Autograph prices at the St. Louis Cardinals fan event, Winter Warm-Up, are generally flat to slightly down for 2011.
Every year at this time, I receive my package with the autograph details for the St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up. The fan event is always held over Martin Luther King weekend, this time from Saturday, January 15 through Monday, January 17.
In a just-for-fun endeavor, I look at rising and falling autograph prices from year to year. These are set by someone within the Cardinals hierarchy, and offer at least some estimation of the expected supply and demand for the autographs.
In addition, the list of those signing for free includes nearly 40 former, current and aspiring Cardinals. Also giving autographs at no charge will be a trio of former Negro League players, DeMorris Smith, Jesse Rogers and Sam Taylor.
As always, the proceeds go to charity, Cardinals Care, so the needy are the true winners. Autograph tickets will go on sale online at cardinals.com at 9 A.M. on Thursday, December 16.
Albert Pujols repeats as the highest-priced autograph at $175. Joining him at the top of the pecking order is Matt Holliday at $100 and Yadier Molina, up from last year at $90 but still down from his $100 bounty two years ago.
| Top dogs | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | Commentary |
| Albert Pujols | $175 | $175 | $175 | $175 | Fans would likely pay more to help on his new contract |
| Matt Holliday | $100 | $100 | Why not? Boras doesn’t get 7% | ||
| Yadier Molina | $90 | $75 | $100 | $90 | Stock back up after a big dip in 2010 autograph price |
Newly-signed Lance Berkman looks like a nice sign at $40. Pitchers’ values are down overall, with signatures of Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright available at a lower price than in 2010. Other than Molina, Colby Rasmus is the only veteran with a price increase from last year.
| Middle of the pack | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | Commentary |
| Adam Wainwright | $45 | $50 | $60 | $80 | Even with drop, moved ahead of Carp |
| Chris Carpenter | $40 | $50 | $60 | $75 | What a bargain! Price drop for third consecutive year |
| Lance Berkman | $40 | Newcomer may see high demand at this price | |||
| Tony La Russa | $30 | $30 | $30 | $30 | Biggest signature was on a new contract for 2011 |
| Colby Rasmus | $30 | $25 | $30 | $30 | Back up in price after one-year dip |
Jaime Garcia at $15 leads the rest of the pack. Skip Schumaker took the largest drop from year to year. Kyle Lohse and Ryan Franklin will sign for less in 2011, too. First-time WWU participants Jake Westbrook and Ryan Theriot come in at just $10.
| Bargains | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | Commentary |
| Jaime Garcia | $15 | free | Big future ahead | ||
| Skip Schumaker | $10 | $25 | $30 | $5 | Ouch! |
| Jon Jay | $10 | Batting .300 means an extra $5 for his John Hancock | |||
| Ryan Theriot | $10 | At this price, will there be a riot for The Riot? | |||
| Jake Westbrook | $10 | Last year, Ryan Ludwick signed for $30 | |||
| Kyle Lohse | $5 | $15 | $25 | Didn’t have to take a salary cut | |
| Ryan Franklin | $5 | $10 | $10 | $10 | Closers for $5 dollars please, Alex |
| Kyle McClellan | $5 | $5 | $10 | Invaluable reliever and local product, too | |
| Jason Motte | $5 | $5 | $10 | Still working on his secondary signature | |
| Trever Miller | $5 | $5 | $5 | Price consistent as his pitching | |
| Mitchell Boggs | $5 | free | No truth to rumor he is relief signer for Carpenter | ||
| Allen Craig | $5 | free | Will he sign as a third baseman or outfielder? | ||
| David Freese | $5 | free | Folks, please stay away from his feet! | ||
| Brian Tallet | $5 | Hoping they put him on the left end of the table |
The ranks of the Cardinals Hall of Famers increase to three this year with the return of Bruce Sutter. While Lou Brock is also back in name, his baseballs are pre-signed.
| Hall of Famers | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | Commentary |
| Red Schoendienst | $75 | $75 | $75 | $60 | Still one of the greatest |
| Whitey Herzog | $60 | $60 | $40 | $50 | Hall election and retired number, too |
| Bruce Sutter | $75 | $100 | Back at a lower price | ||
| Lou Brock | $75 | $100 | Pre-signed baseballs only |
Among the past Cardinals heroes signing for a small fee is fan favorite Mike Matheny. New additions are Brian Jordan, Fernando Vina and another popular ex-Cardinal, Steve Kline.
