Submitting TTM Autographs To PSA for Authentication: How’d It Go?

By Mike D
on July 6th, 2025
in Basics

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There are so many ways to collect. I think that’s one of the great things about the hobby. For a number of years I acquired autographs through the low-cost approach of requesting them TTM (through the mail).

It was a blast, but I’ve often wondered if the autographs I received are authentic.

A recent PSA special gave me the chance to find out. But what are TTM autographs? What was the special that I took advantage of? And what were the results of my autograph authentication adventure?

What are TTM Autographs?

TTM stands for “Through the Mail”. TTM autographs are acquired by sending a player a letter asking for an autograph, plus one or more cards, and a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope).

If successful, it can get a collector an autograph for the cost of two stamps. Not all players sign through the mail, but there are plenty of web sites out there to help you successfully target players most likely to respond.

While TTM autographs don’t tend to have the same value as certified autographs, they are a potentially low-cost way to get signatures (and it makes getting the mail a lot more fun).

How To Get Started With TTM Autograph Collecting

Autographed Baseball Cards & Autograph Terminology

PSA Slabbed TTM Autographs of Bob Feller and Al Kaline

My “TTM Era”

I’ve been collecting cards for close to 40 years. As you can imagine, my collecting focus has changed many times over the years. From around 2005 to about 2013, this included getting into TTM autographs in a big way.

There were a couple of years that I sent over 500 TTM requests in a single year, and another year I sent over 300. At one point I have over 3,000 TTM signed cards.

My collecting focus eventually changed (mostly to graded cards) and I stopped sending out TTM requests. I slimmed down my TTM holdings, and now have about 400 autographs as part of my PC (personal collection).

I did continue to have the occasional TTM return come in for years after I stopped sending out requests. I think the last return I got was from a request I’d sent out seven years prior.

PSA Slabbed TTM Autographs of Wade Boggs and Vladimir Guerrero Sr.

A PSA monthly autograph authentication special

In May of 2025, PSA ran a monthly special for autograph authentication and slabbing. This is different than the standard autograph grading many are familiar with.

Instead of the standard red slabs, these authenticated autographs get slabbed in blue labeled holders. The special was priced at $17.99/card, a savings of $7 or more per card.

I partnered up with a friend to submit some of our favorite TTM signed cards. He sent me 9 TTM signed cards, plus one he’d bought at a local card shop (John Smoltz). I added another 10 TTMs plus four early 90’s certified autographs I wanted slabbed and one in-person autograph.

One of the reasons TTM signatures don’t hold the same value as certified autographs is that there’s a chance they’re not authentic. Stories of autographs being signed by autopen, wives, secretaries, and the like have been making their way around TTM circles for many years.

So, the appeal of both authenticating some of our TTM autographs and getting them slabbed to fit in with more of our graded cards was appealing.

The process of submitting autographed cards for authentication was a bit different than the typical online grading submission form. You actually had to download, fill out, and print out a PDF file, which felt decidedly “old school”.

What it lacked in modern online convenience, the process of getting the cards authenticated made up by being fairly fast. I shipped the cards to PSA in very late May. They were received by PSA on June 2^nd, and were graded and on their way back to me on June 18^th.

PSA Slabbed TTM Autographs of Minnie Minoso and Monte Irvin

Submitted TTM Autographs and the results

So, what cards did we send to PSA, and were they authentic?

The good news is that of the 21 TTM autographed cards we submitted, all but two came back as authentic and were slabbed. PSA does not slab cards with signatures that they deem “Questionable Authenticity”.

PSA Slabbed TTM Autographs of Bobby Doerr and Johnny Pesky

My friend and I each ended up with one card that was not slabbed due to “Questionable Authenticity”.

His non-slabbed autograph was inner circle Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. Rumors that Aaron’s secretary signed cards sent to him in the mail have long been out there, and in this case it looks like it may be true.

My questionable autograph was of Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt. Interestingly enough, I believe the Schmidt card was the very first card I ever got signed TTM.

I sent the card to him shortly after he retired mid-way through the 1989 season. That’s right, a 36-year-old TTM autograph. It’s a bummer that the autograph is questionable, but it’s good to know.

What were the other TTM autographs that we got authenticated?

My TTM Autographs:

Name	Notes
Wade Boggs	A childhood favorite of mine. Glad it was real.
Al Kaline	Mr. Tiger was worth 92.7 WAR in his career. Underrated.
Bobby Doerr	Doerr was an amazing signer during his long life.
Minnie Minoso	Finally a Hall of Famer & a great player

Johnny Pesky	The Red Sox lifer was a solid signer.
Bob Feller	Hall of Fame pitcher was a HOF signer, too!
John “Mule” Miles	Negro League great on an A&G card – a gem!
Hank Presswood	Another Negro League great thanks to A&G
Vlad Guerrero Sr.	When I got this signed, nobody knew who “Jr” was.
Monte Irvin	Made his MLB debut at age 30, but still a HOFer.

My Friend’s Autographs:

Will Clark
Greg Maddux
Chipper Jones
Ryne Sandberg
Stan Musial
Jim Thome
Brooks Robinson
Pete Rose

My friend is a Braves fan, so was excited to get three Braves Hall of Famers authenticated as part of a total of 7 Hall of Famers (including the purchased Smoltz auto).

Pete Rose was the biggest surprise…we both figured those had to be fake, but Rose apparently did sign TTM for a while.

PSA Slabbed TTM Autographs of John Miles and Hank Presswood

Other autographs I got authenticated and slabbed:

Name	Card	Notes
Peter Gammons	2004 Donruss Fans of the Game	Signed IP at a SABR meeting.
Harmon Killebrew	2001 Post 500 Home Run Club	Certified Autos w/ your cereal
Ernie Banks	1992 Front Row	I’ve owned this card since 1992.
Duke Snider	1994 Nabisco	Another old food issue.

PSA certified autographs of Harmon Killebrew and Ernie Banks

Final thoughts on submitting TTM autographs to PSA for authentication

Overall, the experience of getting some of my old TTM autographs was positive. The process was smooth enough if a bit old school, and the cards were authenticated and returned quickly. I was also happy to see that only two cards were of questionable authenticity.

Did or do you send TTM autograph requests? Have you submitted autographs, TTM or otherwise, to PSA for authentication and slabbing? Tell us about your experiences at CardLines on X.

PSA certified autographs of Duke Snider and Peter Gammons

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Letter from PSA about autograph of questionable authenticity

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Mike D

Mike D. has collected cards for over 35 years, since he bought his first pack of Topps at the corner store in 1987. His fandom, collecting interests, and contributions to Cardlines center around baseball in general and the Baseball Hall of Fame specifically.

Mike's collecting focus is centered on graded cards, mostly rookie cards, of Hall of Famers and future Hall of Famers. Lately, he's been enjoying dabbling in graded minor league cards. A collector/investor with a "buy and hold" approach, Mike takes the long-term view with his collection.