Earl Averill (1902 - 1983)

I recently purchased another autograph from eBay - this one from legendary centerfielder, Earl Averill. Averill played for three teams, and was a six-time All Star. His number has been retired by the Cleveland organization. Averill passed away back in 1983, when I was only 1 year old. I'm happy to add another to my collection. 

Fred McGriff

I recently purchased another autograph from eBay - this one from the newly inducted Fred McGriff! McGriff is one of the earliest players in my fandom memory as a Toronto Blue Jay from the late 80s.

McGriff will be inducted this summer into the Hall of Fame, elected by the newly formed Contemporary Baseball Era Committee. 

This is a fun one for me, as someone who grew up in Canada, to add one of the growing list of Hall of Fame Blue Jays to my collection.  

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!

Tony Oliva

Much like last year's TTM return from Larry Walker, I was shocked to get a return from another recently inducted Hall of Famer. This recent return is from long-time Minnesota Twin, Tony Oliva, who rather than signing my index card, included a baseball card. Some of our mail got damp along the way, so both the envelope and card are slightly water damaged, but it doesn't matter much for my collection since I have no plans to ever sell these items. 

Outfielder Tony Oliva was recently elected, and will be officially inducted at this summer's celebration in Cooperstown. Thanks Mr. Oliva!

 

One More for the 2022 Induction Class

It seems like more energy was spent debating whether Bonds or Clemens should have been inducted in their final year on the ballot, but when the dust had settled, David Ortiz will become the newest member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Congrats to Big Papi. I don’t think he signs through the mail, but maybe I’ll have to make an attempt. 

Six More Hall of Famers to be Inducted in 2022!

This week we learned that Cooperstown would be adding six more to its enshrined members list. Of these six, only two are currently living - Jim Kaat and Tony Oliva. 
From the Hall of Fame press release:

Six candidates earned election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday via the Eras Committee process, it was announced today on MLB Network.

Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Miñoso and Tony Oliva were elected by the Golden Days Era Committee, which considered a 10-person ballot comprised of candidates whose primary contribution to the game came from 1950-69.

Bud Fowler and Buck O’Neil were elected by the Early Baseball Era Committee, which considered a 10-person ballot of candidates whose primary contribution to the game came prior to 1950.

Unsurprisingly, it appears that autographs from these former players have all increased in value in the few days since this announcement. 

Larry Walker

I recently got something that I haven't received in quite some time - a through the mail autograph return! This one was from Canadian ballplayer, and the first Hall of Famer to be enshrined as a member of the Colorado Rockies, Larry Walker. He is the fifth former Montreal Expo in my collection, of only 9 players who wore that particular uniform. 

This one took a year and a half to arrive, and rather than signing the index card I always send out, Mr. Walker sent a signed baseball card. I guess that's fine - even though I prefer the look of the signed index cards - it sure is nice to get a return in the mail!