The Price of Political Baseballs: An Update
Four years ago I posted about the comparative prices on eBay of baseballs signed by presidential candidates. I didn't make any predictions back then. However, Obama-signed baseballs were fetching higher prices than Romney-signed baseballs, and Obama won. Make of that what you will.
So what does the political baseball market on eBay look like in this election year?
If you want a baseball signed by Donald Trump, they go for as low as $10.50 (above left) or as high as $2499.99 (above right). (There's one baseball signed by The Donald, Melania, and Ivanka for which the seller is asking $5000, but since that's 3 signatures it doesn't seem relevant for this data set.)
Gotta say, The Donald sure has a crazy signature! How do those zigzag lines spell out Donald Trump?
Hillary Clinton-signed baseballs can be bought for anywhere between $100.99 (left) and $2499 (right). Again, there are more expensive ones signed by both Hillary and Bill, but I'm only looking at individually signed baseballs here.
What conclusions can we draw from this? Well, the prices are much closer for Hillary vs. Donald than they were for Obama vs. Romney. Perhaps this indicates a closer race. However, Hillary baseballs aren't going for the very low prices that some Donald baseballs are going for. So maybe this indicates that Hillary has a slight advantage. Who knows! We'll find out in November.
So what does the political baseball market on eBay look like in this election year?
If you want a baseball signed by Donald Trump, they go for as low as $10.50 (above left) or as high as $2499.99 (above right). (There's one baseball signed by The Donald, Melania, and Ivanka for which the seller is asking $5000, but since that's 3 signatures it doesn't seem relevant for this data set.)
Gotta say, The Donald sure has a crazy signature! How do those zigzag lines spell out Donald Trump?
Hillary Clinton-signed baseballs can be bought for anywhere between $100.99 (left) and $2499 (right). Again, there are more expensive ones signed by both Hillary and Bill, but I'm only looking at individually signed baseballs here.
What conclusions can we draw from this? Well, the prices are much closer for Hillary vs. Donald than they were for Obama vs. Romney. Perhaps this indicates a closer race. However, Hillary baseballs aren't going for the very low prices that some Donald baseballs are going for. So maybe this indicates that Hillary has a slight advantage. Who knows! We'll find out in November.
Comments
Hopefully, we'll find out in November, rather than have the Revenge of the Hanging Chad or something making it December.
Posted by Virtual on 07/27/16 at 10:01 AM
Are you looking at prices before the auction ends? Two of your links go to baseballs that sold for higher prices than you said, and one link is to a "buy it now or make an offer" ad that hasn't sold at all.
If you log into ebay you can search completed auctions and see what things actually sold for.
If you log into ebay you can search completed auctions and see what things actually sold for.
Posted by Cougar Allen on 07/27/16 at 09:26 PM
Cougar -- It was a very unscientific survey. I just did a search for signed baseballs sorted by lowest and then highest price.
I see that the $10 Trump baseball ended up selling for $60. But the $100 Hillary baseball finally went for $202.50!
I see that the $10 Trump baseball ended up selling for $60. But the $100 Hillary baseball finally went for $202.50!
Posted by Alex on 07/28/16 at 09:57 AM
If you remove the fractured "D" from Trump's signature and turn the rest sideways, it looks like the mark of Zorro, repeated several times. Maybe that's the idea; he did admit to that kid riding on his helicopter that he's Batman (too).
Posted by Virtual on 07/28/16 at 05:00 PM
Hillary's balls don't match.
(But then again, I somehow doubt she sat around and signed any baseballs at all. That's something probably farmed out to an intern of Bill's.)
(But then again, I somehow doubt she sat around and signed any baseballs at all. That's something probably farmed out to an intern of Bill's.)
Posted by Beaverhausen on 07/28/16 at 09:22 PM
His interns usually have their hands (mouths) full.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 07/28/16 at 09:29 PM
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Category: Politics