New to collecting

[jdk426]

Hi i am very new to collecting autographs since my son enjoyed the Nolan Ryan Autographed Jersey i personally shipped off to his foundation and got autographed and returned. So now he has been asking me numerous questions. Hes 8 years old. And unfortunately i work overseas in Trinidad & Tobago 2 months on and 15 days home. So my time home with the kids is very limited, but i was wondering where to start. As far as getting 8x10 photos to send to the player/actor/etc to get autographed perhaps? This was just discussed by me and my son yesterday. So i am jumping head first into this and im trying to soak up everything i read,but im very easily sidetracked on the ttm autographs people are getting. I think its amazing and a awesome thing to do with the kids myself. Makes me feel like a kid again when i sent off for Frank Thomas of the White Sox autograph back in 1992. I never got my card returned,but the thrill of running to the mailbox everyday was priceless. So any info on where to start as far as ordering photos,and the next thing. What is the best way to get memorabila signed(bats,balls,jerseys,helmets,etc) i seriously doubt through the mail is the best bet on that. I do have some LSU football autographs due to the fact i live right outside of Baton Rouge,but other then that im totally fresh to this hobby. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time, Jerry

[Manuel]

Welcome!
I just started late last year with my grandson. With the encony the way it is my kids came back home now with husband and grandkids. I really don't mind becuase now the grandkids go with me to the baseball games. I got them started young to this hobby. I started back in 1990 when players were easliy apporchible. I can go on and on with names. Met alot of now HOF's in thier prime. The kids met their hero Troii Hunter twice sign a ball and bat Juan Rivera one a ball last year. Mike Piazza, Sandy Kofax,
I'm currently buy baseballs to send out and supplies. If interested I tell you how to do this. I really like to send mini helmets, I havent got there.
They met Steve Sa, Diverof monster truck BIG FOOT, and Raminator. This my best time with me.

Pick a topic and go for it, Fanmail.biz is great in leading us in the right direction. GOOD LUCK!

[vjw0307]

The first thing I would recommend doing is signing up for sportscollectors.net. Its $15 for a year's membership, but WELL worth it if you want to start collecting sports. It has the most extensive listing of sports addresses of any site and is very organized. It also allows you to see if that particular player signs and their signing habits along with information if they charge, etc.

As for shipping sports memorabilia, I often send out baseballs. But since you will be sending items more expensive than a photo, I'd research the player too see if they do sign. Shipping costs on a baseball (including a SASE and returned shipping) will run you around $5 or $6.

Several baseball HOF'ers will sign for free, but most want donations depending on what you send. Once again, I'd refer to sportscollectors.net to research fees and signing habits.

I definitely think you should do this with your kid...by the time he gets older, he'll have an amazing collectiong to continually pass down.