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Terry Mathews, Hero After Baseball

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Mathews autographed for
pay, signing inserts
in the 1996 Leaf set.
Did the experience
sour him on the hobby?

My sadness is tinged with smiles in reading about the life of 47-year-old Terry Mathews.

Yes, he died of a heart attack. However, he knew how to win, on and off the mound.

I was gladdened by this fine tribute article.

Looking up Mathews on the www.sportscollectors.net success board, I saw that only seven TTM attempts were recorded. He answered twice, one in 2004, the last in 2009.

He’s remembered as a selfless, caring person. That attitude somehow didn’t translate to fan mail. I’m guessing that the former pitcher (and countless other retirees) assumed new identities. They have trouble relating that player on the card to the person they are today.

Link the two, and you’ll have a greater chance of getting your response.

2012 Minor League Coach Rosters As A Gift

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Some collectors
deserve a plaque, too.
The MVC Award?

Here’s reason number gazillion why I’m happy to be a member of www.sportscollectors.net.

On the message board, I discovered something amazing:

A gift.

Once, I thought I’d spend WEEKS searching out every team website, trying to seek who this year’s minor league managers, coaches and roving instructors were. Or, I could drop $30-ish dollars for the directory from Baseball America. Ouch. That’s a lot of postage stamps..

(Hmmm…Amazon has the $29.95 book for $19.37. However, it
doesn’t come out until March 6. Little late for trying to get coaches in
spring training!)

Well, screen name “Willyben” indicates he’s made a database directory of all these team on-field employees. Just the guys you’d want in your collection. One TTM hobby fact is that tough autographs who don’t like mail to their homes will consider signing when you write to their “office” — that is, in care of their minor league team.

I wrote. I’m hoping to get more of the story behind this database. The reply from Brent Williams amazed me further. He wants to share with everyone..not just other SCN members.

Here’s his work-in-progress, the 2012 Minor League Database:

Prince. Albert. Brent. The first basemen better look out when it comes to this season’s MVP voting. My gratitude hints that I may choose the third guy.

Morals of this story? You are not alone. There are others in the hobby who’ll cheer you on and help you with your goals, if you’ll do the same. Don’t wait for perfection. Ask for help and see the pieces other collectors can add to the puzzle. Together, we are stronger.

Coming Monday: Brian “The Autograph Card” Flam discusses one of the epic questions facing in-person collectors…Sharpie or Staedtler?

Being Bob Kipper’s Teammate

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Yep! He looks like a fellow collector!

I like  the word “teammate.” Someone who gives selflessly.

I never played with the major league pitcher. But I like to think I’m on the same team as Jeff Schultz.

The http://www.sportscollectors.net/ member posted that he received 4 out of 4 cards returned autographed by the South Carolina retiree in November, all in less than 10 days.

Jeff added the mention that he enclosed 46 extras for the one-time Pirate.

Jeff knew that Mr. Kipper was a collector. He knew about the 1997 house fire that wiped out the former player’s collection. A sincere thank-you note came after the gift.

He didn’t sell Bob Kipper the cards.
He didn’t trade him extra cards.
He GAVE!

You don’t have to enclose money or extra cards when you write to former players. You know what you hope to get from the letter. Before you mail, ask yourself what you’re GIVING the person you’ve written.

Coming Thursday: Remembering Phillies broadcaster Andy Musser!

One More Cent Makes Sense For Letters

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While the price of everything is soaring, I’m not going to grumble over the one-cent stamp increase.

USPS employees always do their best for me.

In December, a substitute letter carrier apologized when I came to the door.

“I’m sorry I got your mail here later than usual,” he began.

I waved off his kindness. He was on a strange, new route, yet only minutes behind.

“I went back because Debbie (the postal carrier from THREE Christmases earlier at my OLD address) found this,” he continued.

The forwarding order was long expired. However, Debbie has never stopped looking out for us, seeing that every Christmas card found its target.

I recalled this happy episode as the possibility of moving again looms.

I’ve reviewed response times of many former players on http://www.sportscollectors.net/. Would I be so lucky again in getting misdirected mail?

To increase my chances, I’ve begun noting my parents’ address on the upper left-hand corner of my SASE. That way, if a retiree takes years to respond and I’m not in this current location, the “unable to forward” order can go to a stable address.

Coming Friday: The amazing baseball photography of Dan Xeller.

SportsCollectors.Net – The Perfect Hobby Gift

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A hobby buddy. Yourself. Give someone the gift of a membership to http://www.sportscollectors.net/.

Aside from more postage stamps, it’s the best $14.95 purchase a collector can make.

I had a question from a blog reader. A good question.” Is it worth it?”

Absolutely!

Before I offer any other details, note that I am not an affiliate. I’m not getting a penny if you join. Doesn’t matter. This advice is my Christmas gift to you.

Let’s take Steve Sax. Please, someone should!

(Just kidding, Rookies of the Years.)

Well, anyone who belonged to SCN would have seen that Sax got “autograph happy” in early 2011. You’d see under “Latest Sigs By Mail” results posted by other members. Likewise, all past results are tabulated. Just search the site to see his signing history.

I’ve said many times how helpful Harvey Meiselman’s address list is, along with the quarterly updates he sends to customers.

However, three months may be too long to get word of some tough name who’s on a signing spree. The message board has many categories. If a collector spots an obituary of ANY retired player, word spreads.
The same instant updates happen for invalid or updated addresses. In fact, in many cases, collectors will share the exact address they used to gain a success.

The “about” page of the site details other helpful hobby data found within.

So many readers of this blog are fellow SCN members. SCN has 6,267 premium (dues-paying) members. I was moved by the a post for the holiday season. Members can post their trade and want lists. One member suggested filling want lists as GIFTS, not as parts of a transaction. Strangers giving autographs to each other!

There’s giving on the site each day. Collectors with decades of experience answer posted questions daily.

There’s so many great people in this hobby I’ve yet to encounter. SportsCollectors.Net has been a major resource for me in telling readers about this blog when it first launched. Tips from SCNers have helped me harvest the best baseball tales for you. I’ve saved time, money and frustration in knowing who’s answering fan mail, all through this great autograph resource.

I’ve belonged for years. I hope you’ll join the SCN team, too. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.

Coming Friday: My best letter-writing advice of the year? My gift to you.