| I remember you! | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | Commentary |
| Vince Coleman | $25 | $10 | Must have been popular in 2010 | ||
| Brian Jordan | $15 | A nice addition this year | |||
| Ray Lankford | $10 | $10 | Still lives in the area, I understand | ||
| Mike Matheny | $10 | $10 | Now works for the organization | ||
| Fernando Vina | $10 | Last big-name Cards second baseman | |||
| Jack Clark | $5 | $5 | $10 | Off a controversial 2010 season | |
| Steve Kline | $5 | Always a popular player |
The article would not be complete without noting those former Cardinals who signed in past years, but are not a part of the 2011 event.
| Not appearing | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | Commentary |
| Bob Gibson | $125 | 2nd consecutive year away for Hall of Famer | |||
| Bernard Gilkey | $5 | $15 | Maybe not missed greatly | ||
| The departed | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | Commentary |
| Ryan Ludwick | $30 | $40 | $10 | Kept by San Diego for 2011 | |
| Brendan Ryan | $15 | $15 | $10 | Now getting sleep with Seattle | |
| Josh Kinney | Free | $5 | $5 | 2006 hero now minor league free agent |
Finally, here are those who will be signing for free. There are some nice names here, so don’t think you have to drop big money to snare good autographs. For example, signatures of Shelby Miller and Zack Cox won’t be free much longer, I bet.
| Bryan Anderson | Zack Cox | Daniel Descalso | Sam Freeman | Tyler Greene | Mark Hamilton |
| David Kopp | Pete Kozma | Lance Lynn | Shelby Miller | Adam Reifer | Shane Robinson |
| Nick Stavinoha | P.J. Walters | Glenn Brummer | John Costello | Ken Dayley | Chuck Diering |
| Neil Fiala | Phil Gagliano | Rich Hacker | Tom Henke | Rick Horton | Rex Hudler |
| Charlie James | Mike Jorgensen | Jeff Lahti | Tom Lawless | Eli Marrero | T.J. Matthews |
| Ed Mickelson | Mark Petkovsek | Jesse Rogers | Ted Savage | Ted Sizemore | DeMorris Smith |
| Sam Taylor | Scott Terry | Mike Tyson | Bill Virdon | Mark Whiten |
The 15th Annual Winter Warm-Up, a three-day event, will take place on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend; Saturday, Sunday and Monday, January 15-17, 2011. Three-day event passes are $40 for adults and $10 for children 5-15 years of age.
For full WWU information, including signing schedules and ticket ordering, follow this link.
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You’re a funny guy Brian. Didn’t know that about you.
I have never been to one of these. Not an autograph hound. Besides I’m unemployed. But Rick Horton and Tom Heinke are free so maybe I’ll show up after all.
All I can say is whoever set the price for Skip must be a regular reader at TCNB!
Couldn’t be. He’s way overpriced.
I’ll bet that line for paying $5 for a Bryan Talent autograph will be real long.
There is some gold in the free section. I’ll be there of course, I can’t help it. Lemmings Unite!
There’s Wonder Dog. A guy who can make $800 for eating a June bug in the dugout is well worth standing in line for. Tony would have hated Rex.
Then there’s Hard Hittin Whiten, owner of a career K/9 rate of 27. Hard to top that.
And there’s a guy who got traded for Enos Slaughter. I’ll stand in line for that, too.
I’ll be in the Tony LaRussa line, with my Brendan Ryan jersey. I plan on asking him to sign it. That would be worth the thirty bucks.
The Brendan Ryan jersey signing sounds like it might be fun. Maybe I will reconsider.
Stabile is not a word.
It is a word, but it’s rarely used. Stable is more common.
Call me a bit odd in this circumstance, but I often use the less common form to distinguish from where horses reside. Jumbo, Google can be your friend, if you just let it…
I will not disagree with “odd.”
He is not odd he just likes Latin.
I think it is a very sexy language myself. 
At some point or another…………the fact that Lee turned baseball around……….because he was rich enough…………and playing the game the way he wanted it to feel, meant something……………..
