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Harvey Meiselman

Collectors rejoice! Harvey Meiselman Selling Team-Specific Baseball Address Lists!

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How much does a Yankee address cost?

For the first time in three years, address king Harvey Meiselman is giving team collectors a special treat.

For anyone who hasn’t bought the entire Baseball Address List because of their team-specific collection, Harvey is offering a special deal.

Choose your team for only $15 postpaid. Want just one team? That’s all you need to pay for.

For his previous team promotion, Harvey didn’t offer the team address lists until July 4. Back then, he says the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers and Phillies were the top sellers.

This year gives collections a headstart on their team collecting.

Depending on each team, there’s a different number of addresses. Harvey promises more than 800 Yankee addresses. Imagine. Reaching Bronx Bombers for less than 2 cents per addy!

Here’s the special ordering instructions from Mister M himself:

“For this special I can only accept payments one of two ways: 1) Paypal payments sent to chickenparm2go@ bellsouth.net OR 2) a check or money order mailed to: Harvey Meiselman – 9723 Lemonwood Way – Boynton Beach FL 33437. Please specify the team that you want when you order. No payments for these special lists will be accepted through my website.”

Harvey will offer quarterly address updates to all purchases by e-mail. New addresses, invalid addresses and deaths will be noted.

New to autographs, or want to start a limited collection? This is the way to do it, from one of the hobby’s greatest resources!

Tomorrow: Who’s next on my “to write to” list? I’ll give you my 7 names, and you guess the theme!

Gift Ideas for the TTM Autograph Collector

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Memo to holiday-celebrating, gift-giving folks baffled by autograph collecting:

(Quick! Forward to friends, relatives and anyone who’ll take pity on a hobbyist in December)

GIFT IDEAS:

1. www.SportsCollectors.net. Invest in a collector. For $14.99 a year, here are daily updates on the world of autographs. It’s the chance to share what you’ve learned and benefit from the wisdom of the best hobbyists out there. A great community.

2. www.SportsAddressLists.com. Harvey Meiselman charges $35 for the ultimate baseball address list. He finds the unfindable, sharing ways to reach everyone in baseball’s past and present. This is a valuable tool no collector should be without.

3. Postage stamps: Ask your mail carrier for a “stamps by mail” order form. Get the stamps sent to the collector you want to treat. We don’t need a lottery ticket for a $1. For two “Forever” stamps, we get more excitement and better odds. By the way, “Forever” stamps are best. The self-addressed, stamped envelope might not get returned before the next postal increase. That autograph return could be kept in postal detention for the sake of an extra few cents owed.

4. Office supply gift card: Collectors have endless appetites for envelopes, computer printer ink and paper. Keep us well fed, and we’ll be happy through the winter.

5. Time: This one is the easiest and hardest. Ask, “What’s new with your collection” Then, truly listen. Your collector loves baseball and the hobby. Getting to tell someone why both are special is a joy. That might be the best gift of all.

Ask Santa For 2011 Baseball Address List

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I’ve met this Santa. I believe!
(Thanks, Ken Vergauwen)

I think there’s been a new law passed that Christmas starts as soon as the last trick-or-treater leaves the front step. I’ll never dismiss a jolly thought, no matter the date.

As I assemble my wish list, a “must have” is Harvey Meiselman’s 2011 Baseball Address List. He’s started taking orders on the new edition, which will ship no later than Jan. 4.

Quoting from his announcement:

“NEW FOR 2011

1) the 2011 edition will have over 3,000 address updates and almost 500 new addresses from the previous edition.

2) There will be a column added to the main address section (right next to the column that denotes signing fees) and it will let you know of players who have less than a 25% success rates through the mail on various collectors forums. This will allow you to judge whether you want to send out an expensive rookie card or baseball to someone who has a 10% success rate and possibly lose that card.
EXPANDED FOR 2011
1) The deceased players information will be in a separate section. Players mailing addresses will also be in their own separate section. That way, if you’re only interested in the addresses that can yield successful autograph requests you have them all together in one section. If you need the death information, it’s indexed and printed in alphabetical order in a separate section. The best of both worlds.

