Bill Mazeroski

A friend approached me recently and said he had something to give me. I was not expecting to be handed an aging napkin in a ziplock bag, but I was pleasantly surprised to see Bill Mazeroski's ballpoint pen signature on the stained napkin! 

The story goes that many years before his induction into Cooperstown in 1976 (just a few years after he finished his playing career!), Maz had visited my friend's high school. Not having any baseball-related items on hand, he grabbed a napkin and got the Pirate second basemen to sign this memento. 

I'm really happy to add this one to my collection - especially with this unique story!

Failure #1: Bill Mazeroski

This was the first failed attempt at an autograph.  I received this letter in my mail box 13 days after it was originally sent.  Bill Mazeroski apparently does not accept fan mail at his address.  The envelope was unopened and marked RETURN TO SENDER.  I had heard that some people will return your SASE with a price list requesting that if you want an autograph, you need to pay.  Apparently "Maz" just isn't signing through the mail these days.