WOW! Look at the prices being charged for autographs!

Dboneesq

There is a show here on Long Island (Hofstra) next month. Check out the prices for autos!

Joe Montana

Saturday December 13th - 12:00pm - 12:30pm - Photo Ops; 12:30pm - 2:00pm - Signing

Flats/Mini Helmets - $179.00
Equipment/Jersey/Jersey/ Numbers/Helmet - $229.00
Lithographs/Artwork - $600.00
Inscription - $75.00
"Left My Heart In San Francisco" Inscription - $325.00
Photo Ops - $179.00

Mike Tyson

Saturday December 13th - 12:30pm - 1:00pm - Photo Ops; 1:00pm - 2:30pm - Signing

Any Size Flat - $159.00
Any Glove - $179.00
Boxing Trunks - $199.00
Boxing Belt - $329.00
Inscription - $49.00
Photo Op - $149.00

*No posed photography at signing table*


Frank Robinson

Sunday - December 14th - 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Flats/Balls/11x14 - $79.00
Oversized - $99.00
Equipment - $119.00
Bats/Jersey - 199.00
Inscription - $39.00


Evander Holyfield

Saturday - December 13th - 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Anything Signed - $159.00
Inscription - $49.00

WalterSobchak

I have to think that getting $600 for SIGNING YOUR NAME would be a fairly enjoyable position to be in.
Yes, I realize all of the money isn't going directly into his pocket. But still.

DanBessette

I think Frank Robinson's rates seem fair. Basically in line with what Yaz cost last weekend, $60 for a card/flat. Although the inscriptions were free (we didn't get any).

Montana seems outrageous. I can't comment on the boxers.

Crazylegs

It has always bothered me that the fees change for larger items. Most of the time
with a substantial increase.

I guess I am just "OLD" but I sure miss the days when you paid for an autograph
and they signed "ANYTHING" you put in front of them.

Hell I miss the days when they signed at local/club/team events for FREE! And those
were players that weren't making millions back then. Most of them even had an off
season job.

After all they are still signing the same signature!

Dboneesq

<< <i>It has always bothered me that the fees change for larger items. Most of the time
with a substantial increase. After all they are still signing the same signature! >>


Craig ... I agree. But I guess they realized that some signatures significantly increase the value of an item so they figure they should share in that increase. Too bad ... I guess making millions per year is not enough!

ThoseBackPages

NICE!

larryallen73

<< <i>I have to think that getting $600 for SIGNING YOUR NAME would be a fairly enjoyable position to be in.
Yes, I realize all of the money isn't going directly into his pocket. But still. >>



Agreed.

3BoyzTrading

Peyton Manning came out to Afghanistan in mid 2013. He signed everything in front of him even playing catch with a lucky few. His manager made him get up from the table and leave because he had a plane to catch. I've never seen an athlete sign so much while walking as slow as he possibly could. As his manager pressed him to step up the pace, he paused shrugged his shoulders and kept signing.

The funny thing was, he probably didn't know we got rocket attacked the previous day. I've always respected that man!

Baez578

<< <i>Peyton Manning came out to Afghanistan in mid 2013. He signed everything in front of him even playing catch with a lucky few. His manager made him get up from the table and leave because he had a plane to catch. I've never seen an athlete sign so much while walking as slow as he possibly could. As his manager pressed him to step up the pace, he paused shrugged his shoulders and kept signing.

The funny thing was, he probably didn't know we got rocket attacked the previous day. I've always respected that man! >>



I'm not surprised to read this. Peyton always struck me as a class act.

Regarding auto prices... Montana is off his rocker. Wouldn't pay half that on some items.

LochNESS

Salaries aside, if you just look at the event itself, they usually don't get paid to appear. Charging for autographs is often the only revenue stream so in order to cover their hotel costs, airfare, etc. they sign for dollars. I've NEVER seen $600 before, that is crazy. But I have seen $100-200 many times for really big names. Maybe Joe Montana has expensive taste in planes and hotels and so he charges more. Or maybe he donates money to charity, so charging more equals bigger donations. Maybe he spent most of his earnings and feels the need to rake it in while he still can. Who knows his motives but I'm betting most of it does end up in his pocket.

