Autograph question for the audience

[HittinLikeCarew]

So I’m still fairly new to the hobby, collected as a kid back in the early 80s, been back for a few years. Got caught up in football hype during Covid and made really stupid decisions etc.
fast forward to now, I went back to my roots of vintage baseball and have really gotten into TTM and private signing autos, of players/eras I’m familiar with.

I was able to get out of a football “investment” at about even and put the money aside for something that is smart but meaningful.

If you had $2k would you:
-make the jump for a low grade Koufax rookie and send in for an upcoming private signing? His fee is currently $1200/card. He’s 87 so not sure how long he’ll continue to sign
-continue to hold out for other options, and not feel guilty paying some fees this spring for Brett and Yount signings coming up

Thanks!!

[Huck]

Originally Posted by HittinLikeCarew

So I’m still fairly new to the hobby, collected as a kid back in the early 80s, been back for a few years. Got caught up in football hype during Covid and made really stupid decisions etc.
fast forward to now, I went back to my roots of vintage baseball and have really gotten into TTM and private signing autos, of players/eras I’m familiar with.

I was able to get out of a football “investment” at about even and put the money aside for something that is smart but meaningful.

If you had $2k would you:
-make the jump for a low grade Koufax rookie and send in for an upcoming private signing? His fee is currently $1200/card. He’s 87 so not sure how long he’ll continue to sign
-continue to hold out for other options, and not feel guilty paying some fees this spring for Brett and Yount signings coming up

Thanks!!

I got back in the hobby (early eighties) when the rule was a signature devalued the card. More power to those that thought differently. Signed rookie cards seem to be all the rage and some athletes have a signed rookie cards as part of their autograph pricing tier. I would not buy a 1955 PSA/SGC 3 or lower Koufax rookie and then shellout $1200 for his autograph. Although I have some autographed cards (freebies at shows ex. Paul Blair) but it is just not my thing. With $2500 and a Koufax focus, I would purchase a 1956 Topps in PSA 7, a 1962 Topps PSA7 and a 1963 Fleer PSA 7 (always liked that card). The specific year could vary but the anchor would be the 1956 Topps PSA 7. Yes, 1955 is his rookie year but that card is pricey at a PSA 7. Why PSA 7? Early on, I decided that PSA 7 was good enough for post war cards.

[swarmee]

I think your idea is solid. Could you get an altered one for even less that has better eye appeal? Once the auto is on it, that's what you'd get graded (although the slab would show it as Auth Altered).

[Huck]

Before dropping $1200, I would want to see a recent Koufax signature. He is 88 years of age and his hand might not be as stable. Granted it is signature at 88 years of age, but $1200 is a lot of iron. I attached a picture of Sparky Anderson's signature (died at 76) I obtained late in his life. Koufax's signature might be fine but I would want to know before dropping $1200.

[Huck]

According to the site, Koufax on a 1955 Topps is $3,750 (not $1,250) a pop!

https://stores.cardboardlegendsonlin...g-tier-5-item/

[campyfan39]

UNREAL
That's pretty good pay by the hour my goodness

Originally Posted by Huck

According to the site, Koufax on a 1955 Topps is $3,750 (not $1,250) a pop!

https://stores.cardboardlegendsonlin...g-tier-5-item/

[HittinLikeCarew]

Ha! I didn’t think I needed to scroll through tier 5! Pretty much answers my question

Originally Posted by Huck

According to the site, Koufax on a 1955 Topps is $3,750 (not $1,250) a pop!

https://stores.cardboardlegendsonlin...g-tier-5-item/

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Huck

Koufax's signature might be fine but I would want to know before dropping $1200.

Agreed it's a risk, but not always - to counterpoint my post above.

Earlier last summer I got Carl Erskine's autograph TTM on his '56 Topps card. (For free, and back in less than 2 weeks). His auto looked just fine, and even still strongly resembled the facsimile one already on the card from nearly 70 years ago. Carl is 97...

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Agreed it's a risk, but not always - to counterpoint my post above.

Earlier last summer I got Carl Erskine's autograph TTM on his '56 Topps card. (For free, and back in less than 2 weeks). His auto looked just fine, and even still strongly resembled the facsimile one already on the card from nearly 70 years ago. Carl is 97...

Carl Erskine is another awesome ballplayer and human being that anyone could look up to. When these guys are all gone, no one fills their shoes. Not even close.