Tri-Star has ruined the autograph experience at the National. First year I am not getting a thing signed - I can’t justify paying those prices!

Mike, do what you want to do! As long as you can afford it, display your slabbed cards in a shadow box , bc Life is too short!! Let’s go Panthers 🐆!!

Hide out in the parking lot and get for free or in the lobby where they are stayy

Paying for signatures used to be fun and affordable. Now it's just a wallet drain. These prices, an increase from last year are comical. On most, they will sign a handful for the public and the rest will be done privately for the dozens of people who get backroom deals. These guys are signing so much nowadays that their prices are dropping and plentiful. I need Brett and Schmidt to finish a project and I just can't pay their prices.

Mike, I wish you the best with your National autos dilemma! BTW, just looking at your list, you have fantastic penmanship! 😊👊 P.S. Awesome Mize auto!

I think you are on the right path. I have a VIP pass for the national and I'm still not waiting to pay outrageous prices for them to sign their name. I get why guys do it. But I agree with Keating. I'd rather have the experience and memories of actually meeting the player and shaking their hand. But that's me. Thanks Mike for all you do!

I'm a lot like you, I love all kinds of sports. Baseball is number 1 and football number 2. I even love bathtub racing up in the town of Nanaimo on the beautiful Vancouver Island in B.C. 🇨🇦. 🤣It's far down on my sports love list but it's there. Your wife's love for Ripken is like my Mom's love for Buster Posey. Never want to show her my Posey relic cards.

Those prices are really jacked up! Young was here in March at a local show and his auto was about 80 then. It’s the National tax. Sad.

I agree they're too expensive. I was going to get a few autos but when I saw the prices I'm only going to get My Johnny Bench rookie card signed.

“Johnny Mize isn’t signing anymore”. Is that a polite way of saying he passed away in 1993

Baseball cards and autographs shouldn't be something anyone struggles over...either pay up or forget it...the real question is "what do you do with all the cards once you own them?"

Too expensive for me, would put that money into cards. But you’re an autograph collector more than I am. Nice to get them in person.

Thanks for the video!!! You just validated for me that having autographs is not for me. I currently have three cards with autos. One was a gift and the other two came autographed and I really like the cards, with or without the autos. I know adding autos makes the items more unique, but that isn’t important to me. If it is to you, and you can afford them, then get them signed. You’re the only person that needs to appreciate your collection. Even though I collect very differently than you, I have always loved your video content. If you keep making them, I will keep watching.

It's incredible to me how much the prices have risen on the in person autograph experience at the National. It's kind of sad how expensive it's gotten. I feel like at what point does it stop going up!

I wouldn't do it,but that's me,I would put the money towards cards!

I used to love going to signings. I’ve just about stopped because everyone’s fee is now out of control. If it’s a unique item, you can justify it. Other than that, buy one for half the price you could have them sign the item for when you see it for sale.

Im skipping the autos this year.... I MIGHT do 1, but im already asking myself why in the world I would even think about it

Autos prices at the national always gives me heartburn. I literally need to re-budget my national funds spending every year, like I am preparing for retirement or something. Days of work. I am a big inscription guy, so it adds up. For me I look at a few things when deciding who I need to get autos. 1) (Most Important) how old is the player. I usually look at the list of signers and see who is getting up there in age. That plays a big part. 2) How often do they sign. If its every year, I can hold off on some. If it's rare to see him sign, that plays a role. 3) How scarce is the product I am looking to get signed. Are there a lot of examples out there. Is it rare for one to come up on auction. What's the pop report. Maybe you can take your list and look at some of those factors. Good luck.

I just saw the autograph prices for the national. Absolutely obscene. $25-$30 just to get in per day. No thanks. I don't even think the VIP packages are that good.

Might as well get it done before next year’s price increase. It is the curse of the collector! #ouch

Gave a video like. Enjoyed hearing your thought process. Thanks for sharing

I would have to have a really unique item to consider paying those autograph prices. Those Cal Ripken's look great, and it a plus that Julie will love them too😜

Actually Frank Thomas Price isn't that bad last Chicago show he charged 150 and 175 for his his rookie card to be signed but I agree these prices are crazy

Part of the reason I've never been able to get into autos. Just too darn expensive. I would like to meet Johnny Bench, but don't even want to stand in line and pay for ONE auto, LOL.

