Specifically, I am looking to get something autographed by Stan Musial for my grandfather. He is a huge fan and I’d like to give him a surprise gift of his favorite player.
There are plenty of sites that offer autographed pics, bats, etc. However, a lot of them look relatively amatuerish and I’d like to make sure I end up with something decent and at a decent price.
Any recommendations on places to look? As a side note, I am not looking for any particular item. I am looking for something of good quality that would make a good gift.
Specifically, I am looking to get something autographed by Stan Musial for my grandfather. He is a huge fan and I’d like to give him a surprise gift of his favorite player.
There are plenty of sites that offer autographed pics, bats, etc. However, a lot of them look relatively amatuerish and I’d like to make sure I end up with something decent and at a decent price.
Any recommendations on places to look? As a side note, I am not looking for any particular item. I am looking for something of good quality that would make a good gift.
Your best bet would be to find a card show or something like that, and obtain the autograph in person. That way you can get whatever you want signed, you will be able to be 100% certain that the autograph is legit, and you could even get the autograph personalized. Unfortunately, the only 2 upcomming Musial signings I could find right away are 2/9 in Missouri and 2/16 in San Francisco. Maybe you know someone in one of those places who could get the autograph for you? Costs of those autographs were like $65 - $80, and of course you supply the item to be signed.
Musial does have an “official” site at www.stan-the-man.com. They offer autographed items, including a ball for $85. I would almost definitely trust a site like that, but would hope to get a ceterficate of authenticity along with the purchase.
I probably wouldn’t buy something via eBay, unless I was very high on the seller. I’ve heard many stories/rumors of counterfeit autographs being sold on eBay. Then again, you may be able to find a reasonable deal from a reputable dealer, who knows?
Another thing you could try would local card shops. This would probably be pretty much hit or miss regarding finding the specific player you’re looking for, but you may get lucky. Again you would want to make sure you trusted the seller of any autograph you may find, these are fairly easy things to couterfeit. Try to get a COA if possible.
Good luck.
PS Apparently the Missouri show offers Musial autographs via mail. You may want to check out this link.
Check with the major card companies, like Upper Deck or Topps or Fleer. They have lots of different autographs, whether for sale directly (Upper Deck has a memorabilia store web site) or as part of their sets of baseball cards (check eBay for these. Here’s an example: [and no, it’s not my auction] http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20876&item=1987318562 ). Those companies have probably the best reputation in the business for authenticity. A COA from, say, Upper Deck, means a lot more than one from Tobacco Joe’s Baseball Cards and Collectables.
This is a reputable business in Beverly Hills, CA:
They have some ebay listings through their link. I knew a couple of people who worked there. I think you can contact them to see if they have what you want.
IIRC, the FBI did a study of this within the past year or two. They concluded that something like 85% of the autographed stuff out there was fake. I believe I read this in the LA Times.
I had a buddy that worked for an NBA team. One of his duties during the day was to sign autographs for the players. He said the requests that came in for autographs was unbelievable, and many players just didn’t want to sign. He signed a lot of team balls, which kind of bothered me (Only because they tend to go to raffles and charities). I’d hate to have paid for something like that. They never sent out a letter of authenticity, however, so I guess it wasn’t too evil (or illegal). I don’t know how wide-spread the practice is, but the story always made me look at the value of autographs differently. I guess he could have been BS’ing me, but I have no reason to doubt the story.
Unless you actually see your hero sign your item, I’d be dubious. I had no idea of the 85% stat, though.
I firmly believe that autographed items are only valuable if you get them autographed in person.
However, you can always contact someone’s agent/PR/publisher or whatever and they’ll usually arrange an autographed (by someone else or printed perhaps) photo - but that’s a bit perhaps.
As for dealers in autographed stuff - I think they are leeches frankly. SOOOO much stuff is not ‘legit’ that the small amount which is is terminally tainted by it.
Still - you can measure the honesty of a ‘star’ by the view of a professional autograph hunter.
I read on interview with one who said he hates Gillian ‘Scully’ Anderson because she is so generous with autographs that her signature is near-worthless on the open-market