2) Ex-MLB players who work as managers and coaches for major or minor league baseball teams during the season are now included in the regular address section. This way, lets say a player you want to write to, lives in CA but is a coach for a team in PA during the season. You’ll instantly know what the best address at the time is to use. 

3) Broadcasters, writers, General Managers, Owners and Ford C Frick Award winners and JG Taylor Spink Award winners have been expanded for 2011.”

Why order early? Besides bragging rights about being first on your block with Harvey’s list, know that the nearly 500 new addresses are jackpots awaiting collectors. I’m guessing that a few of these folks may sign freely for a few months, all due to the novelty of receiving fan mail again. Then, they might start charging for signatures. Or, the signing power might be disconnected entirely.

Check out http://www.sportsaddresslists.com/ for more information. This is NOT an affiliate link. I get nothing but peace of mind, knowing fellow collectors are using the best resource imaginable. The $35 is a wise hobby investment, knowing you’ll benefit your collection while supporting Harvey’s pioneering work.

Senator OFer Gil Coan Opposes Ebay

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Gil Coan played 10 major league seasons. With today’s offenses, a speedster like Coan would be an annual resident in the stolen base leaders category.

Even at age 88, he’s still fast with his wits. He shared some great memories that I’ll be posting this week. Using his own postage and envelope,  Coan gave me a beautifully autographed 8-by-10, circa 1950, of him catching a first pitch in Washington from President Harry Truman. On the back, Coan hand-lettered a description of the event.

Most importantly, Coan ended his note with a plea:

“I ask that you do not sell these items enclosed, because too often I see items I give away on Ebay and do not appreciate that.”


During the height of Coan’s career, according to Baseball Almanac, he was pulling in a modest $14,000. The expense, and time, of reproducing your own photos is significant for an 80-something. Feeling that a gift you gave is unappreciated?  I can understand how he feels. Thankfully, I didn’t see any of his gifted photos being auctioned this week.

Even if you don’t agree with me or Gil Coan, know one thing:

They are watching.

Former and current players will slam the door on the hobby. Every month, champion baseball address finder  Harvey Meiselman shares word of another former player wanting a fee. Not for charity, but for the player himself. I’d guess a majority of them have seen their autographs sell online.

When an autograph signer lavishes you with bonuses, send them a thank-you note. Then, proceed with caution as you decide what to do with the signatures. Your decision could change the hobby forever.

Mark Twain Today: Sign Fan Mail or ‘Die’?

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“The report of my death was an exaggeration.”

— Mark Twain


No, the superstar author wasn’t trying to avoid getting fan mail by faking his own death. He just cleared up a mistaken reporter who confused Twain with an ill relative in London.

There’s more confusion over the motives of several retired baseball players. Fan mail has been returned with a “Deceased” notation. Not a “refused” or “RTS.” As if the hobby world will cease and desist only when they think the signer is dead, suddenly making a rumor real?

According to http://www.sportscollectors.net/, the latest mystery man has been John Goryl, former infielder and Twins manager. One check with baseball address king Harvey Meiselman clouds the picture. According to Harvey, Goryl moved across town.

The humorous part of this development mirrors any Mark Twain story. Will a baseball retiree stop getting pension checks after trying to throw autograph collectors off the trail? Could Major League Baseball announce the “death” to the universe?

Harvey noted that more than one collector-customer of his Baseball Address List has found a retiree returning mail “deceased,” even when the person is anything but. Health problems could be a factor. Or, the former baseball player feels he’s given enough back to fans, as was the case of Bill White.

The message for this disturbing trend is clear: don’t assume willing signers will give out autographs forever, even when they’ve been out of the spotlight for years. Those tasting anonymity may be the first to put their pens down.