By Max Silberman

For many years, hobbyists created large autograph collections by mail. Cards, balls or photos were sent to the ballpark or the player’s home and usually a positive response was obtained.

Today that is no longer true. If you send an item to a Hall of Famer, you can kiss it goodbye. This doesn’t mean that the player is greedy, uncaring or heartless. If Mike Schmidt answered all the mail he receives, he would have to stay awake for 24 hours and end up providing dealers with free merchandise to sell. He could never read all the mail that arrives much less answer it.

Often we receive requests for home addresses of former Athletics players who range in age from 71 to 95. While many are in good health, others suffer from arthritis or take medications which make signing painful. Some players just do not want to sign and that is their right. After all, they did not
ask you to send them items to be signed. Some will request a fee to which they feel they are entitled while others are happy to be remembered.

At one time, the Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society produced address lists but the information changed almost weekly and some players do not wish to be bothered. If you request a player’a address from our research location ( max120@comcast.net), we will be happy to provide the latest address we have and will note if the player usually signs or is unable or unwilling.

Items should never be more than two. If you send a dozen items, the players know that you are going to resell them. A self addressed, stamped envelope is also a must along with a polite (not form written) note.

Our yearly reunion in October has provided collectors the opportunity to obtain the autographs of about two dozen major leaguers. A very modest fee is charged to cover the cost of hotels, meals and airlines but the autographs are unquestionably authentic and our guests are always fan friendly. You can chat briefly with the player and take a photograph if you wish. Naturally when the lines are long, no one collector should monopolize the guest.

Obtaining autographs of current players by mail is often a problem since they are accustomed to being paid and receive tons of requests. Some of these requests are ignored and others are signed by clubhouse boys, autopen machines or rubber stamped.

A gentleman wrote a letter to one of the hobby’s magazines about spending hundreds of dollars for baseballs and postage. He sent the balls to Hall of Fame players and had no success. What Hall of Famer is going to give a stranger an item with a retail value of $50-$100 because the man claimed it
was for his grandson?

Ask for autographs by mail if you wish, but remember that no player or former player has any obligation to honor your request.