What would you have done if you caught Jeter's 3000th hit?

[David Atkatz]

The Yankee organization is interested in one thing, and one thing only.
Making money.
Winning is a means to that end. Buying historical Yankee memorabilia is not.
As Cashman says, baseball is a business. Anyone on this board has more of an interest--much more--in Yankee history and tradition, than the owners do.
(In fact, the owners have none.)
That would all be fine with me, if they didn't constantly proclaim otherwise.
"Pride and pinstripes," the cathedral of baseball," etc. Bullshit.

[GKreindler]

Alright, I had to jump on...

Baseball is indeed a business to the Yankees, whether it yields winning or not. There was always money to be made when the team was doing well, be it through ticket sales or merchandising, but with the advent of things like the YES Network, revenue has skyrocketed.

Thinking about how 'Yankee Pride and Tradition' is packaged, one wonders how much MORE they would have made if players like Mantle and DiMaggio would have lived to be a part of it. Can you imagine the amount of money rolling in if those guys were wheeled out during Old Timer's Day, with the backing of millions who would had been watching their Yankeeographies to supplement the wonderful stories that they had heard from their fathers and grandfathers?

I think that's kind of why Jeter will always be so important to the team. I mean, he's been the face of the franchise since the late 90s, and he'll be the team's first superduperstar to reap the rewards from the YES Network. After he retires, lord knows the Yanks will be capitalizing off of that very idea until (and I suppose after) he passes. I can easily imagine Jeter coming out of the dugout during Old Timer's Day 2042, being introduced last with plenty of pomp and circumstance (just like DiMaggio had been), and of course, the capacity crowd at Yankee Stadium will be going mad, as will the billions of people watching at home. Those same people can tell their children that they saw the great man play, and if they want to relive those memories and even pass them on, all they need to do is watch a Yankeeography or a Yankee Classic - how about the July 1, 2004 game when Derek dives into the stands to make the play? Or, maybe his 2001 ALDS flip to Posada to nab the trailing Giambi? 3000th hit, anyone? It's all there and at your fingertips, and I can't even fathom how much that sort of thing is worth to the Yankees. With that in mind, I would imagine that keeping Jeter happy will be one of the team's prime concerns over the next 50 years, and I'd be lying if I said it had anything to do with 'tradition'.

But, then again, this all comes from a hypocrite who happily would spend $4.50 on a hot pretzel, while he watches his team play at the Stadium. Actually, I could go for one of those right now...

[xdrx]

At first glance I thought it was very cool of the fan to give the ball to Jeter. But that glance faded quickly. It would be very hard not to cash in on the opportunity. Hell, even if you don't need the money you could auction off the ball and give the proceeds to a worthy charity. As classy a stand up guy as Jeter seems to be, neither he nor the Yankees qualify as a "worthy charity".

[PhilNap]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

The Yankee organization is interested in one thing, and one thing only.
Making money.
Winning is a means to that end. Buying historical Yankee memorabilia is not.
As Cashman says, baseball is a business. Anyone on this board has more of an interest--much more--in Yankee history and tradition, than the owners do.
(In fact, the owners have none.)
That would all be fine with me, if they didn't constantly proclaim otherwise.
"Pride and pinstripes," the cathedral of baseball," etc. Bullshit.

How else would you expect them to promote their business? Their history is their biggest asset and they would be fools not to exploit it. Whether they genuinely embrace it or not. Sure the Steiner commercials and emails immediately after the 3000th hit are tacky but this is the world we live in. Why take it personal?

[David Atkatz]

I don't take it personally, Phil. But I don't have to embrace the bullshit, do I?

[PhilNap]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

I don't take it personally, Phil. But I don't have to embrace the bullshit, do I?

Absolutely not. Ya just seemed a bit angered by it, that's all.

[sylbry]

Ok, let's assume that the tickets and such are not treated as a gift, thus subject to income taxes based on their value. Wouldn't that in turn establish a value on the ball for which Jeter now has to pay income tax? Not that it matters to him much.

