Derek Jeter 2014 [Keith Allison | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0]Derek Jeter played 20 seasons for the New York Yankees. To honor his retirement, Steiner Sports is having a Derek Jeter memorabilia sale.
Anyone who knows anything about baseball recognizes the name Derek Jeter. He helped lead the Yankees to five World Series championships during his career.
Whether you love or hate the Yankees, you have to admit that Jeter has been one of the best these past 20 years. Not only was he a great ballplayer, Derek has also proven to be a consummate professional, avoiding major controversy while playing his entire career in media-frenzied New York.
Yankees Memorabilia [Mark | Flickr | CC BY-ND 2.0]Over the years, a number of individuals have accumulated vast private collections of sports memorabilia. These collections are so broad that it is impossible to know who truly has the largest sports memorabilia collection.
It is estimated that there are 50 to 100 serious memorabilia collectors in the United States. They typically have acquired their items through private dealers and auction houses.
Who are these individuals and how did they go about collecting what they have? A search of the internet reveals a number of amazing stories. This article shares the stories of two of these private collectors, both of whom have a large amount of baseball memorabilia.
Howie Kendrick signing [Seal Beach AT&T | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0]Let’s assume you’ve been able to get a major league baseball player to sign a baseball or other item. You cherish it because it’s yours and you know who signed it! Authenticating baseball memorabilia such as this could prove to be very important.
Just remember that at some point in the future, someone else will become the owner of this autographed item. That person may not value it the same way you do. In fact, they may not want it and may choose to sell it.