Underrated Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Brad Ziegler keeps impressing opponents…and collectors!

His newest Facebook comment:

“For those asking, I will sign one card thru mail to the stadium if you include SASE. Any add’l cards sent are a donation to my collection :)”

Reasons to cheer?

1. He’s communicating with collectors. Many players would create a rule or change a policy without bothering to tell the public.

2. He’s signing AT ALL.

Thank you, Brad. It’s nice to see a player enjoying cards, too!

If you get Brad by mail, be assured that a Bible verse will be attached!

There may have been a few groans when Pat Neshek shared May advice for autograph collectors. Don’t forget the SASE? Some veteran hobbyists snorted. Who wouldn’t enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope? Where was the advanced, top-secret formula for guaranteed autographs?

I decided to cross-check Pat’s concern. Could it be? I sought out Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brad Ziegler. How many fan letter autograph requests does he get NOT including a SASE? I told him that veteran collectors hope to get the word spread, to reduce the number to ZERO.

He replied:

Thank you 🙂 5%. Most have SASE.
 The ones that don’t, I keep the cards.

Five percent is five percent too many.

I’m grateful to Stephanee (Mrs. Pat) Neshek, who asked the same question to her talented husband. She wrote:

Pat loves the hobby himself so he tries to be as accessible as he can be. He said about 1 out of every 10 requests don’t have a SASE.

Come to think of it…one out of 10 is one too many.

Why? That one could push a current or former player into finding the needed scapegoat. Imagine. “I hate it when they do this. I’m not going to do fan mail any more!”

I salute everyone who’s learned the rules of TTM collecting. To everyone who shares those rules, I offer an extra cheer.

Coming Wednesday: Youtube, the next stop for autograph enlightenment!