Its a matter of timing. Bill Russell didnt sign a single autograph, even for teammates for decades, shunned the autograph world, suddenly decides he wants the money, and signs one big deal, now he does card shows. Mike Marshall same can be said.
Mantle told my father and I he would NOT sign bats. said 'I have stopped signing bats' He signed bats last at the 500 hr show in atlantic city. He did NOT sign bats from late 1989-early 1993. He was annoyed at me because we gave Dimaggio triple the amount of money per year we gave him, so he signed a new deal with UDA as soon as his deal with me expired, and out of spite decided to sign bats for them as part of their deal.
It is normally about money in some manner. Either they want an incredilble price to do so, or they have put bats away for their kids and want them to be worth a lot when they die, or they signed an agreement excluding them from doing so for a certain period of time.
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