The mail comes from kids. From adults. From fans. From collectors.
And it keeps coming.
Spring training. Regular season. Off-season.
Fan mail is nothing new, of course. Fans have always sent players notes of admiration, praise, encouragement— or something not so nice. In an age of social media, though, most of what goes through the USPS to baseball stadiums across North America these days is a simple, cheap, fun way to collect a lot of autographs.
Autograph collectors seeking free signatures from current players call it “TTM” or “Through the Mail”. They write a note to a player, including a card or two and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The hope is that the player can spare a couple of moments to sign the cards, stick them in the envelope and send them back.
While some players have opted to use the platform to raise money for charity, most still read their mail and many respond.
MLive caught up with members of the Detroit Tigers, who talked about the kind of mail they get, what they like and don’t like and how to have the best chance of getting what you want.
He’ll always be a Packers fan and historian but Heritage Auctions’ Chris Nerat will be setting down some roots in Chicago Bears country this month.
A consignment specialist with expertise in vintage football memorabilia, Nerat will leave the company’s Dallas headquarters for the Chicago office this month, where he’ll manage sports consignments.
Nerat has worked in several aspects of the hobby as a collector, writer, show promoter and trading card grader. He joined Heritage nearly a decade ago and frequently appears as a guest discussing sports memorabilia on various media outlets.
“Having grown up in the Midwest with a great appreciation for the history of sports, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to join the great team we have in our Chicago office,” Nerat said. “I’m eager to establish roots in one of the greatest sports cities in the nation.”
Nerat begins his new role in September. He may be reached directly at [email protected] or 214-409-1615.
You’ll see more eBay listings on ESPN.com after the two online giants announced a partnership that is putting relevant listings on ESPN’s pages. For instance, if you’re reading a story about Mike Trout, you’ll likely see some Trout-related items alongside. If it’s a team-related piece on the Lakers, expect to see Lakers stuff nearby.
“ESPN and eBay have had a long-standing relationship that has continually brought together the best of both brands,” said Ed Erhardt, President, ESPN Global Sales & Marketing. “By leveraging data-driven ad solutions, we are now able to better serve and celebrate our fans with a shopping experience that is relevant and personal to them.”
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