New to TTM, Questions. Help appreciated!

[PoseyBumgarner]

Hi guys,
I'm sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong section, but I didn't really see a TTM newbie area. Anyway I just have a few questions.

1. How does a SASE work exactly? I understand you can put and envelope inside another envelope, but how would you go about doing that for say a Baseball? I'm super excited to get sending out, so if someone could please answer this question you'd be of tremendous help! Thanks!

2. How much does a SASE typically end up costing? Is it expensive, or relatively reasonably priced?

3. Is there anyway to order SASE material online, so that way I wouldn't even have to make a trip to the post office? I'd really like to just have to walk out to my mailbox if at all possible.

Thanks so much guys, cannot wait to state my TTM collection! :)

James

[duderbeast]

1. For baseballs I use the bubble mailers which you can pick up at drug stores, Target, Wal-Mart, etc. The ones I use are a little larger than a DVD case. I always use the automated machine at the post office. I weight the ball, letter, pen in the return envelope, buy that postage, stamp it and then put it inside the mailing envelope, seal it, weigh, attach postage and mail.

2. It is relatively cheap. It ends up costing about $5 or $6 including the envelopes and postage.

3. The easiest thing to do would be to buy the envelopes in bulk--the come in packs as well as individually. You could then go to an APC at the post office, weigh as outlined above, write down the weight and then purchase the postage online and print it out yourself. That would be the only way I know of to do it, or the most exact way, anyway.

Best of luck. Spring training is right around the corner so get ready!

[PoseyBumgarner]

Thanks so much! Does that mean balls should be sent to the spring training camps rather than the actual ballpark? For example I'm sending some stuff out to some San Francisco Giants, so should I send to their spring training field in Arizona?

Also, considering football season is over for a lot of teams, does this mean football players will be a lot more likely to sign this time of year?

thanks!

[skapunk5251]

If you are planning on sending during Spring Training then yes you should send to the Spring Training facilities for the teams.

As far as your football question, you would probably be unable to obtain their autograph care of their team during the offseason so you would probably have to be able to find their home addresses in order to request autographs during the offseason.

[duderbeast]

Baseball players are generally easier to get during spring training.

Football is a toss-up; I suppose it depends on who you send to. Laurainitis (I probably spelled that wrong) has some recent returns that were sent after the season ended, for example. Never hurts to try but start small

[PoseyBumgarner]

Awesome, thanks guys! All the tips really mean a lot. I am starting small and so far have sent out only cards. Sent some stuff out to Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, and Josh Hamilton. I'm hoping to get something back, at least from Hamilton. I hear he's a very generous signer and is great to his fans. So excited to see what I get. I love the whole personal aspect of it. Makes me feel closer to the players. Plus, after spending hundreds of dollars on tickets an autograph would feel pretty nice :)

At a game last year Sergio Romo threw me a ball and Octavio Dotel tossed one to my lady. Feels so great to somewhat be a part of the game.

[skapunk5251]

You're welcome.
Cain from what I've seen is a pretty good signer as well. I know he signed for me in 9 days last year during spring training. Hope you get something back from him. Lincecum on the other hand I am still waiting on and am doubting anything will come back from him.

[PoseyBumgarner]

Yeah, I'm sure that Lincecum gets an overwhelming amount of requests. I lived in SF last year and went to games several times a week and he was always a very sweet guy during BP. I'm sure he just can't get to everybody. I sent my card to Cain and the SF address, I'll have to send another to the Arizona address I guess. If you're looking to get some more Giants autos you should shoot for Sergio Romo, the guy is a fans best friend. I've never seen a player interact with fans more than him. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to sign, I'll prolly give it a try as well.

[PoseyBumgarner]

When you send cards do you have to send a SASE as well??

[skapunk5251]

Yeah you send a SASE with cards.