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www.sportscollectors.net

Pitcher Fred Gladding leaves the game at age 78

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gladdingThe obituary ran this week. Fred Gladding, a wily reliever for the Tigers and Astros, gone at age 78.

The ever-dependable www.sportscollectors.net credited the hurler for a 97 percent response rate, answering more than 200 by-mail requests.

I landed Gladding when he was an Astro. He was willing to add a photo on request.

Never be shy about asking. Fred taught me that.

Check out an impressive video interview from Billy Staples with Gladding, conducted in 2013. See what we’re missing.

Pitcher George Frazier battles autograph dealers

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Might the only autograph collectors see someday be the facsimile on Frazier’s Topps card?

George Frazier pitched for five teams from 1979-87. He’s known today as a Rockies commentator.

I think he may gain the most fame by striking out autograph dealers.

From the always-amazing www.sportscollectors.net comes word from one of Frazier’s friends. The former reliever is getting hounded in the worst way by mail, getting 20 to 30 cards monthly. The names change, but the address is the same. Yes, the addresses are matching eBay sellers with Frazier autographs. A reply of all cards personalized brought another letter Frazier asking for more autographs, leaving off the inscriptions. (After all, personalized autographs are harder to sell, right?)

Frazier is asking true collectors to limit their TTM request to 4 or 5 items. Frazier’s friend says the ex-pitcher is mulling over new responses. Requests of 10 or more items will get one autograph and he’ll start keeping duplicates.

Another former major leaguer is ready to stop signing by mail for everyone. Worse still, Frazier has access to the airwaves. His choice could be reflected by an entire Rockies organization. Or by former-player-broadcasters from other teams repeating the tale of hobby greed during broadcasts.

The baseball world is watching. Be on your best by-mail behavior.

 

Outfielder Jim King’s quiet excellence

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One autograph. Not a word more.

I know that I’ll never hear from 100 percent of the former players I contact with questions. However, I’m never sure when I get my letter returned with a signature. 
Jim King (1955-67) did that. In 2011, he responded in less than two weeks. 
I wasn’t alone. There were 192 successes in 203 attempts recorded on www.sportscollectors.net, the last coming in May, 2014. 
King’s February obituary from his family said little about his 18 years of pro baseball. I guessed that his survivors were just as proud of his 24 years of working for two telephone companies. 
Additionally, I smiled at seeing the cap-wearing picture of King in the obit. His cap sported no MLB team logo.
From what I read, I’m guessing the accomplished major leaguer was a soft-spoken man. The “afternoon coffee drinkers” who met at a McDonald’s were listed as his honorary pallbearers. 
When a retiree has little (or nothing) to say about his baseball career, don’t assume the worst. I’m betting many of his fellow Elkins residents never dreamed of asking King for an autograph. He may have working too hard trying to be just another coffee drinker to take the time to reflect on such a stellar career.

When former Tigers manager Jim Leyland wrote

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I love this 2011 pre-game look at Leyland
at Dodger Stadium. What is he seeing?
What is he thinking?  
 By Cbl62 (Own work)
 [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)],
via Wikimedia Commons

No, not to me.

A former player, Jordan Tata, shared this written memory online earlier this week. 
Epic stuff!
At last check on the always-impressive www.sportscollectors.net, the fabled Detroit Tigers manager was batting .720. Or, he had responded to 351 autograph requests in 486 attempts.

Thanks to Carol Sheldon for capturing this correspondence!

Try the Publishers Clearing House game plan for increased fan mail success

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No envelopes scream, “PLEASE, OPEN ME!” like
the mailings from PCH. Learn from them.

I enjoyed a recent online conversation with a collector I encountered on the always-amazing www.sportscollectors.net.

Someone wanted to expand his success by focusing on Christian baseball players and Bible verse autographs.
I think it’s great any time a collector adopts a special project or a specialty. I’ve seen too many hobbyists give up entirely after wanting one of EVERYTHING.
The one tip I neglected?
End, don’t start, with the letter.
Make your presence known with the envelope. 
Why can’t a Christian collector jot a Bible verse on the back of his envelope?
Or, if you’re trying to build a collection of Cardinals autographs, consider adding “Redbirds Fan” beneath your return address. For the artistically-challenged, splurge for some return address labels with pictures.
Colorful stickers. Rubber stamps. There’s so many extra chances to stand out.
The window clerk at our local post office listened to my wife’s question about decorating Christmas envelopes, providing that the address can be clearly seen and the appropriate postage checked and cancelled. Is it okay?
“Hey…decorate away!” he said.
Someone might help a current or former player sort the mail. Do all the envelopes look alike?
Make the effort. Let it show on the envelope. Let the athlete know how much you want a reply.