NonSports Forum

Net54baseball.com
Welcome to Net54baseball.com. These forums are devoted to both Pre- and Post- war baseball cards and vintage memorabilia, as well as other sports. There is a separate section for Buying, Selling and Trading - the B/S/T area!! If you write anything concerning a person or company your full name needs to be in your post or obtainable from it. . Contact the moderator at leon@net54baseball.com should you have any questions or concerns. When you click on links to eBay on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. Enjoy!
Net54baseball.com
Net54baseball.com
T206s on eBay
Babe Ruth Cards on eBay
t206 Ty Cobb on eBay
Ty Cobb Cards on eBay
Lou Gehrig Cards on eBay
Baseball T201-T217 on eBay
Baseball E90-E107 on eBay
T205 Cards on eBay
Baseball Postcards on eBay
Goudey Cards on eBay
Baseball Memorabilia on eBay
Baseball Exhibit Cards on eBay
Baseball Strip Cards on eBay
Baseball Baking Cards on eBay
Sporting News Cards on eBay
Play Ball Cards on eBay
Joe DiMaggio Cards on eBay
Mickey Mantle Cards on eBay
Bowman 1951-1955 on eBay
Football Cards on eBay

Go Back   Net54baseball.com Forums > Net54baseball Main Forum - WWII & Older Baseball Cards > Net54baseball Sports (Primarily) Vintage Memorabilia Forum incl. Game Used > Autograph Forum- Primarily Sports

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-26-2018, 09:02 AM
JustinD's Avatar
JustinD JustinD is offline
Ju$tin D@v3n.por+
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Birmingham, Mi
Posts: 2,609
Default Is it worth it?

Just wanted to voice an internal debate I have had for years and just listen to different viewpoints. With the National coming up, it has again resurfaced in my mind as I look at some of the costs for flats and do a double take.

If I can easily get an auto that is to my liking (meaning no risk of getting a smear or bad sig on the fly), and already encapsulated and ready to roll for, in many cases, far, far less than paying for a flat and encapsulation myself...is it worth it to you to get the couple seconds of a "Hi, how are you?"

Sometimes I have had a great experience with a signing (granted, nowadays I don't do that many), I romanticize the mall signings of my youth that were either free or if someone great showed up, maybe 5 or 10 bucks.

So, the question is...are you still entrenched in spending well into the hundreds for standing in the line for those seconds or have you turned into what I have? Which is someone who let's someone else do it and I feel like they must always be taking a huge loss on the investment.

I just want to hear some thoughts because I am open.
__________________
- Justin D.


Player collecting - Lance Parrish, Jim Davenport, John Norlander.

Successful B/S/T with - Highstep74, Northviewcats, pencil1974, T2069bk, tjenkins, wilkiebaby11, baez578, Bocabirdman, maddux31, Leon, Just-Collect, bigfish, quinnsryche...and a whole bunch more, I stopped keeping track, lol.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-26-2018, 10:03 AM
earlywynnfan's Avatar
earlywynnfan earlywynnfan is offline
Ke.n Su.lik
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,230
Default

Personally, there is nobody I would stand in a huge line for anymore and pay quadruple the resale value, except one or two people who I "idolized" as a kid. (Kent Tekulve, maybe.) but 100+ just to say I got Frank Robinson who I can get on eBay for 30? No thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-26-2018, 10:08 AM
Johnny630 Johnny630 is offline
Johnny MaZilli
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,145
Default

Spending your hard hearned money on crazy in person autograph fees is never a investment. They make their money from fans who are emotionally attached to said player or moment. Best investment advice I can give you on said issue is to walk way.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-26-2018, 10:23 AM
shelly shelly is offline
Shelly Jaf.fe
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 2,248
Default

It was fun when you Paid Mantle $50 and he would put in no7. Now to pay someone $200 to put down MVP is outrages.
Find the ball you like on Ebay and forget about waiting in line to spend a fortune on someone who might not even look up.:m ad:
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-26-2018, 10:43 AM
bnorth's Avatar
bnorth bnorth is offline
Ben North
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 9,787
Default

