Former Brooklyn Dodger and Lance Parrish Respond to TTM Autograph Request

After going 13 days without a through the mail autograph response, this week things picked up with two, former Brooklyn Dodger Roger Craig, which the week before was on my confirmed failure list, and Lance Parrish.

I am thrilled to receive a response from the 80-year-old Craig.

On Nov. 1 I sent a request to Craig at an address found on the Internet in Ramona, California. A few days later the card came back with a note inside saying wrong address.

I posted the failure on www.fanmail.biz and someone posted a different address for Craig in Boreggo Springs, Calif. and 11 days later I am the proud owner of a signed Roger Craig card.

Craig began his career as a pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955. In 1962 he played for the New York Mets then on to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964, the Cincinnati Reds in 1965 and finished his playing career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1966.

He appeared in two World Series with the Brooklyn Dodgers, one with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and one with the Cardinals.

In 1978 Craig debut as a big league manager with the San Diego Padres.

In 1985 he began his managerial career with the San Francisco Giants where he stayed until 1992. He lead the Giants to the pennant in 1989 and followed that with managing the All-Star game in 1990.

The card signed by Craig at my request is a 1990 Topps and I definitely regard this one as a classic.

Thanks to Mr. Craig.

Parrish is the other autograph received this week.

I sent Parrish a 1990 Topps card to an address in Nashville, Tennessee on Nov. 2 and received my card back signed on Nov. 17.

Parrish, known as Big Wheel, kicked off his big league career in 1977 with the Detroit Tigers. He played two years with the Phillies, 1987-88, before going on to the California Angels for three seasons, 1989-1991.

He played a portion of the 1992 season with the Toronto Blue Jays before returning to the Angels and then on to the Seattle Mariners.

In 1993 Parrish played 10 games with the Cleveland Indians before landing a spot on the Pittsburgh Pirates roster in 1994 and then back to the Blue Jays in 1995 where he played in 70 games in his last season.

Parrish made it to the World Series in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers.

Thanks for the autograph Big Wheel.

Parrish is my 13th TTM success and Craig my 14th.

One thing I have noticed is that most players sign with a blue Sharpie. Of the autographs I have received, Kevin Gross and Craig are the only ones that are not made by a Sharpie.

I do have three failures to report.

Kelly Gruber, Jim Gott and Steve Cox requests came back as return to senders no forwarding address.

I found another address for Gruber and have resent the request.

Those that I have attempted to make contact and have no heard from are: Livan Hernandez, Latroy Hawkins, Tony Pena, Omar Vizquel, Tim Wakefield, Tommy John, Steve Garvey, Ron Gant, Rich Gedman, Bryan Harvey, Tommy Lasorda, Ray Fontenot, Jason Thompson, Ed Hearn, Leon Durham, Franklin Stubbs, Larry McWilliams, Andy Hawkins, Dave Winfield, Jay Tibbs, Mike Scioscia, Ken Howell, Eric Davis, John Tudor, Shawon Dunston, Randy Milligan, Tim Burke, Jay Bell, Danny Tartabull, Joe Magrane, Roger McDowell, Rick Aguilera, Nick Esasky, Kevin Seitzer, Dave Burba, Chris Sabo, Charlie Hayes, Mark Langston, and Bret Saberhagen.