Card Returned: Tim Tebow!

I received another card back in the mail on February 10th as well, and matched the address to the athlete fairly quickly- not too many of my cards were sent to Denver.  I had checked his website, as well as www.fanmail.biz, and still could not find his address.  My hopes of getting this card back were lowered when I saw a note stating that he would not be signing autographs posted on his website, but I still thought it was worth a try.  I was disappointed when I opened the card and saw that it was not signed, but I understand how busy an athlete like him is.  As a TTM collector, you have to accept the fact that some cards will come back unsigned, and some cards may not come back at all.  You should only send out cards that you have duplicates of, or are willing to part with.

Even though he didn't sign it this time, I plan on trying again during the summer when he will probably be less busy!

Since I could not find an address for the Tim Tebow foundation, or for his Sports Management Company, I sent the card to the Denver Broncos facility.  This is often a safe bet when you cannot find an athletes address, as the staff there can usually direct your card to the right place.

In this case, I sent the card to:

Mr. Tim Tebow
c/o Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos Football Club
13655 Broncos Parkway
Englewood, CO 80112

Good luck!

Card Returned: Dirk Nowitzki!

My second card of 2012 came in on February 10.  My mom refused to open it this time, instead allowing me to have the excitement of opening the envelope.  I saw the return address was from Dallas, but had totally forgotten who I had already sent cards out to.  I opened the envelope very slowly, scared to find a missing or unsigned card inside.  Instead, I saw my second autograph, and was beyond happy- Dirk is a player I really enjoy watching, and after his performance in last year's NBA playoffs, cemented his spot as one of my favorite players to ever play the game.

I reached Mr. Nowitzki at:

Dirk Nowitzki
Dallas Mavericks
2500 Victory Avenue
Dallas, TX 75219
USA

Courtesy of: www.fanmail.biz

Card Returned: Peyton Manning!

My Peyton Manning card came in about a month ago, on January 14th, not even a week and a half after I sent it in!  My mom had called and told me a card had come in (I address my return envelopes to my home address, since I will be moving out of my apartment in May, and don't want any cards that take a couple months to be signed sent to an address I no longer use.) and being the impatient young adult I am, I had to know who it was right that instant.  She told me that it was a football player, and one of the better ones.  After a couple guess I nailed down who it was and was overjoyed- I honestly did not expect to get any responses, let alone that quickly.  In the days when my mom collected cards, athletes were more willing to reach out to their fanbases, whereas now they must be wary of people trying to gather autographs solely for resale, making it more difficult for collectors.

She mailed it up to my apartment a few days later, and I was excited to see that it was a "true" autograph- sharpie, and not a screenprint.  Not a bad first card to receive in the new year!

For anyone interested, I reached Mr. Manning at:

Peyton Manning
The PeyBack Foundation
6325 N. Guilford
Suite 201
Indianapolis, IN 46220
USA

Courtesy of: www.fanmail.biz

A Bit of My Collection

I thought I would upload some pictures of a few of the more notable cards in my collection thus far.  I'll try to keep updating when new cards come in, as well as the addresses I used to get in contact with that athlete, in case you decide to write them.

This Mario Lemieux card is probably my favorite out of all the cards I have received in the mail.  Not only was he one of my favorite players to watch, but he signed and returned my card while going through treatment for his Hodgin's Lymphoma.  The fact that he took time to sign and return a card to me, especially as a child, really made it something special.  Being able to have a story behind each card is definitely one of the most fun parts of collecting.

Cheers and good luck!

Letter Writing Do's and Don't's

DON'T

• Write a letter on tattered or torn paper
• Try to correct misspelled or sloppily written words.  You are better off taking the extra five minutes to rewrite the letter than appearing lazy and like you don't care to your audience.
• Come off as greedy or demanding.
• Write in illegible handwriting.  Take the time to write a neat, professional looking letter.
• Write in pencil.

Examples of what NOT to do:

Notice the rip-out tear at the top of the page, as well as the type of paper used.  The note comes off very impersonal and does not seem like the writer put in any effort at all.  That, combined with the short message, and pencil writing will almost guarantee no response.

Although the rip in the corner of the page may not seem like a big deal, it can be the difference between a successful letter and a letter which finds the trash bin.  Also notice the scratched out word, as well as the attempted correction on the "h" in "thank you".  If you do make a mistake, do not attempt to fix it or white it out, unless you can do a good enough job to where no one can notice it.  You are much better off taking a couple of minutes to rewrite your letter than sending a letter like this one.

DO

• Use an intact, professional piece of paper.
• Write your letter in blue or black pen ink.
• Use proper grammar, spelling, and sentences and make sure you use legible handwriting.
• Address the athlete as Mr. or Mrs. "Name".
• Attempt to make a personal connection with the athlete.
• BE POLITE.  It may seem like you are "sucking up" to them, but I would much rather err on the side of politeness than come off greedy.
• Sign the letter with a professional looking signature.  Believe it or not, some athletes will turn down letters with sloppy signatures.
• Use appropriate length.  Athletes are busy people, so be sure to get to the point quickly.  About half a page in length should be good.  For retired athletes who have more time to read their letters, you can write a little more.  Usually half a page to a full page is good length.