I am having the same thoughts. I have a 1981 minor league SGA Pawtucket bat I would love to get Wade Boggs to sign. Same problem as has been said already. I can buy a store model bat already signed for half of what it would cost to have him sign my bat at the National.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-26-2018, 11:08 AM
Lordstan's Avatar
Lordstan Lordstan is offline
M@rk V3l@rd3
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Allentown, PA
Posts: 3,754
Default

IMO, The values in signings today fall into one of 2 categories.
1) It's worth paying it if you have a specific item that is important to you.
As an example, I paid $325 for Aaron to sign this program a few years ago to complete it. Personally, I think $325 is crazy for Aaron, but it was the last one I needed on it.



2)The second scenario I see is for people who need some something signed to complete a set(like cards). Sure, you might find one much cheaper on ebay, but the less common the set the less likely you'll find it. Same applies for say a ball with a specific inscription that is off the beaten path.

If it's not something you are likely to find elsewhere, It might be worth spending the money so you can enjoy it. I would never pay the prices for something generic.
__________________
My signed 1934 Goudey set(in progress).
https://flic.kr/s/aHsjFuyogy

Other interests/sets/collectibles.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/96571220@N08/albums

My for sale or trade photobucket album
https://flic.kr/s/aHsk7c1SRL

Last edited by Lordstan; 07-26-2018 at 11:11 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-26-2018, 11:09 AM
mr2686 mr2686 is offline
Mike Rich@rds0n
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ca
Posts: 3,169
Default

Mostly in agreement with everything already said. I collect HOF single balls (as well as other things) but I'm not going to pay an over the top amount for a player to sign a ball, when I can go on the secondary market and pay far less. This, however, does not help me when I need my HOF book signed or a lithograph or multi-signed bat...things I would never send in the mail and would only want to get in-person. If I knew then what I know now, my collecting focus would have started out differently.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-26-2018, 11:10 AM
mr2686 mr2686 is offline
Mike Rich@rds0n
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ca
Posts: 3,169
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lordstan View Post
IMO, The values in signings today fall into one of 2 categories.
1) It's worth paying it if you have a specific item that is important to you.
As an example, I paid $325 for Aaron to sign this program a few years ago to complete it. Personally, I think $325 is crazy for Aaron, but it was the last one I needed on it.



2)The second scenario I see is for people who need some something signed to complete a set(like cards). Sure, you might find one much cheaper on ebay, but the less common the set the less likely you'll find it. Same applies for say a ball with a specific inscription that is off the beaten path.

If it's not something you are likely to find elsewhere, It might be worth spending the money so you can enjoy it.
+1
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-26-2018, 11:43 AM
Michael B Michael B is offline
Mîçhæ£ ßöw£ß¥
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,828
Default

There is only one person at The National this year that I would consider paying to sign and that would be Oscar Robertson. If you want a signature of him other than 'Big O' you have to pay. I have two items that I would pay to have him sign as his signature is very nice - a 1960 Olympic gold medal ticket and a special postal cover issued by the Italian Olympic Committee. They issued covers for all of the gold medalists at the games. The Cassius Clay one shows up on ebay every so often. I have some of them signed so it would be nice to have him sign it. West and Lucas would be challenging, but the other living members of the team - Haldorson, Arnette, Imhoff and Smith are all pretty good TTM. If I just wanted a full name signature on anything I would buy a copy of his book on biblio or abe. I just picked up an early 1960's clip for $14.00
__________________
'Integrity is what you do when no one is looking'

"The man who can keep a secret may be wise, but he is not half as wise as the man with no secrets to keep”

Last edited by Michael B; 07-26-2018 at 11:44 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-26-2018, 12:56 PM
JustinD's Avatar
JustinD JustinD is offline
Ju$tin D@v3n.por+
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Birmingham, Mi
Posts: 2,609
Default

Well, I was thinking I would maybe be in the minority. I am wondering who all those people in line are?

