Major League Baseball’s Spring Training is a six week window of opportunity for the autograph collecting community. Running from February 12 through the end of March this year, Spring Training is an autograph collector’s paradise where you’ll find players more relaxed, accessible and for the most part open to signing.
Everyone, however, may not have the chance to visit with their favorite players in Arizona or Florida. For TTM (Through the Mail) collectors Spring Training has become an important time to connect with these players as well. Return rates can improve by as much as 15% and TTM collectors can anticipate quicker returns from active major league players and coaches.
Spring Training Autograph Resource
The question has always been is who is most likely to sign and return your request during spring training?
Troy Rutter has taken some of the guesswork out of this by producing a free downloadable document on his website that provides such a list. He has done a lot of the work creating a list that summarizes the entire #ttmsuccess hashtag on Instagram from the February-March 31, 2018, paying special notice to Spring Training returns.
The sample includes over 1,100 successes and which yielded over 200 players. Rutter’s list includes player signing habits such as listing their number in their return, personalization habits and even those who add Bible verses.
Chances for Success
My return rate during the year runs around 60% but I had about a 70% success rate during spring training last year. I can also say the turnaround time for active players is a lot less during Spring Training when writing to active players. Be aware that most of the game’s biggest names are very difficult or impossible to get through the mail.
Requesting autographs through the mail can be at times a tricky proposition. Taking these extra steps may mean the difference between getting a return and an empty mail box. A personal letter always goes a long way in connecting with your favorite player. When sending 
a request through the mail always use a self-addressed stamped envelope (peel-and-seal envelopes are preferred). I recommend placing your card in a top loader so it doesn’t get damaged during mailing.
Here’s a sampling of some of the major league players and coach who signed during 2018 Spring Training
- Brian Dozier – now with the Washington Nationals
- Ron Guidry – New York Yankees
- Andrew Miller – now with St. Louis
- Amed Rosario – New York Mets
- Trea Turner – Washington Nationals
- Tony LaRussa – Boston Red Sox
- Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
- Raisel Iglesias, Cincinnati Reds
- Pat Neshek, Philadelphia Phillies
- Mark Canha, Oakland Athletics
- Chris Iannetta, Colorado Rockies
- Sean Manea, Oakland Athletics
- Sam Dyson, San Francisco Giants
- Dustin Fowler, Oakland Athletics
- Nate Jones, Chicago White Sox
- Stephen Vogt, now with San Francisco
- Ryon Healy, Seattle Mariners
- Chris Devenski, Houston Astros
- Jharel Cotton, Oakland Athletics
- Mitch Haniger, Seattle Mariners
- Steven Wright, Boston Red Sox
- Blake Snell, Tampa Bay Rays
- Tom Goodwin, Boston Red Sox
- Josh Reddick, Houston Astros
Spring Training Mailing Address for all MLB Teams
Grapefruit League
Atlanta Braves|
700 S. Victory Lane
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Baltimore Orioles
2700 12th Street
Sarasota, FL 34237-3000
Boston Red Sox
11581 Daniels Parkway
Fort Myers, FL 33913
Detroit Tigers
2301 Lakeland Hills Blvd
Lakeland, FL 33805-5012
Houston Astros
631 Heritage Park Way
Kissimmee, FL, 34744-6110
Miami Marlins
4751 Main Street
Jupiter, FL, 33458-5203
Minnesota Twins
14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway
Fort Myers, FL, 33912-4314
New York Mets
525 NW Peacock Blvd
Port St. Lucie, FL, 34986-2210
New York Yankees
1 Steinbrenner Drive
Tampa, FL, 33614-7064
Philadelphia Phillies
601 Old Coachman Road,
Clearwater, FL, 33765-2321
Pittsburgh Pirates
1611 Ninth Street West
Bradenton, FL, 34205-7223
St. Louis Cardinals
4751 Main Street
Jupiter, FL 33458-5203
Tampa Bay Rays
2300 El Jobean Road
Port Charlotte, FL, 33948-1120
Toronto Blue Jays
373 Douglas Avenue
Dunedin, FL, 34698-7913
Washington Nationals
5800 Stadium Parkway, Ste 101
Viera, FL, 32940-8013
Cactus League
Arizona Diamondbacks
7555 N. Pima Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85258-4013
Chicago Cubs
2330 W. Rio Salado Parkway
Mesa, AZ 85201
Chicago White Sox
10710 West Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ 85037-5072
Cincinnati Reds
1933 S. Ballpark Way
Goodyear, AZ 85338
Cleveland Indians
1933 S. Ballpark Way
Goodyear, AZ 85338
Colorado Rockies
7555 N. Pima Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Kansas City Royals
15960 North Bullard
Surprise, AZ, 85374
Los Angeles Angels
2200 West Alameda Drive
Tempe, AZ, 85282-3197
Los Angeles Dodgers
10710 W. Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ 85037
Milwaukee Brewers
3600 N. 51st Avenue
Phoenix, AZ, 85031-3005
Oakland Athletics
1235 N. Center Street
Mesa, AZ, 85201
San Diego Padres
16101 N. 83rd Ave
Peoria, AZ 85382-5811
San Francisco Giants
7408 East Osborn Road
Scottsdale, AZ, 85251-6424
Seattle Mariners
16101 N. 83rd Avenue
Peoria, AZ, 85382
Texas Rangers
15850 North Bullard Avenue
Surprise, AZ, 85374
(Spring Training Address List Courtesy of Troy Rutter)
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