Koufax/Brady private signings

[rlevy]

My understanding is that Koufax donates his share to charity when he does signings, he doesn't need the money for himself. As we know, he's a very private guy, and doesn't like to be the focus of attention.

These prices are clearly targeting those who would like to get a special item signed. I had all my Koufax World Series and perfect game lineup cards signed by Sandy 15 years ago for $300 each. but have more recently acquired a set of lineup cards from the 1963 World Series, game 4, when the Dodgers completed the sweep of the Yankees, with Koufax on the mound. Since it was the only unsigned one, I asked them for a quote since it doesn't fit into any of the categories. When I was given the amount, I initially decided to pass as I couldn't justify the price, but them decided to go for it since it is for my personal collection, and will be sold after I'm 6 feet under. I may never get another chance to have it signed.

I also asked for a price on another item, but it was double what I thought it should be, so passed on that one. It would have been nice to get it signed, but not something central to my collection.

Rick

[Seven]

Originally Posted by rlevy

My understanding is that Koufax donates his share to charity when he does signings, he doesn't need the money for himself. As we know, he's a very private guy, and doesn't like to be the focus of attention.

These prices are clearly targeting those who would like to get a special item signed. I had all my Koufax World Series and perfect game lineup cards signed by Sandy 15 years ago for $300 each. but have more recently acquired a set of lineup cards from the 1963 World Series, game 4, when the Dodgers completed the sweep of the Yankees, with Koufax on the mound. Since it was the only unsigned one, I asked them for a quote since it doesn't fit into any of the categories. When I was given the amount, I initially decided to pass as I couldn't justify the price, but them decided to go for it since it is for my personal collection, and will be sold after I'm 6 feet under. I may never get another chance to have it signed.

I also asked for a price on another item, but it was double what I thought it should be, so passed on that one. It would have been nice to get it signed, but not something central to my collection.

Rick

Rick,

I'll also add on, in terms of guys like Koufax, or even Aaron when he was still alive and signing, you don't mind paying as much. They were both prominent signers in their day. I tend to cut guys like them some slack.

[Republicaninmass]

I thought Koufax lost almost everything to Madoff? It's been a while, but can't him for trying to make some back

[mrmopar]

Its across the board though, not just stars and mega stars. I saw someone post on a facebook group recently a bunch of 1990-92 UD if I am remembering correctly. He got about a dozen or so signed at private signings. Nothing was less than $10 and they went up from there. These were not big names either. In my mind, most were $3-5 cards, but he was willing to pay $20-30 for them. His money, his choice.

People seem to just be willing to pay quite a bit more now than years back, not only autographs, but everything. I think we are still fighting with buyers who came back to the hobby during Covid with no real feel for the market, just paying whatever it took to win what they wanted. Fighting each other and pricing out those who had a nice pulse on the market, as those existing hobbyists were just shaking their heads at what people were paying for stuff.

Most of those cards are probably easily found for sale on ebay or elsewhere for a few bucks, but even that type of deal seems to be drying up. I used to be able to pick up a good number of vintage 60s/70s and sometimes even 50s signed cards in ebay auctions, semi-stars and fan favorites, for a few bucks each. Now I see those often selling for $10-15 and more. I might bid on 25-50 cards now and win 2 on a good day.

I am happy that I started buying autographs when I did, because if I started now, there wouldn't even be a chance I'd keep going.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

is money, his choice.

People seem to just be willing to pay quite a bit more now than years back, not only autographs, but everything.

Not for everything that's autographed. I was just musing to myself yesterday how a Home Run Baker 3X5 will set you back the same dollar amount today as it would have 20 years ago, inflation aside. Several long-gone HOFers on lower-end items (either cuts, 3X5s, GPCs or album pages) are in the same category. If you factor in for inflation, it would have been wiser to wait until today to purchase them! Maranville, Clarke, Heilmann, Paul Waner, Arky Vaughan and more. Keep in mind that values on some of the listed types of items may have risen while others stayed the same.

I understand that these players, while HOFers, aren't as popularly collected as the household names, but there are plenty of people trying to put together HOF sets to the best of their financial abilities. Most collectors also realize that a full set is literally an impossible accomplishment and financially impossible for most people to get extremely close to completing.

20 years ago, a bean burrito at Taco Bell was 99 cents where I live. It's now over $3. But Home Run Baker is still a $400 3X5. Figure that one out.

[carlsonjok]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

Not for everything that's autographed. I was just musing to myself yesterday how a Home Run Baker 3X5 will set you back the same dollar amount today as it would have 20 years ago, inflation aside.

I have been working on signed 1960 to 1963 Fleer sets and often wonder how many of the cards I've added will retain their value a decade or three down the road. Sure, Max Carey is a Hall of Famer, but someone that was born on the same day he died is now closer to retirement than they are to the beginning of their careers. Will anyone but a precious few know who he is and want one of his signed cards? Beats me, but I am not going to worry too much about it.

And, bringing this around to the opening topic, when I sent my 1963 Fleer Koufax in for a signing in 2015 the fee was $350. It felt like a kingly sum to me. 9 years later, it is almost four times that.

[theshleps]

Originally Posted by carlsonjok

I have been working on signed 1960 to 1963 Fleer sets and often wonder how many of the cards I've added will retain their value a decade or three down the road. Sure, Max Carey is a Hall of Famer, but someone that was born on the same day he died is now closer to retirement than they are to the beginning of their careers. Will anyone but a precious few know who he is and want one of his signed cards? Beats me, but I am not going to worry too much about it.

And, bringing this around to the opening topic, when I sent my 1963 Fleer Koufax in for a signing in 2015 the fee was $350. It felt like a kingly sum to me. 9 years later, it is almost four times that.

Jeff- I agree with someone like say Oscar Melillo who is in the 1961 set or Bobo Newsom in both that no one will ever have heard of him. On a 3x5 they may go for next to nothing but in that set they will always be worth alot as that is a great set to collect and they are some of the toughest in there

[Exhibitman]

I am not a fan of the modern signature thing; too costly for what it is in the majority of cases. If I can get one for less at auction, why bother? The only items I get signed now are the really, really unusual ones that are not likely to have more than a handful of examples. Like this 1971 Virginia Squires TI Dr. J photo I had signed at a National a few years ago:



That, or something that has personal significance to me, like a card I pulled out of a pack when I was a kid.