How To Get Autographs Through the Mail in 2019

For the last post of the year, on the last day of the year, I'll share three quick tips for TTM success!

QUANTITY:  While my percentage of success has gone up in the past year because I've done a better job picking higher-probability signers to send to, the more you send out, the more you will get back.  To date, I've gotten back over 300 successes in three years, but sent out over 700 requests.

STATISTICS:  One big thing I learned for 2018 was that there are plenty of great resources for finding addresses, what percentage of the time athletes sign, when the last time they signed was, if there's a donation fee for a signature, etc.  Sometimes it's worth taking a gamble on a low probability player if it's one you really want to get, but often times, knowing the statistics will save you the time and the cost of the stamps.

RESOURCES: There are some great places to find out these statistics.  Prior to 2018, I was simply using fanmail.biz and Google.  Sometimes, I still use these tools, but it's been much more seldom since I discovered the TTM Manager at sportscardforum.com.  SCF is free to join.  I found out about this when I joined a Facebook group for baseball TTMers.  However, I'm going to try something new for 2019 and buy a premium membership subscription ($15/year) to sportscollectors.net as well.

Good luck, everyone, and Happy New Year!

Top 10 For 2018

It's been quite a year, with 186 TTM successes so far (and still one more mail day left!), bringing my three-year total since I started this to 302 successes.  This year's Top Ten list is quite diverse.  It includes two baseball players, two basketball players, a football player, a soccer player, a golfer, an Olympian who won a gold medal in the Decathlon, a former Secretary of State who is also a four-star General, and a former U.S. President who, sadly, passed away this year.  It was a tough call between number one and number two, but since President Bush was known more for being President than a baseball player, the lone football player on this year's list took the number one spot, and he's one of the best to ever play the game!

10: Mike Mussina (A superstar pitcher and former Yankee, Moose may be headed for Cooperstown!)
9: Landon Donovan (One of the best U.S. men's soccer players of all-time!)
8: Colin Powell (Four-star General and former Secretary of State!)
7: Bob Pettit (One of the best in the early years of the game, and made the all-star team every year!)
6: Bruce Jenner (Known as Caitlyn now, Bruce won the Decathlon Gold Medal in the '76 Olympics!)
5: Don Mattingly (The Marlins Manager is a Yankees legend and former Captain in the Bronx!)
4: Bill Bradley (The Hall-of-Famer won a Championship with the Knicks and was a U.S. Senator!)
3: Jack Nicklaus (The Golden Bear was one of the greatest golfers of all-time!)
2: George H.W. Bush (The former Yale baseball team Captain was the 41st U.S. President!)
1: Drew Brees (One of the best QBs ever, he has more passing yards than anyone in history!)

Monthly Failure Report: December 2018

No response from December 2017:
Dave Eiland
Randy Velarde
Art Shell
Jack Morris
Larry Wilson

RTS:
Keyshawn Johnson

Returned Unsigned:
Lee Smith, who wants $20 for a signature.  He just got into the Hall of Fame, which is awesome, but you can still pick up certified autographs of his on Ebay for significantly less than this asking price.

Ronnie Lott

Hall-of-Famer Ronnie Lott made ten Pro Bowl teams and won four Super Bowls during his illustrious 14-year NFL career.  One of the all-time greats at the Cornerback and Safety positions, Lott intercepted 63 passes during regular season play and another nine during the postseason.  Thanks, Ronnie!

Mailed: 10-9-18
Received Back: 12-26-18
Turnaround Time: 78 Days

Chris Davis

Chris Davis has amassed 283 Home Runs and 743 RBI so far in his MLB career. He led the league with 53 HR in 2013 and 47 HR in 2015.  He had a rough year in 2018, but is looking to bounce back for the Orioles in 2019.  Thanks, Chris!  Merry Christmas!

Mailed: 12-13-18
Received Back: 12-24-18
Turnaround Time: 11 Days

Ed Jones

Ed "Too Tall" Jones bridged two eras of Dallas Cowboys football, winning a Super Bowl in the 70s and making three Pro Bowls in the early 80s before retiring after his 15th season in 1989.  He is one of the best Defensive Ends in the history of the Cowboys.  Thanks, Ed!

Mailed: 10-9-18
Received Back: 12-14-18
Turnaround Time: 66 Days

Rey Sanchez

Rey Sanchez spent 15 years in the big leagues with nine different teams, including two stints with the Yankees.  He hit .272.  He was the starting second baseman on the day I attended my first MLB game at Yankee Stadium in 1997.  Thanks, Rey!

Mailed: 10-11-18
Received Back: 12-3-18
Turnaround Time: 53 Days

Alphonso Downing

I found an old card with Al Downing in a Yankees uniform, so naturally I sent it to him to sign.  Downing became one of the "Black Aces" by going 20-9 in 1971!  Thanks again, Al!

Mailed: 11-16-18
Received Back: 12-3-18
Turnaround Time: 17 Days

Carsten Charles Sabathia

So far, CC Sabathia's resume includes a World Series Championship, a Cy Young Award, six all-star teams, 246 big league Wins, and 2,986 Strikeouts.  He's signed on with the Yankees for one more season.  He signed his rookie card for me here.  It's a bit smudged, but I kind of like it, because the smudge has his fingerprint in it.  Thanks, CC!

Mailed: 2-14-18
Received Back: 12-1-18
Turnaround Time: 290 Days

Colin Powell

Colin Powell has impressive statistics--of service to the United States.  He was Secretary of State under George W. Bush but also a four-star general in the Army.  He landed on a baseball card in the 1991 Bowman set when he threw out the first pitch at a Yankees game.  I got this in the mail on the day that an American hero who Powell served under, President George H.W. Bush, passed away.  Thank you, Secretary Powell--for your service, but for your autograph!

Mailed: 9-24-18
Received Back: 11-30-18
Turnaround Time: 67 Days

Chris Hammond

Chris Hammond was 66-62 with a 4.14 ERA across 14 MLB seasons with seven different teams.  He played for the Yankees in 2003.  Thanks, Chris!

Mailed: 10-11-18
Received Back: 11-30-18
Turnaround Time: 50 Days

Douglas Bird

Doug Bird was 73-60 with a 3.99 ERA during his eleven-year MLB career.  He played for five teams and saved 60 games.  Thanks, Doug!

Mailed: 11-16-18
Received Back: 11-26-18
Turnaround Time: 10 Days