not exactly pre-war, but can someone explain why Mike Witt auto's are so expensive?

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by whitey19thcentury

Wow....this could get interesting. There are numerous guys out there who have debuted within the last 30 or so years that are downright difficult. Many of those are cup of coffee guys, or guys long forgotten.

This list could get long, especially when considering the amount of Latin/foreign players who have made their debuts over this time span. A lot of those guys are nearly impossible to get as they returned to their homeland after their careers are over.

I have collectors sending me wantlists for 3x5s collections and the majority include Latin players from the 80s-present day. Many, I haven't heard of or have forgotten about.

I guess it all comes down to what medium you collect/want signed. Most guys won't sign anything, while a lot of current players refuse to sign 3x5s.

I have seen that with my own eyes. Still kinda unbelievable to me.

Maybe this should get limited to guys that have at least some noteworthy reasoning behind people wanting an autograph from.

[whitey19thcentury]

Originally Posted by novakjr

Maybe this should get limited to guys that have at least some noteworthy reasoning behind people wanting an autograph from.

I agree, but there are collectors of teams, debut years, hometowns/states, and foreign collectors out there who collect players others deem as not noteworthy or not on the same level, playing-career wise, as say a Vuckovich, Witt, Myers, etc.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

I am not a huge autograph guy but do enjoy getting them.

Doesn't the new edition of Meiselman's list have a section on tough signers?

I had the pleasure of working with notorius toughie Dr. Mike Marshall back in the 1980s. He would soften up every once in a while but just thought signing was silly.

[steve B]

I seem to recall there was another very tough signer - early 80's or so - who had a decently long career. I'm thinking Wayne Nordhagen but I could be very wrong?

I recall a story about someone wanting that autograph in any form and sending him a check for some then silly amount and having it returned uncashed and with no letter or note.

Steve B

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

It can't be Nordhagen; he's been a great signer over the years, although his recent response rate has been somewhat unpredictable (most likely due to an address change or two). Perhaps you're thinking of Doug Flynn or Ricky Wright.

Witt and Vuckavich aren't tough autographs. Both have done multiple paid signings. They get expensive when you're looking for the "perfect" piece, however. They can be a real pain for collectors of signed sets of gum cards.

The last I heard was that Witt was even done with private signings, but these things can always change for one reason or another. He may wish to support a charity (or just want more money in his bank account) sometime down the road.

For a non-HOF player who has already autographed a ton of material, Vuck certainly charges enough to sign. "Expensive" certainly doesn't equal "rare" in his case. He has a touch of the Dr. Mike syndrome.

[whitey19thcentury]

Originally Posted by JBirkholm

Witt and Vuckavich aren't tough autographs. Both have done multiple paid signings. They get expensive when you're looking for the "perfect" piece, however. They can be a real pain for collectors of signed sets of gum cards.


For a non-HOF player who has already autographed a ton of material, Vuck certainly charges enough to sign. "Expensive" certainly doesn't equal "rare" in his case. He has a touch of the Dr. Mike syndrome.

Jodi, I agree that there Vuck is not a "rare" sig, but he is a tough signer present day. I am a Pirates season ticket holder (insert comment here, I know), anyways, I have seen him at events and know people who run into him, and he just doesn't sign for free to this day.

Kind of like Lynn Swann. My wife and I were at a fundraising dinner for him right before he officially announced he was running for Gov. of Pennsylvania. We got there early, and literally it was me, my wife, Swann, and l3 or 4 other couples and the wait staff. He came over and talked to us as nice as can be and posed for a picture with us. I didn't even ask for an autograph because: 1.) I know how he is and 2.) as big as an icon he is, I just don't really get into that sort of signature.

Anyways, one of the waitresses comes over, piece of paper and pen in hand and asks him for an autograph. His reply: "Ma'am, sorry, I don't sign autographs. If I sign one for you, then I'd have to sign one for everybody here."

The poor gal looked around and it was just me, her, my wife, and Swann. Not another soul was around us and nobody else would've noticed if he signed something for her. She shrugged her shoulders and left.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by JBirkholm

It can't be Nordhagen; he's been a great signer over the years, although his recent response rate has been somewhat unpredictable (most likely due to an address change or two). Perhaps you're thinking of Doug Flynn or Ricky Wright.

Ok the memory is getting bad then. Neither of those other names seem familiar either. Nahoradny? It was a longish name, I'm feeling a trip through the old SCDs coming on. It's going to bug me till I remember or look it up.

Steve B

[Scott Garner]

Some of you that know me are aware that I collect the autographs of every pitcher that ever threw a no-hitter.
I can tell you with absolute certainty that Mike Witt was a willing signer in person during his playing days and remains that way even now. He's an extremely cordial guy that would always sign whatever you had and usually spend a minute chatting with you. Today he spends alot of his free time playing golf in south Orange County, CA. Like many players and ex-players, he's not big into signing through the mail. He doesn't frequently do paid signings, but those of you that live in So Cal, keep your eyes open at golf charity pro-ams. Witter loves to play golf and he'll sign for free if you run into him.

