No fool is Chien-Ming Wang
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 05, 2008 
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The players get a lot of mail in camp, 99 percent of it from people seeking an autograph. The most popular players (A-Rod, Derek Jeter, etc.) hire somebody to handle it and it never gets to them.
But a few of the players deal with it themselves. Chien-Ming Wang is one of those guys.
Wang usually goes through his mail ever few days, but he let it slide for a week and soon had two full crates on top of his locker. When three Taiwanese writers showed up today for their daily chat, Wang put them to work.
One guy opened the mail, Wang would sign the card or ball and another guy would seal the self-addressed stamped envelope that any smart fan would enclose. It was a very efficient process.
I asked Wang what he was paying, because I could use the extra money with Springsteen touring this summer. “No money,” he said. “Maybe dinner.”
No money? I’m out.
I’ve always wanted to send a card to a player, but I’ve always figured it’ll get lost in the shuffle somewhere along the line..
Does anybody do this? Have any tips? (Other then sending a pre-paid envelope along with it..)
Probably a stupid question, but where do you send mail to during the season? I honestly didn’t think these guys answered their mail, and I’d love to get Phil Hughes’ autograph. I met him after the 5th inning (his limit that game) of a AA game he pitched a few years back and was the only person around as he walked back to the clubhouse. I tried to get him to sign my ball, but he said, “after the game.” Of course, after the game, he wasn’t there. I’m not angry or anything, I would just really like a Hughes autograph.
- Cody
Pete you cheap guy. isn’t dinner enough for you. just kiddin. thanks for the post.
Cody, I think you send it to the player, c/o the Yankees, at Yankee stadium
so
Phil Hughes
c/o the Yankees
1 E 161st st and river ave
Bronx, ny
Isn’t that a violation of some ethics clause (for the journalists)?
I’d take the dinner!
Me too it isn’t like he is taking you to TGI Fridays or something.
So jeter and a-rod autographs on the card are of other peoples?
True story — I have a friend who has done this for years. He encloses two 3×5 cards and a SASE, along with a nice but short note asking for two autographs. For active players, send it in care of the team at the stadium. For retired players, there are address books that come out annually.
So, about 10 years ago he got a telephone call from Jerry Coleman. Turns out Coleman doesn’t do much signing, for whatever reasons, but he was kind enough to take the time to look up my friend’s number (using the SASE as a reference) and gave him a 10-minute telephone call instead of an autograph.
I once asked Bob Gibson at a baseball card show if he signed anything that came in the mail. He said “nah” and said he keeps all that stuff that comes in the mail. Nice guy….
Jennifer – your new “name” is cracking me up.
THU – I know that the way some actors handle the autographs is to either have a stack of photos that are already signed by hand or have a stamp made of their signature so that the person handling the replies uses one or the other to send back. I doubt that someone is actually forging their sig, although there’s no way to be sure of that.
Heh…journalists and “ethics” mentioned in the same thought.
Well, at least he didn’t tell you to grow up and quit bothering him – right Pete?
Bern’s Steak House will do just fine.
That’s too funny. DMan, I recall back in the day, the best way to get a response is to include a self addressed stamp envelope.
Me too.(I’d take the dinner)
About autographs… feel free to email me and I can give you the lowdown on mail and in person stuff. There are many ways players do and do not sign. Just a hint, Phil is signing mail during ST. I live here in Tampa. I can point you to a few sites too for addresses and help.
Pete,
If you ever want to do an article on autograph collecting, feel free to email me.
Jennifer
TGI Flydays
Surprisingly, Igawa does not handle his own stuff. I remember that he got a stack of envelopes toward the end of the International League season and passed them all off to his translator.
What’s the address to send mail to players while they’re in Tampa?
I just want to say how much I appreciate this blog. I’m getting so sick of all the Yankees negativity from the News & Post. I check your blog this first thing every morning now, keep up the great work and tidbits. Thank you, Pete!
PS…Wanger is pretty funny dude. I hope he has a great year.
” Dan March 5th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Surprisingly, Igawa does not handle his own stuff.
”
What’s surprising is that he gets any mail.
Is Cano one of the players that personally signs and returns items?
no… most of the Yankees do not do mail. Wang does, Rivera dors, at least in ST. Phil does in ST and I heard Joba has done some in ST. Damon is very selective but I have seen returns from him. Moose signs in the offseason and has a great fan club for a decent amount.
I’d take the dinner to!!!