Why are purchased/sold autographs so sought after?

[Mephistopheles Janx]

I gotta think we have a few people in house that are autograph hounds or have a bunch of memorabilia that is autographed. Figured this would be a good place to ask...

why? I'm not asking in a judgmental looking down sort of way. People have their hobbies.

My brother gave me a mini helmet autographed by Jamaal Charles with a COA that sits on my desk which inspired the question. I derive greater value in the fact that my brother thought of me and spent his money to give it to me over the fact Jamaal Charles signed it and someone printed a "yup... he signed it" certificate. He knew Charles was my favorite player at the time and even he assigned additional value to the item because Charles had signed it.

I've never really understood the appeal of ones that are purchased. Like... I think about the time I got Okoye's autograph as a kid and it is a great memory but I was physically there. I then put the card in a plastic hard case and gave it to my buddy. Double great memory.

Jumping online and ordering one, to me, just doesn't have that same effect.

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What is it about autographs that you buy online or at a local shop that makes you want them and spend money on them?

TIA

[Mephistopheles Janx]

Originally Posted by poolboy

Where can I get my Pokemon cards signed

If you ever find out lemme know. I wanna spend time with Jesse… asking questions.

[scho63]

I had Chris Jones autograph my ding dong.

He could only fit the Ch

[Bump]

people either like to collect them or think it will be valuable some day.

[DaFace]

I'd be curious to know if there's a generational difference to valuing autographs. I feel like younger folks would rather have a selfie than an autograph.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I'd be curious to know if there's a generational difference to valuing autographs. I feel like younger folks would rather have a selfie than an autograph.

That's because they value their own face more than that of anyone else. If their face isn't in it then it's worthless by default...

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I'd be curious to know if there's a generational difference to valuing autographs. I feel like younger folks would rather have a selfie than an autograph.

Define "younger".

You went in the opposite direction of my initial reaction to your statement. I grew up in a place not near any sports teams, so maybe I was out of touch, but I feel like in my youth autographs were really only for personal use. I wasn't aware of an industry around buying and selling autographs. I only became aware of that perhaps 15 or 20 years ago.

[HayWire]

i think it more about "proof" that you met someone famous. i would never pay for an autograph but if there was an opportunity that wouldn't be intrusive i would definitely ask for mahomes.

when i dressed for games i had a big "jacket" that has more autos than i can count.

But for those who intentionally ask for them please leave a player/coach alone unless it arises. its annoying as **** to see people hounding them eating while eating grocery shopping etc.

Just my 4¢

[arrowheadnation]

Because they make my man cave look bad ass…

[lewdog]

I like collecting sports memorabilia and autographs, I always have since being a kid.
I have a lot of signed baseballs: some bought, some gifts and many I got in person.

Koufax, Stargell, Salvy, Moustakas (he gave me ball and signed it), Alex Gordon, Nick Lowry (sat by at Dbacks game).

[Valiant]

They are like the stock market for collectables.

Autos and rookie year signatures are huge speculation pieces to people that are not fans.

Mahomes 1 of 1s were 1000 his rookie year. Now a million.
His normal numbered auto cards can be 6 figures.

My cousin was doing it for a while. But he has been a collector for decades. Got too expensive. He is kicking himself in the butt now. Guess he had some trout 1 of 1 rookies and tiger woods rookies. Sold them before the market exploded.

[arrowheadnation]

Here’s a more serious example. I bought this for $1000 back in 2012. It’s currently worth roughly $90,000-$100,000. When I started collecting back in the late 90’s, I never dreamed of a day when my hobby would pay off my mortgage.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Define "younger".

You went in the opposite direction of my initial reaction to your statement. I grew up in a place not near any sports teams, so maybe I was out of touch, but I feel like in my youth autographs were really only for personal use. I wasn't aware of an industry around buying and selling autographs. I only became aware of that perhaps 15 or 20 years ago.

Maybe there's a sweet spot in there then. In the early 90s, I had lots of friends who were into collecting player cards and autographs, but it doesn't feel like there's the same market these days.

To the broader question in the OP, though, I don't personally get it much. I mean, it's kind of cool to own something that's autographed, but I wouldn't pay much for it. I think I own one autographed item (hockey stick signed by Gabe Landeskog), and I got it at a charity auction that came with tickets worth more than I paid for the bundle.

[Katipan]

I don’t think it’s much of a flex anymore when you can just pay for cameos.

Or publicly post wildly inappropriate DMs.

Lewdog can get Lowry for $39.
While I’m looking at this, Jared Allen for $270? Wtf
Ok. 😂😂😂 who is the asshole CPer going as the Grim Reaper for $15?

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

I used to collect them. My fervor has cooled down.

But I did send cards to Ace Parker, Johnny Lujack and Charley Trippi. All three signed.