Autographs

We all know that getting baseball autographs is a pretty cool thing.

Check the bottom of this page for addresses to all current Major League ball parks.

Way back in 1975, after a Phillies/Pirates game at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, I just happened to be standing outside the Pirates' locker room after the game. As they came out to leave, I got several of them to sign my Pirates banner. I got Dave Parker, Manny Sanguillen and Richie Hebner. After that we always waited for the players after the game.

These days, the players don't just come walking out to the parking lot. Their parking lot is under the stadium and off limits to us. This makes getting autographs after a game nearly impossible.

Some players will sign an autograph before the game if you can get close enough. Or, you can plunk down some money for one at a card show.

An alternative is to get autographs by mail. First let me say that if you are trying to get Alex Rodriguez or Manny Ramirez to sign an autograph by mail, it probably won't happen. These caliber of stars get more mail than you can imagine.

But if it's a Shane Victorino, Andre Ethier or Aaron Rowand autograph you want, you might stand a chance.

Every player is different. Some enjoy the whole autograph thing and others just don't want to be bothered.

Here's what you do. We'll use Shane Victorino for this example. First, get a baseball card or something that you would like Shane to sign for you. Put it in a plastic sleeve to protect it in the mail.

Get some of those 3X5 inch index cards. On the index card write a short request to Shane explaining that you would appreciate an autograph very much. Tell him that you have been following his career and congratulate him on the game winning hit he just got (or the throw he made or the base he stole last night, etc.). Thank him in advance for the autograph.

Now you will need two envelopes.

Take the first one and write your name and address on it. Write your return address in the upper left hand corner, too. Don't forget to put a stamp on this envelope. Set this envelope aside for now.

Take the other envelope and address it to Shane.

Shane Victorino

c/o The Philadelphia Phillies

One Citizens Bank Way

Philadelphia, PA 19148

Write your return address on this envelope also. Take the card in the plastic sleeve and the envelope with your address and stamp on it and place it neatly in the second envelope. Seal it and mail it to Shane. Then wait.

Most players will accomodate you. They'll open your letter, quickly sign your card, put it in your return envelope and hand it to the club house guy to mail. Just don't be disappointed if you don't receive an answer. Major League players get requests for stuff all the time.

One other obvious suggestion is to send for an autograph during baseball season since the players aren't at the stadiums in the off season.

One of the coolest autographs I got was the late Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas. A few years ago I created two of my Legends Hand Painted Baseballs for Harry. One was of him and the other was his long time friend and partner, Richie Ashburn. I packed them up and mailed them to Harry Kalas. I didn't ask for anything in return.

Two months later a got a letter from Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia. Inside was a hand written letter and an autographed photo from Harry Kalas himself!

So go ahead and give it a try. You'll probably have better luck getting autographs by mail than you will at the ball park.

I've gathered the addresses for all of the current Major League ball parks in alphabetical order so you can get started.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Chase Field

401 East Jefferson Street

Phoenix, Arizona 85004

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Atlanta Braves

Turner Field

755 Hank Aaron Drive

Atlanta, GA 30315

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Baltimore Orioles

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

333 West Camden Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21201

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Boston Red Sox

Fenway Park

4 Yawkey Way

Boston, Massachusetts 02215

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Chicago Cubs

Wrigley Field

1060 West Addison Street

Chicago, Illinois 60613

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Chicago White Sox

U.S. Cellular Field

333 West 35th Street

Chicago, Illinois 60616

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Cincinnati Reds

Great American Ball Park

100 Joe Nuxhall Way

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

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Cleveland Indians

Progressive Field

2401 Ontario Street

Cleveland, Ohio 44115

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Colorado Rockies

Coors Field

2001 Blake Street

Denver, Colorado 80205-2000

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Detroit Tigers

Comerica Park

2100 Woodward Avenue

Detroit, Michigan 48201

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Florida Marlins

Land Shark Stadium

Miami Gardens

Florida 33169

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Houston Astros

Minute Maid Park

501 Crawford Street

Houston, Texas 77002

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Kansas City Royals

Kauffman Stadium

One Royal Way

Kansas City, Missouri 64129-6969

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Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Angel Stadium of Anaheim

2000 Gene Autry Way

Anaheim, California 92806

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Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodger Stadium

1000 Elysian Park Ave

Los Angeles, California 90090

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Milwaukee Brewers

Miller Park

1 Brewers Way

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53214

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Minnesota Twins

Target Field

3rd Ave. N, between 5th St. N and 7th St. N

Minneapolis, Minnesota

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New York Mets

Citi Field

126th St. & Roosevelt Ave.

Flushing, New York 11368

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New York Yankees

Yankee Stadium

East 161st Street & River Avenue

Bronx, New York

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Oakland Athletics

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

7000 Coliseum Way

Oakland, California 94621

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Philadelphia Phillies

Citizens Bank Park

One Citizens Bank Way

Philadelphia, PA 19148

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Pittsburgh Pirates

PNC Park

115 Federal St.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212

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St. Louis Cardinals

Busch Stadium

700 Clark Street

St. Louis, MO 63102

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San Diego Padres

PETCO Park

100 Park Boulevard

San Diego, California

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San Francisco Giants

AT&T Park

24 Willie Mays Plaza

San Francisco, CA 94107

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Seattle Mariners

Safeco Field

1516 1st Ave S

Seattle, WA 98134

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Tampa Bay Rays

Tropicana Field

1 Tropicana Drive

St. Petersburg, Florida 33705

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Texas Rangers

Rangers Ballpark in Arlington

1000 Ballpark Way

Arlington, TX 76011

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Toronto Blue Jays

Rogers Centre

1 Blue Jays Way

Toronto, Ontario M5V 1J3

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Washington Nationals

Nationals Park

1500 South Capitol Street, SE

Washington, D.C. 20003

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