Koufax�s prices are even higher from a year ago

packs · #1 01-16-2025, 01:57 PM

They're always unhappy but it's sometimes hard to understand why. Wemby is in a position to help his family and I like to think he does. Here is a child who experiences good fortune but what does Wemby know about their home life? It's easy to criticize but his gesture may have made it possible for the child to do something incredible for their own family.

Brent G. · #2 01-16-2025, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by packs

They're always unhappy but it's sometimes hard to understand why. Wemby is in a position to help his family and I like to think he does. Here is a child who experiences good fortune but what does Wemby know about their home life? It's easy to criticize but his gesture may have made it possible for the child to do something incredible for their own family.

Or the dad is just pocketing the money and the kid's just a pawn.

packs · #3 01-16-2025, 02:28 PM

Or not. That's my point.

Exhibitman · #4 01-21-2025, 10:31 PM

Or maybe we who buy and sell these items obsessively stop judging what others do? How am I going to tell some kid not to sell a Wemby jersey that might net him a college tuition?

This all reflects who we are as a society and as a subculture of collectors. The idealized innocent experience of meeting a hero and getting a valueless autograph as a memento is a fantasy that hasn't really existed for decades (except maybe in children's cancer wards), ever since the card collecting and memorabilia boom began in earnest. We are to blame, of course, for creating, enjoying, profiting from, and evangelizing collecting. It's capitalism, baby: we cannot expect to create a huge market for these items and then tut-tut anyone else for figuring out how to cash in using methods we never even considered. I'm just sorry I didn't get the idea first.

But I digress...

I don't see the appeal, except financial, of getting a Koufax auto at those prices. Now, that said, I could see getting a rare or significant card signed, like this one:

Card is tough as hell; can't think there are too many signed ones.

Topnotchsy · #5 01-21-2025, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Or maybe we who buy and sell these items obsessively stop judging what others do? How am I going to tell some kid not to sell a Wemby jersey that might net him a college tuition?

This all reflects who we are as a society and as a subculture of collectors. The idealized innocent experience of meeting a hero and getting a valueless autograph as a memento is a fantasy that hasn't really existed for decades (except maybe in children's cancer wards), ever since the card collecting and memorabilia boom began in earnest. We are to blame, of course, for creating, enjoying, profiting from, and evangelizing collecting. It's capitalism, baby: we cannot expect to create a huge market for these items and then tut-tut anyone else for figuring out how to cash in using methods we never even considered. I'm just sorry I didn't get the idea first.

I largely agree. I don't know if the Dad had a bigger plan, but it could definitely be that he's a fan who wanted the jersey experience for his kid, and then when it actually happened, he stopped and realized he could pay off his credit card debt, or school debt or mortgage or pay for his kids braces and summer campe etc or whatever.

The freedom to get valuable items like that and not be in a place where the responsible thing to do is sell the item is a blessing. (Of course, the Dad might have had the whole thing planned and my rose-colored glasses might be being overly favorable, but I'll lean in this direction faster than assuming the worst when there is another explanation.)

scooter729 · #6 01-22-2025, 06:03 AM

I actually went through something similar a year or so ago, albeit on a smaller scale.

My then 7 year old daughter loves Squishmallow stuffed animals, which are a popular toy for kids right now. They even came out with trading cards for the Squishmallows, so naturally I had to buy her a box of them (which was $30 or so).

In that box of cards, she popped the rarest chase card, which could be traded in for a special Squishmallow, of which only 250 were made. She was so excited for her luck, and we redeemed our card.

Lo and behold, the special Squishmallow was selling for over $1,000. Had she kept it, it would've just gone on her bed, like any other stuffed animal. So we made a deal that she could pick out two new Squishmallows from the toy store (which sell for $25 or so each), and we would sell the special one, and put the money in a bank account for her. She was thrilled, and got a nice jump start on a bank account.

So, does it seem bad that I was selling a toy that my 7 year old daughter won? On the surface, maybe - but after hearing why, maybe you'll think differently....

packs · #7 01-22-2025, 08:42 AM

I feel like there is traditionally no shame in catching a milestone home run ball and keeping it to sell. For some reason, emotions tend to change if there is a more personal transfer of an object to a fan, but I don't see why the principles are different.

Balticfox · #8 01-22-2025, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scooter729

In that box of cards, she popped the rarest chase card, which could be traded in for a special Squishmallow, of which only 250 were made. She was so excited for her luck, and we redeemed our card.

Lo and behold, the special Squishmallow was selling for over $1,000. Had she kept it, it would've just gone on her bed, like any other stuffed animal. So we made a deal that she could pick out two new Squishmallows from the toy store (which sell for $25 or so each), and we would sell the special one, and put the money in a bank account for her. She was thrilled, and got a nice jump start on a bank account.

So, does it seem bad that I was selling a toy that my 7 year old daughter won? On the surface, maybe - but after hearing why, maybe you'll think differently....

What you did makes all the sense in the world to me. Your daughter would have just mauled a collector's item. So now she's got two plush toys instead of one.

jethrod3 · #9 01-22-2025, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

The idealized innocent experience of meeting a hero and getting a valueless autograph as a memento is a fantasy that hasn't really existed for decades (except maybe in children's cancer wards), ever since the card collecting and memorabilia boom began in earnest.

Well said in your previous posts. With the exception of certain circumstances I agree with pretty much everything you said.

Nearly up until their deaths, you had folks like Feller and Erskine signing for free or for a fairly small amount at shows that was usually donated completely to charity. And though not the same as getting a signature in person, you could pick up a signed HOF card and many other items from the Feller Museum just a few years before his death essentially for the price of the items themselves. Carl certainly signed through the mail for free. And there probably are many old ballplayers that still do. At least one HOF basketball player has signed and I believe still signs for free when you send an item and SASE to their former teams. Sending a nice letter and getting an actual response to that letter is a nice experience that I'd take if I could not meet a player. Again, I agree with pretty much what you've expressed, but I guess my point is that you can still meet your heroes and get valueless (or maybe near valueless---because hey, just about any auto may have some value to others) autographs---it just may be a little harder or different to come by them!

rlevy · #10 01-22-2025, 06:54 PM

I had this 1963 World Series Game 4 (Dodgers sweep the Yankees) Line-up card signed by Sandy during one of these signings last year. Autograph looks great to me. Thankfully I had 3 other line-up cards from significant Koufax games signed a number of years ago when prices were cheaper, and was glad to add this one to my collection. Did the signing increase the value of the item by the amount I paid for the autograph? Don't know, and don't care.

Rick

dodgers signed by Koufax reduced by 50 and 50.jpg

Hankphenom · #11 01-22-2025, 07:14 PM

By coincidence, I was just watching a Pawn Stars episode from a few months ago where a guy had several nicely framed signed Koufax photo displays. After Grad OK'd them, Rick told the guy that Koufax autos were weak, and either offered him a couple hundred or maybe didn't even make an offer, I can't remember which, but he clearly didn't want them, and the guy took them home.

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