Obviously this isn't always the case. Big stars may be compensated by the event organizers. But typically not. Same goes for big Hollywood movie stars at the comic and sci-fi conventions. They do these conventions on spec, basically. But they are usually charging $15 - 75 not hundreds.

The only free autographs I find these days are comic book folks. Writers, pencil guys and the inkers. They will auto for free. And I always see folks taking advantage of them. Typically a dealer who rolls up (literally) with a giant Rubbermaid filled with 20-30 books or more, which they are clearly going to sell later that afternoon at their booth. Whatever. The artists are the ones who should be paid. The athletes should give it away for free IMO.

BostonAmericans

I am not sure what the percentage breakdown is promoter to promoter. But earlier this year I went to a show in Marlborough MA to get a Bruins pennant signed by some members of the 1970 team. I think Esposito was close to $100, Bucyk and Sanderson around $70. Ken Hodge was going for around $40. Normally, I wouldn't pay that for anyone except this was a 1970 Stanley Cup pennant and getting it signed was my new big project. Anyways, a few weeks later, Hodge appeared at a local card show - $11 for the first autograph, $9 for any subsequent. I suppose it's a little basic economics - the Marlborough promoter charges so much because he can.

As for $600 guys - I think Jeter did a private signing shortly after retiring and was charging (or the promoter was charging) $600 per. No thanks.

GR

You think that they make the money when you pay that $200, but the real money is made in the back rooms of shows when they sign Thousands of pieces for dealers at discounted rates. Hence why you can buy items far cheaper on ebay usually. They may get say Ten K for three hours signing in the backroom and just cme out to sign for the public as a courtesy to fans. I remember going to my local shop and hearing the owner b#### about how lesean McCoy charge the same for the dealers as he did to the public and saying I shouldn't have brought anything im making no damn money. The promoters usually get that $200 you and 300 other people send, but then they make bank behind the curtains.

byronscott4ever

It would have to be the "right" person for me to pay more than a token fee for an autograph. That being said, I don't have as much problem with the older players doing it as many played before big salaries and pensions and health care were offered to all athletes as it is now. I'm amused when you see some rookie signing and they are charging more for his than an all-time great.

Dpeck100

I don't have a problem with the fees at all. The market determines the price. If it is to high the final results will speak for themselves and the signer will be forced to lower their fees.

There are certain items that can really explode with a signature on them. In the wrestling collectible world signed belts seem to get the highest prices hence the reason many charge more to sign one of those then a promotional photo.

A year back or so I read about Hank Aaron charging $500 to sign his rookie card. I see no problem with him wanting to participate in the upside profit opportunity.

goraiders

<< <i>I don't have a problem with the fees at all. The market determines the price. If it is to high the final results will speak for themselves and the signer will be forced to lower their fees.

Agree with this, If Montana has nobody in his line which I doubt then next show
he should lower his price, if his line is the longest well guess$600 isn't out of the question.

DanBessette

<< <i>a few weeks later, Hodge appeared at a local card show - $11 for the first autograph, $9 for any subsequent. >>



I loved that show when I went and met Gino Cappelletti. I think he was charging about the same. I remember it being around $30 total for my sons and I to get 3 autographs. Very reasonable.

blee1

This is why I don't need these guys signatures......

Guru

<< <i>Peyton Manning came out to Afghanistan in mid 2013. He signed everything in front of him even playing catch with a lucky few. His manager made him get up from the table and leave because he had a plane to catch. I've never seen an athlete sign so much while walking as slow as he possibly could. As his manager pressed him to step up the pace, he paused shrugged his shoulders and kept signing.

