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MAB Celebrity is having Mike Piazza as an autograph guest in one of their up coming show. Last time Mike did a show on the East Coast was back in 2000. Check out the prices for bats! He will also NOT sign any game used items.
I've been with Cal to several MAB shows (including one just this past weekend in north Jersey) and can tell you that they (particularly Mollie & her husband Joe) are a class organization and really try to bring players in that the public want to see.
I'm a big Piazza fan but would never pay someone who made 90 million dollars over 6 years $199 - $600 dollars for an autograph. Its just another example of modern day player greed feeding off the average joe fan.
However there will be folks who will line up for a bat signature just like the ones who paid the astronomical prices to rub elbows with Arod and Barroid 2 years ago.
I could be wrong here but that is a price set by the promoter. The player gets a set fee for doing the show the promoter sets the prices for sigs at what he feels would support the demand.
Piazza is a pain to get signatures from. Last year when he was with San Diego he looked me square in the face and said no when I had a brand new baseball then continued to sign for other people then this year he signed a card for me during ST with the A's and thats it. He also broke a bat during BP that day and when I asked him for it he said he gave it away already and I know he hadn't because I watched him the entire time. If i remember correctly he has been very protective of his bats throught his career so much so that he had his bats locked away separate from the rest of the team while with the Mets.
How could you see any value in a non game usd bat signed by Piazza for $600. If you turned around and listed that same bat on ebay what do you think the market would pay for that bat? No where near $600. That seems absurd and I know the promoters set the price but what is Piazza charging for an appearance?
$600.00 for Piazza to sign a a non-game used autograph model bat? That's crazy. Even if you had a player issued bat (maybe one of Zane's "basically from the rack"), that's still an insane amount to consider. Although, I can't say that I'm surprised about Piazza's signing habits. I've got his signature before at Jack Murphy along the Dodger dugout when the Dodgers were playing the Padres. However, when I asked him to sign a baseball at Dodger Stadium when the Mets were visiting he said his hands were full. Mind you, he wasn't carrying anything. Also, this was before the gates even opened and the players were arriving at the stadium. (He did sign sparingly for others during the series as he was dropped off at the stadium) On another note, I appreciate this thread because Sid Fernandez will be signing, and I have some game used jerseys and bats that I'd like to get signed.
However, when I asked him to sign a baseball at Dodger Stadium when the Mets were visiting he said his hands were full. Mind you, he wasn't carrying anything.
Not to be smart, but often when someone says their "hands are full," they don't mean it literally.
As far as the $600 goes to sign a bat, I realize that it seems excessive to me, but understand that not all people who would do this are profiteers who would do it to "turn around and list on eBay the same day." There are many passionate collectors out there who collect theme bats (Rookie of the Year, etc.) and want to add that player to that and simply have to make a personal decision whether its worth it to them. I could use an example from last weekend of all the people who I saw come through line at the MAB show for Ripken. I think his fee was like $150 (not positive) for flats & balls and after he signed them they would not fetch anywhere near that on eBay (even for certified ones). You can buy properly certified Ripken balls on eBay for like $75-80, but people wanted the experience to meet Cal & see their item signed in person and were willing to pay a premium for such.
If every purchase I ever made was done with the mindset that could I list on eBay the next day and make money or at least recoup what I paid, I wouldn't have near the collection I have today.
On another note, I appreciate this thread because Sid Fernandez will be signing, and I have some game used jerseys and bats that I'd like to get signed.
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