David Clarkson

David Clarkson

Currently with the New Jersey Devils.

Autograph insert card purchased in November 2010.

I recently busted a box of this year's Upper Deck Series One and got this Signature Sensations card of Devils winger David Clarkson.I always enjoy getting an autograph in a pack of cards...even if it is of a player that I don't necessarily know much about. The front of the card is a sticker 'graph--which I don't mind--signed in blue Sharpie marker.

Michel Goulet

Michel Goulet

Retired player. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1998. Currently a scout for the Calgary Flames.

Fan letter sent: October 30, 2010.

Autograph received: November 27, 2010.

I have always had TTM success with Michel Goulet. He signed cards for me back in the 1990s, and last year when I wrote to him.

Goulet signed all 5 cards in black Sharpie marker. It is amazing to see that a Hall of Fame player like Goulet still signs autographs for fans after all these years.

Rollie Melanson

Rollie Melanson

Retired player. Currently the Goalie Coach for the Vancouver Canucks.

Fan letter sent: October 11, 2010.

Autograph received: November 27, 2010.

Roland "Rollie" Melanson played over a decade in the NHL with the New York Islanders, Minnesota North Stars, Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils (only 1 game), and the Montreal Canadiens.

Melanson is now the Goalie Coach for the Vancouver Canucks. He signed the 5 cards that I sent in black Sharpie marker. He is definitely a player I will write to again in the future.

Cam Ward

Cam Ward

Currently with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Acquired in a trade on November 26, 2010

Fellow autograph collector and blogger Tyler traded me this Cam Ward autographed card that he got signed in person earlier this week.

The card is signed in black Sharpie marker. Ward has got to have one of the sloppiest signatures I've seen, though I can make out the "30" that is above his 'graph.

Mike Eagles

Mike Eagles

Retired player. Currently the Head Coach of St. Thomas University Tommies (CIS).

Fan letter sent: November 1, 2010.

Autograph received: November 24, 2010.

Mike Eagles played 15 seasons in the NHL, with the Quebec Nordiques, Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals.

Eagles nicely signed all 6 cards in blue Sharpie marker.

Paul Postma

Paul Postma

Currently with the Chicago Wolves (AHL).

Fan letter sent: November 2, 2010.

Autograph received: November 23, 2010.

A 7th round draft pick of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2007, Paul Postma spent last season--and all of this season so far--with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. Postma signed my card in black Sharpie marker, personalizing it To Sal.

Weekly Show-And-Tell: 2005-06 Parkhurst Rookies

This week's Show-And-Tell consists of 18 different Parkhurst Rookies from the 2005-06 set.

When I started sending these cards out to get signed, I didn't really know who any of these players were. Looking back 5 years later, I'm pretty impressed with this group of autographs.

Mike Cammalleri

Mike Cammalleri

Currently with the Montreal Canadiens.

Pack signed insert. Acquired in a trade on November 20, 2010.

Fellow blogger Justin G. traded me this awesome Mike Cammalleri card from the 2010-11 Panini Certified Hockey set.

This is a Platinum Mirror Parallel that is numbered 14 of 25. The front bears a sticker autograph that is signed in blue Sharpie marker.

Auto Blog is 4

Sal's Hockey Autographs turned 4 this past Saturday (November 20). I would have mentioned it then, but was at a card show, adding to my never-ending collection of hockey cards and memorabilia.

I collected autographs in the early-to-mid 1990s, then took a long break from autograph collecting as my life got busy with college and starting my career.

In 2006, I decided to give TTM autograph collecting another try. My original intention for this blog was to track my success and failures for just a year. But one year became two, two became three became four, and here we are.

Here are my stats in regards to TTM successes and failures:

2006-07 season
First letter sent: November 3, 2006
Last letter sent: July 9, 2007
# of letters sent: 319
Responses: 245
No response / RTS: 74
First player to respond in '06-07: Craig Anderson (11/24/2006)
Success percent: 77%

Once I got my first success (Anderson), I was hooked. A lot of down time in the summer of 2007--I had two knee operations--gave me ample time to write fan letters to many retired players. 

2007-08 season
First letter sent: September 4, 2007
Last letter sent: February 8, 2008
# of letters sent: 146
Responses: 115
No response / RTS: 31
First players to respond in '07-08: Bob Sauve, Jiri Latal & Derek Laxdal (all on 10/5/08)
Success percent: 79%

I sent out far fewer requests in 2007-08, because in February 2008 I decided I was going to leave my current apartment, but was not sure what my new address would be.

2008-09 season
First letter sent: October 14, 2008
Last letter sent: June 16, 2009
# of letters sent: 275
Responses: 200
No response / RTS: 75
First player to respond in 08-09: Colby Armstrong (10/20/08)
Success percent: 73%

Having moved to my new apartment, I started writing letters like gangbusters once the season started up. That fall, I entered graduate school part-time, but still had enough time to crank out a few letters each weekend.

2009-10 season
First letter sent: September 14, 2009
Last letter sent: April 19, 2010
# of letters sent: 69
Responses: 47
No response / RTS: 22
First player to respond in 09-10: Howard Walker (10/13/09)
Success percent: 68% 

During the past season, I was a full-time graduate student, and had far less time for silly hobbies.

Overall (11/2006 to 4/2010)
# of letters sent: 809
Responses: 607
No response / RTS:202
Success percent: 75%

So, over the past 4 years every 3 out of 4 letters sent results in a successful autograph request.

And while it is still early in the 2010-11 season, thus far I have 21 successes from 67 total attempts.

Rylan Kaip

Rylan Kaip

Currently with the Bakersfield Condors (ECHL).

Fan letter sent: November 2, 2010.

Autograph received: November 17, 2010.

Rylan Kaip played the past 2 seasons with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. After starting this season with the Houston Aeros, he is now in the ECHL with the Bakersfield Condors.

Kaip nicely autographed this card in blue Sharpie marker.

Oskar Osala

Oskar Osala

Currently with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).

Fan letter sent: October 30, 2010.

Autograph received: November 16, 2010.

Osala spent the past season playing with two AHL teams--the Albany River Rats and the Hershey Bears. He has appeared in one game for the Carolina Hurricanes and two games for the Washington Capitals.

This season, he is slogging it out in the "A" with the Charlotte Checkers, scoring 15 points in his first 19 games.

Osala signed this 2008-09 AHL Top Prospects card in a thin black marker that appears to have been fading.

Kevin Dahl

Kevin Dahl

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: October 30, 2010.

Autograph received: November 16, 2010.

Kevin Dahl played in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, Phoenix Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets. He also played 4 seasons with the Chicago Wolves, back when they were in the "old" International Hockey League. In 2000-01--the last season before the Wolves joined the AHL--Dahl was Chicago's team captain.

I sent Dahl 3 cards, which he autographed in thin black marker.  I am particularly excited about the Wolves card (right), which is from 1998-99.

Marty Turco

Marty Turco

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: September 27, 2010.

Autograph received: November 13, 2010.

Two 'Hawks in one day! I received autographs from Nick Boynton and Marty Turco on the same day. Turco signed my 4 cards in a thin black marker.

Turco has had a busy season thus far, having started most of the games for Chicago this year.

Nick Boynton

Nick Boynton

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: October 30, 2010.

Autograph received: November 13, 2010.

Nick Boynton was one of the players that won The Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks last season. I believe he currently leads the league in blocked shots.

As you can see, Boynton signed my 4 cards in black Sharpie marker. Turnaround time was 2 weeks, which is very fast for an active NHLer.