Mike Sadek

Sent: 11/19/11
Received: 11/28/11
Time: 9 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1974 Topps, 1976 Topps, 1977 Topps, 1981 Topps
Item Received: 1974 Topps, 1976 Topps, 1977 Topps, 1981 Topps.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Richfield native and former Gopher Mike Sadek was drafted by his hometown Twins in 1967.  After three years in their organization, he was drafted out of it by the San Francisco Giants.  He made it to the majors in 1973 and spent eight seasons in a Giants uniform.  He was never much with the stick, but was an outstanding receiver and had a fine career as a backup catcher, playing with legends like Willie McCovey and Juan Marichal.

Ryan Walter

Sent: 11/14/11
Received: 11/28/11
Time: 14 Days
Address: c/o Abbotsford Heat
Item Sent: 1979-80 Topps, 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookies & Traded
Item Received: 1979-80 Topps, 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookies & Traded.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Ryan Walter is a hockey renaissance man.  Prior to his new job as President of the AHL Abbotsford Heat, his resumer looked like this: 15 year NHL career; Stanley Cup Champion (1986); NHL Man of the Year (1992); vice-president of the NHLPA; broadcaster; NHL assistant coach; head coach of the Canadian National Women's Hockey Team; author; motivational speaker; actor.  Either he's a very sharp dude or he has a severe fear of commitment!

Steve Foucault

Sent: 11/19/11
Received: 11/26/11
Time: 7 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1975 SSPC, 1976 Topps, 1977 Topps, 1978 Topps
Item Received: 1975 SSPC, 1976 Topps, 1977 Topps, 1978 Topps, 2011 Choice Long Island Ducks.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
The man behind this amazing mustache is Steve Foucault.  He was born in Duluth, Minnesota and spent the '70s as an outstanding power-reliever for the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers.  These days, he's a post-modern pitching philosopher for the independent league Long Island Ducks, and he still sports the best mustache in professional baseball.

Anders Lindback

Sent: 11/5/11
Received: 11/26/11
Time: 21 Days
Address: c/o Nashville Predators
Item Sent: 2010-11 Score Rookies & Traded, 2011-12 O-Pee-Chee
Item Received: 2010-11 Score Rookies & Traded, 2011-12 O-Pee-Chee.  Both signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
The Predators are turning into quite the goaltender factory.  Pekka Rinne has a hold on the top spot and has developed into one of the elite goalies in the world.  Right behind him, though, is giant Swede Anders Lindback.  Lindback was brilliant while spotting Rinne last season, and will absolutely be an NHL starter within the next two years.

Jack Hillen

Sent: 10/24/11
Received: 11/26/11
Time: 33 Days
Address: c/o Nashville Predators
Item Sent: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, 2010-11 Score
Item Received: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, 2010-11 Score.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Minnesota native and former Holy Angels star Jack Hillen had a brilliant four year NCAA career at Colorado College, culminating in All-WCHA honors during his senior season.  After four years with the New York Islanders, he signed as a free agent with the up and coming Nashville Predators prior to this season, joining a defensive corps that includes stars Shea Weber and Ryan Suter.

Joe Dziedzic

Sent: 11/17/11
Received: 11/25/11
Time: 8 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1994-95 Classic Draft Picks, 1994-95 Signature Rookies, 1995-96 Ultra
Item Received: 1994-95 Classic Draft Picks, 1995-96 Ultra.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Northeast Minneapolis through and through, Joe Dziedzic was Minnesota's "Mr. Hockey" in 1990 for Minneapolis Edison High School before embarking on a brilliant collegiate career with the Gophers.  He was as close to a prototype power forward as I can recall seeing in college hockey during that era, and a few years later he was skating alongside Mario Lemieux.  He is now the head coach for St. Paul Academy.

Pat Scanlon

Sent: 11/19/11
Received: 11/25/11
Time: 6 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1975 SSPC, 1978 Topps
Item Received: 1975 SSPC, 1978 Topps.  Both signed in blue gel pen.

