Classic TTM Success: Lancaster, Sasser, Parker

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 May 7, 2013.

So you want to start a through the mail 

autograph baseball card collection? Well I suggest starting by sending requests to former big league pitcher Les Lancaster, former big league catcher Mackey Sasser and for a small fee former Pittsburgh Pirate MVP Dave Parker will sign a card for you.

Lancaster, a former pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, and the St. Louis Cardinals, is now a pitching coach for the Lakewood Blue Claws, a Philadelphia Phillies minor league club. 

Lancaster won 41 games in his seven year career and pitched for the Cubs in the 1989 National League Championship game against the San Francisco Giants.

There are 32 baseball cards listed for Lancaster on http://www.vintagecardprices.com 

 I sent my card to the Alabama address and it was returned signed 55 days later from a Tampa Bay address.

Fans can also send requests to the Lakewood Claws, located in New Jersey.

Sasser returned my signed card in 159 days from his Alabama address, which can also be found on Sports Card Forum.

Sasser played most of his career with the New York Mets, but also played for the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates  and Seattle  Mariners. 

He made it the post season with the Mets in 1988. The Mets lost the game to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Parker, known as "The Cobra" signed my 1990 Donruss card in just seven days for a $15 fee.

Parker began his career in 1971 with the Pirates.

He also played with the Cincinnati Reds, Oakland A's, Milwaukee Brewers, California Angels and the Toronto Blue Jays. 

He played in the post season with the Pirates in 1974, 75, 79 and the A's in 1988 and 1989.

Today Parker owns several Popeye Chicken restaurants and is eligible in 2014 for the Veterans Committee vote for the Hall of Fame.

MacBook Pro Laptop Sleeve- Fireworks
by SMRJigsawPuzzles

Classic TTM Success: Martin Prado, Ray Fontenot

Arizona Diamondback Martin Prado took time from spring training to honor a through the mail autograph request. 

 

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 March 27, 2013.

Don Carman, my 100th TTM Success

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 March 15, 2013.

Former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Don Carman is the 100th athlete to respond to a through the mail autograph request.
Carman is a native of Woodward, Oklahoma who began his career with the Phillies in 1983. He went on to play with the Cincinnati Reds and ended his career with the Texas Rangers in 1992. 

He never got to play in the post season.
He started 102 big league games including a one-hit complete shut out of the New York mets  on Sept. 29, 1987.

The year before, he lost a perfect game bid to the San Francisco Giants  in the ninth inning when Bob Brenly hit a drive and outfielder Milt Thompson missed the catch.
Carman reportedly responds to all of his fan mail and in 2006 began responding to all the fan mail that he had collected over the years. 

Classic TTM Success Randy Bush Responds, Many do not

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 March 1, 2013.

Former Minnesota Twin Randy Bush responded to my through the mail baseball card autograph request in 31 days.
Bush's Major League Baseball career started with the Twins in 1982 and ended with the Twins in 1993. 

Bush earned two World Series with the Twins when they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals  in 1987 and the Atlanta Braves in 1991.
Bush was an outfielder, pinch hitter and designated hitter.  

He belted 96 home runs during his career. 

Today Bush works in the front office of the Chicago Cubs. 

More failures part 4

My quest to acquire baseball autographs continues with successes and failures.

Some of the players on the failure list are:
Nick Esasky - I mailed a baseball card to the former Cincinnati Red on Nov. 8, 2010 to an address with success noted in Georgia. Notations made on www.sportscardforum show the last recorded success was on Jan. 3, 2011. After that looks like after that Esasky's ink dried up. 

Kevin Seitzer - I mailed the former Kansas City Royal on Nov. 8, 2010 to Mac-N-Seitz Baseball in Kansas City with no success to report.
Dave Burba - Burba pitched for many teams including the San Francisco Giants. I mailed Burba a card on Nov. 8, 2010 to an address in Arizona with no success. Since then Burba has taken a job with the Tri-City Dust Devils and fans are reporting success. Could be worth a second try.
Charlie Hayes - Hayes is another former San Francisco Giant that does not respond to through the mail autograph requests. I sent him a card on Nov. 14, 2010 with no success to report. 

Tommy Gregg - Gregg a former Atlanta Brave apparently does not sign baseball cards through the mail. I sent Gregg a card on Dec. 1, 2010 to the Omaha Royals where he is employed and have no success to report and none recorded on www.sportscardforum.
Junior Ortiz - Ortiz is a former catcher for the New York Mets  and a no go on through the mail autograph requests. I mailed Ortiz a card to an address in Pennsylvania on Dec. 1, 2010 with no success. 

Mariano Duncan - Duncan is a former Los Angeles Dodger who now works with the Chicago Cubs. Autograph sucess is recorded for Duncan at the Dodger address. I mailed Duncan a card at the Dodger address on Dec. 8, 2010 with no luck. There is success recorded for Duncan at the Tennessee Smokies. Duncan could be worth another try at the Chicago Cubs address.
These are just a few of my TTM failures. Hopefully there won't be many more to report.

Classic TTM Success: Shawn Hillegas

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 Feb. 27, 2013.

Former Chicago White Sox  pitcher Shawn Hillegas is the latest retired player to respond to my through the mail auttograph request. 

Hillegas began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers  in 1987.

He went to the White Sox's in 1988, the Cleveland Indians in 1991, New York Yankees in 1992 and the Oakland As where he finished his career in 1993. 

Hillegas never made it to the playoffs.  

He made his MLB debut by replacing an injured Jack Mc Dowell. 

He played his final game with the As on July, 17, 1993. 

Hillegas responded to my request in 29 days and his signature is very defined. 

Classic TTM Success: Don August

  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 Feb. 13, 2013.

Former Milwaukee Brewer pitcher Don August responded to my through the mail autograph request and answered a question I asked.

August pitched for the Brewers from 1988-91.

In his rookie year, August went 13-7 with a 3.09 ERA.

He never made it to the playoffs but is noted as the winning pitcher in the inaugural game at the Sky dome.

In my autograph request I asked him if he ever gets tired of fan mail.

August's reply is "Its OK. I don't mind. Its been over 20 years since I played in the MLB and I still get cards to sign. It's amazing! DA.

Today August is a teacher at a middle school in Wisconsin.

Classic TTM Success: Mark Thurmond and NFL's Robb Thomas

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 Feb. 9, 2013.

Katy, TX— Former Major League pitcher Mark Thurmond responded to my through the mail autograph request in just six days, tying Vance Law, Ricky Jordan, Bruce Benedict, Rusty Greer, and Steve Garvey for the second quickest response time behind, Willie Wilson's five days.

Thurmond pitched for the San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore  Orioles and the San Francisco Giants.

He went to the World Series in 1984 with the Padres. He pitched in two games but only managed 5.1 innings as the Chicago White Sox  beat the Padres for the ring.

He returned to the post season in 1987 with the Tigers but the Minnesota Twins won the right to move on to the series.

Today Thurmond lives in Texas and works for the family insurance company.

In addition to his signature Thurmond adds a Bible verse to his signed cards. It is Romans 1:16 " For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

Bend, OR —  

Former National Football League wide receiver Robb Thomas is my first through the mail autograph success. 

Thomas began his career with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989 and also played with the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

His father, Aaron Thomas was also a NFL wide receiver, playing with the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants  from 1961-70.

Thomas signed a 1997 Pacific card for me with I believe a ball-point pen. It took 37 days to get a response from Thomas.

Not a bad wait.

Fireworks Tote Bag
by SMRJigsawPuzzles