Monthly Failure Report: January 2018

I plan to start reporting failures at the end of each month, for failures received during the past month, as well as for autograph requests that were sent out over one year ago without a response.  Here's the first iteration of that.

Unsigned Returns:
Dave Parker
Willie Lanier

Return to Sender:
Red Schoendienst
Mariano Duncan
Bill Mazeroski

No Response from January 2017:
Tony Dorsett
DeMarcus Ware
Ezekiel Elliott

Jose Vizcaino

Jose Vizcaino played for eight MLB teams over the course of 18 years in the league.  I remember him as a Met, but I remember him best as a foe of the Mets and a member of the 2000 World Series Champion New York Yankees!  Thanks, Jose!

Mailed: 12-4-17
Received Back: 1-27-18
Turnaround Time: 54 Days

Harry Carson

Friday was a good day.  Three 10-day returns: a baseball legend, a basketball Hall-of-Famer, and a football Hall-of-Famer!  Harry Carson played for 13 seasons with the Giants, winning a Super Bowl and making nine Pro Bowls as one of the league's top linebackers.  Thanks, Harry!

Mailed: 1-16-18
Received Back: 1-26-18
Turnaround Time: 10 Days

Joe Carter

I tried Joe Carter two years ago when I first started sending out cards, but never got a response back.  This time, I sent along $5, and he signed his 1984 Donruss rookie card!  Carter had his first of his 1,445 career RBIs with the Cubs.  Of course, he's best known for his walk-off series-winning home run in the 1993 World Series, as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.  Thanks, Joe!

Mailed: 1-16-18
Received Back: 1-26-18
Turnaround Time: 10 Days

Mike Krzyzewski

The second Basketball Hall-of-Famer of the week, Coach K has led Duke to 5 NCAA Championships and is widely regarded as one of the beast College Basketball coaches of all-time!  I sent him a card and he mailed me back a signed 8 1/2 x 11 photo instead.  I live in Connecticut, so I pretty much always root against Duke, but I admire this man anyway.  Thanks, Coach K!

Mailed: 1-16-18
Received Back: 1-26-18
Turnaround Time: 10 Days

Gail Goodrich

Hall-of-Famer Gail Goodrich spent 9 of his 14 NBA seasons with the Lakers, winning a championship at the end of the 1971-72 season.  He averaged 18.6 points per game in his NBA career.  He also won two NCAA championships with UCLA.  Thanks, Gail!

Mailed: 1-16-18
Received Back: 1-23-18
Turnaround Time: 7 Days

Jim Rice

This one cost $10, but I'll pay $5 or $10 for a Hall of Fame signature now and then, especially one that I don't already have.  Jim played for the Red Sox for his entire 16-year career, hitting .298 with 1,451 RBI.  He won the AL MVP award in 1978.  He's pictured here on his 1981 Fleer card.  Thanks, Jim!

Mailed: 1-16-18
Received Back: 1-22-18
Turnaround Time: 6 Days

Mike Mussina

Moooose!  Today, it was announced that Mike Mussina was named on 63.5% of BBWAA Hall of Fame ballots in his fifth year of eligibility.  Needing 75% to become a Hall-of-Famer, it seems very likely that Moose will make it in the next five years, and probably within the next 1-2 years.  Mussina won 270 games in his career, garnered seven gold gloves, and was named to five all-star teams.  I've rarely sent more than one card in these mailings, but I asked Moose if he could sign two and sent along $2 with them.  He signed his rookie card as well as one picturing him on the Yankees.  Thanks, Moose!  Looking forward to seeing you in Cooperstown soon!

Mailed: 1-6-18
Received Back: 1-22-18
Turnaround Time: 16 Days

Pat Gillick

Pat Gillick served as General Manager for the Blue Jays, Orioles, Mariners, and Phillies, and did such a great job that he landed in the Hall of Fame.  I couldn't find a card of him, but he was nice enough to sign this blank card, along with a "HOF 2011" inscription.  Signers seem to be more apt to add an inscription on these.  Pat is the second of four returns and six signatures on a record ATTM day for me.  Three of the four are Hall-of-Famers and the fourth probably will be one day.  Thanks, Pat!

Mailed: 1-2-18
Received Back: 1-22-18
Turnaround Time: 20 Days

Charley Trippi

I must admit that I didn't know much about Charley Trippi until I researched some Football Hall-of-Famers a few weeks back.  This guy was the man.  He played for the Cardinals for nine years, making two Pro Bowl squads and an All-Pro team, and almost single-handedly leading them to a 28-21 win in the 1947 NFL Championship championship game, returning a punt for a touchdown and rushing for another one.  And not only was he a dynamic halfback who also caught passes, but a quarterback who threw for over 1,000 yards one year, which was a lot back then.  He finished his career with over 3,500 rushing yards, 2,500 passing yards, and 1,300 receiving yards.  Oh, also 7,500 punting yards, 1,400 kick return yards, and 800 punt return yards.  Did I mention he also played defense and had 4 career interceptions?  Man crush Monday.  Charley is still going strong at 96 years old.  He signed the card I sent him, as well as the toploader it was in.  Thanks, Charley!