Bottom line…………..with what the Cardinals have signed…………how could AP not want out…….if he went to Boston now, that would turn baseball upside down…………..just to be with a winner……..to make a difference…………
Chris Carpenter was my hero this year…………he pitched his heart out and the team let him down badly…………. in my mind, AP wast the biggest offender………..regardless of what AP does……..how do you think CC feels about the coming season……….AP having called 2010 one of his best years?…………………………
Yankees have nothing to buy that would make a difference……….. if I were Gonzales…….I would go into the season by putting off any talks of an extension……..start ripping up the Green monster and making them sweat……………..for sweating him………..I say the only way we compete this year is by a trade like that AP for Gonzo…….fresh blood…..at least for a year because BD probably wouldn’t sign him either…………..
For those that follow baseball……….the Howard extension and this CL deal, both are assaults on the entire league………coupled with the Werth deal by another Rogue independent………..and Bostons Crawford leap……………….. Pujols could be the guy……..Boston would leap at it to crush the life out of NY …………BD has done his part………..now its Albert’s turn……..the Market won’t be the same next year……………………………………………..Blanton goes too???????????? Texas….NY?
I like it WC.
Cox is a veteran of the Gulf Coast League. I wonder if that is the lowest level guy ever to sign autographs at winter warm up. Probably.
Hey, he’s also a member of the 40-man roster!
Cliff lee is still making 24 million a year.So all this talk about turning down millions is still just hot air and BlusterIMO.Its not like he is pitching for peanuts.
But are you denying the reports that he walked away from 20 or 30 million additional ducks? He left a bunch of money on the table to play where he wanted to play. He didn’t go for the highest dollar. That in itself is a refreshing change from the norm.
RCW-not impressed at all. He still got a large bundle. I read that his son was treated at a hospital in Philly that works with special needs kids and that was a factor in the decision.
You’re just too hard BW. Show them no mercy.
The Yankees would have bought…….then moved the entire hospital…………. but I digress. If those were his motivations, I applaud him. However, those issues that could make a difference for a child, at that income level………..are not insurmountable. The more sever the handicap, the more a dependency on an individual personality is possible. Apartment on central park for 7 years will usually get you that special “therapist”……………. he went for the testosterone laden environment, some like it…………some need it.
Here is a pretty interesting article on the cards.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-meaning-of-gerald-laird/
No arguments that I can find with any of that whatsoever.
The positive in my mind is that if the cards are not successful this year then it will be hard to blame Mo. Last year I do blame Mo because he didn’t give Tony the tools with which he works best. Mo has went all in on the Tony philosophy this year, which is the only way Tony can have a chance imo.
Tony appears to have gotten his way. If his stubbornness doesn’t result in at least a playoff berth, then it is probably time for him to hang it up. I’m really uncomfortable with pairing a groundball staff and a poor infield defense and I’m really uncomfortable with his near assertion that he won’t platoon Berkman. If it becomes clear that doing things his way is preferable to doing things a successful way, I’m going to have trouble watching.
Well I’ve been a staunch advocate for giving Tony what he wants if you choose for him to be your manager so I can’t really complain. The young reserves are a problem, as is Colby for Tony so we’ll just have to see how those things works out. My guess is they will end badly just like this Brendan deal. It would have been better for all involved to just remove that last thorn in Tony’s side but mishandling those thorns has become a staple of Mo’s dealings.
And you have at least one more year of Tony after 2011 no matter how it shakes out. He won’t leave until he has second place in managerial wins firmly in his grasp.
There is no way the 2011 Cardinals are gonna be even average defensively imo. I can’t wait to see if Carp is gonna stare out at Theriot or Berkman because they didn’t get to a ball that he thought they should have gotten to.
I’m with you, No way TLR will do anything but play Lance against both LH and RH pitching. He has said as much. Maybe Lance will bounce back, who knows. But regardless Craig has proven to need at bats to even resemble being any good. He was not real good at being a part time player.
This team will be fun to watch because you cardinals fans love your cardinals. That is the nuts and bolts of it. This team is gonna be competitive. Look at the rest of the division, it is pretty weak, as usual. The Cards will either finish first or second.
You are going to have trouble watching. So am I. But I will do it anyway.
