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.

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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.

Classic TTM Success: Zane 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. 3, 2012.

Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Zane Smith is a quick through the mail autograph responder and a true fan of the fans.

I sent Smith a baseball card to an address in Atlanta, Georgia with a note stating that I loved him as an Atlanta Brave, but was only able to find a Montreal Expo card to send.

In 11 days I received my Expos card and a Braves card of Smith signed. In my opinion, that's a true fan of fans.

Smith began his career with the Braves in 1984.

He also played for the Expos, Pittsburgh  Pirates, and Boston Red Soxs.

He finished his 13-year-career with 100 wins and 1,011 strikeouts.

He made it to the National League Championship Series two times with the Pirates and the American League Championship Series with the Red Sox.

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MY TTM Failures Part 3

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 Nov. 27, 2012.

The hobby of collecting baseball card autographs through the mail is filled with ups and downs with the downs being when a card does not come back.

Some of the players I have sent cards to and received no response from are: Former Cincinnati Red Eric Davis.

I sent Davis a card on Oct. 4, 2010 to a charity address in Los Angeles, California.

The name of the organization is Hitting From the Heart.

I sent the request their after seeing success posted on www.fanmail.biz.

Well after two years I think its safe to assume my request is a failure.

A check of sportscardforum.com shows no success for anyone at any address, so it seems TTM autograph collectors should not waste their stamps on Eric Davis.

Randy Milligan is also a no response. The former major leaguer is a scout with the Baltimore Orioles which is where I sent the card on Oct. 25, 2010. Over two years and counting and no response. Two people have recorded attempts at his home address. One reports success and one reports failure. Probably not worth a second try.

Former Kansas City Royal Danny Tartabull is also on my failure list.

I mailed Tartabull on Nov. 2, 2010 at an address in California and no response is the result.

However, the address I got must have been bad because there is a lot of success recorded at another California address.

So Tartabull is going on the try again list.

Former St. Louis  Cardinal Joe Magrane is a no response at this time.

I sent a card to Magrane on Nov. 8, 2010 and so far no response. There is no success posted for Magrane so no second try will be attempted.

It saddens me when I get no response from the Atlanta Braves, but no response is the result of a request sent to Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell.

I mailed a card to McDowell on Nov. 8, 2010, so far nothing. However maybe my card got lost in the mail, because many success are recorded for McDowell so a second try is warranted.

Rick Aguilera is also on my failure list. I mailed a card to a Cailfornia address on Nov. 8, 2010 and no response is the result. There is no success posted for Aguilera so no second try here.

The cards that do not come back via return to sender, it does make one wonder what becomes of them. Do the players keep them or are they lost in the mail? I guess only the cards know the answers.

Classic TTM Success: Alejandro Pena

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 Nov. 23, 2012.

Former Atlanta Brave and Los Angeles Dodger Alejandro Pena is the latest former major leaguer I have received an autograph through the mail from.

In addition to the Braves and Dodgers, Pena also pitched for the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Soxs, and the Florida Marlins.

Pena began his career with the Dodgers in 1981 and ended his career with the Marlins in 1996.

Pena made it to the World Series three times earning one ring with the Dodgers and one ring with the Braves.

In 1991, Pena and Braves pitchers Kent Mercker and Mark Wohlers combined to throw a no hitter against the San Diego Padres.

The achievement is marked on baseball card featuring all three pitchers.

Today, Pena is the pitching coach for the Dodgers's Dominican summer league team.

Classic TTM Success: Glenn Hubbard

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 Nov. 19, 2012.

Former Atlanta Braves

econd baseman Glenn Hubbard is my latest through the mail autograph success.

Hubbard is one of my all-time favorite Braves.

I sent Hubbard two cards, one of him in Braves blue with former Braves shortstop Rafael Ramirez and one of him in Oakland As green.

Its only the second time I have sent more than card at a time, as I do not want to come across as pushy.

The former all-star second baseman played with the Braves back in the days with Dale Murphy and Bob Horner.

In 1982, Hubbard and the Braves made it to the playoffs only to lose to the St. Louis Cardinals.

In 1989 Hubbard made it to the World Series with the Oakland As, but was not able to win a ring as the As lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In 1999 the Braves hired Hubbard as first base coach. That job ended in 2010.

To baseball collectors, Hubbard is known for his 1984 Fleer card in which he his holding a large snake.

Many online articles can be found calling the card one of the best and one of the worst cards in card history.

Maybe I should have sent Hubbard that card and asked why he is holding the snake.

Glenn if you see this article, thank you for the autographs and send me a message explaining the snake card please.