Classic TTM Success: Pete Harnisch

I started collecting MLB autographs through the mail in 2010. I posted my stories on a content mill that is now shutting down. So in order to keep a record of my successes, it is time to move them to my blog. Here is what I published on Jan. 19, 2013.

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Pete Harnisch is the first to respond to a through the mail autograph request in 2013.

Harnisch debute
d with the Baltimore Orioles in 1988. He went on to play for the Houston Astros, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers  and Cincinnati Reds.

He played in the 1991 All-Star game as an Astro.

He finished his career with 111 wins and 103 losses.

Harnisch retired from the game after sitting out the 2002 season with injuries.

This year will be his first year as the Los Angeles Angels  roving pitching instructor.

Classic TTM Success Joe Oliver

I started collecting MLB autographs through the mail in 2010. I posted my stories on a content mill that is now shutting down. So in order to keep a record of my successes, it is time to move them to my blog. Here is what I published on Dec. 24, 2012.

Joe Oliver, former Major League Baseball catcher, responds to through the mail autograph requests.

Oliver signed and return my 1990 Donruss baseball card from a Florida address in just 27 days.

Oliver debuted with the Cincinnati Reds in 1989. In 1995 Oliver played 97 games with the Milwaukee Brewers  before being sent back to the Reds in 1996. He later played with the Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox before retiring in 2001. Oliver was a member of the 1990 World Series  Champion Reds and made it the 2000 American League Championship Series with the Mariners. Today Oliver is a baseball coach at Bishop Moore Catholic High School.

Classic TTM Succes: Brian Holman

Squirrel License Plate
by SMRJigsawPuzzles

I started collecting MLB autographs through the mail in 2010. I posted my stories on a content mill that is now shutting down. So in order to keep a record of my successes, it is time to move them to my blog. Here is what I published on Dec. 24, 2012.

Brian Holman, former Seattle  Mariner responds to through the mail autograph requests in a short period of time. 

Holman pitched with the Montreal Expos and the Seattle Mariners.

He pitched in 109 games in his four-year career, winning 37 and losing 45.

Like him, Holman's father Brad Holman and stepfather Dick LeMay were both MLB pitchers.

Holman was traded to the Mariners in 1989 along with Randy Johnson.

On April 20, 1990, Oakland As Ken Phelps broke up Holman's perfect game bid.

Today Holman works for a financial, estate, tax, and investment consulting firm.

Holman also serves on the Board of Directors of Esperanza International.

The organization was founded in 1994 by former teammate Dave Valle and addresses the needs of impoverished women in the Dominican Republic .

Classic TTM Success: Bobby Witt, Ted Higuera, and Dale Murphy

Full Moon Can Cooler
by SMRJigsawPuzzles

I started collecting MLB autographs through the mail in 2010. I posted my stories on a content mill that is now shutting down. So in order to keep a record of my successes, it is time to move them to my blog. Here is what I published on Dec. 16, 2012.

Former Oklahoma Sooner and Major League Baseball pitcher Bobby Witt is the latest player to respond to a through the mail autograph request.

Witt began his professional career with the Texas Rangers. He also pitched for the Oakland As, Florida Marlins, St. Louis  Cardinals, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Cleveland Indians, Arizona Diamondbacks  before leaving the game in 2001.

He pitched in the playoffs three times and was part of the 2001 World Series Champion Diamondbacks roster. He finished his career with more losses then wins but is ranked 79th on the all time strikeout list with 1,955. Today, Witt lives in Texas and is a baseball player agent.

Former Milwaukee  Brewer Mexican Professional Hall of Fame member Ted Higuera is one of many athletes responding to fans through the mail autograph request.

Higuera spent his nine-year major league career with the Brewers.

He never swung at a pitch or played in a playoff game. The 1986 season was his best as he won 20 games and was named to the AL All Star team. He also ranked sixth in strikeouts that year with 207. Higuera's career was cut short by injuries. He missed the 1992 season with a tore rotator cuff ending his career with the Brewers. He attempted a comeback with the San Diego Padres but didn't make the team.
Today Higuera lives in Arizona.

Longtime Atlanta Brave Dale Murphy honored my through the mail autograph request by signing and returning two baseball cards.

Murphy played with the Braves from 1976 to 1989 before going to the Philadelphia Phillies  for three years and then to the Colorado Rockies  for his final year.

Murphy is a seven-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove winner. His No. 3 is retired in Atlanta and his true fans want to see him voted into the Hall of Fame this year.

NASCAR'S Mark Martin Responds to a TTM

I started collecting MLB autographs through the mail in 2010. I posted my stories on a content mill that is now shutting down. So in order to keep a record of my successes, it is time to move them to my blog. Here is what I published on Dec. 12, 2012.

Long time NASCAR driver Mark Martin is the first non-Major League Baseball player to respond to one of my through the mail autograph requests.

I sent Martin a card in October and 52 days later returned signed.

Martin is known as the old guy to some NASCAR fans.

He began his NASCAR career in 1981 and has yet to win a championship but has finished second five times.

This year Martin drove for Michael Waltrip Racing and finished 26th.

He has 40 career wins and 270 top-5 finishes.

In addition to racing cars, Martin sells cars. He owns two car lots in Arkansas.

Classic TTM Success Lonnie Smith

I started collecting MLB autographs through the mail in 2010. I posted my stories on a content mill that is now shutting down. So in order to keep a record of my successes, it is time to move them to my blog. Here is what I published on Dec. 10, 2012.

Former MLB outfielder Lonnie Smith is a quick responder to through the mail autograph requests and a great autograph to add or start a collection with.

Smith began is major league career with the Philadelphia Phillies  in 1978.

He also played for the St. Louis  Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, and the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates  and Baltimore Orioles.

He made it to the World Series with the Phillies in 1980 and helped the team defeat the Royals for the ring.

In 1981, Smith and the Phillies returned to the National League Division Series but was defeated by the Montreal Expos.

In 1982, Smith got a taste of post season again as a member of the Cardinals. They defeated the Milwaukee Brewers  for the ring.

In 1985 Smith returned to the World Series against the Cardinals as a Royal. The end result was another ring for Smith.

He made to the World Series two more times with the Braves but was unable to claim the ring.

Classic TTM Success: Rick Luecken

I started collecting MLB autographs through the mail in 2010. I posted my stories on a content mill that is now obsolete. So in order to keep a record of my successes, I started this blog.  Here is what I published on Dec. 5, 2012.

Rocky Mountain Landscape Jigsaw Puzzle
by SMRJigsawPuzzles

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Rick Luecken responds to through the mail autograph requests quickly and personalizes them.

It took seven days to get my baseball card signed and returned.

He addresses the card to the fan then adds, best wishes and references Bible verse Rev. 3:20 which reads " Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

Luecken pitched for the Kansas City Royals  in 1989 and the Atlanta Braves in 1990.

While with the Braves, he clashed with manager Bobby

Cox and was placed on waivers. The Toronto Blue Jays picked him up and he played one game, his last.

Luecken played in a total of 56 games and finished his career with three wins and five losses.

Today he lives in Texas.