Now RC you know if the teams tanks next year there is no way in some minds that LaGenius will be to blame.
Crdswmn-what about the ones who blame TLR for everything except global warming? Then who do the anti-TLR complain about if the team does well? What will the Brendanites complain about then?
BW. It comes with the territory. If you are the manager of the team you have to shoulder the blame for the team not winning. Is it 4 years without a playoff win? Who’s to blame for that? The players? If so I would argue that you could manage the cardinals if the manager has so little influence on the outcomes of the games.
I would say Tony has put himself in a position where he makes sure he has a impact on every game. Most managers probably wouldn’t have that desire to have people think that their managerial moves had the largest impact on the outcomes of games but Tony is not in that group.
I would never blame TLR for global warming or anything else not baseball related. I don’t blame him for player injuries. I don’t blame him for a lot of things. You need to cut down a little on the hyperbole BW.
I blame TLR for those things I perceive he is responsible for. You appear to blame him for nothing.
I hope with all my soul that the team does well. I will credit TLR for those things I perceive he deserves credit for.
crdswmn-try cutting down on the LaGenious shots.You are wrong lady.I blame him for some things also.I just don`t dwell on everything like some do.TLRs made his share of screwups IMO.However iIMO the positives far outweigh the negatives overall.I find it funny that you tell me to ease up on the hyperbole yet you feel free to slam him with the LaGenius.
Once more we both see things differntly.So don`t assume anything.Thank you.
Oh BW you get so defensive. It isn’t healthy.
crdswmn-getting to be a grouchy old man.so i am told.No harm meant nor done crdswmn.
Funny thing is BW, you defend TLR just as vigorously some of us defend Brendan.
They’re calling it climate change now, since, you know, the earth has actually been cooling for the last 11 years.
Ooh HB, the political stuff is a no no here. You better be careful.
crdswmn
Didn`t want you to think i was calling you a grouchy old man..,…….i was referring to myself.I didn`t want you to mistake what i was saying.
I understand BW. I get grouchy too.
Thanks for the tip. I actually viewed that as a remark about science. But either way, it’s off topic about price of autographs!
You can be off topic as much as you like here HB as long as it is about baseball.
Well thats because Tony will give everybody a little media blurb here or there to make sure that everybody knows that it is this player or that player that was the cause of the downfall.
Nutlaw- since the team has voiced questions about Bryan Andersons catching and game calling skills and obviously chose to go with a experienced backup i fail to see how Bryan Anderson is a viable option AT THIS TIME.Maybe later in the year or in 2012.So thertefore the author obviously d8idn`t consider Andersons lack of major league skills in that area.
Matheny has said Anderson is improving………………so could he be a viable backup in the future? Better playing and perfecting those skills every day in AAA instead of playing once or 2 times a week.
Bryan needs to be traded. Tony doesn’t like him as a player so why does Mo keep him around. He will never play for Tony. This is another one of those players that Mo has held on to to the point where he is worthless as far as trade value goes. Mo has to recognize this stuff much quicker before the player loses all value.
Just more evidence that outsiders see what some insiders refuse to see.
Might also mean they know the least… outsiders that is.
People who are close to a situation tend to be less objective HB.
Not always.
But that idea has some merit re: your feelings about Brendan & Skip!
And yours about TLR.
There was a time when I was blindly loyal to someone. Then the truth came crashing in on me like the collapse of the Twin Towers. Maybe that is what has made me go so much the other way. WC could probably answer that question for me.
Have any other teams in the NL Central improved?
Cubs have not.
Astros ?
Pirates a little bit.
Brewers still trying to assemble a pitching staff
Reds-i don`t think they catch lighning in a bottle twice.
Cards- some improvement.
Its still a 2 horse race BW. Cards and Reds. Everybody else in just about pitiful.
On all this huffing & puffing inside and outside the Nation over the trade of our modern-day Bo Hart/Joe McEwing.
Never has more been said
By so many
About so little…
(Sorry Winston!)
There is always huffing and puffing going on about a lot of things HB. The importance of it always lies on whose ox is being gored. It is the way of the world.
RCW- i defend TL R because i like most (not all) of the things he has done.I like the contending year after year.Of course sometimes i think TLR gets a bit ahead of himself and sometimes i think he can be hardheaded.That said i think he is like anybody else…he want the parts he feels he can best work with.
