Paying for autographs

[fordman]

Ive been paying for baseball player autographs for 20+ years now. At shows and appearances throughout the land. My buddy tells me how stupid I am for buying a player's autograph. He says thats what (in Cincy) Redsfest and getting to the ballpark early is for. My rebutal is; buying them, I am assured my autograph on my item the way I want it. Im not lugging a 24x36 poster to the ballpark or a fanfest in hopes to get an autograph and not get it visit after visit or hour after hour of waiting in line.

I asked how many player autographs he had. He said three. I've got over 500.

Am I wrong here?

What says you?

Fordman

 

[Waxov]

It depends what you enjoy. As you said you have a way you want it which is worth the price. I do some TTM and even when "free" if they dont respond you lose a card and a few stamps, which when you do that in bulk losses will eventually add up. The only one Ive paid for was a Dave Hendu for $5.

 

[gt2590]

To me, it's not a matter of right or wrong, just which one you prefer. Obviously, it's a personal choice but I have NO problem paying for the guys I want. It's up to their perference, just like what item do you wanna get signed. I prefer photos, but I'm not gonna rip a guy who doesn't.

I will say that it is harder and harder for IP autos, especially in the MLB and also for Adults. I will also say I work for a store that does Player appearances, just had "Big Ben" in fact. He was $200ish+ and there was plenty of folks there and they all seemed happy too...

 

[TwinsWin]

I've been on both sides of this, I have done the paid route and actually I prefer it. there is less pushing a fighting amongst the people and really at TwinsFest it hasn't been an issue yet for me. I have done the waiting at games and at Spring Training and I just really don't like the squeezed in feel that those areas make.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

There are a few "legends" that respond really well with hidden cash when you see them at games or Spring Training.

Best method...case of baseballs, two fanned $100s holding the edge away from the crowd and towards the field. It's slimy, but often works.

 

[VandyDan]

I prefer IP autographs. Once I get a guy in person, I tend not to seek out his cards as much.

I will say, the difference for me between paying for them at shows (which I've not done in about 12 years) and getting them at games, is that getting them at games just feels more organic to me, and allows me to put a distance between myself and the hounds who try to get a guy to sign 8 cards or something (not saying they are wrong to do that, but I prefer to not be associated with that aspect of autograph collecting). I like talking to the players before and after the game, and if we are having a conversation, I normally ask for an autograph at the end of it. But also, I don't ever really go to games to 'get' a player. I use the tried and true tradition of autograph books. I have a blank sheet and try to get some from each game I go to, and then tape the ticket to the paper and an index card explaining who all signed it.

I do want to get my Baltimore Ravens SB Champions Commemorative Tin of Old Bay signed by Joe Flacco. I imagine I'll have to pay to set that up.

 

[TBTwinsFan]

I do both, and I think both are great.

The main difference for me is that you have no guarantee at the ballpark for signers. I've had good days, and not so good days.

Of course, paid signers can cancel or not show up, but that hasn't happened to me too many times.

 

[GriffeyFan]

I do IP and buy.

Obviously its impossible to get Griffey at the ballpark now,BUT i've been fortunate enough to get some really,really nice IP signatures.I got Longoria,Price,Moore,Miguel Cabrera,and stupidly passed on a very nice gentleman named Felix Hernandez in the 4 games I went to last year.

I find the IP more enjoyable as I like meeting the players and 'the experience'.Also chatting with them,and walking away realizing these guys are just like us..Most of them being at/around my age group always makes it fun.

I also have a handful of Griffey autos,all that have been purchased that I really enjoy looking at.

 

[predatorkj]

Nothing wrong with it at all. My take is if you have a really nice item or something awkward to get signed, it's better at a paid signing. There is no rush and you pay to be picky about ink color and location. IP can be dangerous if you have a nice item. Or depending on what you use to get stuff signed. Seen plenty of paint pen smears and the like.

I think a lot of the IP stuff here sucks now. The athletes aren't wanting to sign outside items and a few places aren't allowing it whether the player is cool with it or not. As for getting people at the ball park or at a football stadium, it really is hit or miss. I think the last time I got anything at the ball park was about 2 years ago. Some of the guys ruin it because they hit up the hotel and then the game and then the hotel and they do it for all three days a team is here. And they do it every time the team is here. So the athletes see that and kinda stop signing as much.

 

[jrinne]

I will pay but its my last resort. To this day I have never paid for a single autographs and I have over 10,000 autographs. Going out to get another free autograph tonight, Carlos Correa.

 

[dano7]

I prefer free, such as TTM or getting autographs at the ball game. However, if it is somebody I really want, especially former Yankee players, I have no problem with paying. Like most said already, it is what you enjoy that really matters.
DANNY

 

[vwnut13]

I'll pay $250 to get a blue ink autograph instead of black ink.

 

[elmalo]

Whatever floats your boat. I have never paid for an at a signing and I dont ask guys for their autographs if I meet them. But if it is something that you enjoy than who cares what someone else thinks.

 

[Anthony]

For my collection, I will pay or do the ballpark/spring training/fanfest thing to get them free. I will definitely pay to get a star player to sign a RC for my collection if I have the money. I've sent in RCs to Ripken through his company because I'll probably never see him at a free event. I have well over 500 signed rookie cards, most of which I've got signed free.

In short, I guess my response to the question "Which is better? Paying for an auto or waiting around for hours to get one free?" my response is "Yes.".

 

[nofrills]

I LOVE getting auto's at the game, but when it comes to someone "special" or getting a "special" item signed, paying is worth it.
Unlike most, I'm not a big fan of getting cards signed at a game. Sure they're easy to carry, but personally I prefer 8X10's. Not as easy to carry back and forth to the stadium, but I feel they present better in general.
As for special items, I have a game used Arencibia bat that I will be paying to get signed next weekend. Not exactly something that i want to lug back and forth to ball games hoping that he will sign.

 

[Card Magnet]

I've only gotten into in-person autographs the past couple of years, so keep that in mind going forward.

I've never paid for an autograph. I've also never gotten autographs by asking at a game. I've only gone to free autograph sessions, and I've yet to have a bad experience *knock on wood*, so I wouldn't hesitate to get something special signed for free rather than a paid event.

Every free session I've gone to, I've left with a great looking signature, as have both my parents. All of the guys from Pirates Fest have always signed nice and neat, even Andrew McCutchen who was flooded with requests. The same goes for a couple of Penguins, Brett Keisel, and Kurt Angle.

Really, everyone took a few seconds to glance over what I've handed them, most of them mentioned something about the item (they're prints that I make on my computer so they're one of a kind items), and then went out of their way to sign either in the faded white area if there was one or in a spot the ink shows up. Anyone I asked to sign in gold has always granted my request.

A little spam - My TTM and IP Autographs Collection - my autographs if anyone wants to browse them.

 

[smapdi]

I'm not an autograph guy, but I understand the attraction. Something so simple, squiggling a pen across a piece of paper, is rather inconsequential to me yet can be momentous to the collector. It's pretty much like anything else where arbitrary rules have been set up by some small segment of society. Your friend is simply not into autographs the same way as you. He might like getting them, but he'll take whoever is around signing whatever he has at whatever opportunity his limited desire affords him. He probably likes the experience of getting the sig, those few moments of connection, more than the resulting autograph, and isn't willing to have an "artificial" experience over a dealer's table. You might value that time as well, but you value the autographs more, especially if you're assembling a specific group on a special item, and so are willing to pay for it rather than waiting for something given freely. There's no ultimate wrong or right, just what's wrong or right for you.