Greed

Brent G. · #1 Yesterday, 01:38 PM

There are a lot of terrible deals in the autograph trade these days, especially those 5x markups to sign rookie cards.

While this isn't Tom Brady-bad, the rates for an upcoming Derek Jeter signing are just laughable:

Derek Jeter Private Signing – January 2026
Courtesy of LMC and powered by MLB Auctions

This is your chance to get your item — or one of ours — signed by the Captain himself. MLB hologram included on all items.

Mail-In Pricing (Your Items)
• Ball / Flat up to 16x20: $685
• Tickets / Figures / Minis: $750
• Oversized Flat / Jersey / Helmet / Bat / Glove: $999
• Trading Card / Artwork: $1,100
• Game Used / Stadium Items: $2,000
• Inscriptions: $300

Memo to "The Captain," ... f--k off.

I feel sorry for any saps out there rolling over for this.

packs · #2 Yesterday, 01:58 PM

Pretty unusual to see trading cards at the highest tier of items.

I need Judge on my captains ball. I wish he'd do a signing. I'd pay whatever he wanted:

gonefishin · #3 Yesterday, 02:15 PM

I really don't like to see players, or other public figures, who were once very talented and the top tier in their industry fall from grace over money. I understand that while making the big bucks they probably led a very exclusive, and expensive, lifestyle that they need to maintain. So, because they have no other talent, skill, or education to either own or operate a successful business (or do so for a deep pocket individual), they prostitute themselves for money. Whether that be in some lame commercial (typically insurance or cell phones), charging large amounts for guest appearances, selling their autograph, etc., they have to find a venue to bring in that cash.

I really can't blame them, because we all do something to bring in money to support ourselves or our family.

The autograph prices are crazy. However, they will charge whatever the market will pay. In this case, not for me. If no one paid these prices I guarantee they would change the next time around. I'm sure Jeter will get paid handsomely and a percentage of the take. If not, he will be forced to make another commercial with the insurance man. I mean shouldn't he since he has to meet fans that idolize him?

Beercan collector · #4 Yesterday, 04:12 PM

You can get a baseball card signed by Derek Jeter or you could get about 30 different items that were signed by Stan Musial

BillyCoxDodgers3B · #5 Yesterday, 05:47 PM

Long-deceased HOFers you could buy for less than Jeter's base price of $685 include:

Foxx
Ott
Lajoie
Bender
Wallace
Klein
Pennock
Lazzeri

and countless others

Long-deceased HOFers you could buy for less than Jeter's Game Used price of $2000:

Ty Cobb
Honus Wagner
Cy Young
Mordecai Brown
Joe Tinker
Johnny Evers
Grover Cleveland Alexander
Charlie Comiskey
Roger Bresnahan
George Wright

and countless others.

Jackie Robinson is all the rage anymore. You can still get him for under $2000. Clemente, too.

Hmm...I wonder where my money would be going. I really do! There are endless wonderful possibilities. I do know with certainty where my money would not be going. Not paying $2K for three mushrooms and a Snoopy nose.

Seven · #6 Yesterday, 05:52 PM

It's absurd because you can buy a Jeter signed baseball on EBay for cheaper.

I made a post about this long ago, the signings have truly gotten out of hand. I'm a big Yankees fan and a long time Jeter supporter. One of the premier hitters in the games history. For $2000 I could get single signed baseballs from Williams, DiMaggio, Mantle and Mays and still have money to spend.

These former players are charging too much. Legends of the game used to be accessible. Hell DiMaggio was charging $100 back in the 90's and that was considered obscene, but he was "The Greatest Living Ballplayer." If you want the legends names to be carried on be the younger generation, you need to make sure that they are accessible to the younger generation.

The commoditization of our hobby is sad, and I hate it.

BillyCoxDodgers3B · #7 Yesterday, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seven

If you want the legends names to be carried on be the younger generation, you need to make sure that they are accessible to the younger generation.

I think we're out of touch as to how much money kids have access to these days. For many of them, these prices are somehow accessible.

SyrNy1960 · #8 Yesterday, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

I think we're out of touch as to how much money kids have access to these days. For many of them, these prices are somehow accessible.

