Greed
 

There are a lot of terrible deals in the autograph trade these days, especially those 5x markups to sign rookie cards.

While this isn't Tom Brady-bad, the rates for an upcoming Derek Jeter signing are just laughable:

Derek Jeter Private Signing – January 2026
Courtesy of LMC and powered by MLB Auctions

This is your chance to get your item — or one of ours — signed by the Captain himself. MLB hologram included on all items.

Mail-In Pricing (Your Items)
• Ball / Flat up to 16x20: $685
• Tickets / Figures / Minis: $750
• Oversized Flat / Jersey / Helmet / Bat / Glove: $999
• Trading Card / Artwork: $1,100
• Game Used / Stadium Items: $2,000
• Inscriptions: $300

Memo to "The Captain," ... f--k off.

I feel sorry for any saps out there rolling over for this.

Pretty unusual to see trading cards at the highest tier of items.

I need Judge on my captains ball. I wish he'd do a signing. I'd pay whatever he wanted:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b0c00680_w.jpg

I really don't like to see players, or other public figures, who were once very talented and the top tier in their industry fall from grace over money. I understand that while making the big bucks they probably led a very exclusive, and expensive, lifestyle that they need to maintain. So, because they have no other talent, skill, or education to either own or operate a successful business (or do so for a deep pocket individual), they prostitute themselves for money. Whether that be in some lame commercial (typically insurance or cell phones), charging large amounts for guest appearances, selling their autograph, etc., they have to find a venue to bring in that cash.

I really can't blame them, because we all do something to bring in money to support ourselves or our family.

The autograph prices are crazy. However, they will charge whatever the market will pay. In this case, not for me. If no one paid these prices I guarantee they would change the next time around. I'm sure Jeter will get paid handsomely and a percentage of the take. If not, he will be forced to make another commercial with the insurance man. I mean shouldn't he since he has to meet fans that idolize him?

You can get a baseball card signed by Derek Jeter or you could get about 30 different items that were signed by Stan Musial

Long-deceased HOFers you could buy for less than Jeter's base price of $685 include:

Foxx
Ott
Lajoie
Bender
Wallace
Klein
Pennock
Lazzeri

and countless others

Long-deceased HOFers you could buy for less than Jeter's Game Used price of $2000:

Ty Cobb
Honus Wagner
Cy Young
Mordecai Brown
Joe Tinker
Johnny Evers
Grover Cleveland Alexander
Charlie Comiskey
Roger Bresnahan
George Wright

and countless others.

Jackie Robinson is all the rage anymore. You can still get him for under $2000. Clemente, too.

Hmm...I wonder where my money would be going. I really do! There are endless wonderful possibilities. I do know with certainty where my money would not be going. Not paying $2K for three mushrooms and a Snoopy nose.

It's absurd because you can buy a Jeter signed baseball on EBay for cheaper.

I made a post about this long ago, the signings have truly gotten out of hand. I'm a big Yankees fan and a long time Jeter supporter. One of the premier hitters in the games history. For $2000 I could get single signed baseballs from Williams, DiMaggio, Mantle and Mays and still have money to spend.

These former players are charging too much. Legends of the game used to be accessible. Hell DiMaggio was charging $100 back in the 90's and that was considered obscene, but he was "The Greatest Living Ballplayer." If you want the legends names to be carried on be the younger generation, you need to make sure that they are accessible to the younger generation.

The commoditization of our hobby is sad, and I hate it.

I think we're out of touch as to how much money kids have access to these days. For many of them, these prices are somehow accessible.

So true! Just walk the floor at a card show. Many young kids walking around with cases, packed with high dollar cards, and carrying more cash than I have.

I don't think Jeter has to stoop to new lows to maintain his lifestyle. I believe the problem is actually the opposite of this. Because Jeter made millions during his career, and has endorsements in the hundreds of millions for all the commercials he does, and whatever money he made while owning the Marlins, etc, etc....it's simply not worth his time to participate in a signing unless he's being paid ridiculously for it. Musial, Mantle, whoever else from the days when gas was 27 cents a gallon didn't make anywhere near the amount of money Jeter, or any other recent player, has made. Trent Grisham just accepted a $22M qualifying offer for Pete's sake! Add to that the pensions the players receive nowadays, which tallies more than the Golden Era HOFers made during their entire careers. These recent guys just aren't going to take the time out of their day to sign stuff for $15-20 a pop. That's the way the hobby/industry has been for many years now, and it's not looking likely to ever change.