This sums it up about Jeter and 3000

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

If you really think the modern ballplayer has to stop and sign every piece of paper that is shoved in front of him on the street, or in a restaurant while he is eating with his family, then you understand little about the perils of modern celebrity.

Oooh... the perils of modern celebrity. Actually having to give something back to the people who make your absurd lifestyle possible.

Poor, poor, Derek. He can't walk down a street without being asked for an autograph. It's so much easier to sit down at the Stadium, sign some photos and balls for an hour, and collect the check from Steiner.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Oooh... the perils of modern celebrity. Actually having to give something back to the people who make your absurd lifestyle possible.

Poor, poor, Derek. He can't walk down a street without being asked for an autograph. It's so much easier to sit down at the Stadium, sign some photos and balls for an hour, and collect the check from Steiner.

Can you name a single baseball player who gives more back to the community than Derek Jeter? The closest I am aware of is Cal Ripken, but he's retired now.

Signing for Steiner is only a portion of his business model. Signing for fans for free is customary for him. The "absurd lifestyle" is not without it's drawbacks. You understand that, right? You may choose to look down upon celebrities, and assume they have it easier than you, but I accept the fact that they are human beings who get stalked and threatened kind of all the time.

[T206Collector]

Before Steiner, athletes saw all of their signed items turning up for sale in hobby stores and eBay. Dealers and other businesses made huge dollars and the athletes got zilch. You may think their salaries make it so they shouldn't care about that, but that's pretty naive. If Hans Lobert could've monetized his signature before becoming basically bankrupt at the end of his life, don't you think that would have been nice? Are we drawing the line at Jeter because he's a millionaire many times over? What about Ramiro Pena? Is it okay for him to make a little extra money on his signature because his cup of coffee may be over at any minute?

Isn't it ridiculous to think Vincent Van Gogh died penniless, but now his paintings are priceless?

Jeter deserves every cent he can get, and if you want to demonize him for taking a dollar away from the small-time dealer, or turning down the occasional autograph, so be it.

[packs]

nevermind

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by packs

At one time there was probably close to a million Babe Ruth signed items. I don't think he ever thought to ask for a penny and the man grew up with nothing.

Yeah. As I said before, the man did nothing but leak. I guess he just had a different "business model."

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Yeah. As I said before, the man did nothing but leak. I guess he just had a different "business model."

Nobody was making money off of his items at the time and leaving him without anything. Autographs weren't a business back then. I am sorry you do not seem to appreciate that it is today, or the positive impact thatbthe modern business has on your historic crap, which I choose not to go find on my own.

[David Atkatz]

I understand that selling your own autograph to kids is a business. I understand it just fine. But you're right. I don't appreciate it.

[packs]

I think where we disagree is in our point of view towards autographs. You see them purely as a business. I do not. I see them as a natural part of the game in most scenarios. If you go to a show where a player is charging money, that is an entirely different situation than going to the ballpark or spring training to get a few autographs. I don't think asking a player for his autograph has anything to do with business or mooching from a rich person for most of the people asking. I expect a player to stop and sign for fans. Whether or not he signs for me specifically.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by packs

At one time there was probably close to a million Babe Ruth signed items. I don't think he ever thought to ask for a penny and the man grew up with nothing.

To me, that is a damn shame.

[David Atkatz]

Yeah. A real shame. But ya know what? He died beloved. And rich, too.