Example:

Notice the formatting of the letter.  In the first paragraph, I introduce myself and tell my target athlete why I am interested in watching them play, or why I would enjoy having their autograph.  This makes the letter much more personal, as it is obvious that you have taken time to write them an individualized letter, and are not using a generic template letter.  If I do not know much about the athlete, I will do a quick google search to find a memorable game, or season to make mention of.  For instance, when writing to Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, I mentioned something like, "Even though I am a huge Pistons fan, and was crushed when you knocked us out of the 2006 NBA Playoffs, I was glad to see a great player like you earn a ring".  Sure it's building up their ego and the like, but it is effective.

In the second paragraph I try to make my intentions clear.  I usually mention that I am a huge collector and would love to have a card of theirs in my collection.  This lets the athlete know that I am not trying to hawk them for cards to sell on eBay or craigslist.  As mentioned, it is important to be polite, noting that you understand their busy schedule and understand if they can't respond.  Little comments like this go a long way with athletes and other celebrities; who doesn't like being treated with respect?  If I have duplicates of a card, I will often send two copies of the card, and write something like, "I have sent two cards with this letter and would really appreciate if you could sign and return one.  You are more than welcome to keep the second one if you would like".  This goes along with the "don't be greedy" rule, and can also go a long way.  You can also personalize this part based on the athlete you are writing.  For instance, when I wrote Chris Paul, I made a comment saying that he can keep one of the cards for his newborn son, so that when he grows up he can have a collection of cards of his Dad.  Treating the person you are writing to as a person, and not as a novelty is essential when writing your letters.

Lastly, end your letter with a thank-you.  I will often say something along the lines of "thank you for your time and good luck this season".  If it is an athlete from the city you live in or grew up in, you may want to say something like "thank you for your time and for everything you have done for our city".  Make sure to sign your letter with a nice looking signature, as well as printing your name underneath.

By following these guidelines you should see more success in getting your cards returned in a more timely fashion, as well as a greater success rate.  Good luck!

Keep a Spreadsheet

Since it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months for an athlete to return a card to you, it is a good idea to make a spreadsheet of what cards you have sent out, and when you sent them.  Even if it is as simple as this,

it is nice to have a log of who you have already written.  I find that I forget who I have sent cards to quite frequently, so having a list gives you something to look forward to.

The Fly-By Guide to TTM Autographs

Rule #1: Make it Worth Their While

Imagine yourself as a professional athlete.  Between practice, games, travel, and everything else that comes with the job, you probably would not have much time to yourself, let alone to sign autographs.  Now imagine that you receive two letters, one on a piece of tattered notebook paper, and one on an intact piece of stationary.  Which would you respond to first?  If you're anything like me, you would probably give more attention to the person who took the time to write you a presentable note.  I know it seems very insignificant, but a torn corner or crumpled piece of paper can be the difference between getting a card back and them brushing you off.

Rule #2: Hand Write All of Your Letters

DO NOT TYPE YOUR LETTER.

I will say it one more time, just to hammer it home: DO NOT TYPE YOUR LETTER.

Sending a typed letter is an almost guaranteed way to get your card shuffled back into the pile and never returned.  Not only is it less personal towards the athlete, but it could, and probably will be mistaken for someone who sends as many cards out as possible.  Typing your letter gives off the impression that they are not worth the time it takes to hand write a quick note, and that you are only willing to put their name at the top of a template letter.  To someone going through hundreds, or thousands of pieces of fan mail, a handwritten letter is much more likely to stand out.

Rule #3: Make it Personable

I will upload a sample letter in my next post to show you a simple format you can use when writing to athletes.  In my letters, I typically use two paragraphs.  In the first paragraph, I introduce myself and make mention of a particular highlight, or reason I enjoy watching that athlete play.

In the second paragraph I typically state my request, asking them to please sign and return my card.  It is recommended that you include something like, "I understand that you are very busy, so if you cannot return my card, I totally understand."  In your letters, it is important to always be polite.  You should always begin your request with please and end the letter by thanking them for their time.

Rule #4: Always Include a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE)

Athletes are very busy people, and will not have time to address an envelope to each individual fan, as much as they might like to.  Because of this, it is highly recommended that you enclose a stamped envelope with your address written on it.  This allows the athlete to simply sign the card and tuck it in the envelope, drastically increasing your chances of a return.

By following these guidelines, your chances of getting cards back will be greatly increased.  As I said, I will update a few sample letters to show you what, and what not to do.

Good Luck!

Hello!

Hello there, and congratulations on taking the first step towards a very fun and rewarding hobby!  I have been a huge sports fan all my life, and only recently began collecting autographs through the mail.  I became interested in TTM (through the mail) autographs after my mom showed me her collection of cards she had acquired throughout the years, athletes like Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Isaiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and many more.  I though it was really cool that athletes would take the time to respond to a bit of fan mail, and (sometimes) send back a card with an autograph on it.  Even though they often aren't worth much, it is a lot of fun to open your mailbox and see a letter from one of your favorite athletes waiting inside.

I cannot guarantee that you will receive every card back, but hopefully I am able to help you at least get started in your collection.