Top 10 for 2016

Well, it's been many months since I sent out any autograph requests, and nearly two months since I got one back, but I'll send some out early in 2017, probably largely on a day when I'm snowed-in.  At the end of January, I'll start reporting failures where a year has lapsed without a response as well.  Meanwhile, here's my Top 10 list out of the 56 ATTM I've gotten in 2016!

10: Goose Gossage (MLB HOFer and legendary Yankees reliever!)
9: Bobby Doerr (the oldest living MLB HOFer at 98 and still signing through the mail!)
8: Dirk Nowitzki (among the greatest to ever play in the NBA!)
7: Kurt Warner (one of my favorite QBs ever, a Christian, and a great guy off-the-field!)
6: Bob Lilly (one of the top few defensive players ever to play in the NFL!)
5: Terry Bradshaw (the first QB to win four Super Bowls and a great personality!)
4: Troy Aikman (my favorite QB growing up and a three-time Super Bowl Champion!)
3: Hideki Matsui (a hard signature to obtain, and the 2009 World Series MVP!)
2: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Roger Murdock--also the all-time NBA scoring leader!)
1: Shaquille O'Neal (the man, the myth, the legend--one of the greatest of all-time!)

Mike Schmidt

SCHMIDT!!!  Well worth the wait for a signature of this legendary 3B.  Thanks, Mike!

LATE EDIT: It appears that this is unlikely to be authentic, but rather ghost-signed.

Mailed: 1-28-16
Received Back: 11-3-16
Turnaround Time: 280 Days

Mark Brunell with a Verse

I asked Mark, a fellow Christian, to sign and add a favorite Bible Verse, so this is pretty awesome!

Mailed: 4-20-16
Received Back: 10-8-16
Turnaround Time: 171 Days

Is Ray Allen Coming Back?

No autograph, but interesting reply nonetheless...

No Autograph but Still a Class Act

Vin Scully is retiring at the end of the year and is a legendary broadcaster and class act.  He's probably getting a lot of autograph requests this year, so I guess he can't answer all of them.

Jim Abbott

This guy is an inspiration.  Only one hand?  No problem.  Solid pitcher, even threw a no-hitter for the Yankees!  Thanks, Jim!

Mailed: 2-18-16
Received Back: 9-16-16
Turnaround Time: 211 Days

Hail Mary Falls Incomplete

Hey, I had to take a shot.  Jerry Rice is the greatest receiver of all-time, so this would have been nice, but you can't win them all.

Steve Kerr

The legendary 3-point shooter on the greatest team of all-time who is turning into a legendary Coach these days.  The Warriors deep run likely impacted the turnaround time, but well worth the wait.  Thanks, Steve!

Mailed: 1-27-16
Received Back: 9-12-16
Turnaround Time: 229 Days

Joe Morgan

Always great to get a Hall-of-Fame signature, and well worth the wait.  Thanks, Mr. Morgan!

Mailed: 2-1-16
Received Back: 9-2-16
Turnaround Time: 214 Days

Raymond Berry

HOF WR as well as the Head Coach who led the Patriots to their first Super Bowl appearance.  Thanks, Mr. Berry!

Mailed: 8-10-16
Received Back: 8-20-16
Turnaround Time: 10 Days

Carlos Rodon

Potential Future Star right here.  Thanks, Carlos!

Mailed: 3-11-16
Received Back: 8-11-16
Turnaround Time: 153 Days

Time To Send Out More Letters

It's been awhile since I've gotten back a success, but I haven't been sending out many additional letters either, so I'll find time to do that again soon.  For now, the list of failures has grown by two.

Wade Boggs - He didn't sign, but I'm sure he can still drink just about anyone under the table.

Robert Parish - I was hoping to get one back from The Chief, but I guess it wasn't to be.

Brian Cashman

They don't make too many General Manager baseball cards, so I sent the great Yankees assembler this card to sign, and he did!  Thanks, Brian!

Mailed: 5-11-16
Received Back: 7-20-16
Turnaround Time: 70 Days

Ryan Zimmerman

A solid player, a solid signature, and hopefully an upcoming triumphant return from the DL.  Thanks, Ryan!

Mailed: 2-8-16
Received Back: 7-20-16
Turnaround Time: 163 Days

Geno Auriemma

I went to a few UConn games in 2015, and those women blew away the competition every time.  This past season, they went undefeated and won their 11th Championship.  So I figured that I would take a shot in the dark and send a poster that I got at one of the games to my paesano Geno to sign.  Well, I've now found a frame for it, because that's what you do when the greatest college basketball coach of all-time signs a poster for you.  Thanks, Geno!

Mailed: 7-7-16
Received Back: 7-18-16
Turnaround Time: 11 Days

Tim Tebow Points to Christ

No autograph this time around, but it's probably worth trying Tim again one day.  This man deserves another chance in the NFL, and I would love to see him get into politics one day too, if that's where God leads him.  But for now, it looks like he's handing out these.  It's a Bible verse and what appears to be a facsimile signature. Uplifting and not at all disappointing to me.  Thanks, Tim!  Praying for you, brother.

