Willie Mays $695 for an auto on jersey?!?

[Joeycola]

The November Chicago Suntimes Show - Willie Mays $695 for an autograph on a jersey. Seems extremely high... is this the norm for what he charges?

[gingi79]

Re: Willie Mays $695 for an auto on jersey?!?

Yup, that's common for him now.

Willie is the last of that generation's top tier still living. Mantle, Dimaggio, Duke, Stan, all gone (I know I'm missing a few)

I have an 8x10 from Bonds company signed by Mays of "The Catch" which I gave my dad for one Fathers Day and it cost me like $100. It's framed and looks pretty classy next to my first generation M&N rookie Willie Mays NY Giants jersey. I was saddened to learn it's partner, a Mantle photo and matching rookie M&N jersey was a fake thanks to the selflessness of collector Sammy on this board. He was right about the DiMaggio I saw signed in person and Has been quite helpful in the past.

My advice would be to seek his advice on obtaining this item for much less through other channels.

[both-teams-played-hard]

Re: Willie Mays $695 for an auto on jersey?!?

Yup, that's common for him now.

Willie is the last of that generation's top tier still living. Mantle, Dimaggio, Duke, Stan, all gone (I know I'm missing a few)

I didn't realize Stan Lopata had passed. RIP

[Birdbats]

Re: Willie Mays $695 for an auto on jersey?!?

Stan the Man is still among the breathing. He's not in great health, but he's doing better than Teddy, Mickey and the Duke. And I think you have to include Mr. Aaron in the top tier.

[both-teams-played-hard]

Re: Willie Mays $695 for an auto on jersey?!?

Stan the Man is still among the breathing. He's not in great health, but he's doing better than Teddy, Mickey and the Duke. And I think you have to include Mr. Aaron in the top tier.

In the very top.

[godwulf]

Re: Willie Mays $695 for an auto on jersey?!?

It's just my opinion, of course, but as far as I'm concerned, there's top tier as a player, and then there's top tier as someone who treats fans fairly and generously, and represents the sport well in his interactions with them. Mays is certainly the former, but I've heard enough horror stories about how he treats his fans - even paying fans, at signings - to seriously question whether he can be considered the latter.

For years I've listened to people trying to justify players' rudeness, players' greed, and players' huge egos by pointing out how much money other people make off of their images and signatures and memorabilia, and I don't buy it. You can't not sign, unless you're paid ridiculous sums to do so, making your autograph so scarce that its value soars, and then justify charging $700 for a signature because "somebody else is going to turn around and sell it for more". It's a ridiculous, circular argument.

[gingi79]

Re: Willie Mays $695 for an auto on jersey?!?

I was thinking Teddy Ballgame when I typed Stan the Man. Mea Culpa.

Mays taught his godson exactly how worthless fans are and how to treat them as poorly as possible. I was glad to get the photo signed without meeting him as I didn't want to ruin my fathers youthful memories. Let him remember Mays for his ability rather than his personality.

And not to steer the thread totally off base and offend people but I don't think Aaron is a top tier player like Mick, Duke or Ted.

A) I am a Braves fan.
B) He is the HR champ in my opinion.
C) I love him as a person and respect him as a player

BUT

He is a stat compiler, a good but not amazing player and was lucky enough to be healthy and consistently good but not great for more years than nearly any player, ever. Much like guys with 20 plus seasons hitting .260 with 250 hrs and 1500 rbi's don't belong in the HOF just because their genetic luck and work outs got them to 3000 hits. Never being the best player (or even consistent top 3) in your league let alone the sport at your position seems to be overlooked as long as you have the magic number of hits. Aaron got in the Hall because of one number which means he was good but certainly not (in my opinion) a Ted Williams or a Willie Mays. Frankly, I can rattle off 50 outfielders in MLB history who I would pick in their prime before Hank.

[Joeycola]

Re: Willie Mays $695 for an auto on jersey?!?

I think I'll pass on the Mays jersey... although my 500 hr bat needs a Mays autograph... I'll keep my fingers crossed that he's some-what a nice guy!!

[godwulf]

Re: Willie Mays $695 for an auto on jersey?!?

Mays taught his godson exactly how worthless fans are and how to treat them as poorly as possible.

From what I've read, the whole "godson" thing is pretty much overblown, Bonds being something like six years old before Mays ever saw him or became his "godfather". At any rate, from what I've also read, Bobby Bonds certainly did his share in poisoning his son's mind in any number of ways.

[camarokids]

Re: Willie Mays $695 for an auto on jersey?!?

