How to do a through the mail (TTM) autograph request

[FunkyDiabetic1]

Whew! What a golden oldie! Great video phil

[iceeg1000]

do you ever not get your card back?i am a new collecter and i have some i want signed.i am scared i won't get my card back!!!please reply

[KyleCagle3]

Don't send stuff to big name players like a Pujols or Jeter. Try to get prospects in the minors, ones that will be future stars. I just got a Bryce Harper autograph in the mail. Also less. Known player tend to sign more

[iceeg1000]

so dont get dwyane wade to sign

[jbarba]

Before people waste their time with TTM like the losers you see on websites like fan mail biz it is best to know that 90% of TTM requests fail. The few successes these people get cost them loads in the long run.

[squeepa21]

@jbarba If you do your research, it pays off. I typically only do sports TTMs and by doing my research ahead of time, my success rate hovers around 70-75%.

[Techdeckcrazy210]

Could i send a ttm to a basketball player like dirk during the lockout

[Techdeckcrazy210]

It means Through The Mail

[AlexDanielFilms]

whats a ttm?

[Techdeckcrazy210]

K hopfully they just send it back to me so i can wait because i sent a few already

[Techdeckcrazy210]

During the baseball off season sould i send to the stadium? Please answer me anyone

[squeepa21]

@Techdeckcrazy210 No. Typically, the stadium personnel will just throw it away if received in the offseason. Just wait until spring training or the regular season. Good luck!

[AnubisJudge]

What do yu write in the letter ?? ty

[Ronandoc99]

I'm sending photos should i put baby powder on them ?

[newsboysfan77]

Do you write your name on both the return and sending address spots for the return envelope?

[houstonsportscollect]

so can you just drop it off in the mail or do you have to go to the post office and have them send it?

[Tjb811]

it looks like youre doing a line of crack on the card...

[today1975]

Im interested in doing a nba ttm, should i wait until the season or presason starts up again?

[CodRAGEoftheDay]

Thanks man!

[PHiLLiESfan8804]

CAN U GIVE ME ROY HALLADAYS N CLIFF LEES ADDRESS PLEASE

[Tjb811]

@PHiLLiESfan8804- Most big guys like that dont sign ttm. especially phillies players, although you could get lucky

[Cblazer22]

One lax player is jealous they dont have lax cards

[bnellymagicplayer]

I do have a question for you: What do you normally write in the letter?

[ElementalStateOfMind]

What did you write in the letter? What do you put on the return envelope? And who do you suggest?

[TecmoBO34]

I am a long time sports fan and recent collector of autographs (mainly baseballs). I have always wanted to try getting some baseball cards autographs TTM. Does it really work? How about minor league AA guys? Do they sign too?

[maddenfreak19]

@TecmoBO34 yes it works most of the time. and yes most minor leaguers sign too

[ThatOneSportsFreak]

What's a SASE? Please reply!

[squeepa21]

Self addressed stamped envelope.

[bribri0118]

@ThatOneSportsFreak How long does it take to get a ttm back

[gregfiggy9]

How long does this usually take??

[maddenfreak19]

@gregfiggy9 anywhere from 5 days to 1 year.

[STAMKOSWEBERKID39]

Ummm Do you have to send a self adressed envelope?

Because I sent out 6 letters and got them all back without a self adressed envelope

[Sports564]

hey dude im a starter can u please message me an address of him or someone elses

[KBChannel1]

wats an SASE



[perria65]

What website do u get the addresss from???

[avcaws]

I'm going to send a Vince Young card out in a couple of days. Did you have any success with him?

[basitkhan54]

why did u have to envalopes?

[pvmdodgers]

nice

[atlantasports101]

i got ichiro today it took 32 days

[TheSteelers0]

hey what address do i get from the player???

[Mcfinkles]

i sent one out to Dontrelle Willis, my favorite pitcher. i hope he signs..

[mikel9jk]

how long does it take

[Baller7851]

Is it okay to fold the SASE in the bigger envelope?

[squeepa21]

Yup - I fold every SASE I send out.

[sltcards65]

Can someone answer this question:How do the players recieve your mail if you send it to their stadium. I have never tried auto mail before and sounds great jsut don't know how reliable it is.

[ATLB505]

i got romo auto. waited 5 months though. im still waiting for 40 more nfl players

[thebeatlephil97]

can you make a video showing how to send out bulk items?

