Show prices
This thread proves why prices have gone up. Because people are willing to pay it. It has very little to do with what a player is charging, unless he is a recent HOFer or a current player. The promoter is always the one setting the fee unless the player is doing the signing on his own and paid for his booth.
Back in the 80's and 90's if a player like Mantle or DiMaggio was charging 50k, the promoter would divide that by the number of signatures the player could / would sign (say 1000) and that was your fee ($50).
Nowadays the promoter thinks what will 200 rubes pay for player X and how can I maximize my profits. Say the player charges 10k to do the signing and the promoter can get 200 people to pay $59 per autograph, then they are already ahead. Now the promoter will still get his 800-1000 signatures out of the player meaning the promoter can wholesale the rest and make even more profit or wholesale some and keep another 300 items to sell himself. Either way he is making great money because those 200 people paid the whole bill.
I am rounding numbers, but that is the game. If more people knew it, they would not pay those prices and the autograph hobby would be better off.
Bottom line is back in the day the promoter was hoping to break even on the appearance fee or make a little or get a little bit signed for resale. Now, it's rape and pillage time.
This doesn't go for all promoters, but the prices at the national and most big shows it does. Wake up and smell the coffee!
PS: many players will still show up for a very small fee and a first class ticket
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