You have to already know thee answer to your question! I’ve known a LOT of guys over the years who have collected autographs, whether sports or celebrity, and every single one of them lost a small fortune when they had to sell for one reason or another. They all regretted the time/effort/money they put into it just to come out on the losing end. It’s a no-win proposition other than the joy it might bring you and honestly I would get the same satisfaction acquiring items that will actually retain their value down the road.

Those autograph prices are crazy! I’m wondering if this will be more of the norm, especially at places like the National. I’m assuming they think people will pay crazy prices for the experience of getting autos at the National. It’s like the crazy prices of food at places like ball games and Disneyland. They charge crazy prices because they know people will pay it. I think you have a good strategy to only get the autos on the customs and Diamond Kings that are hard to find. I don’t follow signing prices that closely, but you may be able to save money by sending them into other signings. Depends on if the experience of you getting them signed in person is worth the extra money to you. Good luck! That’s a tough decision when you’re talking about that kind of money.

I can’t believe a closer charges $300…WTF?!

Good to know that PSA did your Lefty right, and quickly. A really nice Johnny Mize. Those Tristar auto prices are ridiculous to me. I have a ticket stub from Pedro's 17-strikeout one-hitter vs. the Yankees -- best game I've seen pitched in person and it would be great to have him sign it. Not for $207, though.

It would be worth about $200 to get them signed but back in the day it would cost you 0 the players signed stuff to be nice

Pricing themselves out of a market. Or at least my market!

Prices have jumped since last year. I have the VIP pass, but not sure how much I am going to get out of it. Seems like all signers are approaching $200 mark…..you can buy most already signed on something for much cheaper. A lot of it is the experience of meeting the person I guess.

If I collected autos, those prices would make me stop lol

I had the exact same reaction

Hi Mike. I am very happy that I have very little (if any) interest is autographs anymore. Ripken has ALWAYS been my #1 favourite player since he started playing. I did get a Jersey and bat signed by him, which I got in person at the Toronto Expo show, back in 2018. At that time to get those two items signed cost me $275 Canadian a piece. That also included a picture with him, which I cherish more because my son was with me and was also in the picture. It certainly can add up when you are looking at multiple autos, so I understand how tough of a decision it can be. Talk soon my friend.

Auto prices are out of control. I’m Canadian and Ortiz would be close to 500$ CAD. Sometimes older players will have reasonable prices, but recent guys are way too expensive for 5 seconds of their time. You have to really be a huge fan to spend that much. I only get certain things signed. There has to be a good reason. I had a chance to have two players on the same dual player card sign in Toronto, one of them, Marcel Dionne will sign at his booth for free if you buy a 15$ signed puck from him. Last week in Montreal, I got a former player to sign and inscribe that the stick blade I showed him, which apparently was his, was possibly his. How far will I go for a joke, apparently 75$.

I am also appalled at the autograph prices at the National. As a kid growing up in the 80's we could wait in the parking garage after the game and get autographs from any star player or go to a card show and pay $10-$25 tops for HOF'ers autos. Why have players become so unattainable? I would really like to get some of my rookie cards signed Bench, Rice, Sanders, Marino but my dilemma is other than the cost of the autograph is all of these cards are already slabbed some in high grades Rice PSA 9 Sanders PSA 10 do I risk cracking them out and resubmitting them taking the chance they will come back in the same grade. I seems like they are grading harder now a days. I posed this question to Graig from MidLife and he suggested keeping the grade tab/plate or whatever they are call and resubmitting right there at the National. To crack or not to crack that is the question.

I got back into the hobby about 1 1/2 years ago after a 25+ year break, and this coming National will be my first. I bought the VIP All-Access months ago. As TriStar was releasing names, I bought rookie cards of all the big names in EX-NM shape, especially since I intended to get them autographed. Well, I am a numbers guy....with these prices, it is not worth getting the auto because you can buy a PSA 7 (with PSA 10 auto) or a better card for cheaper. however... It looks like I made a FOMO mistake by buying the Platinum pass, too; thinking about getting my money back for that... (I should have known better because I am a 'numbers' guy, but I can still fix it.) The big point here is that WOW! Prices are crazy!

I am in full agreement with you here Mike. The only reason to get something signed in person anymore is if you have some form of personalized item, or some item that is difficult to find signed and you really want to get it signed. Items like base cards, like your diamond king cards, should never be brought to a show for live signatures. I am a Mike Schmidt Superfan. The last Philly show that I saw him signing at he wanted $175 per signature. I can buy three pack issued signed cards that I don’t have yet for that price. The promoters are charging way too much for the signatures. Which means to me the athletes are probably asking way too much. Let the debate begin.

