Troy Aikman

I hope this is real.  It looks like it is.  He sent me this in lieu of signing the card I sent him.  If it's not a facsimile, this is amazing!  Aikman was my favorite QB when I was a kid growing up in the 90s!

Mailed: 3-30-16
Received Back: 5-27-16
Turnaround Time: 58 Days

And the Failures Just Keep on Coming

Well, this has been an unfortunate losing streak. Hopefully it ends soon.

Fernando Valenzuela - He sent back my card unsigned.

Phil Jackson - So did he, but the Zen Master is probably miserable working for the Knicks.

Robin Yount - He sent back my card unsigned with a note and HOF Postcard, both with facsimile signatures (pictured).

Here's My Third List of Failures

Billy Beane - The "Moneyball" GM is apparently losing his touch, both on putting together a solid Oakland A's ballclub and on signing autographs.  He sent back my card unsigned.

Bert Blyleven - Here's a HOF pitcher with a fairly reasonable request to donate $20 to charity, which certainly makes more sense than the asking price of some of the current Detroit Tigers.

Serena Williams - The delivery of my envelope was rejected, and I imagine she probably grunted loudly while returning it to the sender...

Albert Pujols - Albert gets the award for the best rejection in this batch, as he sent back a card about his foundation and his relationship with Christ, an accompanying letter, and a sticker (pictured).  Understandably, he probably gets an insane number of autograph requests, so he is unable to fulfill all of them.

Wes Welker

A personalized autograph from one of the greatest WRs.  New plaque in the memorabilia room.  Thanks, Wes!

Mailed: 4-4-16
Received Back: 5-16-16
Turnaround Time: 42 Days

Hensley Meulens

Sir Hensley "Bam Bam" Meulens started his career as a player for the Yankees, and he is currently the hitting coach for the San Francisco Giants.  Thanks for a really solid signature on your rookie card, Sir!

Mailed: 4-29-16
Received Back: 5-16-16
Turnaround Time: 17 Days

Lee Smith

Before Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman, this guy was baseball's all-time Saves leader.  He's still third on that list as of today.  And even though he only played eight games for the Yankees, he signed this card for me.  Thanks, Lee!

Mailed: 4-29-16
Received Back: 5-14-16
Turnaround Time: 15 Days

Tommy Lasorda

Hey, it's Hall Of Famer Tommy Lasorda!  This guy is a legend.  But how many of these darn glossy cards did I send out?  Ugh.  Still nice though.  Thanks, Mr. Lasorda!

Mailed: 1-29-16
Received Back: 5-13-16
Turnaround Time: 105 Days

Ken Singleton

Former Orioles All-Star and current Yankees Broadcaster!  Thanks, Kenny!

Mailed: 4-30-16
Received Back: 5-9-16
Turnaround Time: 9 Days

Different Uniform

Because Garvey is probably remembered more as a Dodger than as a Padre.  Thanks again!

Mailed: 4-20-16
Received Back: 5-9-16
Turnaround Time: 19 Days

Sterling Sharpe

I sent Sterling one card, and he sent me back a total of four, all of them signed.  This is amazing!  This guy was on track to be right up there with Jerry Rice as one of the all-time greatest WRs when an injury cut his career short, but he's continued to do plenty of awesome things after his playing career.  Thanks, Sterling!

Mailed: 4-11-16
Received Back: 5-9-16
Turnaround Time: 28 Days

Happy 98th Birthday to the Oldest Living Baseball Hall of Famer!

I read something back in April about Mr. Doerr, the oldest living Hall of Famer, turning 98 (his birthday was April 7).  I stopped in Dollar Tree later that day and happened to see a pretty cool vintage baseball-themed birthday card, so I sent it, along with this baseball card, to Mr. Doerr.

Mailed: 4-13-16
Received Back: 5-7-16
Turnaround Time: 24 Days

Carl Erskine

Now this is pretty awesome.  Ask your Grandpa about watching this guy pitch.  Not only did he sign the card I sent to him, but he also wrote a note to me on the back of the note I wrote to him and signed that too.  Thanks, Mr. Erskine!  These both have spots in the Man Cave now.

Mailed: 4-28-16
Received Back: 5-6-16
Turnaround Time: 8 Days

Fred Lynn

He didn't sign the card I sent him, but he signed this index card for me.  Works just as well.  Thanks, Fred!

Mailed: 4-28-16
Received Back: 5-6-16
Turnaround Time: 8 Days

Barry Sanders (?)

I'm not gonna lie.  I don't even know what this is.  He either used a magnum-sized sharpie or has some terrible stamp of some sort that he uses for ATTM.  This does not look like a genuine quality example of a Sanders autograph.  Tentatively filed as a failure.

Cloyd Boyer

There's a story with this one.  When I went to Cooperstown in 2005, I met Cloyd's brother, Clete, the great Yankees 3B from the early 60s Championship teams.  We talked for a long time (he told stories about Yogi and Mickey, among others), he signed a few things for me, and he gave me cards of his brothers, Ken and Cloyd, who also played in the Majors.  Clete passed away a few years later, and Ken had passed away in 1982, but Cloyd is still alive.  So I wrote him about my fond memories of Clete, and he signed the card that his brother had given to me.  Pretty cool stuff.  I love baseball.
Mailed: 4-21-16
Received Back: 5-2-16
Turnaround Time: 11 Days

And Sometimes You Go 2-for-2

I had to try Senator Jim Bunning again, this one for his second career.  These cards look great to sign, but they're not because of the glossy finish.  Noted.  But this guy is awesome!
Mailed: 4-13-16
Received Back: 5-2-16
Turnaround Time: 19 Days

Sometimes You Go 0-for-2

I had to try Peyton Manning again.  This time I got back an apparent facsimile autograph photo of him in a Broncos uniform.  I'll put it in my collection alongside the one of him in a Colts uniform.

The next day I got back my card unsigned from Orel Hershiser.  It was a rough couple of days.