Notes:
Pat Scanlon had big league cups of coffee in four seasons for the Expos and Padres.  He hit .187 with four career home runs.  He did have a long and impressive minor league career.  Of most interest to me, though, is that he lives just a few blocks away from me.  I will not ever be the type to make an unsolicited visit to someone's house for an autograph request and I am most certainly not a stalker, but I have to admit that it's kind of cool knowing exactly where a letter is going when addressing it.

J.T. Bruett

Sent: 11/19/11
Received: 11/25/11
Time: 6 Days
Address: c/o University of Minnesota Athletic Department
Item Sent: 1989 Star Kenosha Twins, 1991 ProCards Portland Beavers, 1992 Donruss Rookies, 1993 Topps
Item Received: 1989 Star Kenosha Twins, 1991 ProCards Portland Beavers, 1992 Donruss Rookies, 1993 Topps.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Former Gophers center fielder J.T. Bruett didn't have any power at the plate and never really profiled as anything more than a pinch-runner/fifth-outfielder type big leaguer.  And that's exactly what he was.  He could fly, no doubt about it.  In 1988 and 1989, he put up seasons of 61 and 52 stolen bases.  Three years later, he made his major league debut.  He appeared in 73 games over two seasons with the Twins, and finished his pro career with the St. Paul Saints in 1996.  He is now the Director of NCAA Compliance for the Gophers' Athletic Department.

Terry Tausch

Sent: 11/15/11
Received: 11/25/11
Time: 10 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1987 Minnesota Vikings Police
Item Received: 1987 Minnesota Vikings Police, signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
All things considered, I feel like I have had pretty good luck with the post office since taking up this hobby.  This is disappointing, though.  Former Vikings lineman Terry Tausch beautifully signed his 1987 Police card in blue Sharpie, but the return envelope appeared to be bent in half at some point while on its way back to me. 

Mike Crowley

Sent: 11/18/11
Received: 11/23/11
Time: 5 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1995-96 Minnesota Gophers Hockey Team Issue, 1997-98 Pacific, 1997-98 Upper Deck MVP
Item Received: 1995-96 Minnesota Gophers Hockey Team Issue, 1997-98 Pacific, 1997-98 Upper Deck MVP.  All signed in black ballpoint.

Notes:
It's been a long time since I added to my 1995-96 Gophers Hockey team set, but this is a big one.  Mike Crowley was, quite simply, one of the greatest college hockey players I have ever seen.  He was a good defenseman, but a ridiculously talented skater and puckhandler for a blueliner.  He led the WCHA in scoring, was an All-American and a Hobey Baker finalist.  Most telling, all offensively-skilled Gopher defensemen to this day are still compared to Mike Crowley.  His game surprisingly did not translate to NHL success and he retired after parts of three seasons with the Ducks (and a training camp with the Wild).  He's still one of my all-time favorite players.  This is a rad return!

Gary Larsen

Sent: 11/10/11
Received: 11/22/11
Time: 12 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1975 Topps, 2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites
Item Received: 1975 Topps, 2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites.  Both signed and personalized in black ballpoint.

Notes:
I'm excited about this one.  These autographs from Gary Larsen represent my first-ever signatures from the Purple People Eaters.  Gary Larsen will never (at least outside of Minnesota) be a household name like his linemates Alan Page, Carl Eller, and Jim Marshall.  But he was an outstanding defensive tackle who made back to back Pro Bowls in 1969 and 1970 and was a part of three Vikings Super Bowl teams.

Jerry DiPoto

Sent: 11/12/11
Received: 11/22/11
Time: 10 Days
Address: c/o Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Item Sent: 1993 Fleer Final Edition, 1998 Collector's Choice, 1999 Topps
Item Received: 1993 Fleer Final Edition, 1998 Collector's Choice, 1999 Topps.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Jerry DiPoto's name has been on the short list of baseball GM prospects for a few years, and he finally got his job this off-season.  I'm pretty excited to see what he does with the Angels - a model franchise with a hungry, outgoing owner and tons of resources.  Unfortunately, for the sake of Angels fans, he probably won't be able to travel back in time to void the Mike Napoli for Vernon Wells trade.

