News article on personal appearance by Hank Aaron.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by djson1

"Seem very high"? They ARE very high! You can buy Aaron's signed stuff with Steiner holos for a lot less than that. I may sound like an old timer here..but I remember when he would sign at shows here for less than $10. Those were the days!

+1

I also remember getting him to sign this dugout card for me in 1998 and thinking that $50 was a lot for his signature. It certainly was, but now it still looks like a bargain.

BTW, the dugout card that I had him sign was to the last game that Hammerin' Hank Aaron (at the time, the all-time HR leader) faced Nolan Ryan (who became the eventual all-time strikeout leader). For the record, Aaron came into the game as a pinch hitter and Nolan struck him out.

[almostdone]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

+1

I also remember getting him to sign this dugout card for me in 1998 and thinking that $50 was a lot for his signature. It certainly was, but now it still looks like a bargain.

BTW, the dugout card that I had him sign was to the last game that Hammerin' Hank Aaron (at the time, the all-time HR leader) faced Nolan Ryan (who became the eventual all-time strikeout leader). For the record, Aaron came into the game as a pinch hitter and Nolan struck him out.

This lineup card was on loan to The Ryan Center (Nolan Ryan museum) from 1999-2002. Nolan was nice enough to sign it for me before the museum returned it.

Just a quick "Wow! Another great piece Scott". Back to the regular thread. Thanks.
Drew

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

+1

I also remember getting him to sign this dugout card for me in 1998 and thinking that $50 was a lot for his signature. It certainly was, but now it still looks like a bargain.

BTW, the dugout card that I had him sign was to the last game that Hammerin' Hank Aaron (at the time, the all-time HR leader) faced Nolan Ryan (who became the eventual all-time strikeout leader). For the record, Aaron came into the game as a pinch hitter and Nolan struck him out.

I have been trying to avoid this forum, but had to say - damn that's a nice piece.

Regarding Aaron, unless he's tattooing his name on your arm, $399 is insane.

[Scott Garner]

Thanks Drew and Scott!
For the record, I can't see myself paying $300-$400 for Aaron or any player, but I must admit that I did pay this much for Koufax's signature on a ticket to his 1965 perfect game a couple of years ago...

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Thanks Drew and Scott!

For the record, I can't see myself paying $300-$400 for Aaron or any player, but I must admit that I did pay this much for Koufax's signature on a ticket to his 1965 perfect game a couple of years ago...

Wow! That is quite a haul. Do you have a scan?

[CamaroCPA]

I listened to a segment regarding the Aaron signing price on the local talk show on my way into work one day this week. It was really interesting to hear non-collector responses. Every caller said they would not pay that much for a signature even though it's Hank Aaron - a baseball and cultural icon, and, not to mention, a local "hero" to many people in the area who grew up watching him play in person.

Everyone said he should be able to charge whatever he wants but the reasons given against getting one were:

- personal budget restraints
- disinterest/indifference in memorabilia
- protestations of Aaron's recent political statements
- just not thinking his autograph is worth that much.

Obviously, there is often some monetary/investment component to paying this much for an autograph of someone very famous, but isn't a lot of the price for the "privilege" of meeting the person too?

I would consider paying this much if I had room in my collecting budget right now. Aaron is getting up in age and there may not be many more opportunities to get an IP signature. I am disappointed that I never met my childhood baseball hero Kirby Puckett. I can imagine many baby boomers may feel the same about Hank Aaron.

[djson1]

Originally Posted by CamaroCPA

Obviously, there is often some monetary/investment component to paying this much for an autograph of someone very famous, but isn't a lot of the price for the "privilege" of meeting the person too?...

Although, you may be right about the chance to see your favorite players in person, I would have to say that, at least for me, the premium is not always worth that opportunity. Most of the times, the players don't even look up to see who they're signing for and they don't even say a word. Some don't even allow taking pictures. And it depends on who's operating the show/promotion, but many times they're just ushering you through the line so they could hurry and finish.

I've paid for some players at shows where they don't even respond to your comments or questions and just blankly look at you as if you're speaking another language. Some players are very gracious and engaging (ie- Bob Feller was a great show signer and conversationalist), but if I remember Aaron correctly, he was a nice guy but he didn't really seem to want to engage in conversations (which I understand since there were so many fans who must have tired him out).

Based on my experiences, I don't think the premium heavy price tag is worth it most of the time.

[dgo71]

Originally Posted by djson1

Although, you may be right about the chance to see your favorite players in person, I would have to say that, at least for me, the premium is not always worth that opportunity. Most of the times, the players don't even look up to see who they're signing for and they don't even say a word. Some don't even allow taking pictures. And it depends on who's operating the show/promotion, but many times they're just ushering you through the line so they could hurry and finish.

I've paid for some players at shows where they don't even respond to your comments or questions and just blankly look at you as if you're speaking another language. Some players are very gracious and engaging (ie- Bob Feller was a great show signer and conversationalist), but if I remember Aaron correctly, he was a nice guy but he didn't really seem to want to engage in conversations (which I understand since there were so many fans who must have tired him out).

Based on my experiences, I don't think the premium heavy price tag is worth it most of the time.

+1. Having a guy like Mays or Aaron scowl at me and silently thrust my item back at me like I'm being an inconvenience to them is hardly worth a premium.

The truth is these guys ask for a large sum to make a signing appearance because they simply don't need the money. Then the promoters are forced to charge outrageous prices just to make a profit. Aaron, while he didn't make the exorbitant salary made by today's players, has made a hefty amount through the show circuit over his retirement years, in addition to whatever he makes as a special assistant for the Braves. It's easy to talk a guy who made squat into signing for next to nothing, but star players today don't feel like they need to be bothered unless they're receiving a significant amount in return.

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by djson1

Some don't even allow taking pictures.

Which I find obscene. If I had spent $350 for Hank Aaron's autograph, and was told I couldn’t take a picture of him signing my item (so that I could have proof the autograph was real), I would not have been a happy customer.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by CamaroCPA

Everyone said he should be able to charge whatever he wants but the reasons given against getting one were:

- personal budget restraints
- disinterest/indifference in memorabilia
- protestations of Aaron's recent political statements
- just not thinking his autograph is worth that much.

Those are all valid reasons, but Aaron is still getting his asking price. It would be interesting to ask those same people if the first three reasons weren't relevant, and we were talking about their favorite living player (whoever that might be), would they still be unwilling to pay?

Even if Mickey Mantle was still alive, I wouldn't give him $399 unless he wrote 'fvck Yogi' on it and got drunk with me (probably in the opposite order).

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by I Only Smoke 4 the Cards

Wow! That is quite a haul. Do you have a scan?

Alex,
No problem.
I've posted this on net54, but here it is:

[6-4-3memorabilia]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Alex,
No problem.
I've posted this on net54, but here it is:

"Two-and-two to Harvey Kuenn"