Overall, 2005 was a fun year for autograph collecting. For the first time, this year I did a lot of in-person autograph collecting. Also, for the first time, this year I started collecting celebrity autographs.

My first celebrity autograph of the year was pro-wrestler Sgt. Slaughter, who appeared at a Somerset Patriots game this summer. Although I’m not a wrestling fan, I couldn’t resist getting an autograph from the guy who inspired (and voiced) a character on the G.I. Joe cartoon show that I grew up watching.

Later in the year, I saw a flier for an appearance by Carrie Fisher and several members of the Harry Potter cast at a New York comic convention, and I knew I had to go. I got to meet and speak to Jamie Waylett (who is much friendlier in person than his on-film demeanor would make him seem), Matthew Lewis, Devon Murray, Ray Park, Daniel Logan and Richard Hatch. I also got to meet Carrie Fisher.

Through purchases, I acquired autographs of Tricia Helfer, Shiri Appleby, Majandra Delfino, William Sadler, Nick Wechsler, and Emilie de Ravin.

Next year, I plan to try at least a few celebrity autographs by mail as well as hitting the convention circuit when I can.

I did most of my in-person baseball autograph collecting at Commerce Bank Ballpark, home of the Somerset Patriots. For an independent minor league team, they had a fair number of former major-leaguers come through. Many were managers or coaches, but there were quite a few ballplayers as well. Among the highlights were Sparky Lyle, John Montefusco, Tom Herr, Brad Clontz, Olympic gold medalist Shane Heams, Butch Hobson, Henry Rodriguez, Fernando Lunar, Ozzie Timmons, Tom Goodwin, Wayne Krenchicki, Jose Lind, Darren Bragg, and John Rocker.

I also got autographs from former New York Giant Billy Ard and former New Jersey Devil Ken Daneyko at Somerset Patriots games.

I went to Shea Stadium for the first time in a number of years, and got some in-person autographs there, as well. They highlights were getting David Cone during an unannounced promotional appearance, and getting Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, and future Met Billy Wagner before a Phillies game on September 1 (which turned out to be the final meaningful game played at Shea Stadium in 2005.) Another highlight was getting Brad Wilkerson before a Nationals game (I had tried to get him numerous times through the mail since his rookie season with no luck.)

My in-person disappointments for 2005 include not getting Stephen Drew or Jerad Weaver’s autographs when the Camden Riversharks made their first trip to Somerset, not being in the right place at the right time to get David Wright’s autograph during any of the many times he signed at Shea Stadium, and letting Ron Santo walk by me at the Shea Stadium press gate without realizing who he was until someone else pointed it out to me.

Still, despite the number of in-person autographs I got in 2005, my main autograph collecting focus was still through-the-mail requests.

My through-the-mail success percentage for 2005 was 51% (132 of 260). I had a 53% response percentage (132 successes, 3 RTS, 2 ghost-signed, 1 pre-print).

I had a 49% success rate (and a 52% response rate) from spring training (37 successes, 1 pre-print, 1 RTS from 75 requests).

I had a 53% success rate (and a 54% response rate) from regular season requests sent c/o team addresses. (68 successes, 1 ghost-signed from 128 requests)

I had a 45% success rate (and a 51% response rate) from requests sent to ballplayers home addresses. (21 successes, 2 RTS, 1 ghost-signed from 47 requests; 4 outstanding requests have been out less than 30 days)

For a benchmark, I had a 59% success rate in 2004 (144/243), 55% in 2003 (83/152), and 53% in 2002 (93/175). While I suspect that my overall 2005 success percentage will continue to climb (there are always a few stragglers that take forever to come back), I believe that this year will reduce the overall trend in my success rates – I do not believe that my 2005 success rate will meet or surpass the one I had last year.

It’s not all about numbers with ttm though. I got some great responses in 2005, including: Edgardo Alfonzo (after trying for years), Jason Bay, Mike Jacobs (who I’ll always remember because I was at the game where he hit his first ML home run in his first ML at-bat), Paul Konerko, Brad Lidge, Chase Utley, Robin Ventura and David Wright.

Through purchases, I finally added autographs of Mo Vaughn, Todd Hundley, and Jason Jennings and Akinori Otsuka to my collection. (Hundley is a Mets legend; Vaughn will live on in Mets infamy; Otsuka has his place in Mets history for infuriating Art Howe with his unorthodox delivery; Jennings will be remembered for shutting out the Mets and hitting a home run off of Donne Wall in his 2001 major league debut)