Alex Stalock

Sent: 11/7/11
Received: 11/21/11
Time: 14 Days
Address: c/o Worcester Sharks
Item Sent: 2010-11 Score Rookies & Traded, 2011-12 Upper Deck Victory
Item Received: 2010-11 Score Rookies & Traded, 2011-12 Upper Deck Victory.  Both signed in thin black Sharpie.

Notes:
UMD great Alex Stalock has to be chomping at the bit to build on his perfect NHL stat line.  That's right.  Perfect.  He was called up as an emergency backup by the Sharks last season.  He made his NHL debut in a relief role and didn't allow a goal.  Meanwhile, his offense mounted a comeback, giving him a career 1-0 record, 0.00 GAA, and 1.000 save percentage.  He returned to the minors and suffered a freak knee injury, from which he is still rehabilitating.

Garth Butcher

Sent: 11/7/11
Received: 11/21/11
Time: 14 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Topps, 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1990-91 Topps, 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Upper Deck.  All signed in black or blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Appropriately named given the intimidating presence that he was, Butcher logged a ton of ice time, and spent basically every other minute of the game in the penalty box.  I really like what he did here - he signed in team colors!  Both Canucks cards are signed in black and both Blues cards are signed in... uh... blue.

Alex Van Pelt

Sent: 11/10/11
Received: 11/19/11
Time: 9 Days
Address: c/o Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Item Sent: 2002 Topps Chrome, 2003 Topps Total, 2003 Upper Deck
Item Received: 2002 Topps Chrome, 2003 Topps Total, 2003 Upper Deck.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Van Pelt was terrific in his role as a backup quarterback for the Bills for ten seasons.  He signed with the Bills as a free agent in 1994 and spent the season as a third-stringer behind Hall of Famer Jim Kelly and gold-standard backup Frank Reich.  When Reich left for a starting gig with the expansion Carolina Panthers the next year, Van Pelt stepped into the #2 role.  Following Kelly's retirement the Bills signed free agents Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie to compete for the starting job.  While those two went back and forth, Van Pelt lingered in the background, holding the clipboard.  Finally in 2001, after Johnson went down with an injury, Van Pelt stepped into the role of top dog.  He made eight of his 11 career starts that year, amassed 2,056 of his 2,985 career passing yards and threw 12 of his 16 career touchdown passes.  The next season, though, Drew Bledsoe came to Buffalo and Van Pelt went back to the bench.  Always a fan favorite, he stepped into the broadcast booth shortly after retiring.  From there it was on to Dick Jauron's coaching staff.  He spent most of 2009 as the Bills' interim offensive coordinator, but was let go with most of the rest of the staff at the end of the season.  In 2010, Van Pelt was hired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their quiarterbacks coach and was instrumental in the development of second-year stud Josh Freeman.

Donnie Green

Sent: 11/9/11
Received: 11/18/11
Time: 9 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1973 Topps, 1974 Topps, 2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites
Item Received: 1973 Topps, 1974 Topps, 2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites.  All signed in black ballpoint.

Notes:
I have a confession.  I can't stand it when athletes work "God" or "Jesus Christ" into their autographs.  Referencing bible verses is slightly annoying.  (Not nearly as annoying as "thanking my lord and savior Jesus Christ for letting me score that touchdown" ... as if Christ -- if he did exist -- was playing favorites.)  Seeing these inscriptions on Donnie Green's cards, though?  It doesn't bother me.  It actually makes my smile.

A few years ago there were reports that Green was homeless.  He wasn't in good shape, had fallen into drugs, and couldn't pay his mounting medical bills from the despicable excuse for an NFL pension.  Hall of Fame linemate Joe DeLamielleure made news when he set up an autograph fundraiser to benefit Green.  It was in a homeless shelter in Maryland and through the actions of his former teammates that Donnie Green found God.  Whether literal or figurative, his discovery has saved his life.

The tricky thing about religion is that it isn't all propaganda being spewed by the fearful and hateful.  In fact, I would wager that for most it really is more of a spiritual, symbolic thing.

