My Parrish request perished

[mort]

I'd like to think of it as they should feel a certain debt of gratitude to their fan base.

I agree - mostly. I think if a former player wants to not be bothered after retiring (Ricky Wright, Mike Ivie for example), then they have the right to do so. They have contributed to the game of baseball and they have turned the page with their career and life.

I believe current and former players have the right to charge whatever they want for their signature. Simple economics will decide whether they will either (a) have a steady revenue stream or (b) have limited or zero revenue from the price they demand.

 

[CW13]

i agree that i would like to think they should feel a certain debt of gratitude to their fan base. i was just commenting on his "it's a joke" statement.

 

[mrmopar]

Wright is a good example of the frustrations of collecting a certain theme and running into this issue with signing habits and scarcity. He was certainly no star player. In fact, I doubt I would even bat an eye at the improbability of getting his signature because of his signing habits, except that he appeared for the Dodgers and I'd like to have a signature of as many Dodger players as possible. There are plenty of tough players who I have no desire to obtain and may only pick up if I had a chance at a screaming deal, and then only for the possibility of trading or selling it to obtain something I would want more.

To take that a step further for the sake of set collectors, I would like to have every one of his basic Dodger cards signed, but at the moment would take anything, because I do not have an example of his signature in my collection.

Now, because of his self imposed habit of not signing and the scarcity it has created, I have to pay more for one if it even becomes available. I am somewhat willing to do so, but like in the case of Mike Marshall, another short time Dodger who has done the same thing, the prices seen are completely unrealistic to me and thus crush my dream of obtaining all of those different cards signed (I have a Marshall signature, but not on any vintage cards and he has several that I would love to have signed).

Just think of the happiness these players could create in us collectors if they just signed a few autographs every once in a while!

I agree - mostly. I think if a former player wants to not be bothered after retiring (Ricky Wright, Mike Ivie for example), then they have the right to do so. They have contributed to the game of baseball and they have turned the page with their career and life.