devilsfan15 autographs

Hi - My name is Mike and I've been collecting sports autographs since the 1970's.  This will be a website that concentrates on Sports Autographs through the mail.  I received some through the mail autographs of some of my favorite athletes by writing to them in care of their respective teams.  I did not know what an sase (self-addressed stamped envelope) was, and I did not send in any pictures or cards for them to sign.   I was lucky enough to receive autograph photos from some of the biggest stars, coaches, and managers of the '70's like Nolan Ryan, Pete Rose, Roger Staubach, Bart Starr, Bobby Orr, Denis Potvin, Yogi Berra, Bobby Murcer, Brooks Robinson, Eddie Murray, Earl Weaver, Steve Largent, etc.  I stopped collecting after starting college, but I still kept all of my old autographs.

About 20 years ago, I was given a copy of Jack Smalling's Baseball Address book and I was once again hooked.  I started writing mostly to retired Yankees from the 1950's and was thrilled to see that many of these former players quickly returned my cards signed.  Some of the autographs I received in those days were from Hank Bauer, Moose Skowron, Dr. Bobby Brown, Gil McDougald, Bob Kuzava, and Jerry Coleman.  When Topps released its 1953 Archives set, I started getting signatures from players on other teams (I also liked getting signatures on TCMA's Stars of the 50s and 60s).

I now have thousands of autographed cards, photos and other items.  My collection has been greatly aided by Mark from Mark's Signing Bonus (the first person to offer non-baseball addresses to me over the web), Harvey Meiselman's Sports Addresses Books, and the SportsCollectors.net website.  I have included links for all of these.

Thanks!

Mike

Hey, I'm back...

I've had trouble uploading my images (my internet page would just crash every time I tried to post an image), that I just stopped updating my site.  I'm going to try again, and at least enter the successes even if I can't always show a scan of them.  In the meantime, I'll try to update some of the successes I've had since my last post.

Freddy Glick - 2 of 2

Frank Tepedino - 3 of 2 - I offered him a duplicate Yankees Wiz card; he replaced it with a signed card of his own

Kristin Armstrong - 1 of 1

Ian Snell - 1 of 1 - in c/o the Seattle Mariners

Jeremy Roenick - 2 of 2

John Stofa - 3 of 2 - he also signed my letter

George Vukovich - 3 of 3

Paul Runge - 1 of 1

Roger Slagle - 2 of 2

Amos Otis - 1 of 2 - I was surprised to find this card 4+ years after I sent it out!

Gene Cockrell - 2 of 2

Ted Fritsch - 2 of 2 - he included a nice note about that famous Redskins-Cowboys game when Roger Staubach led yet another 4th quarter comeback.

Bob Dillinger - 5 of 2 - This was a very pleasant surprise.  About two weeks ago, I received a failure from Mr. Dillinger (he kept my index card and returned my scanned copy of a Bowman baseball card).  Today I received an envelope from him that had two signed cards - he also sent a Diamond Signatures card - and 3 signed index cards.  A failure had become a great success!

Bill Groman - 2 of 2

Mike Pyle - 2 of 2

Frank Castillo - 2 of 2

Fulton Kuykendall - 2 of 2

Gary Glick - 4 of 2 - He included two small black & white photos

Gern Nagler - 2 of 3 - he does not sign blank cards

Willie Mueller - 2 of 2

Eric Bell - 2 of 2

Greg Colbrunn - 2 of 2

Don Bryant - 2 of 2

Jim Dunaway - 2 of 2

Donny Anderson - 3 of 3

Clendon Thomas - 2 of 2

Alex Pirus - 1 of 1

Randy Scarbery - 2 of 2

Duane Pillette - 3 of 3

Vince Banonis - 4 of 3 - Mr. Banonis played on the 1947 Chicago Cardinals championship team.  He also signed a photo of him with Charley Trippi (whom I will also try to get this signed by) as well as the envelope inside the photo mailer.

BIG DAY TODAY!

Mark Fraser - 1 of 1 - in c/o Lowell Devils

Dick Calmus - 2 of 2

Tony Malinosky - 2 of 2 - one of the oldest living Brooklyn Dodgers

Mike Wallace - 3 of 3 - He also signed his 1974 Topps rookie card which is now signed by Dick Baney, John D'Acquisto, and him.  I just need Bob Apodaca to complete it.

Keith Poole - 2 of 2

Mike Farrell - 1 of 1

Jacob Green - 2 of 2

George Bjorkman - 2 of 2

Congratulations to the newest baseball hall of famers, Rickey Henderson & Jim Rice (and recent veterans selection, Joe Gordon).

Don Johnson - 3 of 3 - The 1953 Topps archives card actually features a picture of Johnson even though the card says Pete Runnels.

Bryan Wagner - 3 of 3

Alex Pitko - 1 of 1 - one of the oldest living former Major Leaguers

Jim Bouton - 4 of 4 - I paid his fee of $5 per card.

Brad Suttle - 2 of 2 - in c/o his minor league team back in June or July

Bob Friend - 3 of 3

Gary Wagner - 2 of 2

Steve Cox - 2 of 2

Brian Sochia - 1 of 1 - Notice the frown in the signature?

Todd Dunn - 2 of 2

Ray Handley - 1 of 2 - the former Giants coach did not sign my index card.

Lee MacPhail - 2 of 2 - Mr. MacPhail signed my Topps Gallery Proof card (notice that there is no printing on the bottom of the card).  I bought this card off of the ToppsVault store on eBay.