Spring Training

[Browneart]

Hey all,
I am planning on sending out about 60 balls to MLB players this coming Spring Training, and was wondering what date I should try to have them there for? I am thinking that have the balls arrive by about the 3rd week in February would be best, having them there before games start? Also, are these still sent as you would say in the middle of the season, but just to the address of the park for spring training? Nothing special required?

Thanks’ for all the help.
Browneart

[Oxxon]

I have to ask... why are you going to wait until spring training? Why not send them now.

[Browneart]

Good Question.
I basically only collect autographed ROMLB balls, so at $16-$18 a piece I have to save my pennies and at this time don't have the balls on hand. I have also heard that sending during spring training is sometime more successful for people?
And, being new at this I am not sure how late into the season you should send out items? And ( I seem to have a lot of reasons) I am going to be sending about 15 of these balls to various prospects who are with Minor Leauge teams right now, but should be with the big club during spring training.

Any of that make sense?

[Oxxon]

I can see how money, or lack of, can change your plans and it makes sense. If you had what you needed on hand I would send them now during the season. I'm not crazy about sending stuff to ST sites.

Good luck.

[Browneart]

Hmmm... Maybe it would be better than to wait the extra month or so and send at the start of the season.
Is there a general guideline about how late in the season you can send into? or do you think that as long as they are there say a month before the end of the season?

Thanks for the help.

[Oxxon]

I'm going by what I do. They way I look at it is that if the players are there at the team HQ/training center then send it. In my case I sent a few 5x7's to the Cowboys during OTAs and I got a few back. I sent some rookie cards and 5x7's when the rookies had to report and I got a few back.

Since you are going to send so many at one time then I would wait. If you plan to send a few out at a time then I would do it now.

[Aharvey]

You have a much smaller window with spring training. That being said, people are still getting back successes from this year's ST and I'm sure some will keep coming. I personally though, would wait until the very beginning of next season if I was going to send out that many ROMLBs. Then again, you might get lucky and get a success from someone who doesn't usually sign during the season.

Its a little bit of a gamble either way. Maybe you could wait a week or so into ST and see who is signing well (and quickly) and send a portion of the ROMLBs to them, then send the rest at the beginning of the season.

[indyreds]

Each Spring Training I mail out my first batch of pitchers and catchers on Valentines Day. One week later I do another mailing for position players. I look at successes over the next two weeks then mail to quick returners that I want and did not mail to at that point. I hope this helps! Yes I do split my ST mailing into three. I also try to never mail more than two requests to any one team on any of those three mailings. I do not know, if that matters, but that is how I do it.

[Kabir10]

Buy them from andersonkpt.com, and they will be much cheaper than 16-18 a ball. You could just do 50/50s where you basically are guaranteed a signed ball of a star instead of hoping you get some average Joe. You will only get 30 of them back signed but it is much better odds than TTM, plus you will get better players.

[Browneart]

OK, now I need another answer :)
I have seen this 50/50 thing and I have no idea what you are talking about. What is 50/50? and how can this basically gaurantee I get a good signature back?

Thanks again for all the help guys.
Browneart