[Seven]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Phil Wood, a well-known Baltimore/Washington radio and TV guy, likes to tell the story of a show he promoted at George Mason University in Virginia in 1978, I think it was. It was well attended, with Joe DiMaggio the autograph guest attraction. The only problem was that few collectors would pay the $7 fee to get Joltin' Joe's signature. Phil said that he would look over and see DiMaggio sitting by himself behind his table and go over and chat with him because he felt sorry for him. People would come up to Phil and accuse him of highway robbery for wanting money for an autograph, vowing that they would never, ever stoop to paying to get a ballplayer's signature. I've heard other stories like that from the early days: people complaining about having to spend $5 to get Mickey Mantle at a show. Now they line up to spend hundreds for an illegible scrawl from relative nobodies whose name will never be mentioned in the same breath with the likes of DiMaggio and Mantle.

An interesting story, even when you adjust for inflation, a Joe DiMaggio auto at that price would be $31.42 in todays money. Perfectly reasonable, virtually everyone can afford it.

It's hard not to bring up money when it comes to the hobby, but I truly think things have gotten so out of hand. Kids cannot afford it, hell many adults can't either. I think the last signing for trout, was $700 a ball, $800 if you wanted an inscription. How's a 12 year old with a paper route supposed to afford that?