last night on ESPN an autograph story/comedy show autograph reference

I was watching ESPN and there was a sports autograph story on there.
They were talking about mostly sports autographs and how the times
have changed. They said it was in the 1980's that things became about
money and up till now, has steadily been increasing. One example was
Willie Mays. Mays' charged more than most and now commands 75,000 per
personal appeance... prices are expensive starting at 25.00 going into
HUNDREDS. For example, every bit of personalization costs extra. If
someone was a hall of famer, he might charge 5 dollars to 20 dollars
just for adding that to your item. Bats are higher priced etc...

Apparently, they are saying that it's with the advent of Ebay and
online auctions and sellers that is why a lot of the people don't sign
for the general public anymore.

there was one team who made it mandatory that players go out and sign
10-15 minutes before game times, but the players aren't happy about
it. They feel some of the little kids are shills for dealers. Also,
one player commented I don't have time to sign, but I can shake more
hands in the time that it takes to sign, so he'd shake hands with the
fans... he siad virtually NOBODY cares to meet them and shake hands
and that proves they are in it for the autograph above all else.

Also a comment was made during the show (the part where they showed
one pro basketball player signing an array of balls, shirts, photos,
that he never would refuse autographs to anyone as he still would like
to believe someone just wants it for their son's wall etc. But there
was a comment that many who do sign ttm are NOT signed by the players.
Signed by others on their behalf.

One other side note. Watched a TV show (comedy (forgetting the name)
where the guy is dating a movie star. Anyway, interesting comment
made the the stars sister says something like "the only thing I am
good at is faking her signature on fan photos" something like
that.... so what this is telling me is that this is more the norm
than we think.

Secretarials are pretty normal... I mean, think about all the
fanmail people get.. This is why I go after older stars, and bit players,
who actually aren't doing anything else . I've read many stories about
athletes having others sign for them for years.. Bench warmers get $5 a pop
for sitting at conventions and the people who buy from them are impulse
buyers thinking.. why not... it's only $5. TTM collecting is all about
believing. It's better then buying the 90% of fakes on ebay... why waste
$40 when you can attempt to get the samething for $1. Just my 2 cents...


Todd F.
--
Todd's Autograph Arena
http://www.toddsautographarena.com
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"dahoov2" wrote in message
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I was watching ESPN and there was a sports autograph story on there.
They were talking about mostly sports autographs and how the times
have changed. They said it was in the 1980's that things became about
money and up till now, has steadily been increasing. One example was
Willie Mays. Mays' charged more than most and now commands 75,000 per
personal appeance... prices are expensive starting at 25.00 going into
HUNDREDS. For example, every bit of personalization costs extra. If
someone was a hall of famer, he might charge 5 dollars to 20 dollars
just for adding that to your item. Bats are higher priced etc...

Apparently, they are saying that it's with the advent of Ebay and
online auctions and sellers that is why a lot of the people don't sign
for the general public anymore.

there was one team who made it mandatory that players go out and sign
10-15 minutes before game times, but the players aren't happy about
it. They feel some of the little kids are shills for dealers. Also,
one player commented I don't have time to sign, but I can shake more
hands in the time that it takes to sign, so he'd shake hands with the
fans... he siad virtually NOBODY cares to meet them and shake hands
and that proves they are in it for the autograph above all else.

Also a comment was made during the show (the part where they showed
one pro basketball player signing an array of balls, shirts, photos,
that he never would refuse autographs to anyone as he still would like
to believe someone just wants it for their son's wall etc. But there
was a comment that many who do sign ttm are NOT signed by the players.
Signed by others on their behalf.

One other side note. Watched a TV show (comedy (forgetting the name)
where the guy is dating a movie star. Anyway, interesting comment
made the the stars sister says something like "the only thing I am
good at is faking her signature on fan photos" something like
that.... so what this is telling me is that this is more the norm
than we think.