Autograph Request Tips TTM

Spring Training is here and this may be the best time to try and get a
few autographs from your favorite players TTM (Through The Mail). I
believe the earlier you mail your request out the better your chances
are that you will get them back. The games haven't started yet and
the players probably have a little more free time on their hand to sit
down and go through their mail.

The first thing I like to do is make a list of players I want to send
request to. I like to send to players that I have a good chance at
getting the request back with an occasional iffy (but these are
usually my favorite players that I am hoping to get back). There are
a few websites that you can find out this information. One of the
best players to start with is Pat Neshek of the Minnesota Twins.
Neshek is a big collector of autographs himself and really connects
with the fans in their search for autographs. He even has a blog that
talks about his fun with autographs.

Once you figure out who you want to send to you want to figure out
what to send to them. I like sending 8x10 photographs. They are easy
to send and easy to store. The postage is a little more expensive
then sending a baseball card but cheaper then sending a baseball. I
don't send out to many baseball cards to be autographed because I
figure that if I am doing all this to get the autograph I am going to
want to have it on something a little more substantial then a baseball
card. If you do decide to send baseball cards you want to try and
send a card that is a non-glossy card. Cards like Allen & Ginter and
Topps Heritage are probably the most popular. If you do go with a
glossy card you are going to want to either rub it down with baby
powder or take a pencil eraser to the glossy finish. If you don't,
the auto will bubble up and becomes easily smear-able.

Now that you got who you are going to send to and what you want to
send to them you need to sit down and write a quick letter to the
player asking for the autograph and make sure you are polite by saying
please and thank you. Don't make the letter to long as the player
most likely will not read it. Most of the players have tons of fan
mail and they don't have time to sit down and read every letter. I
like to include a questioner just asking the player a few things about
his career. I know most of these will not be returned but it is worth
a shot and I get to know a little more about the players.

The last and most important thing is you want to include a Self
Addressed Stamped Envelope big enough to return what ever it is you
are sending. Yes the players make alot of money but they are not
going to waste their time or money on postage for your free
autograph. You put the envelope along with the item you are sending
in another envelope and mail it off to the player and wait. Hopefully
you will get some nice returns to start your TTM collection.