So true! Just walk the floor at a card show. Many young kids walking around with cases, packed with high dollar cards, and carrying more cash than I have.

dgo71 · #9 Yesterday, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonefishin

I really don't like to see players, or other public figures, who were once very talented and the top tier in their industry fall from grace over money. I understand that while making the big bucks they probably led a very exclusive, and expensive, lifestyle that they need to maintain. So, because they have no other talent, skill, or education to either own or operate a successful business (or do so for a deep pocket individual), they prostitute themselves for money. Whether that be in some lame commercial (typically insurance or cell phones), charging large amounts for guest appearances, selling their autograph, etc., they have to find a venue to bring in that cash.

I don't think Jeter has to stoop to new lows to maintain his lifestyle. I believe the problem is actually the opposite of this. Because Jeter made millions during his career, and has endorsements in the hundreds of millions for all the commercials he does, and whatever money he made while owning the Marlins, etc, etc....it's simply not worth his time to participate in a signing unless he's being paid ridiculously for it. Musial, Mantle, whoever else from the days when gas was 27 cents a gallon didn't make anywhere near the amount of money Jeter, or any other recent player, has made. Trent Grisham just accepted a $22M qualifying offer for Pete's sake! Add to that the pensions the players receive nowadays, which tallies more than the Golden Era HOFers made during their entire careers. These recent guys just aren't going to take the time out of their day to sign stuff for $15-20 a pop. That's the way the hobby/industry has been for many years now, and it's not looking likely to ever change.

packs · #10 Today, 01:39 PM

Jeter almost certainly has representation too that will take a cut from something like this. I'm sure it's his team who sets the prices. I would be surprised if anyone asked Jeter what he'd like to charge. There is probably one overall number the promoter is given and then it's up to them to piece out what it'll take to make money on it.

David Atkatz · #11 Today, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by packs

Jeter almost certainly has representation too that will take a cut from something like this. I'm sure it's his team who sets the prices. I would be surprised if anyone asked Jeter what he'd like to charge. There is probably one overall number the promoter is given and then it's up to them to piece out what it'll take to make money on it.

Yeah, right. It's not Jeter's f*cking greed. It's his "team." You know, the one he himself put in place.

He showed his incredible greed and sense of entitlement when he accepted his 3000th hit baseball (easily a $500,000 auction item at the time) from a starstruck moron in return for a signed jersey, and not even a game-used one. He should have, at the very least, paid that kid's college tuition. But no. Jeter was only taking what he was entitled to.

F*ck him and the horse he rode in on.

gonefishin · #12 Today, 03:25 PM

It would be nice if successful athletes used the template set by Nolan Ryan. Yes, there are a tremendous amount of Nolan Ryan, Bob Feller, Stan Musial, etc. autographs in the marketplace for little money. However, I have never once heard anyone complain about the cost of their auto's!

I agree with David regarding Jeter. There is no way that he isn't very aware of what he is being paid, and consumers are being charged, for his autograph.

packs · #13 Today, 03:45 PM

I agree on Ryan. His foundation is great and they make the autograph process really easy. It's also cheap compared to the caliber of player. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has a similar process with his foundation.

I get the annoyance at the cost but at the same time if you really need Jeter, these signings are probably your only chance. At least the chance is there for Jeter and Brady if you're willing to pay. I don't think the opportunity will ever be there for Jordan.

I got this signed through Ryan's foundation:

Brent G. · #14 Today, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by packs

I agree on Ryan. His foundation is great and they make the autograph process really easy. It's also cheap compared to the caliber of player. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has a similar process with his foundation.

I get the annoyance at the cost but at the same time if you really need Jeter, these signings are probably your only chance. At least the chance is there for Jeter and Brady if you're willing to pay. I don't think the opportunity will ever be there for Jordan.

I got this signed through Ryan's foundation:

Yep, these days, it's hard to beat Nolan's deal for $75.

Hankphenom · #15 Today, 04:56 PM

I understand the frustration, but I'm not sure why it should be any more than over everything else that's so expensive these days. Why should anyone in any field work for less than they can get for their specialized services? I just hope that some of this enormous money floating around sports gets into foundations to fund recreation resources to keep kids occupied and out of trouble until they can find their way out of bad influences, neighborhoods, etc., and into being productive members of society. Call me a dreamer, but isn't that where a lot of these guys came from, why shouldn't they pay it forward? How much can their money buy that's much better than a good house in a nice area, a nice car, a top education for your kids, etc.? The basic formula for every price is the intersection of supply and demand, pure and simple. I'm more interested in what they do with it, but there's also nothing wrong with accumulating great wealth to invest in our capitalist system, the greatest wealth creator yet devised. As an aside, the OP mentioned rookie cards, I am surprised that the Jeter catalogue doesn't include some truly astronomical figure for his, like 5K or something, since it's become such a big deal in the hobby.