I'm in the one game at a time mode for the Timberwolves. Great season, ran into a tough Mavs team. I don't get expensive in-person autographs anymore. That has passed me by. I like bargains like the 27 NFL & MLB HOF autographs I found at Rich Kleins show for $5 each that included Reggie, Rickey, Yogi, Doby etc. Still have to get them slabbed, but my kind of price.

I figure I’ll probably only go to National once, so I have bought 6 auto tickets. The really expensive ones I figure I’ll just buy already done/ graded, so I skipped them. But I have a particular card I want signed by Johnny Manziel and I just wanted the experience of getting Clemens, Thome, Carlton, Garvey and Parker. None of them are at the top of the price list, so I figured why not

I feel like tri star is taking advantage of people with those prices. They should all be half that or less. Pray about it Mike. If you have a peace about it, then do it. If not, then don't.

I would never pay a Man to sign a card for me but I’m not you and your rich so imma Mind my business

At least you don't need Pujols. I never forget not getting Mantle at the '94 National because he wanted too much ($80). Now I don't pass someone IP at the National if I need them.

It's definitely a money grab, I recently got a Thomas auto at a signing. I wanted a unique piece as he is doing signings just about every weekend. You can buy most of his recent autos for 1/3 to half of what he charges to sign. Your paying for the experience I guess.

The custom perez steele is going to be a rather niche market since its custom, for the price point id say no, because im not sure you will get your money back in them graded if you ever sold them. On the flip side the auto would be 1 of a kind situation all in the eye of the beholder go with your gut Mike, maybe get 1 or 2 signed and see how you feel about the rest.

If you keep picking up autos at "all in prices" that are lower or far lower than just the auto price that you'd get at a signing ... what makes you feel you're holding on to "value" by doing this ??? I think they set these prices with the idea that THEY make the money, and you will take a loss. You can't say it's not about the money or that you can afford it, because the video was all ABOUT the money.

After seeing the price list as well, I plan on getting Bruce Smith on a Virginia Tech mini helmet (my alma mater, Go Hokies!!), Vlad Sr (my favorite Expo) and possibly Barry Sanders on cards.

Hi Mike. I received that email from Tristar last week too. I could not believe the cost of the autographs either. I am not a big autograph collector by any means. I think you should go ahead and get the Martinez, Ortiz, Ripken and Rivera autographs. You never know if you'll get another chance.

It’s been bad for awhile. Fanatics has kinda ruined it too.

Those prices are nuts. I would say that in the autograph world, I always know that when I pay for a signature, it will not be worth what I paid. That's been true for a long while. The way I think about it is whether the signed item would elevate my collection & how proud I would be to own it. If it's something that I think is a key piece, or would personally value, I am a bit easier with the price. For instance, if I had a really neat or unique item, I would pay that price for Pedro - but he means something to me as I got to watch him in his prime. There are, however, some nutso prices, and Ortiz takes that cake. $300+ - I'm a huge Ortiz guy but no thank you! ~Allon

Maybe just get the Ripken signed this year. Seems like he's a lot harder to get than some of the other players. I think you said $200 for the McGriff? That's insane.

Crazy!

This might already have been mentioned but do you think Ripken would sign the Perez Steele custom? He is a Fanatics guy and has a clause saying he can only sign licensed items. I have one of those customs too and would love to get it signed at the National.

You can get just about every player cheaper through a private signing or a a smaller show throughout the year, don’t pay the NATIONAL mark up. That being said I will be paying for Pujols as he was my favorite player for a decade and his price will only go up and maybe he doesn’t ever do a public show again.

Does anyone know why Fanatics athletes won't sign cards you send in? Seems odd.

Dead ringer for Cal Ripken! Gotten too expensive. Grove definitely > Gomez! Weirdly Par Tabler was my favorite player when I was 9 because I played 2B in Little League and he was the Cubs second basemen. When the Cubs traded him they moved Sandberg from 3B to 2B and he became my favorite. Anyway will be fun to get him for free. Just way too much, buy cards instead Mike.

I would sell 3k worth of stuff that your not attached to, and then get them all signed, especially if ya “need” those in particular. Everything costs a fortune these days. It’s jus the way it is, especially a collectibles hobby. In order for me to enjoy the hobby I buy and sell all the time. I can’t keep everything. Good luck on what ya decide!