I do not consider myself religious.  I can't say if there is a God.  He/She/It has certainly never spoken to me.  My father-in-law and mother-in-law both have advanced theology degrees, and my father-in-law is a Lutheran minister in Iowa.  He's a brilliant man and perhaps the most socialist person I know.  See?  Not so easy to wrap into a neat little package.  I can't stand far-right "Christian" psychopaths like Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry, yet some of my favorite music in the world is primitive southern gospel and blues.  Because whether it exists or not, it's the feeling that's important.  It's the authentic feeling that'll get you by.

So if "trusting in Jesus" is what Donnie Green needs to keep on keeping on, to get his life back on track (and it does seem to be better now than it was four or five years ago), that's fantastic.  Seriously.  It can be a cruel, cruel world, but I'm glad the right tackle of "The Electric Company" is still a part of it.

Dave Foley

Sent: 11/9/11
Received: 11/18/11
Time: 9 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1973 Topps, 1974 Topps, 1975 Topps, 2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites
Item Received: 1973 Topps, 1974 Topps, 1975 Topps, 2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Both "Electric Company" tackles in one day!  Dave Foley was the left tackle on the Bills' famed offensive line for six seasons.  During that time, O.J. Simpson broke the single-season rushing record and the Bills had their first run-in with success since the AFL-NFL merger.  Foley was named to the AFC Pro Bowl squad in 1974.

Mike Montler

Sent: 11/9/11
Received: 11/17/11
Time: 8 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1976 Topps, 1977 Topps, 2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites
Item Received: 1976 Topps, 1977 Topps, 2005 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
The Buffalo Bills acquired Montler from the Patriots in 1973 and installed him as their center.  That season, O.J. Simpson became the first running back in league history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.  Obviously his stellar line needed a nickname, thus "The Electric Company" was born.  Montler centered the group for three more seasons before moving on to Denver.

Ken Baumgartner

Sent: 11/7/11
Received: 11/15/11
Time: 8 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1992-93 Ultra
Item Received: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1992-93 Ultra.  Both signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Appropriately nicknamed, "Bomber" was an enforcer through and through.  Over 12 NHL seasons he totaled over 2,200 penalty minutes and only 54 points.  Like a lot of other hockey tough guys, he's actually a very smart guy: following his playing career he obtained an MBA from Harvard.

Alfred Anderson

Sent: 11/3/11
Received: 11/12/11
Time: 9 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1985 Topps, 1985 Vikings Police, 1989 Topps, 1990 Pro Set
Item Received: 1985 Topps, 1985 Vikings Police, 1989 Topps, 1990 Pro Set.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Possibly the only bright spot during the Vikings dismal "Les Steckel season" of 1984 (when they finished with their worst-ever record at 3-13) was the play of rookie third-round draft pick Alfred Anderson.  Although he was probably miscast as a featured running back, he did rush for a team-leading 773 yards.  It was a career high by a long shot.  Big Alfred did play eight years in the NFL, all with the Purple, and handled every role you could ask from a running back: featured tailback, third-down back, blocking back, kick returner.  Quite simply, he was an everyman.  He was one of the key character figures on the teams I grew up with, and always one of my favorites.  Thanks, Alfred!

Paul Gruber

Sent: 10/25/11
Received: 11/12/11
Time: 18 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1989 Score, 1989 Topps, 1990 Pro Set, 1991 Topps
Item Received: 1989 Score, 1989 Topps, 1990 Pro Set, 1991 Topps.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
How's this for strange?  I had not sent a request to a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers star until October 25, when I sent to both Paul Gruber and Mark Carrier.  Letters went out on the same day, autographs came back on the same day.  As for Gruber, he was an outstanding and incredibly underrated left tackle.  He came into the league out of the University of Wisconsin and paid his dues on some truly awful late '80s/early '90s Bucs teams.  He was one constant in the Bucs lineup as they transitioned from perennial losers to contenders.  He retired in 1999, after twelve seasons in the league, just a few years before Tampa reached (and won) their first Super Bowl.  And, he is quite possibly the best player of his era to never make a Pro Bowl.

