Why the huge disparity in price based on what the autograph is written on?

Certain items hold a higher value on being sold than others. A signed napkin is going to get you less than a signed football cleat.

well, all i care about my brett favre items now (all signed) is the money i can get in about 20 years, especially for the classic minihelmets

even though he has pissed me off beyond words the last couple years, i will never EVER sell my dad's autographed favre football nor will i ever get rid of the personal letter favre sent my dad. some things truly are sacred.

Of course if you did, that would make you a real toolio. (Since a "John Henry" is a a hammer, unlike a John Hancock, which is a signature.)

On a less pedantic note, I agree completely. I remember when I got Bart Starr's autograph, it was the coolest thing. But it was cool not because I got the signature on something, or because I could sell it later for dough, but because I was a little kid, because it was after a football game, and because I got within a foot or so of my idol and he said hi.

If people want to spend their money on such stuff, well, hey, it's their money. And since I've spent enough money on silly stuff in my life, who am I to talk? After all, what's dumber, the $400 autographed helmet in Packer bedroom shrine, or the $400 replica Sword of Charlemagne that hangs in my living room?

Here's my take.
I think atheletes charging for autographs is BULL. Plain and simple. So WHAT if someone makes a buck on it. They are making MILLIONS. Their refusing to sign hurts the REAL fans that can't afford to drop $400 for an autograph.

If a guy signs everything that he is asked to sign, and people KNOW that, what would it do to the prices of said items? They would drop ALOT. Thus, allowing those that can't GET to where a player lives or plays to be able to get a signature from their favorite player, without having to mortgage what they own. To me, any player that says he won't sign because someone might make a buck on it is just saying that because THEY want ALL the money for themselves. All just a convienient excuse.
Bart Starr will sign anything, for a small charge. (Which he gives to charity) But he insists on personalizing EVERYTHING. Even at Fan Fest, EVERYTHING he signed was personalized. That ends anyone making money off it.
Nice thing too, you can READ his signature.
After super bowl 31 i had a SB mini helmet signed by Desmond Howard. I paid $35 to have him sign it. You know what his "autograph" looks like?
"OX" Not kidding. If i didn't take a picture of him as he was signing it, you would have NO clue what the 2 letter scribble was. $35, and you SHOULD be able to READ it. Thats' BS in my view.