This sums it up about Jeter and 3000

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Why can't you just mail Paul a photo, with a SASE, and he signs it and mails it back, without charging $50 or so. That used to be the "business model," when I was growing up. It was called "giving something back."

When Paul's auto became valuable, he grew skeptical of signing freebies in the mail, only to find them for sale at $50 a pop at the local card show or on eBay. The collecting public ruined that practice, not the athletes.

[T206Collector]

Fellas,

I rally enjoy this dialogue, but I have to get to sleep here on the East Coast. In closing for now, I would just say that in my view a lot of the vitriol spouted at athletes these days ignores a few fundamental and universal concepts that go with the territory in the 21st C. It is just unfair to blame that all on the athletes.

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

When Paul's auto became valuable, he grew skeptical of signing freebies in the mail, only to find them for sale at $50 a pop at the local card show or on eBay. The collecting public ruined that practice, not the athletes.

Really? Paul didn't have enough money? He had to be upset that he wasn't making that $50? He couldn't just live with the fact that he had done the right thing? That's called greed. Consider our system of justice. You know, "Better ten guilty men go free, than one innocent man be punished." It's kinda like that. Yeah, some will take advantage of Paul's "generosity," and make a few bucks. But that's better than cutting off all those fans who just want their hero's autograph.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Really? Paul didn't have enough money? He had to be upset that he wasn't making that $50? He couldn't just live with the fact that he had done the right thing? That's called greed. Consider our system of justice. You know, "Better ten guilty men go free, than one innocent man be punished." It's kinda like that. Yeah, some will take advantage of Paul's "generosity," and make a few bucks. But that's better than cutting off all those fans who just want their hero's autograph.

Unfortunately the perception, real or perceived, is that virtually every autograph that was being given for free was being sold rather quickly. Of course, players still sign for fans for free anyway, but it really shouldn't surprise anyone that the players got tired of seeing their autographs routinely selling without realizing any cut of that.

Also, last point before bed, Steiner certifies autographs. In a world marred by fraud, at least when you pay big bucks, you know you're getting the genuine article.

Goodnight!