Who are the tougher living Baseball HOFers?

[packs]

The secondary market shouldn't even enter the athlete's mind. If it does, that person is being greedy. They have enough money. I don't worry about what someone does with my soda can after I throw it away. I don't feel as though someone who needs the money and recycles my can instead of me is ripping me off. That mentality is lame.

[Bruinsfan94]

Originally Posted by packs

The secondary market shouldn't even enter the athlete's mind. If it does, that person is being greedy. They have enough money. I don't worry about what someone does with my soda can after I throw it away. I don't feel as though someone who needs the money and recycles my can instead of me is ripping me off. That mentality is lame.

Of course the secondary market plays into it. Why should a player waste his time signing autographs just so random guys who may or may not be fans sell it. Apples and Oranges.

[packs]

A player should waste his time signing autographs because they understand those people he's signing for enable them to live the life they are. No one steps onto a baseball field unless there are fans there to pay to see the game. There should be mutual respect between athlete and fan. If that relationship is entirely one sided, someone is being greedy.
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[Bruinsfan94]

And most will sign if you see them in public or at a game, at least the nice guys. Thats very different from going to a card show and sign 100's of items.

[packs]

Obviously. But you said any time you get an autograph from someone that's you trying to make a profit off someone and getting something for free. Your outlook on the athlete and their relationship to fans is skewed. They've made their entire livelihood off people like me. If I'm a bum, so are they. Athletes should sign when they want to sign, not sign when they don't want to sign, but what happens to the autograph after shouldn't factor into anything.

[Bruinsfan94]

Originally Posted by packs

Obviously. But you said any time you get an autograph from someone that's you trying to make a profit off someone and getting something for free. Your outlook on the athlete and their relationship to fans is skewed. They've made their entire livelihood off people like me. If I'm a bum, so are they. Athletes should sign when they want to sign, not sign when they don't want to sign, but what happens to the autograph after shouldn't factor into anything.

I never once said that. I said that if you get something for free then sell it for profit that is taking advantage of someone. What do you want? Athletes to sign items for every fan whos ever bought a ticket or watched a game? If I am an athlete, what makes me more likely and happy to sign, Some kid who has a 2014 topps card and it will become the an awesome memento or some random guy with a $200 bat? Most fans only go to a few games a year, if that or watch on tv. These players should sign when asked, but they have no obligation to sign so that others can make a living off it. Autographs are supposed to connect the fans and the players. Thats why players don't like signing. They see see how much they sell for. The autograph hound/dealer is not the guys they owe anything to.

[packs]

I want an athlete to sign when he is able to at the game. I'd also like for athletes to set reasonable prices for their show appearances so they can attract fans from different spectrums and walks of life. I want athletes to stop caring about what I make or where my money comes from, because they have their own. I don't want to hear one word about my theoretical profits from a person in the top 1 percent.

[homerunhitter]

Any updates to this thread?

[Wrightfan85]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

Any updates to this thread?

Piazza is high on top of the list for sure. He splits time between the US and Italy now. He does 1 signing per year tops now it seems.

I do not want to publicly reveal how much I paid for my Mike HOF plaque lol. Did not expect it to go as high as it did.

[mrmopar]

Sometimes it's both the joy and sorrow of getting specific items signed. If you have to have that certain rookie card, a framed multiplayer print or a HOF plaque signed to name a few of many possibilities, then you need to be prepared to hunt one down or get it signed yourself.

Using Piazza as an example, I won't claim to know the market on his autograph too well, but his first pack issued autograph that I am aware of (96 SPX Commemorative) can usually be found for $100 or less. I have seen at least a pair or more newer pack issued autographs sell for maybe half that.

[Wrightfan85]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

Sometimes it's both the joy and sorrow of getting specific items signed. If you have to have that certain rookie card, a framed multiplayer print or a HOF plaque signed to name a few of many possibilities, then you need to be prepared to hunt one down or get it signed yourself.

Using Piazza as an example, I won't claim to know the market on his autograph too well, but his first pack issued autograph that I am aware of (96 SPX Commemorative) can usually be found for $100 or less. I have seen at least a pair or more newer pack issued autographs sell for maybe half that.

Totally agree. The item really makes a difference.

[sreader3]

FWIW, here is a non-exhaustive list of living HOF guys who haven’t signed much (if at all) through the mail in the last five years:

Aaron
Alomar
Aparicio
Bagwell
Biggio
Brett
Brock
Carew
Eckersley (very spotty)
Gibson
Glavine
Griffey Jr.
Guerrero
Henderson
Hoffman
Jackson
Jeter
Johnson
Jones
Koufax
Larkin
Maddux
E. Martinez
P. Martinez
Mazeroski (only signs for Pittsburgh locals)
Mays
Morgan
Morris
Murray
Perez
Piazza
Raines
Ripken
Rivera
Schmidt
Seaver
Simmons
O. Smith
Smoltz
Sutter
Thomas
Thome
Trammell
Winfield (very spotty)
Yaztrzemski
Yount

Many other guys will sign TTM (or through their websites) for set fees.