Orioles Fan Pack

An Orioles fan pack arrived in the mail the other day. Everything arrived in a legal sized envelope which included an informational card about taking tours of their ball park, a pocket 2012 schedule, an Adam Jones player card, a large sticker sheet, a promotional schedule sheet, and a short generic letter thanking me for contacting them. Overall a pretty nice little fan pack!

Send an e-mail to fanfeedback@orioles.mlb.com for your own Orioles fan pack.

Washington DC Wizards Fan Pack

In the mail today was a fan pack from the Washington DC Wizards, which makes this the first NBA fan pack yet. In the large bubble package that had multiple 'air mail' stamps across it was a collection of items, including a stress ball shaped like a basketball, 5 pocket schedules, a pencil, a window decal, a magnetic schedule, and a large team card. The window decal and stress ball were definitely unique and are really great ideas to include in a fan pack. Overall, a pretty cool package to get in the mail!

To order your own Wizards fan pack, visit: http://www.nba.com/wizards/contact/feedback.html

Syracuse Crunch Fan Pack

Yesterday's mail included a fan pack from the AHL team, the Syracuse Crunch! Inside the large white envelope were two small felt pennants, two programs, and a large stitched patch from the Outdoor Classic game that was held back in February of 2010. I'm guessing these patches did not sell too well as they are giving them away in their fan packs, but to find one in the fan pack was quite the surprise for me! The patch looks really cool and is the first one I've seen included in a fan pack. The felt pennants were also a surprise and had not been found in previous fan packs. This was one of the better fan packs I've seen thus far.

For your own Syracuse Crunch fan pack, e-mail the organization at info@syracusecrunch.com

Roughriders Fan Pack

Hands down the heaviest and largest fan pack yet arrived in the mail today. This fan pack came from the Saskatchewan Roughriders, a CFL team who I don't exactly cheer for (as in not at all) but am now very impressed with how they treat their fans. Within the fan pack was a photo card, a tattoo, a bookmark, and a 256 page media guide. That's right, they sent me a frigging BOOK that features stats about all the players, staff, former players, HOF inductees, what the team does for the community, and a brief history about the team itself. The shipping itself was over $3 to mail this hefty tome and it has left me very impressed with their organization. In contrast, the Edmonton Eskimos sent me a mitt full of pocket schedules and a few stickers, while my hometown team (Stampeders) has yet to send me anything!

To request your own Saskatchewan Roughriders' fan pack, e-mail them at stevem@saskriders.com

Originally posted Jan 20th, 2012

Signed Plekanec Card in the Mail!

The other day I received two autographed cards in the mail from Tomas Plekanec of the Montreal Canadiens! On November 26th, 2011, I had mailed out cards to various Canadian hockey teams such as the Canadiens. I had previously received an autographed card from Rene Bourque, of the Calgary Flames. This time, about one and a half months later, Plekanec mailed me back the two cards I sent him but with his signature on them. As a collector of sport cards, and virtually everything else, I am definitely encouraged to keep mailing cards in the hopes of having them signed!

To try having your own cards signed by a Montreal Canadiens player send a small note, a self-addressed envelope, and the card of your choice to the address below.

[Name of person]
c/o The Montreal Canadiens
1909, avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal
Montreal, QC, CANADA
H3C 5L2

Originally posted Jan 19th, 2012

Carolina Hurricanes Fan Pack

Earlier this week I received a fan pack from the Carolina Hurricanes. In the regular sized envelope were two stock photo cards, a 2011-12 schedule, a waterless tattoo, and a sticker. Both the sticker and tattoo featured the team's logo. Tattoos are not something I have found before in fan packs but it is a neat idea, and it seems every team sends out logo stickers which I quite like. The schedule, again, is something virtually every team sends out, but the two photo cards were pretty weak as they were bent in half (leaving a sizable crease down the middle). One of the cards features an unknown player with his head cropped out of the photo and the plain text 'Carolina Hurricanes' at the bottom; I don't really understand how such a generic photo card would get someone excited about a team, especially when it looks like garbage after being sent through the mail. The second card was worse as it again looked like garbage with a massive crease down the middle from being folded to fit inside the envelope. The worst part is that it features a minor player from the 2006-07 Hurricanes roster -Chad LaRose. I suppose the Canes want their fans to be excited about what they had accomplished in the past and not what they are attempting to do this year? Perhaps even more puzzling is why they wouldn't feature their big star, Jeff Skinner, who started his first year in the NHL with the Canes last year and finished the season off by winning the Calder trophy? Bizarre.

