At a difficult point in my HOF 8x10, not sure what to do....

[Mizzourah]

Well, I just got my HOF 8x10 back from Whitey Ford. I'm really getting more and more attached to this piece, it's probably my most valued possession in my collection. I absolutely HATE sending it out time after time for fear that it will get lost in the mail, get damaged, someone will smudge a signature, or maybe just never even get it returned to me. So far, everything has worked out great, but I feel like I'm just getting lucky.

Anyhow, here's the pic in case if you don't know what it looks like:

What I've thought about doing is just getting a couple more signatures underneath Ford's signature, then cutting it off right under that. (It would end up being about an 8x7 photo) I know it's a wierd size, but I could custom matte it, so the size wouldn't matter.

I am hesitant to do this though, because I'm afraid that it will look weird not having the HOF logo vertically centered. I also fear that having such a strangely sized photo would hurt the value of the piece.

However, I get more and more scared every time I send it out. I know that someone will say "just do IP signings", but it is impossible for me to do that. I'm 16 years old, and I live in the middle of nowhere basically. It's impossible for me to do this IP, the only way it can be done is though the mail.


So I ask, what would you do if you were in my situation?

 

[weavermania]

See if there are any HOF'ers signing near you, so that way you could still get signatures and you wouldn't have to worry about losing it.

 

[birdsfan85]

Try doing mail order with shows, like through MAB celebrity services a lot less chance of it getting misplaced. It usually is $5 more for mail order through shows.

heres their upcoming shows, it looks really nice and I'd hate to see you stop now.
http://www.mab-celebrity.com/c-2-upcoming-shows.aspx

 

[Mighty Bombjack]

birdsfan has the right idea. Whatever you do, I would strongly advise against cutting it. If you are looking to matte and frame it, do it as is so that you can take it out and add to it in the future.

Very cool project, BTW

 

[Ian Stewart]

A.) DO NOT cut it off. Whether it be 1 year, 10 years, or 20 years, that thing will get filled up eventually.

B.) What I would be worried about, on top of it getting lost, smudged, etc, is somebody using the wrong color ink. One guy using a black sharpie would kill it.

C.) Just send it out insured every time, with VERY specific instructions. Maybe even before you ship, you can send a note to the player you are targeting letting them know that it's very important and whether or not they can oblige with your terms.

 

[Big Mac McGwire]

1. DO NOT CUT IT.

2. ONLY SEND IT TO CARD SHOWS WITH HOF'ERS THAT DO MAIL ORDER. WITH VERY SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS WITH THE COLOR INK TO BE USED.

3. DO NOT SEND IT TO A GUY HOPING HE SIGNS IT AS YOU HAVE YOU ESCAPED THE GAUNTLET TIME AFTER TIME. EVENTUALLY ONE OLD GUY IS NOT EVEN GOING TO OPEN YOUR MAIL AND ITS LOST.

4. GET IT SIGNED AT EVENTS YOU CAN ATTEND.

 

[Dpanthers14]

agree do not cut it, and do the mail order shows. I do agree you have been very lucky getting it back as many times as you did.

 

[predatorkj]

Man...you have had some luck with that.Its a wonder someone didn't just chuck the envelope.If you do send it out any more...do what some others have suggested and write a letter beforehand explaining what you are doing and that you would want it a certain way and to make sure it gets back to you and see if you get a response.I would also send with delivery confirmation so they know its important and are at least inclined to open it.Maybe not the athlete themselves but whoever handles their mail.Just do what you have to to make sure it gets noticed.I don't think too many people would keep it from you but they may just chuck some of their fan mail and you don't want to be the person this happens to.


Another thing is this...I am not sure if this is how it goes down or not but....don't they have a lot of HOF guys up there in Cooperstown every year when the induction ceremonies are conducted?It might be worth your while to save the money to have your folks or a family member drive you up there for the weekend and then maybe you can finish that sucker off in one piece and in person to boot!

Or you can just save up some money if you don't think that is worth it and wait and see what shows are happening and save save save!Then one day when they have a good sized show somewhere and you see a lot of names you need are going to be there...get in a car and go get it done.Sure some people would call you crazy for driving a good ways just to get autographs but it can create a lot of experiences that you will always remember.


