I used to feel this way, and I wrote bout it after Kobe died using almost the exact same wording as you about autographs:
https://bigleaguebreaks.com/inside-t...-sports-cards/
After Aaron died, I got it, and wrote a little mea culpa:
https://bigleaguebreaks.com/inside-t...en-heroes-die/
It is a bizarre thing and I truly didn't get it until last week. Something about seeing my Aarons made me want to hang onto them. I didn't even see the guy play. It's a strange mentality.