While I appreciate receiving a fan pack, this is one of the poorest fan packs I have received thus far. The Hurricanes would be much better off sticking to the tattoo, sticker, and schedule.

Send an e-mail to communityrelations@carolinahurricanes.com to request your own Carolina Hurricanes fan pack.

Originally posted Jan 15th, 2011

Vancouver Canucks Fan Pack Has Arrived!

It took a little while, but the other day I found a Vancouver Canucks fan pack in the mail! The fan pack consisted of a typed (stock) letter, a very sharp looking window decal, and 5 unique 'we are all canucks' 9.5x14 cm player cards that are dated to the 2011/12 season. This is also the first non-electronic fan pack I have received from a NHL team.

You can contact the Vancouver Canucks on their website for a fan pack of your own.

Originally posted Jan 6th, 2012

Boston Red Sox Fan Pack

Along with the White Sox fan pack was a package from the Boston Red Sox! This is hands-down the coolest fan pack yet! Inside the package was a hand written letter of thanks, a Red Sox wrist band, a logo sticker, two photo cards, and A BAG OF FENWAY PARK DIRT! The bag of dirt blew me away with its originality and thoughtfulness. It only makes sense that if you are asking for a fan pack, chances are you do not live anywhere near that team, so why bring a piece of the park to them! Truly awesome!

For your own Boston Red Sox fan pack, and bag of Fenway Dirt!, e-mail them at: fanfeedback@RedSox.mlb.com

Originally posted Dec 19th, 2011

Chicago White Sox Fan Pack

In the mail today was a fan pack from the Chicago White Sox! Included was a publication order form, a very cool White Sox logo sticker, and two 2011 season schedules. Pretty darn cool!

You can order your own White Sox fan pack by e-mailing them at: fanfeedback@WhiteSox.mlb.com

Originally posted Dec19th, 2011

Houston Astros Fan Pack Arrived

Earlier this week a fan pack from the Houston Astros arrived in my mail box. The fan pack was sealed in a legal size envelope, and within it was a 3.5x5.5" photo of their catcher, J.R. Towles. In addition, there was a 3x4 sticker of their team logos. Unlike the Athletics and other organizations, there was no letter included with the fan pack. Pretty cool that they sent this!

For your own Houston Astros fan pack, e-mail their organization at fanfeedback@astros.mlb.com

Originally posted Dec  18th, 2011

Oakland A's Fan Pack

Earlier last week I received an Oakland A's fan pack. The package they sent included a colour photo of Daric barton, a bumper sticker, a letter about the A's Elephant mascot, and (randomly) a 2006 Upper-Deck card of Eric Chavez.

To order your own Oakland Athletics fan pack, send an e-mail to: fanfeedback@athletics.mlb.com

Originally posted Dec 12th, 2011

Buffalo Bills Fan Pack Arrived!

Wow! Three days in a row I've received fan packs! I better not get used to this...

Today I received a fan pack from the NFL team, the Buffalo Bills. In the pack was a Bills Game-day publication, a photo of their quarterback (Ryan Fitzpatrick), a magnetic 2011 schedule, a mini schedule to attach to your key chain, and a pack of their player cards made by Panini. This was a terrific fan pack and thus far, the best one I've received yet!

You can order your own fan pack from the Buffalo Bills by sending them an e-mail at this address: guestservices@bills.nfl.com 

Originally posted Nov 30, 2011

Buffalo Bills Fan Pack.