Mark Carrier

Sent: 10/25/11
Received: 11/12/11
Time: 18 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1989 Pro Set, 1989 Score, 1989 Topps, 1990 Pro Set
Item Received: 1989 Score, 1989 Topps, 1990 Pro Set.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Mark Carrier (not to be confused with the Chicago Bears safety of the same name) had an incredible All-Pro caliber breakthrough season in 1989: 86 receptions for 1,422 yard and nine touchdowns.  He looked every bit like the next great NFL wide receiver.  He would never come close to those numbers again during his 12 year career.  Some of that, in his defense, can be attributed to a poor group of quarterbacks.  The only other season in which he would surpass the 1,000 yard plateau was in 1995, when he would amass 1,002 yards for the expansion Carolina Panthers.

Jim Hough

Sent: 11/7/11
Received: 11/10/11
Time: 3 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1983 Vikings Police
Item Received: 1983 Vikings Police, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Hough was a mainstay on the Vikings offensive line from the late '70s to the mid '80s.  He was versatile enough to play everywhere on the line, but had his most success as a guard.  Outside of the football card explosion in the '90s, linemen have always been severely under-represented on cardboard, and I believe this 1983 police issue Vikings card to be the only one Hough had.  My favorite aspect of this card: he's blocking the greatest Viking of all, the honorable Alan Page.  So weird to see Page in a Bears uniform.

Nate Odomes

Sent: 9/6/11
Received: 11/10/11
Time: 65 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990 Pro Set, 1991 Stadium Club, 1991 Topps
Item Received: 1990 Pro Set, 1991 Topps.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Odomes was a dominating cover-corner.  He was the best defensive back on the early '90s Bills dynasty and was perhaps the most underrated cornerback in the league from approximately 1989 to 1993.  After his stint in Buffalo he signed a big free agent deal with the Seattle Seahawks and was immediately hampered by injuries that would prematurely end his career.  For a few years, though, he was one of the great ones.

Dave Pavlas

Sent: 10/25/11
Received: 11/10/11
Time: 16 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1987 ProCards Pittsfield Cubs, 1990 ProCards Iowa Cubs, 1991 Score
Item Received: 1987 ProCards Pittsfield Cubs, 1990 ProCards Iowa Cubs, 1991 Score.  All signed in black ballpoint.

Notes:
Dave Pavlas was remarkable in a September call-up for the Cubs in 1990, going 2-0 with a 2.11 ERA down the stretch.  He looked like a definite bullpen weapon for years to come.  But somehow he only appeared in one big league game the following year and would not return to the majors until 1995, with the New York Yankees.  In 1996 he got into 16 games for the Yankees and put up a nifty 2.35 ERA.  He didn't make the post-season roster, but was still a part of that World Championship team.  He would not pitch in the majors again.  He wrote on the back of his return envelope that he married a girl who went to Bloomington Jefferson High School in suburban Minneapolis.

Mark Brammer

Sent: 10/25/11
Received: 11/10/11
Time: 16 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1981 Topps, 1982 Topps, 1990 Michigan State Collegiate Collection
Item Received: 1981 Topps, 1982 Topps, 1990 Michigan State Collegiate Collection.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Mark Brammer had a couple of solid seasons as a pass-catching tight end for the Bills.  Along with generously signing all three cards that I sent, he included a very pleasant note expressing appreciation (and perhaps a bit of disbelief) for my loyal long-distance support of the Bills.

Ron Hextall

Sent: 9/15/11
Received: 11/10/11
Time: 56 Days
Address: c/o Los Angeles Kings
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro

Item Received: 1991-92 Score Canadian, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
I double-dipped on Ron Hextall with decent results.  He thankfully signed the 1991-92 Score card that I needed for my set.  Unforutnaely, he kept the 2008-09 OPC 1979 Retro card that I sent.  He's the second person to keep one of these cards, following Wild defenseman Nick Schultz (who at least replaced it with a different card).  Perhaps he hadn't seen the card before and figured it was too cool to send back?  I'm happy, though.  The set card was most important to me.

