Header - Baseball by the Letters

Sportscollectors.net remains a hobby all-star

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After a summer away, I’m eager to make my comeback.

My first move to get back in the game was reconnecting with my favorite website.

I signed up with www.Sportscollectors.net back in 2012. I’ve never left.

Their hobby forum keeps me up to date if someone’s address changes. Post a question, and you’ll get results fast. Has a former player just started charging for autographs? The forum will have answers.

Collectors log their TTM attempts and results, including how long the response took. 

Save time. Save postage. Make new hobby friends. For just $14.99 a year, you can’t go wrong.

 

An open letter to 2-time World Series champ Aubrey Huff

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Dear Mr. Huff:

I’ve never written to you before. Therefore, I hope you’ll consider this blog post a sincere substitute for a letter.

Your new biography Baseball Junkie sounds quite courageous, helping many readers about to take a wrong turn in life.

As someone who’s been writing about correspondence with former players since 2010, I wanted to commend you on your willingness to recognize collectors and fans by mail. In fact, I saw on www.sportscollectors.net that collectors had reported success on 278 of the 486 letters to you they had tracked over the last 15 years.

In other words, your .570 signing average is admirable, considering that some fans were writing you at your team addresses. Nonetheless, potential readers who collect might hesitate to read your life story, considering that getting an autographed copy by mail might be iffy.

I think your book will get some raving fan support, due to the hand-signed letter you’ve been sending with your autograph reply. Muhammad Ali discovered the same thing. A typed message may seem like mere advertising to some. However, a signed item is something more: a collectible worth keeping and sharing. You’ve picked the smarter, second route for connecting with potential readers

Jim Campanis was famed as a “can’t miss” TTM autographer years before his memoir came out. When Born into Baseball appeared, sharing the news in SASEs that included an autograph seemed natural, even welcomed. Although he’s been autographing books purchased directly from him, Jim’s found ways to boost sales by including autographed photos with a purchase.

Thanks again for sharing your heart with so many in the world of baseball. We’ll be watching our mailboxes for more exciting moments from you!

A singing player? Groove on Nate Oliver’s 1960s musical baseball memories

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The 2006 Chicago White Sox brass must have seen Nate’s 1970 Topps card. He worked that season as the team’s bunting instructor.

Nate Oliver’s life and career couldn’t be squeezed onto one baseball card back.

Forget the stats. This Dodger/Giant/Yankee/Cub has savored adventures that Hall of Famers would envy.

Born in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1940, Oliver received a unique opportunity when signed by the Dodgers organization in 1959. How many newcomers got to perform before a Grapefruit League crowd of friends and family? Oliver remembered:

“Very, very exciting and unbelievable for me to be blessed to be granted such an opportunity. Yes, the gang attended several spring games.”

In Oliver’s 1969 campaign, his second career homer came as a Cub. His blast was part of a 19-0 pounding handed the Padres. The next day, the Tribute had a headline reading, “Break Up the Cubs!” Oliver recalled:

“It helped me to have one of my best performances as a major league player. Finishing that day 3 for 4 with two doubles, a homer, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored.”

Check out the oh-so-cool Trading Card Database website. Oliver appeared in the Dodgers Jay Publishing “picture pack” set in 1965.

Back in 1964, Oliver made news for his performance at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field. After singing the National Anthem, Oliver received appreciative applause during each at-bat. His musical talent didn’t remain a secret at home. How many Anthems did he perform?

“Several, maybe 4 at Dodger Stadium, one LA Lakers, one Anaheim and one Oakland Coliseum. I think that’s it.”

However, check out the awesome P.S. for his singing stats:

“The most memorable was having to stand in for Ella Fitzgerald. Because she could not make it so I was a last-minute replacement. And my good friend Ozzie Smith and the Cards were in town. He was in total disbelief!”

Oliver’s love and respect for baseball still blazes today. As evidence, I’d submit the fine interview captured by Ed Attanasio on the “This Great Game” website.

Spring training: the perfect question for any retiree

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Freddie Freeman was a generous autograph signer in 2016’s spring training. Every spring training creates great memories and “what if?” possibilities for players who may never see a day in the bigs. Seek the untold stories! (Photo credit: Arturo Paravila III/Wikimedia Commons)

“He didn’t have much of a career. What can I write to him about?”

These types of questions come yearly from through the mail collectors, or from fledgling journalists and historians wanting to write some kind of a profile of a little-known “cup of coffee” player.

Always, I give the same two-word answer: SPRING TRAINING!

In Florida or Arizona, in every pre-season, countless players yearn for a shot at the majors. Some mount big debuts, only to find a career saddled in the minors. Nevertheless, others cultivate friendships with well-known stars.

Most of all, spring training is the first time a player’s dream seems real.

What does the player remember from his first spring training? WHO does he remember?

Those stories never show up in stats. However, those stories can give baseball history a whole new meaning.

An amazing letter from a Girls Leaguer

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It’s time to tell the rest of the story.

I was thrilled to come along for the ride when my wife Diana Star Helmer readied a new edition of Belles of the Ballpark (Summer Game Books) for 2016 publication.

I was racing against time, trying to get surviving players to reply by mail. Diana believed untold stories remained in league history.

One overlooked detail by AAGPBL historians is the fascinating range of jobs these players found after baseball. Pitcher Erma Bergmann (who passed away in 2015) served decades on the St. Louis police force.

I congratulated her on her public service as a police officer. That might be why she concluded her letter this way:

“I never hit a prisoner during my career and I never stole from any drunks.

Love,

Erma”

Asking is free. You never know what details you’ll unearth!