Sport Memorabilia has become one of the biggest industries in the world. There are a ton of both dealers and collectors who make a good living by selling and buying sport memorabilia items. It can be equated to the stock market as some people buy items and flip them on the open market for a quick profit while some people might buy a game-worn jersey, for example, with the big picture in mind. They will sit on the game-used jersey for years, let it mature and then sell at an astronomical profit depending on the market.
There are both collectibles made by companies and then items used in the actual event called Game-Used Memorabilia. If it has to do with sports, someone is probably collecting it and trying to make money off of it. Some people do this on the internet by setting up their own web page, posting items for bidding on eBay, or posting advertisements on sites such as Craigslist in the hopes of shipping their memorabilia to customers all over the world. Some have simply opened up store front shops where customers can walk in, look at, and bid on or outright purchase some sport memorabilia.
The people who collect sport memorabilia are an interesting bunch. They are known to travel all around the world, going from convention to convention in an attempt to further their collection. If there is a Mickey Mantle autographed baseball in New York or a Joe Montana game-worn jersey in California, many hardcore collectors won’t hesitate to jump on a plane in order to bid on the item they have their eye on.
The business of sporting memorabilia has become controversial one. It has produced many shady dealers and cynical collectors who both alike have lost the true meaning of sportsmanship and what collecting should be about. Many professional dealers will use little kids at event to try and get the players into signing more items than normal, in an effort to squeeze out one last autographed baseball or bat. It is sad, but the secret is out and players now know if an older gentlemen or woman wants several bats and balls signed at once, they are most likely trying to make a profit and that’s not what it’s all about. People will sometimes wait for hours after the big game for a chance to meet a player and maybe get an autograph. These true fans should have to complete with someone who is there to make some fast money.
The MLB is trying to authenticate things like a game worn jersey and other items as to stop all the fakes that are being produced. The same is true for autographs, many are fake, and regulating them is tough but they are currently finding new ways to make autographs official. It is business practices like this that has made it hard for kids to collect like they used to and just for the enjoyment of the sport. Now it has become corrupted, as most things, by the pursuit of money.