Barry Bonds Autograph Advice

[JetsIn06]

So a few years ago, I went to my local "community day" in my town. Being a pitcher for my local travel teams, I decided to enter the fastest pitch contest, with the perosn with the fastest throw at the end of the day winning an autographed baseball.

So, I threw my pitch, hit 65 mph, and went home. Later in the day, my mom, who was still there, gave me a call saying that someone beat me. It was a friend of mine, so I went back to challenge him. I eventually hit 70 mph, and had the lead once again. I went home once again, and then got a call from the volunteers that were working there. I had won!

My Dad drove me back to community day so I could pick my prize. I saw one that I wanted. It was Orlando Hernandez. Being a Yankee fan, I couldn't but help but want my player's autograph...but my Dad convinced me to take Barry Bonds, so I did.

So now, about eight or so years later, Barry Bonds is four homeruns away from tying the all-time homerun record. My dillema now, is do I keep it for a while? Basically, I have no idea how much it's worth is going to go up after he breaks it. How much will it go down if he is proved to have been using steroids? Should I wait a while, or sell it as soon as he breaks it? I don't really know to much about this stuff. So please help!

[sooner333]

I would probably sell it pretty fast, just because you never know what could happen. McGwire stuff went pretty hot until Bonds broke the record. While 755+ will be harder to break, it will also be easier to see it coming from a few years out.

Also, is the autograph authenticated?

[Karlifornia]

Sell it and use the money to take your dad out for a steak.

[MrDNA]

Yeah, sell it the day of/after. I sat on my old McGwire memoralbilia just a weeeeeeeeeee bit too long. C'mon Hall of Fame Committee, LOL

[st.cronin]

If you're planning on selling it, sell it sooner rather than later. As long as you have a safe place to keep it, I wouldn't sell it at all, though. It'll probably show some volatility over the next few years, but in the long run should be a pretty good asset.

[JetsIn06]

It is authenticated.

Two of you say sell it fast, one of you says keep it. I have no idea what to do.

I really am worried that if I keep it, the steroid issue is going to hurt me in the long run.

[JetsIn06]

Plus, I also have to think about keeping it simply for my own personal value. I love baseball memorabilia, I love baseball history.

Honestly, if this were someone without a steroid cloud hanging over their head, I would keep it. But keeping it for myself only to find out it's all a sham would really suck, and then I'd still get less for it.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by JetsIn06

It is authenticated.

Two of you say sell it fast, one of you says keep it. I have no idea what to do.

I really am worried that if I keep it, the steroid issue is going to hurt me in the long run.

Its my belief that the steroids will be a short-term problem, so if you decide you want to hold onto it, in the long run, it will be a valuable item. By long term I mean 25 years or more. So if you're planning to sell it at all, I would sell it as soon as possible. But if you're tempted to hold it, I think you'll see good appreciation in your lifetime.

[Swaggs]

Keep it and enjoy it for yourself as your "trophy" for winning the contest.

There is no shortage of autographed memorabila out there for modern players. Unless you are really strapped for a couple-hundred bucks, it is probably better served as a great memory/story for you.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by JetsIn06

It is authenticated.

Two of you say sell it fast, one of you says keep it. I have no idea what to do.

I really am worried that if I keep it, the steroid issue is going to hurt me in the long run.

Baseball memorabilia usually peaks at a major event (755, 62, 500, ect) and after a player is voted into the Hall of Fame.

Outside of that, the market is so flooded with stuff now because fans are aware of the potential value of items and how to properly take care of them so prices typically aren't what you'd expect.

A Bonds autographed ball would be great if you have a collection or plan on starting a baseball memorabilia collection, but it doesn't sound like that's the case here. I'd hold onto it until he breaks the record and see what people are offering then. If its a price you like, then I'd sell, value probably won't get higher than it is around 755 for quite a few years.

If it were a ball that was somehow tied to an event, I could see holding onto it because its value isn't going to change a whole lot. However, this has no ties to Bonds other than the fact that he signed it.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Keep it, but wipe your ass with it instead. That would be fun I think.

[JetsIn06]

Originally Posted by Vinatieri for Prez

Keep it, but wipe your ass with it instead. That would be fun I think.

[Maple Leafs]

Keep it. After he breaks the record, take it to a Giants game. During batting practice, lean over the railing and wave it at him. If he makes eye contact, hold the ball out to him and say "Hey asshole, can you erase this for me?"

[MikeVic]

So... how them Jets doing in 06?

[EagleFan]

Sell it, you might as well make some money off that cheating steroid freak a-hole...

[Buccaneer]

In the card forum that I frequent, somone asked a very similar question: "will Bond cards spike?" The consencus that like with any news events, you will get a short spike (measured in days). We've seen this with any major record breaker or early death (like Puckett). Long term, none of Bonds cards and memoriabilia will hold their value with the exception of the Tiffany card perhaps. Contrary to assumptions, HOF inductees show zero spikes - unless they are a surprise winner (like Sutter). Any values a potential HOFer have will have already reached the max long before that and will start going down soon after retirement. None of the stars and future HOFers that started between 1986-1991 will be of any real value long term because of the tremendous hordes of cards produced during this period. As far as autos, if they are authenticated (by PSA/DNA, not by some fly-by-night outfit), they may be worth something but like the cards, there will be millions of them out there.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Keep it. After he breaks the record, take it to a Giants game. During batting practice, lean over the railing and wave it at him. If he makes eye contact, hold the ball out to him and say "Hey asshole, can you erase this for me?"

I really like this idea

[JediKooter]

You can always let your dog play with it.

[Crapshoot]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Sell it, you might as well make some money off that cheating steroid freak a-hole...

Jeez, did he run over your dog?

[Maple Leafs]

I have an even better idea. Take it to a Giants game, and if Bonds wanders nearby, hand him the ball and a pen. When he looks at it and says "It already has my signature on it", say "I know, I was wondering if you could add an asterik for me".

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

I have an even better idea. Take it to a Giants game, and if Bonds wanders nearby, hand him the ball and a pen. When he looks at it and says "It already has my signature on it", say "I know, I was wondering if you could add an asterik for me".

OH SNAP

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

I have an even better idea. Take it to a Giants game, and if Bonds wanders nearby, hand him the ball and a pen. When he looks at it and says "It already has my signature on it", say "I know, I was wondering if you could add an asterik for me".

In favor of both suggestions in this thread

SI