BUT

He is a stat compiler, a good but not amazing player and was lucky enough to be healthy and consistently good but not great for more years than nearly any player, ever. Much like guys with 20 plus seasons hitting .260 with 250 hrs and 1500 rbi's don't belong in the HOF just because their genetic luck and work outs got them to 3000 hits. Never being the best player (or even consistent top 3) in your league let alone the sport at your position seems to be overlooked as long as you have the magic number of hits. Aaron got in the Hall because of one number which means he was good but certainly not (in my opinion) a Ted Williams or a Willie Mays. Frankly, I can rattle off 50 outfielders in MLB history who I would pick in their prime before Hank.

Aaron has a lifetime batting average of .305 for 23 seasons. Hit over .300 14 seasons. Hit .292, .298 and .287 in three other seasons. Hit over 30 or more HR's in 15 seasons. 40 or HR's in 8 seasons!

Went 20 for 55 .364 batting avg. in the two World Series he played in!!!

What hurt Hank was playing on a crappy team most of his career.

[trsent]

Re: Willie Mays $695 for an auto on jersey?!?

Willie Mays only makes public autograph appearances for top dollar and people pay it to spend a few seconds with their hero. High priced? Sure, but there isn't any other options if you want to witness Willie sign anymore.

Remember when Bonds and A-Rod signed for $1100.00 the pair a few years ago? Willie Mays is a bargain versus those prices and he will never have a controversy about using questionable drugs.

[frikativ54]

Re: Willie Mays $695 for an auto on jersey?!?

For years I've listened to people trying to justify players' rudeness, players' greed, and players' huge egos by pointing out how much money other people make off of their images and signatures and memorabilia, and I don't buy it. You can't not sign, unless you're paid ridiculous sums to do so, making your autograph so scarce that its value soars, and then justify charging $700 for a signature because "somebody else is going to turn around and sell it for more". It's a ridiculous, circular argument.

I couldn't agree with you more. There is no justification for players' entitled attitudes, which so poison professional sports. You wonder how much is enough for some of these guys. $695 for scribbling one's name on a jersey?!?! That's pretty crazy. I wouldn't pay a sixth of that for Mays's John Hancock.

And sadly, the fans have bought in - if people are willing to fork over the money, Mays can continue to charge the fee. For that price, you can get a couple of pairs of a star player's spikes, several hats, or even a piece of original art. That's why I refuse to patronize people like Mays.

A good example of greed is that through TriStar, Randy Johnson wanted $175 per photograph with a fan. If someone is going to charge me that much, I expect CD copies of the photo(s), professional-quality lighting, and as many photos as it takes to get a keeper. TriStar hardly does any of these things.

[frikativ54]

Re: Willie Mays $695 for an auto on jersey?!?

Remember when Bonds and A-Rod signed for $1100.00 the pair a few years ago? Willie Mays is a bargain versus those prices and he will never have a controversy about using questionable drugs.

That doesn't make Mays any less of a jerk, if Bonds and A-Rod are more greedy. To tell the truth, I wouldn't pay more than $65 for any of their autographs. And that's on a day where I'm feeling generous.

However, I would take a nice guy who used performance enhancing drugs over a complete jerk who can't even treat the fans well. Honestly, I don't care what the players do, so long as they are humane toward those who ultimately pay their salaries, namely the fans.

[frikativ54]

Re: Willie Mays $695 for an auto on jersey?!?

Willie Mays only makes public autograph appearances for top dollar and people pay it to spend a few seconds with their hero. High priced? Sure, but there isn't any other options if you want to witness Willie sign anymore.

And judging by the ambiance of these shows, you aren't going to be spending a few seconds with your hero. He will scribble his name and then have security bark you away for being a threat, if you try to ask for an inscription or a photograph. I know from experience.

[coxfan]

Re: Willie Mays $695 for an auto on jersey?!?

Aaron not only hit .305 lifetime despite playing to an advanced age, he is also third all time in base hits. ( Behind the singles hitters Rose and Cobb). Even if you subtract all his HR's he still had over 3000 hits. He also leads all time in total bases, ahead of Musial who was the former leader. He's one of the top five in runs scored, I believe, as well as # 1 in RBI's.

It's not luck but talent that extends a major-league career. Aaron was simply a better player at a certain age than others at that same age. Ruth was no longer a major-league caliber player at the age Aaron was still a star.
I agree that Ted Williams needs consideration for the best, given his years of military service. He would have hit around 700 HR's otherwise.

What hurt Aaron was:

1) He wasn't a Yankee, or another New York player. If he had been, he'd be treated like an unquestioned demigod.

2) He spoke out against the vicious racism of the time. He had much personal experience from being one of the first blacks in the South Atlantic League. When approaching the HR record, his daughter had to be placed under special protection because of a kidnapping plot, and he and his family received almost daily death threats. Neither Ruth, Williams, or Musial had to deal with that.