Is Derek Jeter's autograph worth $1,000?

[Michael B]

I had the opportunity to get him twice for free at a sporting goods convention. We knew the day before he was going to be there so off to Sports Authority to purchase store model gloves. At the signing, inside one of those fence batting cages, you could carry nothing. Went through the first time for the free 8x10 from the sponsor. They ran out of those so they started signing your convention id with no other option. My friend and I stuck our gloves under our arms inside our windbreakers. When I got to him I opened up my coat and asked if he would mind and he said no problem. That will probably be the only time I will ever get him.

As to the original question - Not in this lifetime. Not in any lifetime!! - Just my opinion.

[packs]

What Steiner has done to the Yankees is truly sad. Between 1996 and about 2000 my dad and I used to get to games early to catch the players coming in. Jeter was a lock. I must have gotten him ten times. Same with Spring Training. Ever since Steiner came around Jeter and the rest of the Yankees have been impossible.

[yanksfan09]

I have a few Jete sigs but none better than my first. I paid only $35 for it from a dealer early in his 1996 rookie season before he got real big. photo is a little blury, but dont feel like digging ball out right now....

[Lordstan]

I think these types of questions are really best answered as 4 questions.

1) Do I think, objectively, in comparison to the prices and values of other athletes, both past and present, that a Derek Jeter autograph at $1000 is a good, or even reasonable deal?

2) Would I buy a Derek Jeter autograph for $1000?

3) Will there be enough people willing to pay Steiner that amount to make it profitable?

4) Do I think Jeter autos will hold their value at that pricing?

My answers
1) No way. I base this on a few things. a) He is not the greatest player ever. b) He is not the greatest player that ever played for his team. 3) IMHO, He is not the greatest player in his generation. To me, he wasn't even the greatest player on the teams he played for, at the time he played (I would take Rivera, personally). He is a HOFer and will be elected most assuredly on the first ballot, but I don't think there is anyway he, or anyone else for that matter, will be ever be a unanimous selection, so that won't change his value. If Ruth, who has been dead for almost 70yrs is $3k for a cut/3x5, I just can't justify $1k for a guy who is only 40ish. For me, Jordan is an exception as he is absolutely in the argument for the greatest BB player of all time and possibly best sports athlete of all time.

2) No, with the rare exception of needing him to complete some multi signed piece. Even then, I would have a very difficult time doing it. In this instance, the same goes for Jordan. While I can see the value more, I would still have a very difficult time spending that much unless it was a multi-signed item, like those USA Olympic Dream Team posters

3) YES. There are plenty of wealthy or upper mid class people who would shell out a one time number like that for an item of their favorite player, either for themselves or as a Christmas gift. Certainly, Jeter is one of the popular players of his generation, so there are plenty of customers for these types of collectibles.

4) NO(Maybe). You can already buy a Jeter item, of almost any type, on ebay, with all the certs, for way less than what Steiner charges. I added maybe, because if Jeter were to pass away very young, and I hope he does not, then his stuff might hold these types of value. If he lives a long and happy life, which I sincerely hope he does, there will be a lot of people with Jeter stuff that will sell for a fraction of what they bought it for.

None of this in any way is meant as a bash on Jeter. He has been a great player worthy of HOF enshrinement without question.

[dapro]

Steiner really trying to milk it before he retires. I gout couple Steiner Jeter last year for $200 each.

[mcgwirecom]

No disrespect to Jeter, but if he played in Minnesota he'd be Paul Molitor....

[Lordstan]

Originally Posted by mcgwirecom

No disrespect to Jeter, but if he played in Minnesota he'd be Paul Molitor....

Randall,
Pretty close.

From Baseball Reference.com:

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Craig Biggio (823)
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* - Signifies Hall of Famer

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Paul Molitor (764) *
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* - Signifies Hall of Famer


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22. Joe Sewell (969) * 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
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30. Alan Trammell (877) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
31. Roberto Alomar (877) * 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
32. Roberto Alomar (884) * 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
33. Roberto Alomar (883) * 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
34. Roberto Alomar (868) * 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
35. Roberto Alomar (869) * 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
36. Craig Biggio (786) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
37. Craig Biggio (778) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
38. Craig Biggio (818) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
* - Signifies Hall of Famer

[Nyygameused]

Originally Posted by mcgwirecom

No disrespect to Jeter, but if he played in Minnesota he'd be Paul Molitor....

While I never saw paul monitor play, jeter always amazed me. 3000th hr, final all star game 2-2, "the dive" vs the redsocks, "the flip" vs the a's. Oh yeah and mr. November, no disrespect to anyone who hasn't seen jeter play everyday over the past 20 years. But these are highlights you all have seen, us fortunate enough to see him play on a near everyday basis know mr. Jeter is and never will be "overrated."

