Modern player signature prices: Time to check out?

Sladge34 · #1 05-01-2018, 06:02 PM

Griffey

Mr. Zipper · #2 05-01-2018, 07:20 PM

I think we can all agree that you can find occasional deals on most autographs. I have a box full of Jeter and Rivera signed items I�ve obtained for far below Steiners standard prices.

The point is that the typical retail prices for these players are out of control. If you wanted to add them to a specific item or multi signed item through a private or show signing, may God have mercy on you.

seanofjapan · #3 05-01-2018, 08:57 PM

I haven't collected autographs seriously since the early 90s, I had no idea the prices charged by contemporary players had gotten so ridiculous. Though I guess given how ridiculous their salaries have also become its not surprising.

Its kind of sad. Back in the day when I was a kid/teenager my family used to make the trip down to Cooperstown for the induction ceremony each year (we lived just a couple hours drive away). I spent most of my time on those weekends going from card store to store paying $5-$10 to meet and get the autographs of all the hall of famers who were set up there, it was such an awesome time - with most players they didn't just sign but would also pose for photographs, answer questions, etc.

The last time I did that was 1992 (we moved away in 1993 and could no longer make the trip).

Not sure how it is now but I guess with the HOF increasingly being stocked with massively wealthy guys who don't need to do that sort of thing for the fans, and the "poorer" players from the pre free agency era getting older, the HOF weekend won't be as awesome as it used to be.

stewbacca · #4 05-01-2018, 09:32 PM

Ballplayers of today make too much money to sit at a card show for peanuts. I remember stories of Bob Feller paying for his vacations by signing at shows or stadiums along the route of his trip and he charged around $5. With the millions today�s stars make, how much will it take to get them to sign for an hour or two. I would have to think 10�s of thousands or more. They don�t need the money, so why do it. Pete Rose, he will probably be signing for $35 for the rest of his life in Vegas and other shows that will have him. I have always wondered why the older players don�t do more private signings for $5 to $10 bucks a pop. Or do local shows where they could chat with fans. I think they could make good money as well as reconnect with baseball fans.

Sladge34 · #5 05-02-2018, 08:52 AM

Mickey Mantle's 1963 Salary. In 1963, baseball player Mickey Mantle earned $100,000, at the time one of the top salaries in the league. This is equivalent to $810,934 in 2018 dollars, far less than today's top players who can make more than $30 million.

That was a top salary, imagine if you weren't a star. These guys sign as a retirement fund. Now a days, they don't need to do that.

I'm a huge Jeter fan... Can you blame him for having high price points? Obviously everywhere he goes, people know him. There's 325 million people in the u.s. alone. There's 7 billion people in the world. Startling numbers, and no, not everyone in the world wants a Jeter autograph. Let's just say 1-10 Americans want it, that's 3.25 million autographs he would have to sign... that's insane, imagine the time that would take. And that's just in America...

Now on to the 90's problem. I grew up going to card shows on a weekly basis. I was young, but still remember all the sleaziness that was going on. For example on here, the joe d hidden playboy autograph. Can you blame these guys for being dicks? How bout we turn it around and blame all the money sucking idiots who ruined it for the true collectors. Maybe instead of watching the guy open up the hidden playboy issue, someone should have punched him in the face and ripped up the playboy issue and gave it back to joe d, I'm sure he would have liked that... just saying

packs · #6 05-02-2018, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sladge34

Mickey Mantle's 1963 Salary. In 1963, baseball player Mickey Mantle earned $100,000, at the time one of the top salaries in the league. This is equivalent to $810,934 in 2018 dollars, far less than today's top players who can make more than $30 million.

That was a top salary, imagine if you weren't a star. These guys sign as a retirement fund. Now a days, they don't need to do that.

I'm a huge Jeter fan... Can you blame him for having high price points? Obviously everywhere he goes, people know him. There's 325 million people in the u.s. alone. There's 7 billion people in the world. Startling numbers, and no, not everyone in the world wants a Jeter autograph. Let's just say 1-10 Americans want it, that's 3.25 million autographs he would have to sign... that's insane, imagine the time that would take. And that's just in America...

Now on to the 90's problem. I grew up going to card shows on a weekly basis. I was young, but still remember all the sleaziness that was going on. For example on here, the joe d hidden playboy autograph. Can you blame these guys for being dicks? How bout we turn it around and blame all the money sucking idiots who ruined it for the true collectors. Maybe instead of watching the guy open up the hidden playboy issue, someone should have punched him in the face and ripped up the playboy issue and gave it back to joe d, I'm sure he would have liked that... just saying

Every time I hear about players from the past talking about salaries I can't help but laugh. You can't plug in a number from 1963, read that it's ONLY $810,000 and think that Mantle was getting gypped in any way at all. In 1963 the average annual income was $5,800 accord to People's History. So at $100,000, Mantle made 20 times the average person. He lived a very comfortable life and there is absolutely no reason to think he didn't get his due.

Case in point: in 1963 the average cost for a brand new house was $12,650 (again, according to People's History). In 2018, that amount of money equates to just over $100,000. However, a new home in 2018 is said to average $286,000 according to Home Advisor.

Point being: you can't buy a new home in 2018 with the money a new home cost in 1963.

Sladge34 · #7 05-02-2018, 10:38 AM

Packs, that's not really the point of my post... anyways mantle stopped playing baseball 30 years before he died... that's why he signed regularly later in life so he had an income... players making millions, can live comfortably AND invest millions on top of that... that's why prices are up, they don't need to sign for money. Yes the fans ultimately pay there salary, but tax payers pay for all state jobs, we don't see any of them going the extra mile to accommodate there job after there clocked off, what makes you think a player wants to do that in his free time? Times have changed, would you take an hour everyday of your life to do something you didn't want to do or have to do? Probably not, and you'd probably eventually get an attitude

Johnny630 · #8 05-02-2018, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sladge34

Mickey Mantle's 1963 Salary. In 1963, baseball player Mickey Mantle earned $100,000, at the time one of the top salaries in the league. This is equivalent to $810,934 in 2018 dollars, far less than today's top players who can make more than $30 million.

That was a top salary, imagine if you weren't a star. These guys sign as a retirement fund. Now a days, they don't need to do that.

I'm a huge Jeter fan... Can you blame him for having high price points? Obviously everywhere he goes, people know him. There's 325 million people in the u.s. alone. There's 7 billion people in the world. Startling numbers, and no, not everyone in the world wants a Jeter autograph. Let's just say 1-10 Americans want it, that's 3.25 million autographs he would have to sign... that's insane, imagine the time that would take. And that's just in America...

Now on to the 90's problem. I grew up going to card shows on a weekly basis. I was young, but still remember all the sleaziness that was going on. For example on here, the joe d hidden playboy autograph. Can you blame these guys for being dicks? How bout we turn it around and blame all the money sucking idiots who ruined it for the true collectors. Maybe instead of watching the guy open up the hidden playboy issue, someone should have punched him in the face and ripped up the playboy issue and gave it back to joe d, I'm sure he would have liked that... just saying

Right on Marc 100% percent

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