This sums it up about Jeter and 3000

[packs]

Jeter gets to play baseball for a living. He is only able to do that because people will come out to the games. So yes, I do expect that a player can write his name for me in exchange for the millions of dollars he gets, which he will receive whether or not he is even playing (see Albert Belle). And I do feel as though I am entitled to free autographs. Do you disagree? Steiner is charging $599 for a Derek Jeter autographed baseball. My question is: why? And how can you justify this pricetag to a child? I don't think you can explain "leakage" to a 10 year old.

I'm having trouble following your argument. You think Derek should profit from eBay sales too? And every signature he ever signs? Why? And how exactly does a player get nothing for signing an autograph? Lifelong admiration, a job playing big league baseball, the support of an entire city; maybe players should pay to play. What am I getting out of the deal?

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by packs

Jeter gets to play baseball for a living. He is only able to do that because people will come out to the games. So yes, I do expect that a player can write his name for me in exchange for the millions of dollars he gets, which he will receive whether or not he is even playing (see Albert Belle). And I do feel as though I am entitled to free autographs. Do you disagree? Steiner is charging $599 for a Derek Jeter autographed baseball. My question is: why? And how can you justify this pricetag to a child? I don't think you can explain "leakage" to a 10 year old.

I'm having trouble following your argument. You think Derek should profit from eBay sales too? the man has 3000 major league hits. This sense of entitlement is a major issue in this country.

Steiner is charging what the market will bear for a signed ball. What other industry requires you to dilute your brand by giving away freebies? The only sense of entitlement I see is yours.

Do you think Jeter can walk down the street in Manhattan without being stopped a zillion times per block? How many people should he stop for? Only the ones who are quick enough to video him at the time?

I explain the business of baseball to my six year old. I show him my T206 signed Walter Johnson, and my Jeter stuff. It's all cool to him. He will not grow up thinking he is entitled to free stuff from those better off than him.

[packs]

I edited my initial post. It is not an issue of getting something free from a person better off than me. It is an issue of mutual respect and appreciation. There are always going to be dealers and there will always be collectors. As a collector, I don't see getting an autograph from a player as expecting something for nothing from a rich person.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by packs

I edited my initial post. It is not an issue of getting something free from a person better off than me. It is an issue of mutual respect and appreciation. There are always going to be dealers and there will always be collectors. As a collector, I don't see getting an autograph from a player as expecting something for nothing from a rich person.

Have you ever paid for an autograph?

[packs]

We are talking about different things. I will agree to disagree.