Sometimes you don't have a choice, but when you do...make it count! Now, some may even look at my choices and laugh or criticize. I am a "flat" kind of guy. I don't like to get balls, bats or other pieces of memorabilia signed if they are not flat. Harder to store, take up much more room and just not interesting to me. Perhaps some of the reason for balls and other memorabilia is a resale factor, but some people just prefer those items. Me, I like the flats! However...here are my thoughts on the topic anyway, whether or not you agree.
I observed people today at the ballgame, where I was planning to get Dave Stewart to sign some items for me. He was scheduled to show up and sign for free and I knew it ahead of time. I came prepared. I'm sure many of the people at this game didn't know and perhaps didn't care that he was appearing, even if some of those people still indulged. As I waited in line, I saw people with various items they planned to have signed. In addition, the team (I assume) was selling balls, photos and cards ($5 for a common Dave Stewart card, talk about captive audience!) among other items. Many people were buying them because they didn't have anything else to have signed.
One item in particular that I was disappointed to see was a 1990s era Fleer team logo sticker of the A's. Perhaps the person had a reason for getting this logo card signed. Maybe it was part of a project, maybe that was all they could find. Who knows, but I just cringe to think of all the items like that that are being signed. 1989 Donruss, 1990 Score, 1992 Topps! Sure, set and team collectors may need those. Maybe I am just a card snob when it comes to signed cards, but I always try to get the best cards signed. I would try to grab a rookie card, maybe a minor league issue, an insert or GU or something more than a common overproduced Topps card.
To each their own, but when it comes to those cards hitting the secondary market, I wish more people thought like me! No more 1990 Pacific Legends cards! Ahhhhhhh!
I observed people today at the ballgame, where I was planning to get Dave Stewart to sign some items for me. He was scheduled to show up and sign for free and I knew it ahead of time. I came prepared. I'm sure many of the people at this game didn't know and perhaps didn't care that he was appearing, even if some of those people still indulged. As I waited in line, I saw people with various items they planned to have signed. In addition, the team (I assume) was selling balls, photos and cards ($5 for a common Dave Stewart card, talk about captive audience!) among other items. Many people were buying them because they didn't have anything else to have signed.
One item in particular that I was disappointed to see was a 1990s era Fleer team logo sticker of the A's. Perhaps the person had a reason for getting this logo card signed. Maybe it was part of a project, maybe that was all they could find. Who knows, but I just cringe to think of all the items like that that are being signed. 1989 Donruss, 1990 Score, 1992 Topps! Sure, set and team collectors may need those. Maybe I am just a card snob when it comes to signed cards, but I always try to get the best cards signed. I would try to grab a rookie card, maybe a minor league issue, an insert or GU or something more than a common overproduced Topps card.
To each their own, but when it comes to those cards hitting the secondary market, I wish more people thought like me! No more 1990 Pacific Legends cards! Ahhhhhhh!