In any case...even if you are 16 and live in MO. , you do have options.Use them to the best of your ability.Oh...and one other thing.I would be careful about the mail order stuff.That kind of stuff is great if you are not a stickler or don't need anything super specific.I have seen some of them get screwed up before due to mishaps and it was nobodies fault.I have also heard of athletes being jerks and screwing up the autograph or not putting it how the person wished it to be even though the athlete was being paid well for their time(I am looking at you Hakeem Olajuwon).

 

[wideright]

Good points everyone, and I was going to say the exact thing that predator just did about going to the HOF ceremonies and getting multiples at once. You could finish it off in one trip, AND see the Hall, etc, etc. Just a thought.

I'll repeat what everyone else is saying: DO NOT CUT IT. It will always look incomplete and offcentered, and you'll get questions like, Why is the HOF logo down so low?

So, looking at your piece, it looks like you have room for about 10 more autos. What you should do is really do some homework on some upcomings shows where multiple HOFers will be there. Plan which ones you can get all at one show. Then you only have to ship it a couple more times rather than 10 more times.

Not sure how you are shipping it, but the sturdier the better. Buy a nice thick piece of board that is durable and about 3 to 4 inches bigger than the piece all around; adhere a strong envelope to it, then keep the piece in one of those large plastic toploaders. Layer another thick piece of durable board on top and tape it together. When you ship it, insure it, DC, sig confirmation, whatever you can to be able to watch it from door to door. If its insured and something does unfortunately happen, you'll at least get something for it.

Sure hope you can finish it, it's a beautiful piece. Congrats on your progress.

 

[dethomas07]

Since you're from Missouri, it might be hard to get to Cooperstown, but it would definitely be worth it. If nothing else, maybe there is a very trustworthy board member that will be in Cooperstown for the induction and you could mail your piece to them and they could help out. To me, that would seem like a very viable option.

Great looking piece and please don't cut it short! Take it all the way!

David

 

[hofmichael]

Do not send it to a Jack Berke signing.He has good guests but the guy could **** up a wet dream.I have Sutter and Boggs coming to my area in Oct. plus I will be at induction weekend so I may be able to help.
Mike

 

[walter55]

Looks great and for sure don't cut it. Nolan Ryan signs through his website for a fee and I have found him to be very reliable.

 

[jeff550]

heres a mail order show link you can check out if you sede a player at the show that you want althought you probobly dont trust me with that i could get it signed at that show for you if you want. and i will send it back and i will make shure not to smudge it.
sorry i forgot the link anyways here it is
http://www.csashows.com/Mail_Order/mail_order.htm

 

[cgilmo]

if there is anyone at the national that you want to sign it, I am sure one of the many people attending can make that happen.

 

[Mizzourah]

Thanks for all the responses, I've decided I won't cut it.

So far, I've been shipping it in a photo toploader, in between 2 thick pieces of cardboard. I also include VERY specific instructions. I make sure they know not to inscribe their HOF year, not to smudge it, and to use my blue sharpie I always send (I send it out with a brand new blue sharpie every time). I also draw a box on the toploader with "sign here" inside of it, so far, that's worked on everyone except George Kell. He was the first one to sign outside of the left column, and I didn't want him to do that, but oh well.

I think the show mail order idea is a good one, I may try some of those. The road trip may be possible too. Cooperstown would be a definite stretch, but I'm only about 3 hours from St. Louis and they have some decent signings sometimes.

Again, thank you to everyone who has posted. It's given me some good ideas.

I would like to maybe send it out one more time to Monte Irvin. He only charges $10 and he is pretty much dead certain to get it back.

 

[Y4NK335]

I would look to other board members as well, I know many go to signings and maybe you can work out a deal with them to acquire a few signatures.

That is one of my favorite pieces, good luck.

 

[pujolsthomefan33]

That is maybe one of the cooler things I have seen.........my suggestion besides doing the mail order thing would be to get your butt over to the KC Tristar shows because they always have HOFers signing....


I would gladly stand in line for you at the National if you needed any of the Signers there for your project.


TK