Sounds like a giant waste of money to me. I'd buy pre-war and oddball vintage sets for 3k.

Do it.

Ever since I have been watching your videos (which I enjoy) I think of you as Perez being your favorite thing. In that case if you have the funds and won’t make you sweat paying a bill and Julie doesn’t care, GO FOR IT!!! It’s your favorite thing. If it was a random card (not Perez) I would wait. Enjoy.

Don’t understand people paying prices. I just got a Topps Chrome Black Auto of Pedro and one of Ortiz and paid less than $150 total for both. Paying more just to say hi to them and they don’t even acknowledge you seems silly, but to each their own I guess

Handsome Ripken autos! Are you still counting down the days to the National on your phone?

I did a show in Chicago a couple weeks ago and dropped $1500 on autos without thinking about it

Not sure if you know but it says for ripken Licensed items only. No trading cards, artwork,

I'd definitely have to pick and choose. I know last time I went to the Hall of Fame show (and I was way behind on getting hall of fame autographs) I spent $2700...now I'm even further behind and I just can't see spending in the 3-4,000 range. I certainly wouldn't spend $312 for Ortiz. He's the biggest over hyped player there ever was. $312 for Rivera is probably a yes.

The signing prices are out of hand. From someone who is mainly an autographed card collector, I'm slowly putting an end to it as the pricing makes it less fun, sometimes no fun. That said, the National is not the place to get autographs. The are always way higher than even other shows/signings. My advice is to get more involved in private signings or mail in for other shows. Just looking at the last few months of private signings, Alomar and Thomas were available for $40 on cards, $50 for Yount, $65 for Winfield, $150 for Mariano. Takes a little more effort but those are all like half the prices of what they are charging for those guys at the National

To me it's not worth it at all - but it's also not my project :) If you can swing it and feel comfortable enough, I say do it! But if you'd be just as happy with replacement or fill-in pieces instead, then I'd roll with that and spend the money saved on more pieces

I have the same problem. So I can't comment.

Ouch sounds like auto pricing is getting a little steep. Guess you getting the experience to “meet the player” if they take the time to look up at you.

This is just a general comment I suppose - I've been where you are in this sort of conundrum - I know exactly the feeling. What is the one thing (say you have to pick one) that you want to complete? That's what I would focus on. Just general for the collection - complete it. My problem has always been, I want it all. And I just keep adding to my list without ever really completing something. A really big thing I mean. Not just player runs or something like that. But let's say a complete 1955 Topps set, all autographed. What is your big completion? Or do you just keep adding more to the list?

On top of the prices...it's always the same ol guys signing. Pete Rose has done so many signing his sig is worthless. Barrys Sanders is going that way as well.

Guess if you have money to do more power to you. You either do it or don’t.

It's not exactly 'giving back' to the fans, is it (those signing prices)? Obviously, it's far more complex than that, when the hobby is an industry. If you are to just consign yourself to the fact that 'that's capitalism', then the only way you can really justify it is by embracing it. Treat the hobby as something that needs to fund itself. Buy and sell cards, and redeploy the funds gained in order to afford luxuries such as these signings (without dipping into your own funds). Assuming the item you want signed isn't unique, and can be easily found elsewhere, then it makes no sense to pay the signing fee, and go through the whole process of grading etc. (unless you want that brief encounter with the individual). Those who declare themselves as a 'hobby purist', with some sort of moral compass that always points 'true north', and who take great delight in standing on their soap-box and bemoan others for selling their cards, aren't acting with clarity (in my opinion).

 Hope you have a great time at the National, Mike, and hope you and your family stay safe (I hear the weather where you are is pretty violent at the minute).

If they throw in some complimentary vasoline, then go for it and enjoy the full experience. I mean, you're doing it anyway, right ? I pretty sure you will. I guess these poor guys are cash strapped & need the little guys to help them get back on their feet. Another example of how this hobby keeps on sucking. Keep supporting them and keep watching the prices rise.

NOT worth it. Most of these guys will live for many more decades. Their autos are not rare. Buy autos via the secondary market, where you'll pay half as much as doing it "live".

Not worth it. Go buy mantle autos where the money is always good

1st

Are you still on meds mike??

Autos on vintage cards destroy the card in my view.

This financial breakdown is my daily reminder why I'm so happy I've never been an auto collector and never will be. Crazy for $200-$300 to be the price for some of those guys.

Why is he wearing an sgc hat when he only collects psa?