[byrns149]

for spring training players do i put the adress of the spring training stadium and the name of the player?

[fastabe17]

should you include something for them to sign with?

[squeepa21]

The only time I send a writing utensil is when I really want them to use a particular pen/marker. For example, when I'm getting baseballs autographed, I ALWAYS send a blue pen.

[fastabe17]

k thanks

[Schwang17]

@squeepa21 what kinda packing or packaging do you send baseball's in?

[theeaglesrbeast517]

What makes a card officially 'glossy'

[baseballautographs]

hey can u do a tutorial on TTMing a baseball?, thx and keep the vids comin

[Baller7851]

I got Cameron today it took 15 days.

[squeepa21]

Nice! Congrats!

[Baller7851]

Have you had any successes with Cameron if so how long did it take?

[Baller7851]

I have the proper postage.

[squeepa21]

Just give it time ;-)

Not guaranteed, but I'm betting the Cameron will show up eventually.

[Baller7851]

I recently sent two ttm out to Rondell White and Mike Cameron c/o their homes. Its been two weeks, I live in Canada should I worry?

[squeepa21]

You would need to use American postage (2 stamps, I believe) to get it back to your home country...

Cameron is usually pretty good c/o home in the offseason.

[theeaglesrbeast517]

Great vid but can you also make a video on how to do ttm baseball and photos thanks

[PhantomofDB]

I should have watched this first I guess. I just sent out 3 this week and I stuck them all in top loaders. Crap

[PhantomofDB]

A follow up to this comment, I ended up sending out about 14 or 15 cards last week. The ones that I got back that I sent in a toploader have come back perfectly fine signed... I've gotten 2 back so far that I didn't put in any case and both of them have come back with dinged corners and edges. I don't mind too much because they're for my personal collection, not to be sold anyway. But I don't know how you are lucky enough to not have card damage

[Gabesly]

hey umm, hw do you send like posters

[blinghsingh]

What kind of card is that? I want to buy baseball cards with prospects, is anything out there other than bowman( i dont like the autographs on every card)?

[bodett99]

does the powder remove the gloss or just make the auto not bubble up

[mfp484]

what did you say in the letter

[mfp484]

what do you say in the letter?

[JMort95]

does a regular stamp work on the send out one??? and does it work on the yellow ones with a metal clip???? plz answer anyone but sqeepa too. THX

[slzube71]

hey thanks man im going to send mine soon

[vivagallardo]

1 year= 3,000 views.....sweetness

[puddin180]

omg sweet so will it work for football players too and stufff and do u only send chrome cards or wat

[mihboy95]

lol well idk what he would say but i'd say send whatever u got - just only use the baby powder for the chrome ones and yes u can send to players from other sports :)

[asap7772001]

How do you get the address

[squeepa21]

sportscollectors.*net

[mihboy95]

that's an awesome site

[squeepa21]

Yeah, I do it for the Bowman ones just in case.

[rsoldier]

i was really skeptical about the whole baby power things, but i tried it and it actually works! i couldnt believe it lol i wonder who was the first person to come up with that.

[squeepa21]

lol, I know, right? I have no idea who came up with that......who would have thought?

Thanks for watching!

[BC9344]

hey mo town would u write on the envalope he is sending back to u ur address in both places or just in the center?

[squeepa21]

PM sent

[BARproductions3]

thanks man! great advice i never knew about the baby powder and ive always had that problem so thanks again!

[Muddyyourbuddy]

I've heard that putting cardboard in your envelope helps protect the card. For that, do you put two pieces of cardboard in a SASE with the card in between them? I've sent with the method you described and have received bent corners.

[squeepa21]

I guess you could do that. I've actually sent 8x10s with cardboard backing and had the cardboard come back bent....thus bending the 8x10. I'm sure the same thing would happen with cards....

With my method, I get a 'damaged' card maybe once in every 50-60 returns...

[Jedister11]

bcause 4 the player can mail it back

[mhmjam]

why do you ut another evelope in the big envelope?

[NovaNation3]

Thanks i just sent one out for the first time to jon papelbon, I hope he signs

[squeepa21]

Papelbon is not the easiest signer to get...but I hope you get him! Good luck!

[NovaNation3]

Would you have to put babe powder on a goudey card

[squeepa21]

No, you'd only have to powder glossy cards.  Good luck!