The funny thing was, he probably didn't know we got rocket attacked the previous day. I've always respected that man! >>



I live in Indianapolis and ran into Peyton at a Wendy's once. At one point, when he was here, we lived about 3-4 blocks away from each other. So occasionally I would see him out driving, but never ran into him. He was behind me in the drive thru and I paid for his meal. I pulled over to park and eat my lunch in the car, like I used to do. He pulled in beside me and thanked me and asked me if I wanted anything signed. I didn't really have anything, so he reached into his backseat, grabbed a photo and signed it.

He's a class act.

Andrew Luck is the same way. Also ran into Tony Dungy at an Italian place here. He was a couple of tables away, but I guess he caught us occasionally glancing over. He came over and asked how we were doing and if we were Colts fans and then signed some napkins for us.

MULLINS5

I have no problem with the fees.

What I have a problem with is no photo-ops. These prices should include the opportunity for fans to come around the table, sit by the player and have a photograph taken.

I live in Virginia, where we only had a couple hockey signers at a local Tough Stuff show AGES ago that was dominated by baseball stars such as Mickey Mantle and Pete Rose. But when I was a kid in 1995 I got to meet Mike Bossy, tied for my favorite player w/ Wayne Gretzky. I had to travel to Detroit Michigan to meet him, and luckily I had family up there to stay with. When I met Bossy my aunt told him that I came from VA to see him and he asked if I'd like to come around and have a picture taken with him. The guy (maybe promoter?) sitting next to him was asked by Bossy to move and I took his place for the picture. I'll never forget the look on the promoter's face when Bossy told him that. I can't remember what Bossy charged, but I think it was around $20 per item. I think he charges around $65 now?

Tony Esposito returned a TTM to me, I sent it back with a $20 check, he cashed it and signed the card for me. I had no problems with that.

Stone193

If I could catch Montana on the floor and shake his hand with a selfie, I could save some dough and buy a card like this for less than 70 clams shipped.



I do understand if someone wants to pay for the privilege of getting it signed in person with a photo.

mtcards

You know, for the guys that played before salaries went nuts, I dont blame them for asking decent amounts, since they didnt "cash in" while playing, but honestly, these guys that made millions upon millions while playing should charge LESS since they got theirs while playing.

Any auto over $100 in my opinion is nuts

LochNESS

<< <i>… I live in Virginia, where we only had a couple hockey signers at a local Tough Stuff show AGES ago that was dominated by baseball stars such as Mickey Mantle and Pete Rose. But when I was a kid in 1995 I got to meet Mike Bossy … >>

If you were a kid in 1995, how old were you when Mantle was doing shows and signing autos?

Mantle died in August 1995. Was he still doing shows in the early 90s?!?

If I'd know that I would've gone to see him.

RedHeart54

1986 was a lonnnng time ago. 12 bucks for a Mantle autograph- and 5 of that was just for the ball!

MULLINS5

<< <i>

<< <i>… I live in Virginia, where we only had a couple hockey signers at a local Tough Stuff show AGES ago that was dominated by baseball stars such as Mickey Mantle and Pete Rose. But when I was a kid in 1995 I got to meet Mike Bossy … >>

If you were a kid in 1995, how old were you when Mantle was doing shows and signing autos?

Mantle died in August 1995. Was he still doing shows in the early 90s?!?

If I'd know that I would've gone to see him. >>



I was 14 in 1995. Mantle did at least one show sometime before that in the 90s. I'd have to guess 1992 to 1994.

telephoto1

People are nuts to pay that kind of money for a sig from a prolific signer like Joe M. who's still young enough to be signing for decades to come.
If I want that any of that stuff I'll just wait and buy it on the aftermarket for a small fraction of the price when someone needing cash throws it online. I can wait.
When I was a kid I went to a small show in Springfield IL where Bob Gibson charged $5 for anything signed, and I believe part of that money went to a charity. Signed my ball, talked to me, thanked me and didn't rush me along.
Still have the ball.

LochNESS

<< <i>... Mantle did at least one show sometime before that in the 90s. I'd have to guess 1992 to 1994. >>

Wow that's cool. What a great sport. He totally could've retired from shows long beforehand. I thought he had. Kicking myself for not going to see him.