Peyton Manning

Sent: 11/3/11
Received: 11/9/11
Time: 6 Days
Address: c/o PeyBack Foundation
Item Sent: 2006 Topps Heritage
Item Received: 2006 Topps Heritage, signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
All I can say is "Wow."  I hope it's real.  I'm pretty sure it's real.  The consensus in the forums on SCN is that returns through Manning's PeyBack Foundation are real.  In the past, it has reportedly been a crapshoot.  If you're extremely lucky, you'll get the item you sent in personally signed by Peyton.  If you're lucky, you'll get a genuinely autographed 5x7 photo, but the item you sent will be returned unsigned.  And, if you're unlucky, you get a pre-printed facsimile autographed photo.  However, with Manning's injury that has kept him out of action all season, he apparently has more time to answer fan mail.  If it is really his signature, he's easily the highest profile athlete on the planet who does this.  Amazing!

Jeff Frazee

Sent: 10/28/11
Received: 11/5/11
Time: 8 Days
Address: c/o Albany Devils
Item Sent: 2010-11 ITG Between the Pipes, 2010-11 Panini All Goalies, 2010-11 Score Rookies & Traded
Item Received: 2010-11 ITG Between the Pipes, 2010-11 Panini All Goalies, 2010-11 Score Rookies & Traded.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Jeff Frazee signed with the New Jersey Devils after three stellar years in the net at Mariucci Arena.  He appeared in the AHL All-Star Game in 2009 and was mentioned as a possible successor the future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur.  Two years later, Brodeur is still manning the Devils net and Frazee is still in the AHL.  He's still young enough to put together a solid NHL career, but he appears to have been overtaken by Keith Kincaid (and still behind Brodeur and Johan Hedberg) on the Devils depth chart.

Mark Streit

Sent: 9/27/11
Received: 11/5/11
Time: 39 Days
Address: c/o New York Islanders
Item Sent: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Update Retro, 2010-11 O-Pee-Chee
Item Received: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Update Retro, 2010-11 O-Pee-Chee.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
An offensively-gifted defenseman, Mark Streit missed the entire 2010-11 season due to a torn labrum and rotator cuff.  Despite missing the year, the 2009 All-Star was named Captain of the Islanders during this season's training camp.  He appears to be picking up right where he left off two seasons ago, with nine assists and ten points through the season's first fifteen games.

Shane Nelson

Sent: 9/27/11
Received: 11/3/11
Time: 37 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1982 Fleer Team Action, 1982 Topps
Item Received: 1982 Fleer Team Action, 1982 Topps.  Both signed in black gel pen.  Two 8x10 photos,  both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Getting a package like this in the mail is the most rewarding part of this silly hobby.  Shane Nelson was an undrafted free agent who eventually became a starting inside linebacker for the Bills.  He teamed with fellow linebacker Jim Haslett and nose tackle Fred Smerlas to form the "Bermuda Triangle" - the famed Bills defense that was the top-ranked unit in the league in 1980. 

Mr. Nelson signed both of the cards I sent him, and added two autographed 8x10 photos -- one of him tackling Walter Payton and one of him sacking Bert Jones.  It wasn't just the awesome extras that made this such a special return, though.  It was the thought that went into packaging the whole return for me.  He wrote a brief but awesome thank you note on my original letter.  He sent everything back in a manila envelope with cardboard reinforcement (and paid for the postage).  He inserted my cards in a top-loader for extra protection.  And he returned my unused SASE, saving me a stamp on my next autograph request.


That's class.

Jerry Olsavsky

Sent: 10/22/11
Received: 11/1/11
Time: 10 Days
Address: c/o Pittsburgh Steelers
Item Sent: 1990 Score, 1990 Topps
Item Received: 1990 Score, 1990 Topps.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Jerry Olsavsky out of the University of Pittsburgh in the tenth round of the 1989 draft.  He was a longshot to make the team, but by the end of the year he was honored with a spot on the NFL All-Rookie Team.  He spent nine seasons with the Steelers.  Most of his actual linebacker duty was as a backup (though he did start in Super Bowl XXX).  Most of his value to the Steelers was as an elite special teams performer.  He returned to the Steelers last year as a defensive assistant coach.