[foreman4417]

do you have guitar videos up here, you sound like a guy on here with a tonne of guitar vids

[squeepa21]

lol, nope - believe or not, I've NEVER played Guitar Hero..

[88eldiablo88]

what were you talking about when you had his envelope?

[foreman4417]

or you could litely rub an eraser on the card....gunna try the bp tho good idea!!

[squeepa21]

I hate the eraser trick....it leaves 'streaks' all over the card...

[foreman4417]

your right this is way batter...does it work for even the crazy glossy ones?

[squeepa21]

Yup, you should have no problem with super glossy cards either.

[lepk3er]

please pm me back, will most players do this even "stars" ?

[KTcards]

did i ever tell you this was one of the first videos i ever watched on youtube card related?

and i didnt even know who you were.

now, im starstruck...

happy holidays phill!

[squeepa21]

lol, appreciate it Fitz!

TheBackstop and Joe's videos were the first card-related videos I saw on YouTube...and that was well over a year ago...

Merry Christmas to you as well!

[bonds25barry]

this is one of the best vids on youtube!

[squeepa21]

lol - everyone's been copying it lately too, lol

Some are almost word-for-word, lol

It's definately my most popular/favorited video...

[markakisfan33]

do you put in money or no? for them to sign

[squeepa21]

Some players ask for donations to charity, but most of the players don't....

[GeovanySoto18]

Is it alright to put the card in the SASE?

[squeepa21]

Yup, that shouldn't be a problem.

[LEBALLA005]

i just got a jose reyes ttm and a miguel cabrera

[squeepa21]

Wow, nice successes man! I got Reyes when he was a rookie. Never got Miggy...nice pickups!

[kolby108]

nice advice! did that ttm become succesful?

[squeepa21]

Yes it did - however, I have no idea which video it is on...

[markakisfan33]

how long does it ussually take?

[squeepa21]

Every player takes a different amount of time ranging from a week to several years - I would say the average is 3-4 weeks...

[markakisfan33]

kk and for the website do they all request the premium thing like how do you get their addresses?

[markakisfan33]

and do you need to put in moneyu for them to sign?

[marinersrulekinda888]

will the baby pouder damage the card or no?

[squeepa21]

Nope - not at all. You only want to do it on glossy cards though - there's no point in applying baby powder to a 1971 Topps card. Also, make sure you rub ALL the powder off the card before getting it signed. Remember, it's the talcom in the powder that makes the signature stick better - and the talcom says on the card even after you rub the actual powder off....

[crazygravytrain]

thx 4 the tips man thanks to u, i got my jacoby ellsbury 1/1 yellow allen and ginter printing plate signed

[squeepa21]

Wow, you gots Ellsbury TTM? I've never been able to get his TTM....congrats!

[1clippers35]

thanks. and btw whats your most succesufl ttm?

[1clippers35]

why do you put your adress twice?

[squeepa21]

Just in case the postage increases again...sometimes the post office mails it back to the address in the top left corner instead. If you put your address in both spots, you'll definately get your envelope back....hope that makes sense...

[tannerman97]

can you send to the spring traning stadims.

[squeepa21]

Definately - you actually have a better success rate when you send to spring training facilities during spring training.

[cardstradesell]

do i stamp both envolopes

[squeepa21]

yup

[asovermann]

how do i send it to a specific player to a team adress?

[squeepa21]

It would look something like this:

Tadahito Iguchi

c/o San Diego Padres

team address

city, state, zip

[tannerman97]

can you send the card to the stadim during the off season.

[squeepa21]

You can, but more than likely it will get thrown away......once the season ends, it's time to focus on football TTMs or retired baseball players (c/o their home addresses)......

[u0fldt]

how do u get the home addresses from the website? should i send it to the stadium they play at, or their house?

[squeepa21]

If it's a current player and it's during the season, just send it to the team address. Also, most current players don't answer mail sent to their home, including the offseason. In order to get most of the home addresses from that website, you need to pay for the $15 premium membership....

[u0fldt]

oh ok thanks for the info

[Papi4President08]

Motown whats one of the horror stories you heard about penny sleeves

[squeepa21]

I've heard of numerous people getting their cards back...with the autograph COMPLETELY smudged out.....trust me....don't use 'em with TTM requests...

[devinhesterbears23]

so you put money if, lets say for a guy like Steve McMichaels?

