The Great American Pursuit: A Study of Athlete Signing Fees 1970s-present

[GasHouseGang]

I was at a show in Kansas City in the 80's (National I think) and DiMaggio's signature was something like $300 and Mantle wasn't far behind at around $250. I walked by and looked at the stars signing, but there was no way I was going to A) Stand in that line which would take hours to get through and/or B) Pay that kind of money for a signature. I remember thinking I'd much rather spend my limited resources on the cards I needed.

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

I was at a show in Kansas City in the 80's (National I think) and DiMaggio's signature was something like $300 and Mantle wasn't far behind at around $250. I walked by and looked at the stars signing, but there was no way I was going to A) Stand in that line which would take hours to get through and/or B) Pay that kind of money for a signature. I remember thinking I'd much rather spend my limited resources on the cards I needed.

Wow... That seems crazy high... Especially for the 80s.

I recall them doing shows on Long Island in the 90s and the prices were much less than that.

[cjedmonton]

What started as an attempt to track athlete signing fees over the years has quickly morphed into a much more enjoyable read of 1st hand accounts of the early days of the sports show scene. Thanks to all who contributed.

On a personal note, I am becoming more and more resistant to spending this kind of money on autographs (as much as I'd love to continue with the HOF theme). I'm now leaning toward just enjoying what I have. Any enjoyment I may have with getting the added signatures would certainly be offset by the (gasp) thousands of dollars it would cost....wouldn't it?

[tazdmb]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

I was at a show in Kansas City in the 80's (National I think) and DiMaggio's signature was something like $300 and Mantle wasn't far behind at around $250. I walked by and looked at the stars signing, but there was no way I was going to A) Stand in that line which would take hours to get through and/or B) Pay that kind of money for a signature. I remember thinking I'd much rather spend my limited resources on the cards I needed.

I find this hard to believe. I remember Mantle at the National in 94 in Houston, he charged a whopping $80! (Unheard of at the time!), as he just signed with UD. He had by far the smallest lines of any HOF there. That was the last time I passed on a HOF just because of cost.

I also was at the Anaheim National with DiMaggio in 96 in Anaheim and his last show in AC in 1998 (it was the Yankees Great show, also Catfish Hunter's last public show) and both times he was $150.

[Duluth Eskimo]

I agree with the "hard to believe" statement. Mantle, Williams, and DiMaggio were generally $20-25 until the early 90's. I paid $50 for flats and $200 for ball at a east coast show for DiMaggio in about 91-92 and that was outrageous. Mantle was still lower. DiMaggio would not sign baseballs at the time unless he got more and everyone thought it was crazy. I figured it might be the last time I would have the opportunity to get one signed in person so I bit the bullet and still have that one for my collection.

[GasHouseGang]

OK, I'll take your word for it. My wife says I can't remember anything. I know they were both terribly expensive, but I have no proof of the prices. I do remember Chuck "The Rifleman" Connors trying to sell his autograph at a show I went to in the 80's. He had his own table, and was asking around $5 per autograph. No one was going to his table. I felt bad for him.

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

OK, I'll take your word for it. My wife says I can't remember anything. I know they were both terribly expensive, but I have no proof of the prices. I do remember Chuck "The Rifleman" Connors trying to sell his autograph at a show I went to in the 80's. He had his own table, and was asking around $5 per autograph. No one was going to his table. I felt bad for him.

Ironically, a nicely autographed Connors SP would be worth a few bucks today. Certainly much more than the common, show circuit HOFers.

[Exhibitman]

$25 for Aaron? Wow, I guess I forgot. My recollection was that Aaron's plane was delayed by weather and that he was cordial and courteous to the collectors when he finally arrived.

I recall a show in L.A. near the airport where the admission got you a random free signature from Jim Brown, Sandy Koufax or Muhammad Ali. I also recall another show down there where Ali was a free signing guest. That would have been around 1987. I also recall paying $12 for a Koufax in 1988 at a show. I know it was then because I got it for a co-worker at a summer job I had. Koufax signed my colleague's 1966 Topps card. I did not want anything signed but I did ask if I could shake hands with him and Koufax obliged. I guess that would cost me an extra $80 today...

In the summer of 1988 or 1989 I went to a show in S.F. at the Moscone Center and paid $6-$8 for Brock and Gibson, and $12 for Musial.

During the early 1990s I picked up signatures of Luke Appling, Billy Herman, Rick Ferrell, Lou Boudreau for well under $10 each at various shows. I think Boudreau was a freebie at a small show.

Connors I remember was a cheap signature at some show I attended in L.A. and I got one for some cousins who were big Hollywood autograph collectors. As I recall he was a really fun, 'big' personality. Again, did not get anything for myself. Many years later I overpaid for a signed exhibit card.

[mr2686]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

$25 for Aaron? Wow, I guess I forgot. My recollection was that Aaron's plane was delayed by weather and that he was cordial and courteous to the collectors when he finally arrived.

I recall a show in L.A. near the airport where the admission got you a random free signature from Jim Brown, Sandy Koufax or Muhammad Ali. I also recall another show down there where Ali was a free signing guest. That would have been around 1987. I also recall paying $12 for a Koufax in 1988 at a show. I know it was then because I got it for a co-worker at a summer job I had. Koufax signed my colleague's 1966 Topps card. I did not want anything signed but I did ask if I could shake hands with him and Koufax obliged. I guess that would cost me an extra $80 today...

In the summer of 1988 or 1989 I went to a show in S.F. at the Moscone Center and paid $6-$8 for Brock and Gibson, and $12 for Musial.

During the early 1990s I picked up signatures of Luke Appling, Billy Herman, Rick Ferrell, Lou Boudreau for well under $10 each at various shows. I think Boudreau was a freebie at a small show.

Connors I remember was a cheap signature at some show I attended in L.A. and I got one for some cousins who were big Hollywood autograph collectors. As I recall he was a really fun, 'big' personality. Again, did not get anything for myself. Many years later I overpaid for a signed exhibit card.

Adam, that 1988 show must have been right before Koufax jumped up in price because I got his auto I believe in 1989 at a big show at the Shrine auditorium in L.A. and he was in the $30 - 40 range. I remember because almost all the others were very cheap (Barlick, Doerr, Spahn, B. Robinson, etc etc) all in the 8 - 15 dollar range. Geez, a buck really bought you something back then.