I remember the 70`s and rarely sniffing the playoffs and the early 90`s that weren`t good.For keeping the team in contention almost every year at least gives a chance of getting to the WS.
But you have to understand BW that just ‘being in contention” is not good enough for a franchise with the history that the Cardinals have. Try making that argument to a Yankees fan and see what happens. I would seem like Mother Theresa.
‘
Agree Crdswmn. Just fielding a team in the Central Division makes you a contender, so I’m not sure contending every year is that big a deal. Like I said earlier, 0 playoff wins in the last 4 years is not doing much winning. And its almost like just having a winning record is the goal. If thats the plan I would say TLR has done a heck of a job by securing a winning record most every year.
crdswwn-getting to the playoffs is always a start.Like i said iremember way too many years when the Cards where never a real factor.IMO since TLR the team has been a consistent playoff team and contender playing within the budget restraints the team works under.AS for the Yankees fans i have yet to meet a rational one.Obviously when you have more money you can buy more toys to play with like the Yankees,Phikkies and Redsox.Every Yankee fan i ever knew acted like it was their god-given right to buy whatever the team needed.The playing field is not balanced and has never been balanced.It never will be.
There are a few rational Yankee fans but not many, I would agree.
But rational or not, money aside, they are used to winning titles, just as the Cardinals are. We have the second most WS titles in MLB (though way behind the Yankees) and Cards fans understandably want more. Settling for less is not an option. And TLR has only given them one in 15 years. Whitey only gave them one but he was here for less time and his teams gave a little extra oomph that TLR’s don’t. The frustration is palpable and not unwarranted especially given the most recent seasons and the upheaval that has occurred and still is occurring since Jocketty was fired. I don’t think the unhappy Cards fans are being irrational under the circumstances.
Not to start a arguement but some of Whitey`s team mailed it in.The 86 team and the 83 teams and Whitey quit.I realize a section of the fanbase loves Whitry because of his beer drinking aw shucks spit on the floor joebob routine and that bunch will never accept the California layer tree hugger.
Cardsfans expect and want more.Nothing wrong with that.My question is who is going to deliver that? Jose Oquendo? There are no sure things in any sport.Good old fate and luck stick their noses in at awkward times it seems.Ask Matt Holliday in 2009 playoffs game 2.
Just because nothing is a sure thing doesn’t mean you don’t try to get something better. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.
crdswmn-it appears the FO thought getting better involved getting Brendan out of STL.For whatever reason.
Not making the team better BW—just TLR.
ding ding ding. Crdswmn you have been on point all day, and all month for that matter.
And probably right yet again.
Shhhhhhh RC . Remember what we said about the truth thing.
Crdswmn-disagree…………………….Brendan will fade into oblivion as a defensive backup.
OK BW
Anybody else see the rumor that the Yankees might try and obtain Carlos Zambrano from the Cubbbies? CZ `s old pitching coach is in MY also.Yanks are also after Kerry Wood.Could the Cubbies trade him? They ARE trying to trade Fukodome now.Of course Westy will say they are setting themselves up for Albert next year.
I believe the Yankees are going to make some moves in the coming weeks or months. The Red Sox appear to have made huge strides in taking over the division so the Yankees have to fight back. I look for some moves to come.
They can still go for Carl Pavano, even if he is not as much to their liking. Zambrano? I don’t know if Girardi would put up with him, but maybe.
Pavano will never go back to NY. His first stint there was a disaster, spending more time on the DL than the mound. I have two good friends who are Yanks fans and they both hated his guts on fire.
Pavano will rejoin the Yanks on the same day crdswmn invites TLR over for a nice homemade Italian dinner, greeting him at the door wearing a Skip jersey and nothing else!
And we all know that will NEVER happen, even on the day Hades freezes over…
Thank you for that visual HB. I just ate.
When I think of TLR and dinner it makes me think of a nice vegetarian meal with a couple of 6 bottles of wine with a group of friends followed by a nice nap.
The Yankees have to do something to get the momentum away from the RedSox.@ weeks ago Pettitte was going to retire according to some writers now he could comeback according to writers.Yankees need a headline move badly.I think they are in a state of shock because Cliff lee isn`t a Yanlee.for a big move.