Koufax’s prices are even higher from a year ago

[Topps206]

Do you remember this thread from a year ago?

https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=345642

Well, if you want Koufax on an item this year, he’s all yours for….

Tier 1 - $1250 per Signature
Single Signed MLB Baseballs
Photos up to and including 16 X 20


Tier 2 - $1500 per Signature
All Licensed Trading Cards 1956 or later
No sketch or custom cards
Photos Larger than 16 X20


Tier 3 - $2200 per Signature
Bobbleheads - Jerseys - Bats
Tickets/Ticket Stubs (Except for Tier 5 items)
Multi-Signed Baseballs


Tier 4 - $4500 per Signature
1955 Topps Rookie Card &
other 1955 Card or Memorabilia Items
(Limited Amount - No inscriptions)
Approved Inscriptions - $1350 each
Max 2 per item - 10 Total available.


Tier 5 - ** CALL FOR PRICING **
First Win/MLB Debut Tickets and Stubs

Oh, and last year had a total of 75 slots, this year it’s only 25.

https://www.sportsgraphing.com/threa...igning.154211/

If you’ve won the lottery in your lifetime, feel free to send in.

[gonefishin]

I guess for someone pushing 90 years old, he has to make as much money as possible before he leaves this earth.

Mr. Koufax was gracious enough to sign a lot of items back in the day. There are a ton of autographed Koufax items one can obtain for the price of Tier 1.

It wasn't that many years ago that I sold my PSA certified Koufax 55 Topps for less than his Tier 1 fee (around 800 if I recall correctly).

I'm sure that at his age if has to sacrifice time away from family to do signings, he wants to get paid- it's always - Show Me the Money!

[tazdmb]

This signing sold out week’s ago

[NiceDocter]

I had heard Mr Koufax was one of the unfortunate victims of the Bernie Madoff scam ….. I think he lost a lot of his money unfortunately and this may be a part of his current signing fee structure. God Bless him and all the other victims……

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by NiceDocter

I had heard Mr Koufax was one of the unfortunate victims of the Bernie Madoff scam ….. I think he lost a lot of his money unfortunately and this may be a part of his current signing fee structure. God Bless him and all the other victims……

Think nearly all of Madoff's victims were paid back in full.

[Chris Counts]

I've always believed that there should be a greater difference between the price of a vintage autograph signed in ballpoint, or better yet, a fountain pen, and the value of a shaky old man signature done with a blue Sharpie. I have Diamond Stars with gorgeous fountain pen signatures, and there's no way they are devaluing the card. But to pay for a Koufax rookie card done poorly with blue Sharpie holds no interest to me.

[jimjim]

Originally Posted by NiceDocter

I had heard Mr Koufax was one of the unfortunate victims of the Bernie Madoff scam ….. I think he lost a lot of his money unfortunately and this may be a part of his current signing fee structure. God Bless him and all the other victims……

I think most of that money has been recovered and distributed to the victims.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by NiceDocter

I had heard Mr Koufax was one of the unfortunate victims of the Bernie Madoff scam ….. I think he lost a lot of his money unfortunately and this may be a part of his current signing fee structure. God Bless him and all the other victims……

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/31/busin...ntl/index.html

I know of an extended family (3 generations) who lost a lot of money who were almost made whole. I do not know the specifics.

[packs]

I would think someone would find it more unreasonable to collect cardboard photos and fake coins than game used memorabilia.

[keithsky]

It's mind boggling those prices especially to sign a bat at 2200.00. I have a signed bat at 600.00 that's beautiful and can't sell so who's spending 2200.00. Oh well. He's getting older so his autograph will only increase. He's a class act with a beautiful autograph even at 90 years old

[egri]

I've always thought the 'limited to 25 spots' part should be taken with more than a pinch of salt. If 26 or 30 or more people send in, at a minimun $1,250 a pop, I'd be surprised if Sandy says no.

[Bigdaddy]

If he wanted to maximize the money, he certainly wouldn't limit the number of items.

[Lordstan]

I think the only reason to pay those prices is if you need something special signed. If you just want a generic ball or bat, they can be had much cheaper. If you a specific ball or bat then maybe its worth he premium.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Yes, it only makes sense if you have something incredibly unique/special/valuable and paying that sort of money will increase the value of your item. That should logically narrow down the types of items we see, but I've seen people show off a generic SI or OMLB with inscriptions that were signed at these rates. Really?! To each his own. If it makes you happy, I'm happy for you.

I would never be paying three-four figures to have anyone autograph an OMLB considering how extra temperamental they are with the passage of time. If people want a signed ball, there are tons from the Feeney-Coleman eras available for fractions of the Tier 1 pricing. While all of these baseballs have always fought their own condition battles, people will be safer in picking something up that's already 25-50 years old so they can ascertain how the ball fared with the passage of time. You may not find the inscriptions you were so hoping for, but wouldn't you rather have a signature that won't disappear?

[RICHIEHARRIS]

Sandy Koufax has always been generous with his autograph. As was said earlier in this thread, he signed a lot of items over the years, many that turned up on eBay and other auction sites with high price tags. Forgetting his age and that he may have a limited number of years left to make money, you have to respect the fact that all the years that he signed and didn't charge but saw that sellers were profiting from autographs they didn't pay for, he now obviously feels that he also be entitled to revenue from his autograph.
He took also the time to write and send personal notes on his personalized note cards on various occasions. Not too long ago, I found on eBay a seller whose family must have had a relationship with Koufax and this guy put personal note cards received from Koufax up for sale and at hefty prices. I was very put off by that and messaged the guy how I felt. He immediately took them down off eBay.
It's one thing to trade in notes and letters of stars who have passed, such as the beautiful letter from Claude Ritchey that member T206 Collector recently shared with us. It's quite a different thing for a living player to see that a personal note he sent to a family friend was being put up for profit.
No one can offer any negativity about Sandy Koufax that I will tolerate.
I'm quite sure there are many who agree with me.

[RICHIEHARRIS]

Just an example of personal a note card that Sandy Koufax sent. He made it even more personal by signing 'Sandy'...as though he was a friend.

[packs]

Sandy was a signing machine at Dodgers spring training when he returned.

I don't blame him. He's 90. I'm less than half his age and I'd be uncomfortable sitting still writing my name for a few hours on end. It must be a real hassle for him and I can't imagine he'd tolerate it if it wasn't worth it.

[RICHIEHARRIS]

Ha!
Just after I posted about Koufax personal note cards being put up for sale I came across this about another athlete giving a gift and then seeing it put up for sale. Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs gave a jersey to a young fan, only to see that Goldin Auctions subsequently had it to put up for sale. I'm sure Wembanyama wasn't to happy about that.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Topps206

Tier 4 - $4500 per Signature
1955 Topps Rookie Card &
other 1955 Card or Memorabilia Items
(Limited Amount - No inscriptions)
Approved Inscriptions - $1350 each
Max 2 per item - 10 Total available.

So let me get this straight. Sandy Koufax is willing to deface your perhaps NM 1955 unspecified Rookie card with his writing if you pay him $4500?

Do I have that right?