MLB HOFer Al Kaline Failure

[air44bg]

Send a LOR, SASE & 2 baseball cards on 5/26/15 to:
Al Kaline
3613 York Ct
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301-2058

Received the cards back today, 6/2/15, only 1 weeks later, unsigned in my SASE with no other note.


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[WaltG123]

$10 CASH per card.

[air44bg]

Yeah.... found that out with a little extra research. Thanks! Another athlete who forgot who made him famous.

[WaltG123]

Another athlete who forgot who made him famous.

You seem confused. You're asking him for a favor, not the other way around.

ETA: Not to mention that, unless you're one of his scouts, coaches, managers, or owners, or a member of one of the voting groups of the Baseball Hall of Fame, you made 0 impact on his career.

He'd be where he was even if you were never born.

He's not an actor whose popularity depends on having fans (and even in those cases, I resent the "they owe me" line). He got where he got based on his skill alone. People could have gone without buying a single ticket to see him play and he'd still have the honors he has.

Especially now that he's long since retired, you have no right to expect him to do anything for you, including signing your cards or even returning them.

Say it with me: "I'm asking him for a favor. I've done nothing for him & earned nothing from him."

[admin]

Hi air44bg

Thank you for your feedback

You have been added to the list for the $10 gift certificate.

Al Kaline on Fanmail.biz | Previous Feedback(s) Received

Fanmail

[vjw0307]

Yeah.... found that out with a little extra research. Thanks! Another athlete who forgot who made him famous.

Awful attitude. One of the greatest hitters in history and to get his signature for $10 is a bargain. If you're 52 (according to your profile) then you were only alive for half of his career so I doubt you added to him being famous. His skills made him famous. Try getting one of the super stars of today's autograps. Jeter? Doesn't sign TTM and gonna cost you at a minimum $400 via Steiner who he exclusively signs through unless you pick one up on ebay. Fans made him famous? Trout? Doesn't sign TTM. Basically only signs for kids...you pay for his graph at a signing it'll cost you $125+. Griffey? Fans made him famous? Doesn't sign TTM and the last paid signing he did in 2014, they charged $275 per item. How about someone from your days as a kid...Whitey Ford? Now asking for $60 per signature. Johnny Bench? He's also $60 per. At least these old-timer HOF guys still sign TTM. These guys are passing fast...a legend seems to pass away every day. For someone to think these players owe you something is ridiculous...especially people who never even contributed to their salaries by buying a ticket during their playing days.

By the way, he's going to give you a pretty sloppy sig for any donation less than $40.

I got this TTM a few months ago w/. $20 donation:

[WaltG123]

Eh... Even for today's guys, my understanding is that there's not really any "profit participation" in their contracts. Granted, a lot the money paying their salaries starts out in fan pockets, but they don't really support the players as much as the team in general with tickets & merch.

Every Yankees fan out there can hate Jeter, but he'd still be where he is because of his skill level.

As long as you can win games legally, the owner & manager don't really care about how many fans you do/don't have. Similarly, you can be beloved, but, if you can't win games, your career is over before it starts.

Since fans tend to like those who win for their team and dislike those who are more of a burden, there's not generally not much overlap between the above.

The fans may have made them famous, but the accolades aren't based on fame, they're based on skill. Again, the two are usually tied together, but we shouldn't confuse them.

Ty Cobb, for example. Aside from his stats, I have never heard anything good said about the man. Even his teammates seemed to hate him. But his stats earned him a deserved spot among the greatest in baseball history--fans or no fans.


I know what you're saying, but I have to disagree that anything but their skill (and maybe a bit of luck) got these guys were they are. Fans had nothing to do with it.

[Barbie]

Eh... Even for today's guys, my understanding is that there's not really any "profit participation" in their contracts. Granted, a lot the money paying their salaries starts out in fan pockets, but they don't really support the players as much as the team in general with tickets & merch.

Every Yankees fan out there can hate Jeter, but he'd still be where he is because of his skill level.

As long as you can win games legally, the owner & manager don't really care about how many fans you do/don't have. Similarly, you can be beloved, but, if you can't win games, your career is over before it starts.

Since fans tend to like those who win for their team and dislike those who are more of a burden, there's not generally not much overlap between the above.

The fans may have made them famous, but the accolades aren't based on fame, they're based on skill. Again, the two are usually tied together, but we shouldn't confuse them.

Ty Cobb, for example. Aside from his stats, I have never heard anything good said about the man. Even his teammates seemed to hate him. But his stats earned him a deserved spot among the greatest in baseball history--fans or no fans.


I know what you're saying, but I have to disagree that anything but their skill (and maybe a bit of luck) got these guys were they are. Fans had nothing to do with it.

Your not making any sence Walt.

[air44bg]

Yeah ok, without fans these guys would still be making millions and the old timers would have even had a sport to play? Yes, $10 is a bargain for a HOFer like AL... my point is that anyone who gets paid to PLAY or ACT or SING relies on the public's interest and they should always remain humble and appreciate the fans who paid to watch them, or bought their products. Some people on here are just waiting for someone to say one thing so they can go off... makes me want to stop sharing on here. Love the site, don't care for the people who are so bored that they need to go off whenever they see the opening.

[WaltG123]

Yeah ok, without fans these guys would still be making millions and the old timers would have even had a sport to play? Yes, $10 is a bargain for a HOFer like AL... my point is that anyone who gets paid to PLAY or ACT or SING relies on the public's interest and they should always remain humble and appreciate the fans who paid to watch them, or bought their products. Some people on here are just waiting for someone to say one thing so they can go off... makes me want to stop sharing on here. Love the site, don't care for the people who are so bored that they need to go off whenever they see the opening.

Yes, without fans, they would. If a player can win the team the World Series, but they have no fans, you really think the team would cut them in favor of someone like Rudy, who has a bunch of fans but is completely useless in winning a game?

That's got to be the biggest load I've ever heard.

No, those who play sports don't rely on the public's interest. I'm not aware of a single ballplayer whose contract includes profit participation. Even if they did, you're paying for the product you get, not an autograph. Especially not from someone who's been retired for years.

"Go off"? Wow. Way to take personal responsibility for posting stupid BS & then getting called on it. But if your attitude is that every celebrity owes you an autograph because you bought an unrelated product that they may or may not have gotten a cut of the profits on, please feel free to quit posting here. It'll be nice to have one less person with an entitlement complex.