Thanks for all the comments! My opinion is I didn't feel $55 was too bad for one of the best pitchers, and one of my all-time favorite's, autograph. I know I could have gone to eBay but for me half the fun in collecting is the thrill of getting back the item you sent and it actually be autographed.

[quote="gottahaveautos"]i mean, the old man was great, lets face it. we'll see up and coming stars bypass what hes accomplished, but for his time he was the man. [/quote]

Just a note about that statement, Nolan had 5714 strikeouts. With pitchers now, it is an accomplishment to get 200 k's/year. At the average of 200 per year, a pitcher would have to pitch into his 29th season to tie him. And that's if a pitcher can actually average 200 per year...not likely at all. Plus the 7 no hitters and 12 one hitters. It's a shame the teams he played on weren't so great. He would have been pushing 400 wins with the stuff he threw. I feel Nolan is the last great pitcher from an era when pitchers were pitchers and well worth the $90 I sent to him to get a photo and hall of fame postcard signed. But, to each their own I guess.

It appears that you are rather experienced at purchasing autographs from e-bay etc. You may have also seem to have built a relationship with those that you purchase from on a regular basis. I am also going to assume that you have a good idea what a fake autograph looks like.

What I am implying is that it is all about trust and knowing who to trust.

You are correct about doubting that any autographs ttm are real, but for less than $3 in postage and cards for most of the free autographs I don't think about the autograph being real. I can't spend the time doing this in person any more, so I take what I can get. I also have sold my stuff to get more product to get signed.

I also can care less personally what is done with the money, I just know how much time I have spent at minor league ballparks, all-star games, spring training and baking in the sun on the 12th tee at the golf course in Cooperstown . There is also the time spent traveling to minor league baseball games, sorting cards, keeping track of the rosters for the International league, the Eastern league and the NY Penn league . Autograph collecting in person was a great hobby when gas was cheap and I was single. So I agree, stop whining about what a person is charging.

[quote="charger88"][quote="gottahaveautos"]i can understand the meaning behind it, but im in agreeance. i mean, the old man was great, lets face it. we'll see up and coming stars bypass what hes accomplished, but for his time he was the man. but i cant see paying $55 for an autograph to a charity i have no idea what it is, plus hes a billionaire im sure.[/quote]

Yeah, one of the current pitchers is going to throw 8 no-hitters. Brush up on your baseball stats. That is not to much for one of the top 5 pitchers of all time. If you did not provide the picture that is a very fair price. I paid more than that for a ball and a pic of him punching Ventura in the face from Steiner Sports. I would stay away from ebay though. [us][/quote]


So many people say there are nothing but fakes on eBay, but I see a lot of authentics out there for a real good price. I just won a Duke Snider signed ball for $35 and a Ralph Kiner signed ball for $16. I accept PSA/DNA's opinion and since the vast majority of people do too, including reputiable dealers, their word is good enough for me. I like how Mr. Ryan's foundation authenticates each item. If you don't trust third party authentication, then you'd have to doubt any TTM autograph you'd get. If that's the case, why do it? Am I'm sure Nolan Ryan isn't a billionaire. He's not Oprah rich. That's Bill Gates level. Billionaires aren't team presidents, they own the teams! For $55, I'd love to have Nolan Ryan sign a ball. I wouldn't care if the money got spent at the track. If I willingly give someone mony in exchange for something, why would I care? I've sent Pete Rose money for an autograph and I KNOW that was spent in a casino (Rollie Fingers, too).And authenticators charge at least $25-$50 for their services, so you end up spending around $30 for Mr. Ryan to sign something. You can't beat that, bar none! So, quit whining about how much things cost and what the money goes to, and about if it's worth it or not, unless you sell it (oooooooohhhhhhhhhhh the "S" word. I've sold many autographs and still have hundreds in my permanent collection, so there. I have to pay for the Nolan Ryans of the world. I'd rather have him than Roger Clemens anyway. Ryan didn't cheat and I sold my Clemens signed 4x6 for $75. Payed for a Don Larsen/Yogi Berra signed 8x10).

[quote="gottahaveautos"]i can understand the meaning behind it, but im in agreeance. i mean, the old man was great, lets face it. we'll see up and coming stars bypass what hes accomplished, but for his time he was the man. but i cant see paying $55 for an autograph to a charity i have no idea what it is, plus hes a billionaire im sure.[/quote]

Yeah, one of the current pitchers is going to throw 8 no-hitters. Brush up on your baseball stats. That is not to much for one of the top 5 pitchers of all time. If you did not provide the picture that is a very fair price. I paid more than that for a ball and a pic of him punching Ventura in the face from Steiner Sports. I would stay away from ebay though. [us]

[quote="gottahaveautos"]i can understand the meaning behind it, but im in agreeance. i mean, the old man was great, lets face it. we'll see up and coming stars bypass what hes accomplished, but for his time he was the man. but i cant see paying $55 for an autograph to a charity i have no idea what it is, plus hes a billionaire im sure.[/quote]

I doubt we'll ever see people put up the #'s that he put up...ever again. With the innings limit that coaches and owners are putting on their star players, no one will ever reach the # of strikeouts in a season they he was getting (or that Randy Johnson) was getting. People just aren't being allowed to pitch the innings/year that people were pitching in the 60s, 70's 80's and even 90's. On top of that, he was still very dominant even in his 40's which isn't often seen. No one will ever pitch 7 no-hitters again...guys like Verlander and Halladay (and I think Buerhle) each have 2 no-hitters under their belt...pitch 5 more before they retire? I doubt it. People also don't think about the fact that he pitched 12 one-hitters...absolutely amazing.

Nolan was a wildman on the mound...scared a lot of people into striking out...walked tons of people (more than anyone else in history) but was amazing to watch.

He doesn't charge $55 because he needs the money...he doesn't. Alot of his proceeds go to charity. Its pricey...but I think its worth it considering it comes with his foundation's logo and is guaranteed 100% legit.

Do you really trust e-bay for real autographs? Do you really trust the people that are authenticating the autograph?
I would rather give Nolan is fee an know that I got a real autograph. Autograph Magazine has done articles on fakes.
Did operation bullpen not change your mind about e-bay?

You guys are nuts.. Thats a pretty good deal i think. He is arguably the best pitcher of all time, Plus is also having a Nolan Ryan foundation authentication surpasses any 3rd party authentication in my eyes.
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[quote="joe316"]You would think that since he is the President of the Texas Rangers and he makes a fortune that he could afford not to charge $55 for an autograph. [b]You could have got an authenticated one on Ebay for cheaper[/b]. :roll:[/quote]

from who? PSA? i wouldnt trust anything they authenticate. Way to many mistakes made there to throw money away on what they believe to be legit. Why wouldnt someone pay the extra $$$ & get a secure COA from Ryans foundation that would basically end any argument about authenticity.

i can understand the meaning behind it, but im in agreeance. i mean, the old man was great, lets face it. we'll see up and coming stars bypass what hes accomplished, but for his time he was the man. but i cant see paying $55 for an autograph to a charity i have no idea what it is, plus hes a billionaire im sure.

It's their way to get normal schlubs like us to donate to his charity.

http://nolanryanfoundation.stores.yahoo.net/polonperit.html

Did you send regular postage or did you send the extra fee they say? I know it doesn't cost $7 to ship a baseball anywhere.