Mailed: 1-10-18
Received Back: 1-22-18
Turnaround Time: 12 Days

Steve Grogan

Steve Grogan is the third-leading passer in New England Patriots history, behind Tom Brady and Drew Bledsoe.  He spent his entire 16-year career with the Pats.  Two QB signatures in one day!  Thanks, Steve!

Mailed: 1-8-18
Received Back: 1-20-18
Turnaround Time: 12 Days

Bubby Brister

Bubby Brister bounced around the league for 14 years, playing for five teams largely as a backup QB, and throwing for nearly 15,000 yards.  He won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos, and he has a pretty cool nickname.  Thanks, Bubby!

Mailed: 1-8-18
Received Back: 1-20-18
Turnaround Time: 12 Days

Walt Garrison

Walt Garrison played in the Cowboys backfield for nine years, winning a Super Bowl and making a Pro Bowl team.  Thanks, Walt!

Mailed: 1-8-18
Received Back: 1-19-18
Turnaround Time: 11 Days

Jim Langer

A part of the undefeated Super Bowl Champion Miami Dolphins in 1972, Jim Langer played for the Dolphins from 1970-1979 and then joined the Vikings for 1980-1981.  He won two Super Bowls and six Pro Bowls, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame as one of the all-time greatest Centers.  Thanks, Jim!

Mailed: 12-29-17
Received Back: 1-18-18
Turnaround Time: 20 Days

Rob Manfred

This one is pretty cool.  I sent this card out to the Commissioner of Baseball, Rob Manfred, because I didn't actually have a Rob Manfred baseball card (understandably).  I did notice that it's a card commemorating the 1958 World Series, which is the year he was born (and the Yankees won).  What I didn't realize until today is that the date on the card, commemorating a Sports Illustrated cover, is from the day after the Commissioner was born.  So this is a pretty unique item now that he's signed it.  Also, I like how he's handled himself, unlike the NFL Commissioner...  Thanks, Rob!

Mailed: 1-6-18
Received Back: 1-16-18
Turnaround Time: 10 Days

Ryne Sandberg

Back-to-back two Hall-of-Famer days!  Ryne Sandberg was a 10-time all-star and NL MVP award winner.  This was $5 well spent, as "Ryno" was the face of the Cubs when I started following baseball.  Thanks, Ryne!

Mailed: 1-6-18
Received Back: 1-13-18
Turnaround Time: 7 Days

Jan Stenerud

The Hall of Fame streak continues, but this time it's a football return!  Jan Stenerud was one of the great placekickers in NFL history.  He won a Super Bowl and was elected to six Pro Bowls.  He included an inscription with the year he was inducted into the Hall of Fame too.  Thanks, Jan!

Mailed: 12-29-17
Received Back: 1-13-18
Turnaround Time: 15 Days

Andre Dawson

Two baseball Hall-of-Famers in one day!  Andre Dawson (AKA The Hawk) was a perennial all-star and NL MVP award winner.  This one cost a $5 donation, but was well worth it.  An exquisite signature on his 1987 Fleer card  Thanks, Andre!

Mailed: 1-2-18
Received Back: 1-12-18
Turnaround Time: 10 Days

Brooks Robinson

This one is a legend and my first Hall of Fame return of the year.  A perennial all-star, Brooks Robinson won two World Series, an AL MVP award, and was the 1970 World Series MVP.  He's among the best third baseman of all-time as well as an all-time great Baltimore Oriole.  Beautiful signature on a nice card.  Thanks, Brooks!

Mailed: 1-2-18
Received Back: 1-12-18
Turnaround Time: 10 Days

Larry Bowa

A five-time all-star and part of the 1980 Phillies World Series Championship team, Larry Bowa went on to coach and manage after his playing days.  Nice signature from a lifetime baseball guy.  Thanks, Larry!

Mailed: 1-5-18
Received Back: 1-11-18
Turnaround Time: 6 Days

Frank Tanana

My first ATTM success of 2018!  Frank Tanana put together an impressive career across three decades, compiling 240 MLB wins.  He signed the card I sent him and included a signed tract, both with the inscription "John 14:6".  I love it when Christian athletes include a Bible verse as an inscription, and these signatures have a special place in my collection.  For reference, John 14:6 (KJV) reads, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."  Thanks, Frank!

Mailed: 12-28-17
Received Back: 1-6-18
Turnaround Time: 9 Days