OT: Advice for building an autograph collection
Autographed baseballs, specifically. I recently decided that I want to start acquiring autographed baseballs from some of the greats and my favorite players. I just started doing some research, but was curious if anyone else on the board has a similar hobby.
I know to look for authenticated memorabilia (PSA/JSA seem to be the most reliable?), but wondered what else I should look for. Are there specific dos/don'ts for buying online? Is it beneficial to trying to find a dealer to work with, and if so, how do you go about that?
Any advice from veteran collectors would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to share your prized piece and most coveted if you're a collector.
April 21st, 2017 at 11:04 AM ^
My advice is to enjoy meeting the athletes but don't stalk them. Also dont do it as an investment, do it for the love of collecting. Agree that there are mostly fakes out there.
I have tons on cards and signed items but no longer collect them. My favorite cards are 1969 Topps NBA tallboys. Lots of rookie cards. NBA cards
One favorite autographed item is a ball signed by the 1940 Yankees including Joe DiMaggio. My father in law was very sick as a child. The guy who sold the hot dogs to the vendors at Yankee Stadium was a neighbor of his. Mr Hot dog got to go to Yankee spring training and had them sign a ball for a very sick boy, who thankfully recovered. The thing to do back then, which my FIL did, was to shellack the ball, which decreases the value. DiMaggios signature is good but some have faded. It's worth $400 maybe, but I'll never sell it. If had gotten sick a year earlier I would have had Lou Gerhrig,my favorite player ever, though. My FIL and I laugh about that...
I was at a book show in Chicago many years ago. There were 100s of booths of authors and publishers promoting their books. Incredibly Gordie Howe is in a booth alone promoting his book " And Howe!". I almost fall to my knees like I have seen the Messiah and tell Mr. Howe what a rabid Wings fan I am, how my dad took me to my first game at the Olympia and he had his famous Gordie hat trick,etc etc. He then shakes my hand (almost crushing my small hands) and thanks me for being a fan. Then he tells stories for 15 minutes and signs all sorts of items for me. What an incredible talent and nice guy Gordie was.
Finally for my 40th birthday my wife won an auction for me to have lunch with Ernie Harwell. I don't know how much she paid but it was worth every penny. Ernie was the perfect human I wish I could be. So kind and modest. I have an autograph of him and Paul Carey in the old crows nest booth at Tiger Stadium hanging down from the second deck. Ernie told many great stories in that wonderful voice. That autograph is on my desk and I want in my coffin when I pass on.
April 21st, 2017 at 11:16 AM ^
Great story. Thanks for sharing. And my sole purpose for collecting is because I love the game an it's history so much. It's a shame that so many people give the hobby a bad name. I'd just like to be able to preserve some of that history and be able to tell stories to my kids and pass the stuff along.
April 21st, 2017 at 11:55 AM ^
For UM football I have gotten memorabilia signed by dropping it off at Schembechler Hall, UM golf outings, the annual bust (years ago) and Bowl Games. There are many charity auctions such as Motts that have nice items. You do have to invest time and money. .. I thought I'd pass things on to my kids but the younger generation is not into autographs much... I have a selfie with Charles Woodson which they think is a lot cooler. Probably similar to my parents who are saving their antique furniture for me to inherit and my wife has zero interest in it,lol.
April 21st, 2017 at 12:32 PM ^
The Ernie Harwell lunch would have been among my dream gifts. Many summer nights in my childhood were spent drifting away in bed listening to his soothing voice. As an adult, I had the propensity to nod off if I listened to Ernie long enough - a definite symptom of falling asleep listinening to him as a child.
April 21st, 2017 at 11:18 AM ^
April 21st, 2017 at 12:05 PM ^
You're right about having things certified, especially PSA/JSA. Be very careful buying things online. People can make up a random certification which, at the end of the day doesn't really mean or prove anything. Also, if you're in Michigan, Detroit City Sports is a pretty good place for Michigan pro sports athletes of past and present to look at. Look for different trade shows and sports autograph stores like DSP because they will have different athletes come in and sign things in store so you can be there and see/meet whoever's autograph you are getting, which is the way I got my Stafford and Calvin signed mimi-helmets and my Yzerman and Cabrera signed jerseys. I have signed Jordan and Woodson jerseys I got online, but that was after some serious vetting by the sites and dealer I was getting it from. Autographed pictures are usually the cheapest and it'll cost you less to go online and buy a decent frame with precut mat board than to get one that comes already framed. If you're looking online, I don't even touch anything on ebay. There are some pretty good sites, I know sportsmemorabilia.com is pretty good, but I'd still be careful. Also I agree with the poster above about enjoying it. Two of my favorite autographs are Gordie Howe and Bo Schembechler. Gordie was signing bobblehead dolls of himself at Great Lakes Crossing mall about 15 years ago and my brother and I just hopped in line and he talked with each person for a few seconds, it was great. Bo was just sitting in a bookstore signing one of his books and my mom and I just went up, bought one and had him address it to me and sign it. The ones you get in person are always a lot more meaningful than the ones you get online, but if you're serious about getting x player, sometimes you have no other option.
April 21st, 2017 at 12:57 PM ^
Are a must have. I was stunned to see how quickly pen or marker fades without a UV case
1) get autographs
2) save autographed stuff
3) ???
4) profit
Don't and use the money to help others instead of reinforcing narcissism. /steps down from pulpit
April 22nd, 2017 at 10:25 AM ^
A little OT, but I was at the Cavs-Pacers game Thursday night in Indy. Long story short: we were sitting within spitting distance of the Cavs' bench, about 20 feet from Andrew Luck too. We saw ourselves on TV all night during the game. At halftime, people were getting autographs from Larry Bird. Joe Haden was nearby too, on the floor. And, I got to say hello to our beloved Zak Irvin.
April 23rd, 2017 at 12:59 AM ^
I can offer you substantial assistance if you want to post an email for contact.
I have spent many years in the industry.