[scooter729]

I collected autographs for many years in the 80s - 90s at Fenway, so I have a good portion of American Leaguers during that era.

I'd love to see thoughts from others as to tough autographs from the 80s and 90s. I had no idea about Witt, but certainly will now have to dig through and see what I have from him!

[mcgwirecom]

Mike Witt is one of the Prefect Game Pitchers Club. Sometimes players will increase their prices knowing that everyone needs them for their Perfect Game ball or ticket or collection. I have done two different Perfect Game balls. I think both times I was able to get Mike several years back. I don't think I paid too much for him. But I remember trying to get Kenny Rogers. The first time was tough. He didn't do signings and when he did I think he charged over $100. On the second ball I was able to send it to a YMCA signing in Georgia and the guy running it promised to get it signed for me for $25. I was pretty happy. But when I got it back Kenny had signed upside down compared to others on the panel he signed. I feel he did it on purpouse. I have noticed that once a guy throws a Perfect Game his price immediately goes up. At least for that first signing after the event.

[Vintagedegu]

-

[Exhibitman]

I think we will see more and more difficult guys in the future.

1. The money from a career is so good that many of them have no need to pimp themselves out to make a living. A lot of the old time players made only a decent wage and had to generate income, a void that card shows filled nicely.

2. The degree of insulation that a ballplayer has from every day life as a result of the money and the way they travel and train means that the younger ones never develop a taste or respect for fan interactions. Players increasingly live and operate completely removed from fans. If they don't find fan interaction--ballpark encounters, spring training meetings, public relations appearances, fan mail responses--to be part of their job good luck convincing them to do something for fans after they retire.

3. The fact that we care indirectly creates its own disincentive to signing. I can appreciate that some people find the whole money-autograph-marketing thing to be distasteful and don't want to participate in it (at least until the money is too good to pass up or the cause is so good that they feel bad saying no).

[whitey19thcentury]

Originally Posted by Vintagedegu

John Denny is somewhat Vukovichish, been doing the occasional signing lately however.

Sammy Stewart and the Reds' Frank Williams fell into that 'vanished into nothingness' category. I think Williams is dead now. Believe Cameron or one of those guys hunted Sammy down.

Didn't realize Witt was so tough anymore. Got a Gateway cover of him a few years back as an afterthought.

Denny has become a better signer over the past several years. I remember when I really narrowed down my interest to autographs in between my freshman and soph. years of college. I purchased a huge in-person 3x5, card, photo, etc. collection from an area man who got sigs at ballparks and spring training games. It was 1998, so eBay was in its infancy. I sold off all of the "name" players/HOFers, then I figured "what the heck!" and started listing "common" 3x5s. I think I got like 60 bucks for a Denny 3x5. That really started me in researching obscure guys, and now, 13 years later, I specialize in obscure deceased, Latin, and living players.

On a side note, the guy whose collection I purchased had a 3x5 signed by Alberto Lois, arguably the toughest sig among the 1979 Pirates team. I sold his 3x5 for $55 or so on eBay in '98. Fast forward half a decade later, and I was fortunate enough to buy quite a few lots from the MacAllister collection. Among one of the 3x5 lots I bought was no less than 30 Lois 3x5s! The last one I sold on eBay went for $5. So, yes, I saturated the market on those!

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by whitey19thcentury

On a side note, the guy whose collection I purchased had a 3x5 signed by Alberto Lois, arguably the toughest sig among the 1979 Pirates team. I sold his 3x5 for $55 or so on eBay in '98. Fast forward half a decade later, and I was fortunate enough to buy quite a few lots from the MacAllister collection. Among one of the 3x5 lots I bought was no less than 30 Lois 3x5s! The last one I sold on eBay went for $5. So, yes, I saturated the market on those!

I didn't realize there were so many Lois 3X5s in that lot, but that's McAllister for you! Actually, a collector/dealer we know did two signings with Lois in the early 2000's. 3X5s (as well as Topps cards and a ball or two) were signed.

Lois' story is an interesting one. In 1980, Lois' car was hit by a train while he was under the influence. He ended up losing both an eye and his career as a result. He now lives in a two-room, dirt-floored shack with his wife and a multitude of offspring.

[whitey19thcentury]

Jodi, I am being conservative on the amount of Lois 3x5s that were in that lot. I sold many, kept one for my collection, and traded a few.

I did hear about the signing, and I assume most of the Lois sigs that pop up are from that signing or 3x5 from MacAllister.

I heard his story, and it is an intriguing one as he was a highly-regarded prospect, but that wreck cost him his career, obviously. Doesn't he have like 17 kids?

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by JBirkholm

He now lives in a two-room, dirt-floored shack with his wife and a multitude of offspring.

AKA children.