Collecting Autographs
Collecting autographs can be almost as enjoyable as watching the games that your favorite athletes play in.
Every sports fan will have his or her own favorite athletes and teams, and although you can only dream of being in their shoes, you can collect pieces of history as you get autographs from your favorite players.
It's a thrill to meet a player personally, whom you have followed through his career.
And there is certainly not a better way to remember the meeting than with an autograph.
If you're at a game, you probably have a program or roster that he could sign, but if you take a photograph or collectible ball or jersey, imagine how much more that autograph will mean, and what a prominent place it will have in your collection.
If you deal with other collectors and purchase autographs, you have to be careful that you get the real signatures.
Unless you get something signed in person, you'll want to be sure that your ball, photo, bat or helmet is authenticated out by a reputable company.
The way to start in collecting autographs on your own and in person is as simple as waiting at the fans' area by the players' locker room, after a game.
Always remember to be polite when you address your favorite players.
They probably get hounded a lot for autographs, and it's simply not possible to sign everything for everyone - they would be there all night.
Be sure to say please and thank you when you are collecting personal autographs.
If you don't have a chance to meet players, if there are no prominent teams in your area, then dealing with collectors and autograph sellers is the easiest way, although there is more money involved.
You can also ask for autographs by mail.
Most sports teams list their postal address somewhere on their website, and you can write to your favorite players, in care of the team offices, and include a baseball card or photo of the player and a self-addressed stamped envelope (generally called an SASE) so that your favorite player can sign the photo and return it to you.
If you buy autographed photographs, balls, jerseys or other memorabilia, be sure that you check your purchases through a reputable dealer, so that you know exactly what you're getting.
True memorabilia will mean much more in your collection.
Diamond Autographs is a great place to look if you are collecting autographs as the site offers direct links to sports autograph auctions and sales on eBay that have been authenticated by the best names in the business, thus taking the risk out of your purchase.
They also offer autograph collecting articles.
Every sports fan will have his or her own favorite athletes and teams, and although you can only dream of being in their shoes, you can collect pieces of history as you get autographs from your favorite players.
It's a thrill to meet a player personally, whom you have followed through his career.
And there is certainly not a better way to remember the meeting than with an autograph.
If you're at a game, you probably have a program or roster that he could sign, but if you take a photograph or collectible ball or jersey, imagine how much more that autograph will mean, and what a prominent place it will have in your collection.
If you deal with other collectors and purchase autographs, you have to be careful that you get the real signatures.
Unless you get something signed in person, you'll want to be sure that your ball, photo, bat or helmet is authenticated out by a reputable company.
The way to start in collecting autographs on your own and in person is as simple as waiting at the fans' area by the players' locker room, after a game.
Always remember to be polite when you address your favorite players.
They probably get hounded a lot for autographs, and it's simply not possible to sign everything for everyone - they would be there all night.
Be sure to say please and thank you when you are collecting personal autographs.
If you don't have a chance to meet players, if there are no prominent teams in your area, then dealing with collectors and autograph sellers is the easiest way, although there is more money involved.
You can also ask for autographs by mail.
Most sports teams list their postal address somewhere on their website, and you can write to your favorite players, in care of the team offices, and include a baseball card or photo of the player and a self-addressed stamped envelope (generally called an SASE) so that your favorite player can sign the photo and return it to you.
If you buy autographed photographs, balls, jerseys or other memorabilia, be sure that you check your purchases through a reputable dealer, so that you know exactly what you're getting.
True memorabilia will mean much more in your collection.
Diamond Autographs is a great place to look if you are collecting autographs as the site offers direct links to sports autograph auctions and sales on eBay that have been authenticated by the best names in the business, thus taking the risk out of your purchase.
They also offer autograph collecting articles.