But he's still waiting to hear from Floyd Youmans.....

Kid writes to Phils reliever Don Carman in 1989 asking for an autograph. Gets his autographed card in the mail this month.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=phillies&id=4655715

 

Hmmm. I wonder if I wrote Don Carman back in 1989.

Loved collecting autographs by mail in 9th and 10th grade. I've still got the binder somewhere here, so I should check on Carman.

The first one I mailed out, Rick Reuschel, was the first one I got back: One week later.

I got an autograph from Terry Kennedy FIVE DAYS after I sent it.

The most memorable one was Mark McGwire. Took just 20 days for him to autograph my card and send it back. I was so happy when I got it, I almost hugged the mailman. Brought the card to the first day of school and my douchenozzle friends were all "No way! You forged that!" because all of them had written McGwire but had yet to get a card back. The next day, I brought in the return envelope, complete with an Oakland stamp, and they shut up.

Can't match the Carman story, but I once got a Frank White autograph 2 1/2 years after I sent the card out. By that point, I wasn't really collecting anymore, but it was still cool.

 

Isn't Carman the one who had the list of cliched responses at his locker and told writers to pick any one they liked for that particular day?

 

Unofficially, you could say that about just about everyone.

I remember reading a few years ago that after Paul Byrd got torched and, I believe, had to go to the hospital for tests, he left a hand-written note hanging on his locker for reporters.

 

Don Carmen rules! Yes, he did leave the list for reporters to use. What a cool story!

 

Taken from Baseball Almanac, the 1990 list of Don Carman canned responses. On top the list read, and I paraphrase, take whatever you need.

1. I'm just glad to be here. I just want to help the club any way I can.
2. Baseball's a funny game.
3. I'd rather be lucky than good.
4. We're going to take the season one game at a time.
5. You're only as good as your last game (last at-bat).
6. This game has really changed.
7. If we stay healthy we should be right there.
8. It takes 24 (25) players.
9. We need two more players to take us over the top: Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig.
10. We have a different hero every day.
11. We'll get 'em tomorrow.
12. This team seems ready to gel.
13. With a couple breaks, we win that game.
14. That All-Star voting is a joke.
15. The catcher and I were on the same wavelength.
16. I just went right at 'em.
17. I did my best and that's all I can do.
18. You just can't pitch behind.
19. That's the name of the game.
20. We've got to have fun.
21. I didn't have my good stuff, but I battled 'em.
22. Give the guy some credit; he hit a good pitch.
23. He, we were due to catch a break or two.
24. Yes.
25. No.
26. That's why they pay him _____ million dollars.
27. Even I could have hit that pitch.
28. I know you are but what am I?
29. I was getting my off-speed stuff over so they couldn't sit on the fastball.
30. I have my at 'em ball going today.
31. I have some great plays made behind me tonight.
32. I couldn't have done it without my teammates.
33. You saw it... write it.
34. I just wanted to go as hard as I could as long as I could.
35. I'm seeing the ball real good.
36. I hit that ball good.
37. I don't get paid to hit.