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Tipping our caps to Billy Sample

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Sample2BillyCommon question from collectors: 

“He answered my letter. He was great. I don’t like sending thank-you notes, though. I thank them in the letter. Is there something I could do?”

Yes. They support us as researchers and collectors. Support their projects.

Billy Sample rocks as an autograph signer. The awesome www.sportscollectors.net says he’s signed nearly 250 requests, a cool 91 percent.

I wrote about Mr. Sample in the past. He described his career, then told about a movie he wanted to make.

Mission accomplished!

Here’s his recent e-mail:

“There are four former major league baseball players in this college frat-like, strongly R-rated, satirical, baseball clubhouse comedy …http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013ZJ4FOO… … Reunion 108, through Amazon and/or through the movie’s IMDb page, can now be ordered for rent or purchase in standard definition in addition to the established DVD availability. We actually have HD-Blu-Ray capability, but this particular Amazon aggregator, didn’t offer that option. There is another one that does, but in all honesty, the movie was shot on the Red Camera and that was the best definition available, and is of exceptional quality …”

Check the movie out. Write him and tell him that you watched it and liked it.

That may not be a standing ovation, but it’s close.

Oriole Fred Valentine is a hobby all-star

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Want to learn more about a retired player? Check out the SABR Biography Project. Ted Leavengood crafted a fine profile of Valentine! See for yourself here:
Want to learn more about a retired player? Check out the SABR Biography Project. Ted Leavengood crafted a fine profile of Valentine! See for yourself here:

Fred Valentine is a stellar signer. A sparkling 95 percent, says the trusty www.sportscollectors.net.

More than that,  he’s part of the 1960s. (I was, too.)

Here’s some swell memories he shared back in 2010. Enjoy!

A curtain call for Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr

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Doerr_2All  these years later, I’m still stunned at Bobby Doerr.

I had to offer this repeat viewing of his kindness and respect shown to all collectors.

The always-amazing www.sportscollectors.net notes that he’s signed more than 3,000 TTM requests.

Cooperstown: we need more hobby ambassadors like Bobby Doerr! 

Pitcher Billy Pierce gone at age 88

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Even in the 1950s, the hurler didn't embrace "Billy' in his autograph.
Even in the 1950s, the hurler didn’t embrace “Billy’ in his autograph.

Babe Ruth may have hit 714, but Bill “Billy” Pierce signed just as many.

The former hurler, a major leaguer from 1945-64, died last week at age 88. The ever-impressive www.sportscollectors.net credited Pierce for signing 95 percent of requests, a coincidental 714. His 95 percent success rate would have been higher, but his final replies were logged for May. Plus, a few collectors seemed to realize that the senior signing machine might not crank out autographs forever.

Here’s what Mr. Pierce shared with “Baseball By The Letters” in 2010.

Bob Bailey and the spirit of Tug McGraw unite!

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“Ya gotta believe”

— Tug McGraw

(and Brian Salgado?)

The latter is a collector who defied the odds and received (I should say EARNED) an impressive TTM response recently. Bob Bailey signed.

BaileyBob(Cue the standing ovation, please!)

If you can’t race to www.sportscollectors.net to see how many recorded autograph successes there are for Bailey in the last decade, know that I beat you.

The answer is less than one. That’s right. A zero signer.

Yep. Brian tried, despite the odds. 

Of course, he did something special. He researched Bailey’s career, noting that the former slugger was the last-ever manager of the Hawaii Islanders minor league team in 1987. Then, he asked what the job was like.

(Courtesy of Brian Salgado)
(Courtesy of Brian Salgado)

Brian has specialized in Hawaii baseball history. This wasn’t a new novelty attempt to get a tough autograph.

Speaking of Hawaii, know that the ship of opportunity has sailed regarding a letter asking Mr. Bailey about the Islanders team. The man hit 189 homers in 17 years. He’ll know the difference between one sincere collector and copycats.

However, find possibility in the Bob Bailey story Brian shared. Never say never for a tough signer. Of course, risking any card or collectible to get signed is a high-stakes gamble (just like sending cash in the mail for an autograph).

Asking a question about someone’s life and career is different. Aside from paper and postage, asking is free.

That’s the promise of Baseball By The Letters.