors. But how? Japanese postage? What language should a letter be in? Are there other customs the retired star would appreciate?

I suggested he seek the advice of Japan’s Kohei Nirengi, a talented collector who excels in TTM autographs. Kohei is a bilingual fan with a thorough knowledge of American and Japanese baseball.

David adds:

“I want to thank you for introducing me to Kohei.  He is truly a great supporter of the hobby.  He was so accommodating to me and offered a few ideas which probably improved my chances of success.  I hope to meet him some day. 

I collected cards as a kid but didn’t do any autographing.  After my retirement in 2007, I decided to finish off a raw 65 set from my childhood.  That took about a year and then I didn’t know what to do next.  I was looking for a challenge which wouldn’t break the bank.  Then I found out about www.sportscollectors.net from a post on the CU message boards and soon I was hooked.

 I decided to sacrifice the 65 set for autographs and sent out my first card on 4/17/09.  I was fortunate to select a set with so many great TTM signers.  So far I have 489 different autos with 349 of those coming through the mail.  That’s71 percent!  I’m now down to about 12 or so living players who are all toughies.  I know that I’ll never complete the set, but I hope to get as many as reasonably possible and hope to break 500 this summer.

My quest for Murakami began at the National two years ago.  I was at a booth which sold Japanese cards and asked if they had any information about him.  Luckily there was another customer there who had been to Japan and met Murakami.  He said that he had a 65 Giants team card signed by Murakami which he would sell to me.  After months of searching he was never able to locate the card, but the experience did give me the idea of finding a connection in Japan to help.   I sent my letter to Murakami through Kohei and he included an interpreted letter along with mine.  I also included a rookie card for both Kohei and Murakami as well as an SSPC card for Murakami.

Currently I’m working on some 1950 Bowman cards.  There are a surprising number of players who are great TTM signers still living.  Their cards can be found on Ebay for about $5 with a little patience.  I am exploring some ideas to persuade some of the remaining players from the 65 set to sign.  Just this week I got a signed card back from Pedro Gonzalez (only the third reported on SCN).  That success was a little lucky and one I never expected.  That is what keeps us going.”

Coming Friday: Kohei A bonus letter reply? Nirengi tells more of the stunning Murakami success!

Offering a Memorial Day Salute To ‘Baseball Player Passings’ Facebook Page

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Back in 2010, I saluted Facebook’s “Baseball Player Passings” page. Dave Lambert shared the story of the site’s unique origin.

The site thrives. Before any obituary surfaced ANYWHERE online, one of the 500-plus members posted word that Kevin Hickey had died.

Small wonder. I see that 14 administrators collaborate to keep the news flowing.

Members seek out gravesites of deceased baseball names. Obituaries are posted.

Want to be part of an all-star team? members of BPP include former baseball players, the media — names that would produce double-takes from the most jaded collectors.

Two things inspire me most about Baseball Player Passings:

1. Baseball history isn’t limited to a few superstars. Recent obituaries posted included Lil (Mrs. Stan) Musial and John Kuenster, former editor of Baseball Digest. I’ve seen obits on many “girl’s leaguers,” the pioneering women of the AAGPBL. As I look to write to other baseball history makers, it helps me to dig deeper.

2. Each new entry on the page reinforces a simple message for me:

HURRY UP!

Retired players dying in their 50s? This isn’t a hobby for procrastinators.

Check out the Facebook page. Join. Enjoy the memorials. I hope you’ll be posting about how you received a nice letter from a recently-deceased retiree…while there was still time.
Coming Wednesday: An elusive autograph and MORE from Masanori Murakami.