Derek Jeter Turns an L into a W

Still a class act, which is no surprise whatsoever.  No autograph, but he sent a letter, an 8x10 photo with a facsimile signature, and a commemorative coin that was a Yankee Stadium giveaway in his final season.  Naturally, I framed and hung the photo.  Thanks, Derek, and congrats on your marriage!

Mailed: 2-16-16
Received Back: 7-14-16
Turnaround Time: 149 Days

Will Clark

I got a thrill when I got my mail today.  Will The Thrill!

Mailed: 4-28-16
Received Back: 7-2-16
Turnaround Time: 65 Days

Bud Selig

I guess this Bud's for me!  Thanks, Mr. Selig!

Mailed: 3-10-16
Received Back: 6-28-16
Turnaround Time: 110 Days

Jamie Moyer

This guy was pretty amazing.  He won 269 games and played in the major leagues through the age of 49!  Thanks for signing your rookie card for me, Jamie!  Another plaque for the man cave.

Mailed: 1-27-16
Received Back: 6-23-16
Turnaround Time: 148 Days

Herschel Walker

A great RB and the trade that began a dynasty...  Thanks for the personalized signature, Herschel!

Mailed: 3-30-16
Received Back: 6-6-16
Turnaround Time: 68 Days

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.

You win some, You lose some

The latest ATTM news is an unsigned returned card from Max Scherzer, who will sign if you donate $40 to charity.  On that note, I have caught up to the present with this blog and will now post updates as they happen.  In some good news, the cost of a postage stamp went down earlier this month, for the first time in 97 years!  With the two cent decrease from 49 cents to 47 cents each, the cost of requesting an ATTM has gone down from 98 cents to 94 cents!

Andre Reed

Hall-of-Fame WR!

Mailed: 4-4-16
Received Back: 4-25-16
Turnaround Time: 21 Days 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The all-time leading scorer in the history of the NBA, Lew Alcindor A.K.A. Roger Murdock A.K.A. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar!  I have a new plaque in the Man Cave.  Thanks, Mr. Abdul-Jabbar!

"I'm sorry, son, but you must have me confused with someone else. My name is Roger Murdock. I'm the co-pilot."

Mailed: 4-7-16
Received Back: 4-22-16
Turnaround Time: 15 Days 

Additional Failures

Here are the failures I've had since the first failure list...

Jason Kidd - I got back my card with a letter saying that he doesn't sign during the season.  I will try again now that the season is over for the Bucks.

Shane Victornio - I got my card back with a note saying that he does not sign through the mail.  His autographs can be had for a few dollars on eBay anyway.

Ian Kinsler - I had to learn the hard way that the Tigers will only sign if you donate to their charity.  A $30 donation for a Kinsler autograph seems a bit steep though.

Miguel Cabrera - A $30 donation to get Miggy's autograph is definitely something I would be in for, but apparently it's a $120 donation for his.  That's outrageous.  You can get signatures of his for way less on eBay, and signatures of some of the all-time greats of long ago for $120.

Peyton Manning - I'm pretty sure that the card he sent back instead of signing the one I sent him has a facsimile autograph on it, but if anyone knows better, please let me know.

Scottie Pippen - I got my card back with a note saying that he does not sign through the mail because he gets thousands of requests, which makes a lot of sense when you're Scottie Pippen.

Bob Lilly

One of the greatest defensive players of all-time has once again demolished the competition, with an awesome autograph and inscription in just one week.  Thanks, Mr. Lilly!  Go Cowboys!
Mailed: 4-4-16
Received Back: 4-11-16
Turnaround Time: 7 Days

Chase Headley

Nice signed rookie card, but apparently not the best card surface to sign on.  Still, a signature from the current Yankees 3B to top off the third auto received on perhaps the best daily haul yet (April 4)!
Mailed: 2-29-16
Received Back: 4-4-16
Turnaround Time: 35 Days

Jorge Mateo

Future Yankees Shortstop!
Mailed: 3-11-16
Received Back: 4-4-16
Turnaround Time: 24 Days

Shaquille O'Neal

THIS IS AMAZING.  I DID NOT EXPECT TO GET THIS ONE BACK!!!  SHAQ, YOU ARE THE MAN!  THIS GETS A PLAQUE IN MY MAN CAVE.  THIS IS THE BEST ONE YET.  THANKS, BIG ARISTOTLE!  One of the top few players of all-time.  An NBA LEGEND.
Mailed: 2-9-16
Received Back: 4-4-16
Turnaround Time: 55 Days

Willie Randolph

And he even personalized it!  Awesome!
Mailed: 2-18-16
Received Back: 4-2-16
Turnaround Time: 44 Days

Danny Tartabull

Is that Danny Tartabull? ...George Costanza would be proud.
Mailed: 2-18-16
Received Back: 4-2-16
Turnaround Time: 44 Days

Tony La Russa

HOF Manager!
Mailed: 3-10-16
Received Back: 3-31-16
Turnaround Time: 21 Days