[packs]

I would have kept the ball for myself and sold it, probably to a private collector rather than at auction. I would think a private collector would pay above the projected auction price just to keep the ball from going to auction.

Reasoning: Jeter has been extremely fortunate in his life. He has God given talent, good health, the opportunity to play on a winning team, and the ability to provide for his family. He has taken full advantage of all of those opportunities.

Why should I feel any different for being fortunate enough to catch the ball?

[benderbroeth]

alot of people seem to think he will owe a ton in taxes because he got the box seats and such..but could he not claim a huge loss because the ball was worth far more than what he got????

anywho i would say here is the deal jeter you get to buy it for $250,000 plus any taxes i may owe on the ball....

[benderbroeth]

Originally Posted by packs

I would have kept the ball for myself and sold it, probably to a private collector rather than at auction. I would think a private collector would pay above the projected auction price just to keep the ball from going to auction.

Reasoning: Jeter has been extremely fortunate in his life. He has God given talent, good health, the opportunity to play on a winning team, and the ability to provide for his family. He has taken full advantage of all of those opportunities.

Why should I feel any different for being fortunate enough to catch the ball?

i love this answer myself

[AMAZINHOFCOLLECTOR]

I went to my son's Little League All Star game and Christian Lopez was there working for Modells Sporting Goods. Modells offered him a job (not sure what his official function is) and now he is a kind of celebrity. Yankee fans were lining up to take a picture with him.

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

The Yankee organization is interested in one thing, and one thing only.
Making money.
Winning is a means to that end. Buying historical Yankee memorabilia is not.
As Cashman says, baseball is a business. Anyone on this board has more of an interest--much more--in Yankee history and tradition, than the owners do.
(In fact, the owners have none.)
That would all be fine with me, if they didn't constantly proclaim otherwise.
"Pride and pinstripes," the cathedral of baseball," etc. Bullshit.

Quite agree.








October 24, 2010


July 4, 2011

[Brendan]

Who knows, maybe the guy will get a really good job and make more money than he would have if he sold it. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big...rn=mlb-wp12669

[David Atkatz]

Excellent photos, Gary. Point very well made.

[Exhibitman]

As noted in the other thread, looks like the kid is making out OK. Miller and Steiner have offered to kick in the cover his taxes and pay down some of his student loans, he's gotten a 2009 WS ring from Steiner, offers to do memorabilia, he will be on a Topps card, and he will choose the Jeter photo for Jeter's 2012 Topps card. And more likely to come. Perhaps he will be able to cash in on it indirectly and do as well as if he'd sold the ball. Wouldn't that be poetic justice?

[Gary Dunaier]

Bumping the thread (it's one day short of a year since the last post) because I found something interesting on the Steiner website - a ball signed by Jeter and Christian Lopez...



Price $774.99. (link)

The same ball, with only Jeter's signature, is $699.99. That means Steiner feels Lopez' autograph is worth $75.00. (On the other hand, let's be fair to Steiner - Lopez' signature does include an inscription).

Comment as you see fit.

[Bigdaddy]

I'd hit the cutoff man...

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by Gary Dunaier

Quite agree.








October 24, 2010


July 4, 2011

The irony of the image of a dying Babe Ruth standing in silent observation as Yankee Stadium is demolished.

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zipper

The irony of the image of a dying Babe Ruth standing in silent observation as Yankee Stadium is demolished.

Exactly why I selected that vantage point.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Gary Dunaier

Quite agree.








October 24, 2010


July 4, 2011

I am not above admitting that the first thing I thought of on seeing these excellent photos is that I wonder how I could get a piece of it for my collection to go with my 1976 W.S. ticket and program from the game I attended. Is that wrong?

[smotan_02]

That location is now a little league field, possibly the least money making item per square foot that can go in that prime real estate. While I believe in the ability of the franchise to make money, what a great investment in the future of baseball.

[Bicem]

sold it, I hate Jeter.