David Atkatz · #16 Today, 06:15 PM

Keep hoping, Hank.
Let me know when Jeter invests his money in helping anyone besides himself.

We're in the post-capitalism state now in which every single thing that was set up for the good of society as a whole--schools, hospitals, public health systems, public works, infrastructure (roads, bridges, sewer systems, water systems,..) is either failing, or on the verge of failing, with absolutely no money available for maintenance or replacement.

Why?

Because we've accepted the idea that a person is entitled to whatever he/she can get, and everyone else had better keep their filthy hands off.

How's that workin' out for us?

Beercan collector · #17 Today, 06:20 PM

Anyone paying these prices for Jeters autograph is a damn idiot and doing a disservice to the hobby

earlywynnfan · #18 Today, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Keep hoping, Hank.
Let me know when Jeter invests his money in helping anyone besides himself.

We're in the post-capitalism state now in which every single thing that was set up for the good of society as a whole--schools, hospitals, public health systems, public works, infrastructure (roads, bridges, sewer systems, water systems,..) is either failing, or on the verge of failing, with absolutely no money available for maintenance or replacement.

Why?

Because we've accepted the idea that a person is entitled to whatever he/she can get, and everyone else had better keep their filthy hands off.

How's that workin' out for us?

Read an unbelievable meme last week, so I had to do some math:
If you came over with Columbus and got a job paying you $10K every single day, and you're still at it...
Last week Jeff Bezos made more than you

Hankphenom · #19 Today, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earlywynnfan

Read an unbelievable meme last week, so I had to do some math: If you came over with Columbus and got a job paying you $10K every single day, and you're still at it...Last week Jeff Bezos made more than you

And he's earned every dollar of it: how many jobs created, how much taxes paid, how many other businesses supported, how many charities contributed to? If extreme wealth is a motivator for these mega-entrepreneurs, the last thing you want to do is squash that. Our standard of living depends on it.

Hankphenom · #20 Today, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Keep hoping, Hank.
Let me know when Jeter invests his money in helping anyone besides himself.
We're in the post-capitalism state now in which every single thing that was set up for the good of society as a whole--schools, hospitals, public health systems, public works, infrastructure (roads, bridges, sewer systems, water systems,..) is either failing, or on the verge of failing, with absolutely no money available for maintenance or replacement. Why? Because we've accepted the idea that a person is entitled to whatever he/she can get, and everyone else had better keep their filthy hands off. How's that workin' out for us?

We've had lousy management and skewed priorities in the use of our tax money in addition to undertaxation of the upper brackets, for sure, but you don't want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, and that's capitalism.

CardPadre · #21 Today, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

And he's earned every dollar of it: how many jobs created, how much taxes paid, how many other businesses supported, how many charities contributed to? If extreme wealth is a motivator for these mega-entrepreneurs, the last thing you want to do is squash that. Our standard of living depends on it.

As for Amazon, always looking to eliminate jobs in favor of automation. AI at Amazon is/will be taking jobs. Amazon �supported� many small businesses by tracking their best selling products and then making an �Amazon Basics� version of them to undercut those sellers and increase Amazon�s own profits. And for charities, you used to be able to designate a charity for Amazon to donate to based on a percentage of your purchases. But that has been eliminated so Amazon can increase profits.

But it must be nice to reside in whatever world you live in. Go Billionaires, hurrah!

ETA: I forgot to mention their Ireland tax haven where they avoid paying taxes to much of the world.

#thankyoubillionaires

Michael B · #22 Today, 10:28 PM

U.S. citizens in Ireland pay taxes to the I.R.S. not the Irish authority. Corporate taxes as much cheaper.

As for the meme about Bezos, it is way off. He makes roughly $7.9 million per hour which is $189,600,00.00 per day.

Someone who travelled with Columbus: 533 years ago x 365 + 131 (leap days at 25 per 100 years) x $10,000 = $1,946,760,000.00

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