I agree with the special items thoughts. Whereas I am at a point I just don't stand in line and pay up anymore, I do have one card I have been watching to get signed. If I was going to the National (I had to back out for health obligations) I would likely drag myself to the line for Dale Murphy. The reason being is that I still do not have a completed signed Lance Parrish rookie and I have always wanted to add one to my player collection. I do have one with the really hard Bo Diaz already out of the way and just need Murphy and Whitt. I guess I would knock one off that list if the line was decent, so I agree with those folks.
__________________
- Justin D.


Player collecting - Lance Parrish, Jim Davenport, John Norlander.

Successful B/S/T with - Highstep74, Northviewcats, pencil1974, T2069bk, tjenkins, wilkiebaby11, baez578, Bocabirdman, maddux31, Leon, Just-Collect, bigfish, quinnsryche...and a whole bunch more, I stopped keeping track, lol.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 07-26-2018, 01:11 PM
shelly shelly is offline
Shelly Jaf.fe
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 2,248
Default

I agree that there are times that you have a certain item to be signed. It is expensive but necessary'
Like I said in my above post. Don't spend money on baseballs or bats or items you can buy on the secondary market.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 07-26-2018, 04:52 PM
icollectDCsports's Avatar
icollectDCsports icollectDCsports is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 939
Default

To me, the issue isn't necessarily the cost of getting the signature, but the regret I may have at never meeting a particular player. For instance, I wish I'd taken advantage of the opportunities to get Mantle and Musial to sign at shows years ago. There aren't that many players in that category for me and I almost never go to signings anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 07-26-2018, 08:26 PM
mrmopar mrmopar is offline
Curt
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,576
Default

Look at any amusement park, theater, ballpark or any other place where people come for entertainment and you see the same thing. I marvel and the $$$ spent on things that seem entirely unnecessary. I tend to be a bit cheap in general, so I can't see spending ballpark prices on food and beer, for example, when I can eat before and/or after a game for a fraction of the price. I will sacrifice just for the principal of it. That is a trait my family doesn't care for when we are out doing things though, so sometimes I just have to loosen up and spend.

I guess money is only good for spending when it comes time to cash in the chips, so to speak though so why not enjoy. I guess as long as it is worth it and you aren't going to run out too soon, people will spend like there is no tomorrow.
__________________
Looking for: Unique Steve Garvey items, select Dodgers Postcards & Team Issue photos
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 07-26-2018, 09:33 PM
thenavarro thenavarro is offline
Mike Navarro
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: The Great State of Texas
Posts: 975
Default

If there is a piece I need signed like a multi-signed cast poster, stormtrooper helmet, cast photo, etc., I much prefer just to pay someone else to get the graph for me, even if I'm going to be at the same show doing other stuff. I have no desire to spend hours in line standing on concrete lugging crap around.

However, for a run of the mill cut, photo, ball, single signed piece etc, I'll just buy it already signed.

I enjoy the photo ops so much more than the signings these days anyway. Too much signed crap out there of most of these guys/gals that work the show, comic con circuit.
__________________
Mike Navarro
https://m.facebook.com/NavarrosNook
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 07-27-2018, 04:09 PM
ChiSoxTony's Avatar
ChiSoxTony ChiSoxTony is offline
Tony W.
Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Southern California
Posts: 244
Default

I I want a specific player to sign a specific or unique item or add very specific inscriptions, I might bite the bullet and pay to stand in line with full knowledge that I'm almost certainly not making an investment. If this is not the case and I just want a ball signed with a HOF inscription or something like that, I'm probably buying that off of eBay or similar, with certification, for a cheaper price.
__________________
____________________________________
PSA Nellie Fox Master Set, Chicago White Sox,
Armour Coins & Autographs
Reply With Quote
Reply



Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
What was it worth then ? And now Rookiemonster Autograph Forum- Primarily Sports 12 05-24-2016 07:30 PM
Is this really worth this much? HOF Auto Rookies Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions 7 08-29-2012 01:47 PM
Ok....I tried....what was it worth? Archive Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions 4 02-23-2009 04:49 AM
Was one worth the other Archive Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions 51 11-08-2008 02:07 PM
How much is this worth? Archive Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions 3 05-23-2005 01:59 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:41 AM.


ebay GSB