As to the concept of ballplayers selling their stuff, this is a new world we live in. When something was worth 100$ it was easy to make the decision to donate it to a museum or keep it in the closet. Now collectively these things are worth in many cases hundreds of thousands and in rare cases millions. Family members in most situations would prefer to have the money and to forgoe the headache of selling the stuff themselves after they have chosen the momentos that truly mean something to them.
I believe the previous use of the term "pawn" is unfair and a bit ugly. Selling these things in a higly publicized auction that they know and trust because others in their circle have utilized us, there is nothing wrong with that. What are they supposed to do? Give it away to people who may eventually sell it themselves in not as calculated and dignified a manner? Have family members fight over this when there is no King Solomon to threaten to cut the baby in half. Money can be divided equitably and easily. Or should they donate it to a museum where a vast majority of the time it will end up in the basement only to be enjoyed by the archivists who already have plenty to look at. Be aware I am a firm believer that museum donation has its place having donated to several including Cooperstown multiple times. But it has to be the right situation, this is not a carte blanche move. Some things simply belong in certain places. The majority does not. And what would you do. Would you give away your children and grandchildren's legacy for a tax deduction that might not work financially. Many of the old time ballplayers don't have an unending supply of money to prepare their families for when they are gone. But in the end regardles of the situation it is their's to do to do with what they feel is right, regardless of the decision. It is simply their's, they earned it, sweated for it, and shame on those that deride them at a time when many of the biggest celebrities and regular Joe's have sold their excess memorabilia. Even the Pope is supposedly auctioning off gifts that normally just go to storage and giving the money to charity versus going into another Raiders of the Lost Ark warehouse stuffed with crates that go on forever. Our politicians should be doing the same. Regardless of my politics I would love to have an ugly samovar presented to President Obama by the President of Turkey (do they have a President?). And besides we're all in this hobby here. We love this stuff for whatever dysfunction and isn't it great that we get to enjoy it in the privacy of our own homes. And when we are done with it we shuttle it to the next collector who can enjoy it far after we are gone, the player is gone, and Leon Luckey's son is running net54.
Sincerely
Joshua Leland Evans
Cchairman
Lelands.com
P.S. My auction closes Friday where we we will be pawning off some great stuff that we are infinitely proud of.
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01-14-2015, 01:54 PM
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