Steve Avery and Franklin Stubbs Respond to Through the Mail Autograph Request

The mailbox has been relatively empty as of late but things may be starting to look up again as Steve Avery and Franklin Stubbs have come through with through the mail autograph responses.

As a long time rabid Atlanta Braves fan, it was a thrill to go to the mailbox and find my 1990 Topps Steve Avery baseball card returned signed.

Avery made his pitching debut with the Braves in 1990 and was part of a powerhouse rotation that included Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Greg Maddux.

In 1991, Avery helped the Braves go from worst to first, recording 18 wins that season. He recorded another 18 win season with the Braves in 1993.

He pitched in the post season with the Braves five times, including three world series appearances.

His honors include an All Star selection in 1993 and 1991 National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player.

In 1997 Avery signed with the Boston Red Sox where he won 10 games in 1998.

He went on to pitch for the Cincinnati Reds and the Detroit Tigers before his career came to an end in 2003.

Today Avery makes his home in Michigan. It took only 19 days to receive my autograph.

It took a lot longer to hear from Stubbs, as I waited 117 days for a response. The wait passes my 98 day wait for a Rich Gedman response.

I think the request may have did some sitting on a desk and traveling though, as I mailed my card and letter of request to the Inland Empires in San Bernandino Cailf.

But somehow the card made it to a location near Louisville, Ky. where it seems Stubbs signed it and mailed it back to me.

Stubbs began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1984.

While wearing Dodger blue, Stubbs played in the 1988 World Series against the Oakland As.

He joined the Houston Astros for a year in 1990, then went to the Milwaukee Brewers for two years before finishing his big league career with the Tigers in 1995.

In December, Stubbs was named hitting coach of the Chattanooga Lookouts, a minor league affilliate of the Dodgers, for the 2011 season.

Other players that I have sent requests to are Livan Hernandez, Latroy Hawkins, Tony Pena, Omar Vizquel, Tim Wakefield, Tommy John, Steve Garvey, Ron Gant, Bryan Harvey, Tommy Lasorda, Ray Fontenot, Jason Thompson, Leon Durham, Larry McWilliams, Dave Winfield, Jay Tibbs, Mike Scioscia, Ken Howell, Eric Davis, Randy Milligan, Tim Burke, Jay Bell, Danny Tartabull, Joe Magrane, Roger McDowell, Rick Aguilera, Nick Esasky, Kevin Seitzer, Dave Burba, Chris Sabo, Charlie Hayes, Tommy Gregg, Junior Ortiz, Mariano Duncan, Mo Vaughn, Andy Hawkins, Howard Johnson, Matt Nokes, Bill Fahey, Julio Franco, Allan Trammell, Steve Buechele, Lance Johnson, Jim Eisenreich, William Van Landingham, John Smiley, Rick Rhoden, Bruce Ruffin, Rafael Palmiero, Mike Stanley, Brett Butler, Curt Wilkerson, Tim Laudner, Mike Mason, and Craig Reynolds.