Autograph or no autograph?

There's supposed to be a tremendous snowstorm this weekend here in the Northeast, so of course I'm thinking about game-worn jerseys ... and a question that's been discussed for decades.

The autographed game-worn jersey.

It's probably the most commonly asked question I get from newer collectors. "Should I get the jersey signed?"

The reason people ask is because there are two very passionate views in our hobby. There are the collectors who consider an autographed game-worn jersey to be a devalued relic marred by the ink, and there are the collectors who consider the autograph the final element of a very personal and desired memento.

For years I have been telling collectors the same thing I believe today: "Do what will make you the happiest. If you are a collector who intends to hold the jersey for years, or hang it on a wall, or hand it down to the next generation, get the jersey signed if the attachment to the player is your prime desire.

On the other hand, I believe that for those in the hobby who buy and sell and trade and consider monetary values of each jersey, the autograph adversely affects the jersey. Here's why.

In MeiGray's experience, the autograph decreases the number of collectors who would be interested in the jersey, but increases its value to the smaller number of people who might want the jersey. In other words, many more collectors would not want it all with an autograph. The smaller number who do, might agree that the jersey is worth a little more.

And that's a generic autograph ... the player's name and number.

A personalize autograph virtually ruins the jersey to the vast majority of people. If your name is Mike and the jersey is autographed "To Mike," you are going to have a tough time finding another Mike who wants that jersey.

Did you know, though, that there are ways to safely remove an autograph. We don't do it at MGG, but there are a few dealers and collectors who can completely remove an autograph if the autograph appears on the garment and not the crest or numbers. So if you find a jersey you really want, with an autograph, you may be able to have the autograph removed.

For those of you who like the autograph but want to hedge your bets, get the jersey signed inside, on the fight strap or behind the crest. That seems not to irk collectors very much, even the ones who despise autographs. Or get the letter of authenticity signed. That's my favorite, seeing an unautographed jersey signed on the LOA by the guy who wore it.