Forget Black Friday. Here’s a coming attraction to assure a great New Year, hobbyists!
Harvey Meiselman is back. Tune into his www.SportsAddressLists.com website Friday for pricing details for his new list coming in January, 2014.
Actually, the baseball list is one of MANY. He has a minor league players list, as well as several non-baseball specialties.
Harvey made one stunning comment in his Halloween preview:
“All of the lists have updated addresses for those that were reported as invalid during the year from the 2013 edition (during the year I updated over 94% of the invalid addresses reported to me) and many new addresses have been added for this year. The baseball list alone has over 3,100 updates and new addresses from the 2013 edition.”
Mister M truly did his homework. For current list holders, you may have lost count over the e-mailed updates he provided when someone’s signing status changed. More than 50 updates were sent.
You’re not buying a product when you get Harvey’s list. You’re getting a partnership. Harvey continues to collect autographs. He relates. More than once, he’s explained to me patterns of odd behavior from sometimes-signers.
Don’t get fooled by the fact that the lists won’t ship until Jan. 11, 2014. This is a “Snooze, you lose” scenario. Order now. Why?
Harvey will ship the first lists to the first buyers. Some of these new addresses won’t stay “hot” for long. Iffy signers may grow cold after an abundance of letters to a new location. Or, a family member might suggest that their former player-relative starts charging per signature. Your speed matters.
No, the lists won’t be out in time for Christmas presents. Consider giving yourself an IOU for Harvey’s list. It’s worth waiting for.
Month: October 2013
Autograph Collectors, Don’t Envy Reporters
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| I was impressed seeing this on www.sportscollectorsdaily.com. Sports agent Walsh got Ruth and others to sign in 1947. These days, an autographed press pass seen by team officials would be grounds for eviction! |
Frustrated TTM collectors might wish to trade places with the all-access journalists who are swarming about the World Series. Look at the players they have at their fingertips.
Not for autographs!
The press passes include the warning. Signs are posted, too.
The team prints their law on every press pass. Asking for autographs means you can ejected from the clubhouse or field quicker than a mouthy manager.
And, unlike the school principal who threatened to put this on your imaginary “permanent record,” I believe that an infraction might make it impossible to get a press pass in the future.
Think of The Coasters singing Poison Ivy:
“You can look but you better not touch!”
Expect Treats, Not Tricks, This Hobby Halloween
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| Why collect autographed baseballs? These would hold more autographs. The Post-Dispatch store sold a carving kit for $12.95. |
Expect treats, not tricks, for your hobby this post-season.
In 40 years of writing to former players, I’ve found:
During the season, some retirees try to forget baseball. They feel their summer with travel and outdoor activities like golf or fishing.
Come the World Series, they start missing baseball. Your letter makes them feel young again.
Watch your mailbox fill up like a kid’s treat bag this year. I can’t wait!
MLB Player Poll: What’s The Strangest Thing You’ve Ever Been Asked to Sign?
One of the most meaningful moments of the baseball season came when I viewed a segment of the MLB Player Poll.
I’ve always dismissed the show as a “Baseball TMZ” or “Diamond Talking Heads.”
However, the answers pointed out a problem real collectors are facing.
Once, I thought the guy who wanted a used hot dog wrapper autographed made us look bad.
Now, we’re the ones who get the stink-eye.
Autographing a body part or someone’s baby is easy. “I don’t think you could sell your own kid on eBay, just to get rich off my autograph,” thinks the current player.
However, if you take the time to present a meaningful artifact, then the paranoia ensues. “That’s so nice, I’m sure you’ll sell and make a profit off me! I’d rather sign bits of garbage, knowing that you’ll throw the autographs away.”
Whether in person or by mail, be ready to tell about your collection to a potential signer. In the hobby’s “new normal,” we need to redefine what autographs mean to us.
Sharing A Moment With Two Hall of Famers
Mickey Mantle. Juan Marichal. Me?
We were all born October 20. I have no baseball card to prove mine, but it’s true.
This blog was born in 2010. I haven’t bombarded this site with advertising.
I am asking for a small birthday present from all of you, however.
No, not free cake. I’m willing to sing (or write) for my supper.
I wrote my first book of poetry this year:
101 PO’ed Poems: Frustrations in Free Verse
I do have one snarky baseball-related poem in the bunch of 102 ditties. (Hey, a free bonus!)
The Kindle e-book is a mere 99 cents. That’s less than a penny a poem!
Please, help support my postage stamp addiction. (I mean, corresponding with the witnesses to baseball history.) Seriously, any success with the poetry collection will keep this blog thriving into 2014. I’m planning on making the next 900 posts even more fun.
I’d welcome any kind reviews on Amazon.com, as well as mentioning the title to other possible readers.
My poems are as glib, sarcastic and irreverent as possible. In the process, I poke the most fun at myself.
As an ALCS watcher, I loved watching Tim McCarver fear for his life on his 72nd birthday (the blazing cake was in a cardboard box, with no fire extinguisher near). My blaze will be a bit smaller on Sunday.
I want to thank you for reading. Every post feels like a celebration.