MLB Auctions

[Vintage Yankee]

Originally Posted by Runscott

...When I bid on an MLB Auction it is usually with the idea that I want the item for my personal collection and will not sell it for a while....

I'm also not crazy about the MLB Auction format. Several times I've wanted ONE game-used item from a particular game, but had to bid on several to make sure I got one because all the auctions ended at the same time... so I put a last-second bid in on two just to make sure I could 'play' in the extended auction. No one else bid on either, so I got stuck with two...

I guess it's similar to other auctions, but MLB frequently has starting bids that are right at the going value, or a touch above, so if you want to play, you are taking a chance. Sometimes it works out well, as other bidders might not want to take a chance at buying multiple examples, so they only bid on one. The problem with that strategy is that guys like me who get outbid on several examples, end up having to go way high on the last available item....

Yes across the board, Scott.

[Klrdds]

I bid regularly in MLB auctions and I have found that I have to be careful to not overpay/overbid . I don't plan on selling the items I just don't want to pay too much for these pieces of modern game used items ( even GU jerseys ). I am less likely to go "all in " in their auctions than I am in an AH auction - I have a price/bid ceiling on MLB auctions because these are modern items., and because their MB can be way more than the items could be worth.
I have an acquaintance with an MLB team and he told me awhile back that MLB will select only a certain number of items from each game in each category to sell on the auction site and the team can select others to sell also . One interesting thing that I have done successfully several times is to contact the team's Authentics Store directly at the stadium and tell them what I want and more times than not I'll get a call sometime later ( it may be days or months ) about the item , and most times it is offered to me at 10%- 20% lower than the MLB auction MB, or they'll ask me to make an offer on it or what i want to pay for it.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Klrdds

....One interesting thing that I have done successfully several times is to contact the team's Authentics Store directly at the stadium and tell them what I want and more times than not I'll get a call sometime later ( it may be days or months ) about the item , and most times it is offered to me at 10%- 20% lower than the MLB auction MB, or they'll ask me to make an offer on it or what i want to pay for it.

When Paxton threw his no-hitter in Toronto they put one or two balls on the MLB auction site and I had an internet problem and missed bidding. I emailed MLB auctions about getting a ball and they put me in touch with Toronto's auction guy, who gave me a whole list of stuff. He gave me prices on the items I asked about and I never saw any of them auctioned. Seattle puts theirs in charity auctions, etc, but I guess they would probably sell me stuff if I asked. Apparently each team can do whatever they want.

[Klrdds]

Originally Posted by Runscott

When Paxton threw his no-hitter in Toronto they put one or two balls on the MLB auction site and I had an internet problem and missed bidding. I emailed MLB auctions about getting a ball and they put me in touch with Toronto's auction guy, who gave me a whole list of stuff. He gave me prices on the items I asked about and I never saw any of them auctioned. Seattle puts theirs in charity auctions, etc, but I guess they would probably sell me stuff if I asked. Apparently each team can do whatever they want.

Yes team's can do whatever they want once MLB gets their stuff .