{"id":48949,"date":"2017-10-05T13:33:10","date_gmt":"2017-10-05T18:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=48949"},"modified":"2017-10-05T13:33:10","modified_gmt":"2017-10-05T18:33:10","slug":"collectibles-column-chatting-autograph-collector-michael-labbe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2017\/10\/05\/collectibles-column-chatting-autograph-collector-michael-labbe\/","title":{"rendered":"COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: Chatting with Autograph Collector Michael Labbe"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-949351417\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>For many collectors of wrestling trading cards, the thrill is in cracking open a box of the latest WWE product from Topps and hoping for a huge hit. Many others enjoy the chase of trying to find those elusive certified autographs of Alexa Bliss, the Undertaker or Kenny Omega.<\/p>\n<p>But Michael Labbe is a different kind of collector altogether.<\/p>\n<p>Labbe, a wrestling fan from Gardiner, Maine, has more than 500 wrestling autographs in his collection \u2013 all of which were obtained either in person, or through the mail directly from the wrestlers.<\/p>\n<p>Labbe\u2019s collection began with a signature from Ric Flair in March 1997 after getting tickets for <span data-term=\"goog_272022182\">Monday<\/span> Nitro at the Fleet Center. He started getting serious about obtaining wrestlers\u2019 autographs in September 2002, when things didn\u2019t go quite the way he had hoped at a Terry Funk autograph signing. Labbe was hoping for a signed 8&#215;10, but T-shirts were the only merch that the Funker brought with him.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2017\/10\/chuck.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-48952 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2017\/10\/chuck.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"207\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2017\/10\/chuck.jpg 608w, https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2017\/10\/chuck-300x207.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter the Terry Funk show, I wasn\u2019t going to let that happen again, so I figured I needed to bring something with me,\u201d Labbe said. \u201cOver time I settled on trading cards, initially because of their size. I could bring multiple (cards) in a case in my pocket, and storage was also convenient because you can fit nine on a page. They are also great for mailing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sharing Cards and Stories<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Many of Labbe\u2019s stories of how he obtained wrestlers\u2019 signatures are just as impressive as his collection itself. One of his favorite cards in his collection is a 1988 NWA Wonderama card signed by Paul Jones, Ivan Koloff, the Warlord and the Barbarian.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe reason I love this card is because it took a few years to complete,\u201d Labbe noted.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-889562214\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>For that particular card, Koloff and Jones were the easiest signatures to get. Koloff charged just $1 per item, and Labbe obtained Jones\u2019 autograph by sending the card to George South\u2019s wrestling school. Labbe tracked down an email address for the Barbarian, who replied with an address of where to ship the card. With three signatures already on the card, Labbe wanted to make sure he would get it back, so he first sent a letter to the Warlord asking if he would sign the card and return it, which he did.<\/p>\n<p>Labbe also enjoys obtaining multiple autographs from wrestlers who have competed under different names or gimmicks, such as Brutus Beefcake and Mick Foley. He has seven signed Foley cards in his collection: a Foley card from TNA, Mankind and Dude Love cards from WWE, and Cactus Jack cards from FMW, WCW and WWE.<\/p>\n<p>Many wrestlers, from Foley to Zack Sabre Jr., have been impressed with the effort that Labbe puts into his collection.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2017\/10\/dalton.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-48953 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2017\/10\/dalton.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"269\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2017\/10\/dalton.jpg 574w, https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2017\/10\/dalton-223x300.jpg 223w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>\u201cMick Foley, those were all in person,\u201d Labbe said. \u201cBrutus Beefcake was impressed I\u2019d gotten cards for four different gimmicks. The indie wrestlers are always cool because they realize that if I have their cards, I put an effort into getting them, like Chris Hero, Zack Sabre Jr., Chris Dickinson, Ayako Hamada and others.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Labbe is a big fan of Jim Crockett Promotions, so he\u2019s currently looking to get cards signed from the 1987 and 1988 NWA Wonderama sets, including Tommy Angel, Lat LaRoux, Italian Stallion, Chris Champion, Cougar Jay and Trent Knight, among others. He\u2019s also looking for signatures from more current stars, such as Katsuyori Shibata and Penta El Zero M.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How to Find Cards of Independent Wrestlers<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While cards of wrestlers from WWE, WCW and TNA are pretty easy to find, it can be challenging to track down cards of young independent wrestlers. Many independent wrestlers have cards that were distributed exclusive at shows or sold online, such as Brian Ubben\u2019s Pro Wrestling Guerrilla Battle of Los Angeles sets and cards from Filsinger Games.<\/p>\n<p>Labbe recommends using <a href=\"http:\/\/wrestlingtradingcards.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=http:\/\/wrestlingtradingcards.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1507313242820000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHnCHZ9QADvB_Olp_Y6lW-XZzrssg\">wrestlingtradingcards.com<\/a> as a resource to find out if your favorite wrestlers have any cards. Huskerhav\u2019s Wrestling Trading Cards (<a href=\"http:\/\/huskerhavswrestlingcards.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=http:\/\/huskerhavswrestlingcards.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1507313242820000&amp;usg=AFQjCNF8G66t16LlH64_5snxbgh-V-JPCw\">huskerhavswrestlingcards.com<\/a>) sells a wide variety of single cards from independent and rare foreign wrestling sets, usually for only a couple dollars each. Once you know what you\u2019re looking for, you can also check eBay or do a Google search for those cards.