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How to Get a Player’s Autograph

autograph

It’s not as easy to get an autograph in person as it was when your dad was your age.

Professional athletes today tend to keep their distance, and some will sign autographs only for money. Still, there is a way to get autographs both from current players and from players who have been retired for years: the U.S. mail.

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Here’s How:

• Go through your sports trading cards and identify a player you would like to ask for an autograph. It’s probably best to start with less well-known players, because they’re less likely to receive as many requests.

• Write a polite, friendly letter asking the player to autograph your card. Remember that athletes, like all celebrities, receive many requests from fans. Writing a thoughtful letter is key.

• If the player is still active, simply mail him your request in care of his team. Addresses for all Major League teams can be found at mlb.com. For retired players, most libraries will have a book or two containing player addresses. Try Jack Smalling’s “The Baseball Autograph Collector’s Handbook,” available in some libraries or at baseballaddresses.com. This book, updated periodically, contains more than 11,000 addresses of players, coaches and umpires.

• Once you have a player’s address, mail the letter and the card with a self-addressed stamped envelope, and be patient. It can sometimes take months to receive a reply. Good idea: Send only cards of which you have duplicates. Some players won’t respond, and you’ll never see the card again.

• When you do get a signed card back, be sure to send a thank you note.

Laugh your way to the ballpark with these baseball jokes

What Autographs Do You Have?

Tell us which autographs you’ve collected and how you got them in the comments field below.

11 Comments on How to Get a Player’s Autograph

  1. I got a Jackie Robinson Autograph Card…. I know you’re jealous…

  2. ortiz. manny, yaz, ted williams, clemens

  3. I have a mickey mantle! $ and a genuine one with calvin

  4. I Have a Hank Aaron 1965 topps

  5. awessssssssssssssssssommmmmmeeeeeeeeeee!

  6. I never though you could

  7. yo yo yo // May 1, 2007 at 7:58 pm // Reply

    i have nate robinson, bradon inge, justin verlander, vance wilson, jole zumia, placio polonco, craig monroe, chris shelton, jim leland and i really want maglio ordoyez and

    PUDGE RODRGUEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  8. i have a andrew jones autograph.

  9. MOD_Man_1 // May 1, 2007 at 3:37 pm // Reply

    Hello,

    I have a collection of autographs that numbers over 500 signatures. I have baseball players like Barry Bonds, Nolan Ryan, and Cal Ripkin Jr. I also have Football players like Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, Walter Payton, and Jimmy Johnson. With over 500 autographs, you can imagine the list is long, here are a few other big names I have, Ginger Rogers (Movie Star), Eric Lindros (Hockey), Doug Bradley (Movie Star), Oliver North (Politics), David Lee Roth (Rock Star), Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Voyager), Stan Lee (Comic Book GOD) and the list goes on and on… All of my autographs were obtained in person or in the case of a few sports cards, I pulled them from retail packs. I do encourage everyone to at least try to contact the star that you want an autograph from, you may get lucky and get it… Best of luck…

    BTW, I am a proud father of a current Bear Scout!!!

  10. Dude1234567890 // May 1, 2007 at 3:01 pm // Reply

    I have a card worth 10$ my friend has one worth 15$

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