Former Los Angeles Dodger and San Diego Padre Steve Garvey is now on my list of through the mail autograph successes.
Garvey is both the slowest response and the second quickest player to respond to my request.
How is that possible you ask?
Well I first mailed a card to Garvey on Sept. 11, 2010 to a talent agency in Los Angeles.
The agency was listed as the place to mail autograph requests to Garvey and others.
Well two years later no response or return to sender.
Then I saw on http://www.fanmail.biz/ that Garvey was responding to autograph requests at his home address.
So on Aug. 8 I sent a 1982 Donruss Diamond King card to Garvey explaining that I had mailed him at the agency two years ago and that there had been no response.
Six days later, or 702 days from my first attempt, I received my Diamond King back signed by “Mr. Clean.”
Though I’m disappointed that there seems to be a card possibly sitting in a talent agency somewhere that may never make it back to me.
However, it is thrilling that Garvey is responding to fans through the mail.
For those not familiar with Garvey, he began his career with the Dodgers in 1969.
He played in four World Series with the Dodgers and one with the Padres.
He is a 10-time All Star and winner of four Gold Gloves.
Today Garvey is a motivational speaker and a member of the Baseball Assistance Team.
Other players I have sent requests to and have yet to hear back from are: Latroy Hawkins, Tony Pena, Omar Vizquel, Tim Wakefield, Tommy John, Ron Gant, Bryan Harvey, Tommy Lasorda, Ray Fontenot, Jason Thompson, Leon Durham, Dave Winfield, Jay Tibbs, Mike Scioscia, Ken Howell, Eric Davis, Randy Milligan, Danny Tartabull, Joe Magrane, Roger McDowell, Rick Aguilera, Nick Esasky, Kevin Seitzer, Dave Burba, Chris Sabo, Charlie Hayes, Tommy Gregg, Junior Ortiz, Mariano Duncan, Mo Vaughn, Andy Hawkins, Howard Johnson, Matt Nokes, Julio Franco, Rick Rhoden, Rafael Palmiero, Curt Wilkerson, Tim Laudner, Wade Boggs, Mark Gardner, Kevin Appier, Greg Walker, Gary Gaetti, Glenallen Hill, Armando Benitz, Tim Hudson, Bob Tewksbury, Scot Radinsky, Gerald Perry, Eddie Perez, David Justice, Rico Brogna, Sandy Alomar, Ken Griffey Sr., Kirk Gibson, Pokey Reese, Mark Wohlers, Andy Pettitte, Willie Wilson, Eric Owens, and Cris Carpenter.
This month I began trying to send follow ups to these players.
So far I have sent notes through the U.S. Mail to Tony Pena and Garvey and attempted to contact Omar Vizquel, Tommy John, Tommy Lasorda, and Dave Winfield on Twitter.
