MLB Auctions

[Runscott]

Do any of you bid on these items? When I bid on an MLB Auction it is usually with the idea that I want the item for my personal collection and will not sell it for a while. I say this because I learned (finally) that modern game-used requires a different skill-set for selling and collecting than does vintage. Also, Seattle (and sometimes other teams) starts their auctions too high, so if you 'have' to have something, selling is generally at a loss.

I'm also not crazy about the MLB Auction format. Several times I've wanted ONE game-used item from a particular game, but had to bid on several to make sure I got one because all the auctions ended at the same time. For example, I wanted bunting from the 2017 Astros World Series games, so I put a last-second bid in on two just to make sure I could 'play' in the extended auction. No one else bid on either, so I got stuck with two. Ended up good, as two end-to-end fits my man-cave wall perfectly.

I guess it's similar to other auctions, but MLB frequently has starting bids that are right at the going value, or a touch above, so if you want to play, you are taking a chance. Sometimes it works out well, as other bidders might not want to take a chance at buying multiple examples, so they only bid on one. The problem with that strategy is that guys like me who get outbid on several examples, end up having to go way high on the last available item.

Just a few thoughts after successfully procuring a Felix Hernandez 'last game' ball pretty cheap and watching others battle it out for remaining examples.

Steve - it's a keeper. Feel free to make me stay honest