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-206884617\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>In some cases, independent wrestlers or those who had brief stints with WWE or TNA don\u2019t even realize that they have their own trading cards. This was the case when Labbe approached former WWE tag team wrestler Antonio Thomas for an autograph.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI had two of his WWE Heritage cards, and he asked if he could have one because he\u2019d never seen it,\u201d Labbe noted. \u201cAfter that I started bringing duplicate cards to give the wrestlers if they wanted them. Tony Mamaluke didn\u2019t know he was on a TNA card.\u00a0 A few indie guys knew they had a card but had never seen them before, like Chris Dickinson on a set from the UK.\u00a0 I presented the Young Bucks with cards from a deck of cards released in India they\u2019d never seen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Through-the-Mail Autograph Advice<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Many fans and collectors live in smaller cities that oftentimes don\u2019t host independent wrestling shows. In those instances, fans can always try obtaining a wrestler\u2019s autograph through the mail. Labbe notes that he\u2019s had \u201cgreat success through the mail corresponding directly with the wrestlers.\u201d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2017\/10\/jones_army.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-48954 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2017\/10\/jones_army.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"214\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2017\/10\/jones_army.jpg 530w, https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2017\/10\/jones_army-300x213.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Labbe suggests checking out sites like FanMail.biz or StarTiger.com to find wrestler\u2019s mailing addresses. Some wrestlers also have their own schools or other ventures that can be found online; for example, Labbe found that former WWE wrestler Caylen Croft has a website for his art, so he contacted him through there.<\/p>\n<p>Labbe suggests sending the wrestler a letter to make the request more personal and to thank that wrestler for his time, and including a self-addressed, stamped return envelope. He ships the card in a penny sleeve and asks the wrestler to sign the front of the card. He doesn\u2019t send money unless he\u2019s asked to do so.<\/p>\n<p>In many cases, wrestlers will send back just the signed card, but Labbe has been surprised by some others who have included more.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMeng wrote me a nice letter, (and) the Barbarian wrote a quick note,\u201d Labbe said. \u201cMike Sample, who wrestled for Big Japan, wrote me a nice letter. Barry Horowitz, Bob Backlund and a couple others jotted down a quick \u2018thank you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Also, there\u2019s no guarantee you\u2019ll get back whatever you send, so never send something you can\u2019t replace or don\u2019t want to risk parting with. Labbe noted that he\u2019s mailed cards to WWE wrestlers and to those at the WWE Performance Center and has very rarely gotten them back; his only success stories have been Molly Holly, Ricky Steamboat, Dusty Rhodes, Billie Kay and Peyton Royce.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Blogging and Tweeting<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Labbe regularly shares his autograph successes on his Wrestling Insomniac blog at <a href=\"http:\/\/thewrestlinginsomniac.com\/\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=http:\/\/thewrestlinginsomniac.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1507313242820000&amp;usg=AFQjCNE4jROFaVP16yk0cfH6PukvBgTSCA\">thewrestlinginsomniac.com<\/a>. Labbe typically posts every three days or so, sharing his thoughts on signed cards, reviews of past events and a regular column called \u201cThe Last Match,\u201d where he writes about a specific wrestler\u2019s last match.<\/p>\n<p>Labbe also hosts the \u201cPodcast of 1,000 Holds,\u201d available at <a href=\"https:\/\/nerdylegion.com\/podcasts\/pth\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=https:\/\/nerdylegion.com\/podcasts\/pth&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1507313242820000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEjvRkQseoAuZiSw1rCmEkbUSlAhw\">https:\/\/nerdylegion.com\/podcasts\/pth<\/a>. Follow him on Twitter @Superstarml, or email him at <a href=\"mailto:superstarreview@gmail.com\">superstarreview@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOW CHECK OUT THE PRIOR COLUMN:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2017\/09\/19\/collectibles-column-looking-magazines-trading-cards-action-figures-bobby-heenan\/\">COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: Looking at the Magazines, Trading Cards, and Action Figures of Bobby Heenan<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><i>PWTorch Collectibles Specialist Michael Moore can be reached at\u00a0<\/i><a href=\"mailto:michaelmoorewriter@gmail.com\"><i>michaelmoorewriter@gmail.com<\/i><\/a><i>. Follow him on Twitter @MMooreWriter.<\/i><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-1453525705\"><div id=\"pwtor-1474513363\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>For many collectors of wrestling trading cards, the thrill is in cracking open a box of the latest WWE product from Topps and hoping for a huge hit. Many others enjoy the chase of trying <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2017\/10\/05\/collectibles-column-chatting-autograph-collector-michael-labbe\/\" title=\"COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: Chatting with Autograph Collector Michael Labbe\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":48951,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,52,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-specialists_collectibles","category-opnionandanalysis","category-specialists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2017\/10\/Collectibles1004.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48949"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48949\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48955,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48949\/revisions\/48955"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}