[shelly]

Originally Posted by Nyygameused

While I never saw paul monitor play, jeter always amazed me. 3000th hr, final all star game 2-2, "the dive" vs the redsocks, "the flip" vs the a's. Oh yeah and mr. November, no disrespect to anyone who hasn't seen jeter play everyday over the past 20 years. But these are highlights you all have seen, us fortunate enough to see him play on a near everyday basis know mr. Jeter is and never will be "overrated."

Cal Ripken $1000? Mickey $1000 Ted Willaims$1000 Wille Mays $1000 Hank AAron $1000 Tony Gwynn $1000 Dimaggio $1000 and lets not for the man with ten rings. Yogi $1000
Ripken hit a hr in his last all star game. Willams hit a hr last time at bat. He played won five rings in twenty years much less than most of the famous Yankee players

1. Yogi Berra 1946-1965 10 Yankees: 1947, 1949-1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962
2. Joe DiMaggio 1936-1951 9 Yankees: 1936-1939, 1941, 1947, 1949-1951
3. Bill Dickey 1928-1946 8 Yankees: 1928, 1932, 1936-1939, 1941, 1943
3. Phil Rizzuto 1941-1956 8 Yankees: 1941, 1947, 1949-1953, 1956
3. Frankie Crosetti 1932-1948 8 Yankees: 1932, 1936-1939, 1941, 1943, 1947
3. Lou Gehrig 1923-1939 8 Yankees: 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932, 1936-1939
7. Hank Bauer 1948-1961 7 Yankees: 1949-1953, 1956, 1958
7. Mickey Mantle 1951-1968 7 Yankees: 1951-1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962
7. Babe Ruth 1914-1935 7 Red Sox: 1915, 1916, 1918; Yankees: 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932
7. Johnny Murphy 1932-1947 7 Yankees: 1932, 1936-1939, 1941, 1943
7. Tommy Henrich 1937-1950 7 Yankees: 1937-1939, 1941, 1947, 1949, 1950
7. Herb Pennock 1912-1934 7 Philadelphia A’s: 1913; Red Sox: 1915, 1916; Yankees: 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932
13. Whitey Ford 1950-1967 6 Yankees: 1950, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962
13. Vic Raschi 1946-1955 6 Yankees: 1947, 1949-1953
13. Allie Reynolds 1942-1954 6 Yankees: 1947, 1949-1953
13. Red Ruffing 1924-1947 6 Yankees: 1932, 1936-1939, 1941
13. Joe Collins 1948-1957 6 Yankees: 1949-1953, 1956
13. Lefty Gomez 1930-1943 6 Yankees: 1932, 1936-1939, 1941
13. Jerry Coleman 1949-1957 6 Yankees: 1949-1953, 1956
13. Eddie Collins 1906-1930 6 Philadelphia A’s: 1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, 1930; White Sox: 1917
13. Spud Chandler 1937-1947 6 Y
I am not say in was not a great player but.
Jetter $1000

[Nyygameused]

You do realize none of these players have played for almost 50 years? Jeter is a modern yankee legend. Not Many others except mo

[Lordstan]

Originally Posted by Nyygameused

While I never saw paul monitor play, jeter always amazed me. 3000th hr, final all star game 2-2, "the dive" vs the redsocks, "the flip" vs the a's. Oh yeah and mr. November, no disrespect to anyone who hasn't seen jeter play everyday over the past 20 years. But these are highlights you all have seen, us fortunate enough to see him play on a near everyday basis know mr. Jeter is and never will be "overrated."

I didn't post the above to have this turn into a debate between those who think Jeter is the greatest thing since sliced bread and those who don't. Jeter is/was a great player. There are many great players. The thing that is unfortunate is that depending where you are and who you get to see play routinely, it is very easy to have a higher opinion of those you saw vs those you didn't.
I look at a guy like Tony Gwynn, RIP. He played in SD his whole career and got virtually no media exposure. I am sure that many of younger Yankee fans would immediately say that Jeter was better, but when you look at the numbers, they are a pretty close comparison. Gwynn is ahead of Jeter in many categories, including BA, SLG% (despite hitting 100 less HR), OPS, OPS+, AS game appearances, MVPs won, Sliver Slugger awards, and has struck out only 430 times to Jeter's 1800, among others. Jeter is ahead of Gywnn in hits, runs, HR, RBI, walks, TB, and WS championships, among others. The biggest difference is that Jeter had a much better team surrounding him, that helped him play in the post season waaay more than Gwynn. Jeter played in 158 post season games to Gwynn's 27. Jeter batted 321 lifetime in the WS. Gwynn batted 371 lifetime in the WS. Additionally, both were considered really nice guys, who were fan friendly, for the most part. Neither had any scandals or misbehaving.
Is it really fair to say one is definitely better than the other? I think you could make a pretty good case for either. I am also sure that there are other players that, if you looked, you would find similar comparisons.

[Nyygameused]

Mark, Gwynn to me hands down better hitter. Intangibles, and or all around play goes to jeter. We're splitting hairs here, bottom line I think we all feel Steiner charges way too much for his auto.