I had a little money in my PayPal acct after selling a few items. Decided to have some fun & purchase a some sm sports memorabilia. As a native Wisc cheesehead who'd always rooted for the Green Bay Packers & Milwaukee Brewers, I choose a few of their items from private dealers.

The only thing w/ potential value, from an investment standpoint are an autographed baseball, signed by Prince Fielder, w/ written verification that it is truly his signature. He's a rookie leading the NL in home runs, rec'd most fan votes in all-star game, & is built like a football lineman. I think he has the potential to hit 500 career homeruns, or even more. Maybe in 18-20 yrs, he'll pass Barry Bonds' upcoming record (or whoever succeeds Bonds).

I also paid $32 for the ball which I'll show in my office. IF Fielder has a great career, stays healthy, & eventually becomes a hall of famer (which I realize is a lot of if's), does this ball have the potential to be worth anything significant?

I bought it for sentimental reasons; so if it turns out to be worthless, or just the $32 I paid for it, I can accept that.
Randall

Originally posted in thread: 600

After collecting sports cards and other memorabilia for much of my life, I will say that very few items actually become valuable. I personally collect not to make money, but because I enjoy it and like the players involved. I was lucky enough to acquire signatures from both Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio at various card shows. Mickey Mantle's signature is one of the most cherished in the hobby, not just because he was one of the greatest players ever, but also because he had one of the nicest signatures. I personally prefer memorabilia from the 1960's and before. It was a simpler time and way before the controvery of the "steroid era." With players that have already retired or passed on, it's easier to pinpoint potential appreciation of value. Plus, a player like Prince Fielder, who is 23, has many years to sign items potentially flooding the market with thousands of signatures during his lifteime. Contrast that with players no longer with us and the supply issue also comes into play.

Prince Fielder is not a rookie. This is his third season in the major leagues playing 39 games in 2004 and 157 games last year. It looks like he does have some homerun potential, although 500 homers is not as an exclusive club as it was ten years ago. Fielder is a big guy, 6 feet and 262 pounds, so there's certainly some concern for injuries with those dimensions. I believe that Fielder will be overshadowed most of his NL career by Albert Pujols of the Cardinals (another first baseman) who has put up some absolutely monster numbers in his first six seasons. Pujols is considered by many to be having a "bad" year by his standards, yet he is hitting .319 with 23 homers and 71 rbi's. Last year, Pujols hit .331 with 49 homers and 137 rbi's. That being said, Prince Fielder will probably be in MVP contention this year, especially if the Brewers can hang on and make the playoffs.

So, a lot does have to happen for your Prince Fielder autographed baseball to be valuable. My best advice is to just enjoy having the ball and see what happens. Tuff Stuff and Beckett magazines usually have a section on pricing of the more sought after autographs. It would be best to display the ball in a holder designed specifically for baseballs. It will keep the dust off and protect the ink. Good luck.

David

Originally posted in thread: 600

So basically, you're saying: The autographed baseball has potential, but it's probably a long shot. Yep, I'll get a display case, if it doesn't come w/ one. Probably put it away during the offseason, partly to prevent teh signature from fading & keep it out of direct sunlight.

Yeah, I lived in Cardinals territory for 7 yrs, heard a lot about Pujols & have to acknowlege that his career is off to a great start.
Thanks.
Randall

Originally posted in thread: 600