Header - Baseball by the Letters

www.sportscollectors.net

Dodger Bill Russell Spells It Out

by
“Ropes” — a nickname, or
what collectors are on,
after Russell’s recent
fan mail reaction.

Bill Russell, the Dodgers institution, may not be long for the free-signing world.

Thanks to Baseball Address List author Harvey Meiselman, here’s the latest from the long-time shortstop:

“This is the only piece of memorabilia that I will sign for you. Please DO NOT send any more items to this address. They will not be signed or returned.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Bill Russell”

He’s signing one-only FOR NOW at his home address.

His response times are growing to months. Once, according to www.sportscollectors.net, he was a sure thing for multiples. Russell’s grand total, even with his toughened stance, is still 370 out of 400 recorded TTM contacts.

I wouldn’t wait writing to Russell. If you do, don’t send more than one card. I predict dark clouds ahead that will cause him to be a fee signer or another RTS man. 

Ty Cline, Autograph All-Star, Retires

by
Not the longest name to write!

Thanks to Harvey Meiselman. Here’s yet more proof that his 2013 Baseball Address List provides exceptional value throughout the year.

He notified all of list purchasers through e-mail update that Ty Cline has stopped signing through the mail, sending this message as the sole reply:

 “Ty Cline regrettably is no longer signing memorabilia through the mail”

This news is especially worrysome. The www.sportscollectors.net website reported that, through October, Cline had signed 151 of 156 requests.

When a generous signer stops suddenly, one of three red-flagpossibilities appear:

1. He’s quite ill. (Cline is 73.)
2. Someone has perpetuated the myth that the signer’s free autographs are being black-marketed on the Internet, with untold riches escaping the former player’s family.
3. The fan mail screening service wants a cut of the action, offering to split profits from future TTM signing for a fee.

Cline (or family) have been sending out notices. They could have been trashing mail, instead. I hope to find out if they’ll start “Return to Sender” refusing mail, so collectors won’t lose their cards.

I’m grateful to Harvey for the update, and to a player who gave generously of his time and signature for so many years.


Mourning Ryan Freel, Gone At 36

by

He signed autographs like he played: wild, unpredictable, all out.

Ryan Freel is dead. An apparent suicide.

According to www.sportscollectors.net, Freel responded to just 30 of 106 recorded TTM contacts, the last being in April, 2009.

Look hard at the autograph request letters you send. Be sincere. Be honest, But make sure that you make it clear that you think that each person matters, not just each autograph. The recipient might make a difference in your collection. You might make a difference in his future

See you in January.

Secret Santa In Your SASE?

by

Good signers have a little Santa in them.

I look at www.sportscollectors.net and see others who note in their tracked response: “Added small photo.”

I think that some of the hobby’s most generous custom card designers are these Secret Santas. Those of you adding an extra or sending some dupes on request are giving a retiree the chance to treat other collectors.

My one request of all of you? When you give, give freely. Add a post-it to a bonus card saying FOR YOU, so the signer doesn’t autograph everything in sight.

I see too many collectors saying, “I told him he could keep a couple if he wanted, but he signed them all.” That smells too much like, “I’ll make a half-hearted offer in hopes of getting lots of autographed extras because of the confusion.”

Someone like Freddy Schmidt loved rewarding the best letters. Help them help us.

Coming Monday: The Yankee who inspired Harvey Meiselman’s address directory!

1958 ChiSox Pitcher Hal Trosky Jr. Amazed

by

I got the father, never the son.

Hal Trosky Jr. has died at age 76.

The obituary stated that he pitched in only two games in his major league career. Breaking in with the 1958 White Sox wouldn’t have been easy, winning over manager Al Lopez.

The senior Trosky was a 1930s Cleveland Indians home run machine.

I met the famous dad at a card show in Cedar Rapids. I got his signature on a baseball, then proclaimed, “Did you know there are 108 stitches on a baseball?”

Hal Sr. shrugged and grinned. “All I know is that I wanted to hit every one of them!”

I could see the years melt off his face as he said that.

According to www.sportscollectors.net, the younger Trosky batted a thousand with collectors. That is, of the 16 recorded attempts to get his autograph by mail, he delivered every time. Although he was never seen on a Topps card, he had copies of a photo to send.

Most amazingly, collectors who mentioned Trosky’s dad would get a cancelled check from Hal Trosky Sr.(deceased in 1979). An authenticated autograph from a baseball great who had died more than 30 years prior.

Kudos to Kyle Smego at The Autograph Addict for saluting this overlooked Iowan.