OK its all pretty straight forward. A few rules to go by and a few risks to take but when they come off its well worth the trouble and effort. Especially for the $1.85 it costs you to send.
There are a number of TTM address websites and address lists you can buy.
The most comprehensive list is the Harvey Meiselman one that you can buy for $25US.
http://sportsaddresslists.com/basketball.html
There also websites you can join.
I'm a member here and its only about $10 a year. It has an address bank and members list all success and how long it took and address used. Its great as it gives you up to date info on players signing. Its also for all major sports.
http://www.sportscollectors.net
A great free site is this one. Although it may not always be up to date.
http://www.star-collector.net/
Now the easy part
Simply write a nice note to the player making chit chat and ask politely for an auto. Its the polite thing to do.
Include an envelope with your name and address on it and with US stamps stuck on. 55 cents + US will do. I use cheaper stamps as I mostly get them sent to a mate in the US who forwards them on to me. You can buy stamps online or at stamp shops cheap.
Choose a card that will show an auto clearly. Most sign in either black or silver sharpie so take that into consideration. Try to avoid high gloss cards that when signed will smudge when put back in the toploader before dry. Not all wait. I also maily use card savers and take the risk with the post not damaging it. I've found players cause the most damage and find it easier to remove a card from a card saver than a top loader.
I use a small regular envelope for the sase and the longer bigger airmail envelope to send to the US. You will need an $1.85 stamp to send it there. Always put on your return address as you will at least get your card back if the address is wrong etc. I
Basically make it as simple and pleasent for the player to help you out. Don't include more than one item. Most will go unsigned as it looks greedy.
Some players that don't have home addresses available readily can be contacted thru the teams they play for, work for or coach for. Some retired players can be contacted thru the Hall Of Fame who will forward all mail onto them. You can email the HOF and ask if you are unsure if the player accepts mail. They will email you back. Again being polite gets you a long way.
Current players take the longest to sign. The longest Ive had one auto take is nearly a year and half! :shock: Semi star players and role players are the best. Very few star players sign although you might get an autopen auto or player photo instead. Retired players, coaches and admin sign a lot quicker. Some within 2 weeks(one week there, one week back!)
Some former players that are broadcaster can be contacted by writing to the TV stations they work for. CBS, TNT etc etc
I think I have covered everything there.
Any questions just shoot.
Its all worth it when you get something like this in the mail
There are a number of TTM address websites and address lists you can buy.
The most comprehensive list is the Harvey Meiselman one that you can buy for $25US.
http://sportsaddresslists.com/basketball.html
There also websites you can join.
I'm a member here and its only about $10 a year. It has an address bank and members list all success and how long it took and address used. Its great as it gives you up to date info on players signing. Its also for all major sports.
http://www.sportscollectors.net
A great free site is this one. Although it may not always be up to date.
http://www.star-collector.net/
Now the easy part
Simply write a nice note to the player making chit chat and ask politely for an auto. Its the polite thing to do.
Include an envelope with your name and address on it and with US stamps stuck on. 55 cents + US will do. I use cheaper stamps as I mostly get them sent to a mate in the US who forwards them on to me. You can buy stamps online or at stamp shops cheap.
Choose a card that will show an auto clearly. Most sign in either black or silver sharpie so take that into consideration. Try to avoid high gloss cards that when signed will smudge when put back in the toploader before dry. Not all wait. I also maily use card savers and take the risk with the post not damaging it. I've found players cause the most damage and find it easier to remove a card from a card saver than a top loader.
I use a small regular envelope for the sase and the longer bigger airmail envelope to send to the US. You will need an $1.85 stamp to send it there. Always put on your return address as you will at least get your card back if the address is wrong etc. I
Basically make it as simple and pleasent for the player to help you out. Don't include more than one item. Most will go unsigned as it looks greedy.
Some players that don't have home addresses available readily can be contacted thru the teams they play for, work for or coach for. Some retired players can be contacted thru the Hall Of Fame who will forward all mail onto them. You can email the HOF and ask if you are unsure if the player accepts mail. They will email you back. Again being polite gets you a long way.
Current players take the longest to sign. The longest Ive had one auto take is nearly a year and half! :shock: Semi star players and role players are the best. Very few star players sign although you might get an autopen auto or player photo instead. Retired players, coaches and admin sign a lot quicker. Some within 2 weeks(one week there, one week back!)
Some former players that are broadcaster can be contacted by writing to the TV stations they work for. CBS, TNT etc etc
I think I have covered everything there.
Any questions just shoot.
Its all worth it when you get something like this in the mail