[squeepa21]

If someone signs TTM, it's usually for free. Some people charge fees (for charity, etc.), but that's mostly for Hall of Famers. Steve McMichael does NOT charge. Just send it to his home address and you should get a response (as long as you followed the steps in this video, such as including a self addressed stamped envelope).

[skyler81501]

Gret stuff Phil. Will begin my colletion this weekend. Thanks

[squeepa21]

Sounds good Trent - if you EVER need any help, just send me a PM. Good luck and stay safe!

[bbBoxBuster93]

did u get that John Jay back? What do u write in ur letters ?

[harrywarry1231]

what if he thinks the baby powder is anthrax

[harrywarry1231]

never mind u answered the question later in the video..lol

[stlouisrams1600]

thanks!

im going to try asap thanks for the help

[algonquinhoops31]

what should the letter say?

[squeepa21]

Read down a couple comments and it tells ya. Good luck! - MoTown

[Lanny747]

awesome video man! Do you know how to get Hockey player addresses and can you just send them to the team?

[squeepa21]

If it's a current player, yes, send to the team address. If the team's in Canada, however, you will need Canadian stamps to get it back to you (assuming you live in the U.S). Check out sportscollectorsDOTnet to see what hockey players may be signing. Good luck! - MTP

[guitarhero918]

what do I write in the letter?

[squeepa21]

I just write that I'm a big fan of their respective sport...that I collect autographs and that I would love to add theirs to my collection.

[pluggindahoes]

send without a card saver?

[squeepa21]

Yeah - more times than not, the top loader/card saver gets stuck in the machines at the post office...thus destroying the card(s). Also, if you use a card saver, the chances of getting a smeared autograph increase dramtically...

[waffly22]

hey could u give me a list or a few players u no return alot if u could thanx..

[squeepa21]

Just check out sportscollectorsDOTnet for current and former players that collectors have gotten back recently. It's a great site and their basic membership is free...

[mrob234]

Thanks for the help!!

[mrob234]

I'm from canada and have just started collecting autographed cards and was wondering, to send to the USA do i just need to include American postage?

[squeepa21]

You would need to use American postage for the self addressed stamped envelope (although I'm unsure of how much to use) and Canadian postage to get the letter to the states.

[hellfroze]

Have you got the card back yet? I've met Jon Jay, and he's a prick.

[squeepa21]

Yup, I got it back - I think it's in my "Vacation Mailday - TTM Returns" video. Too bad he was an ass to you....he seems pretty friendly TTM...

[stlouisrams1600]

thanks i will have to try this

[bbBoxBuster93]

Thanks for this, it really helps. Have two questions.

1- What do u usually write about in the letter

2- Just to clarify, you put the actual card in with the player addressed envelope, right?

[bbBoxBuster93]

Also in the letter would u write. Dear Mr. (players last name)or just dear (plaers name)

and should the envelope to the player be addressed : Players Name  c/o Players Team

[fjt13]

wow thanks this helped me out alot

[squeepa21]

You're very welcome - it's great hobby, enjoy it!

[luis1pedro]

thanks, i have another question , if i want a player to sign my card i could send it to the team adress and they will give it to him so he could sign it?

[squeepa21]

Yup, if you address it to the player at the team address, a team employee will give the mail to the player - it's up to the player to reply...

[luis1pedro]

dude this is the best thing ever, i think i found my new hobby, well i have a question , do you have to put your adress anywhere on his envelope?

[squeepa21]

If you're talking about the SASE, put it directly in the center of the envelope. If you're talking about the envelope being mailed to the athlete, put it in the top left hand corner with the athlete's address in the direct middle of the envelope.

[snaggingbaseballs]

Hey!! Very good tips on how to send TTM. I just recently got a topps baseball signed card and I erased it before, but the autograph still did not stick on it. Does baby powder work very good??

[squeepa21]

I personally think baby powder (although messier) is superior to that of "erasing" the card

[rottengazebo]

What do you usually say in the letters?  And you put your own address on the included envelope twice?

[squeepa21]

I just say that I'm a big fan of the sport they play and that I collect autographs as my hobby. Just don't BS, just tell 'em the truth! Yeah, I put my address on the SASE twice for a couple reasons 1)If there's a postage increase or something, sometimes the post office sends it back to the sender (which in this case would still be me) and 2) if they can't read the first address, hopfully they can read the second...

[ReyesWrightJohan]

sorry but what is the website called to find the addresses?

[squeepa21]

sportscollectorsDOTnet