Toronto Blue Jays Fan Pack Arrived!

Received another fan pack in the mail today, this time from the MLB Toronto Blue Jays! The envelope didn't include much, just a 7.5x11 print out of the 2012 schedule and another schedule printed on a thicker paper stock. Still a very quick response and something I may use as I would like to fly to Toronto next year to catch a game. Now I have to make the decision of which team I'd like to see them play against!

To contact the Toronto Blue Jays, you can write to them at: Rogers Centre One Blue Jays Way, Suite 3200, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5V 1J1, or send them a message through this link

Originally posted on Nov 29th, 2011

Toronto Blue Jays' Fan Pack (with their new logo!)

CFL Eskies Fan Pack Arrived!

The first fan pack arrived today! The fan pack comes from the CFL team, the Edmonton Eskimos. The request was e-mailed to them on November 23rd and arrived in a white envelope on November 28th! Inside the envelope were 6 stickers with the team's logo and 6 one page 2011 schedules. This isn't exactly a package of team products that gets one excited about the team but it was sent very quickly and the fact that something was sent at all is appreciated, especially at the cost of sending them an e-mail. The Edmonton Eskimo's e-mail address for ordering your own fan pack is: tickets@esks.com

This package originally arrive on Nov 28th, 2011.

Contents of Edmonton Eskimo Fan Pack.

Status Update on Fan Packs

After only a few days following my online requests for fan packs from various sport teams, I received 8 replies. I think I sent something like 70+ e-mails for fan packs, so I am currently sitting at roughly an 10% reply rate. Anyways, from these 8 replies only 2 said they would send me a fan pack, which is a bit more disparaging. What is truly disparaging though is that the principle reason most teams refuse to send out a fan pack is because I live in Canada! This is most common in MLB teams who refuse to send fan packs across the American border. I find this bizarre as it works counter to marketing ambitions of growing the organization's fan base. Furthermore, Canada HAS a MLB team and one would think that MLB as a whole would try to promote their product as much as they could in Canada so that there are more fans, a healthier fan base for the existing team (the Blue Jays), and eventually be able to expand the MLB teams to more areas in Canada.

From the 8 responses I received, the MLB teams Indians and Braves both said they cannot send fan packs outside of the USA. The Yankees however said I could mail a postcard to their team in exchange for a fan pack, but I feel that they forgot to mention that this applies to only US residents. I also received 5 responses from NHL teams. The Bruins wrote that they cannot send fan packs to individuals living outside of the US. The Senators said that they do not send out fan packs at all because of the high level of requests they have received in the past. The Predators took a different approach, where they wrote that they do not mail out fan packs but instead e-mail an electronic form of the fan pack, which included Predator printouts of their logos and other graphics, and a copy of their team schedule. Ending on a more positive note, the Canucks and Flames organizations wrote that they do offer fan packs and that they should arrive in 1 to 2 months time.

Some of the graphics that the Predators sent me in the electronic fan pack.

Fan Packs & Other Web Freebies

So I recently discovered that you can get free stuff over the internet! OK, I might be a little behind the times on this 'discovery', but it's still new to me! What I found out was that there are ton of organizations you can e-mail and ask for free 'fan packs' to be delivered to your doorstep. Not every organization will do so and nor will they arrive in the same space of time. However, I figured it was worth a shot.

I started my quest for 'free stuff' by e-mailing every NHL team, MLB team, CFL team, and the majority of the NFL teams to inquire about receiving fan packs. When and if these packs arrive in the mail I will photograph the contents of the package and post the information here along with the team's contact information so you can do the same!

I am also slowly spreading my web of catching free stuff by mailing letters to various celebs, including athletes and stage stars. Again, I'll post the success stories here! Wish me luck!

***The following posts about fan packs & such were originally posted on my other blog Pickled Peanuts, but I decided that it made more sense to have these posts on my Sport /Collectible Card blog. So here we go!