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As Major League Baseball eclipses the All-Star break, the symbolic halfway point in its marathon campaign, the Hall of Fame ceremonies on July 27th are not far away. This year the "Cooperstown Invitational" will only induct one player, Rich "Goose" Gossage. Unless you are part of the Gossage family, not much excitement will be stirred up on the shores of Lake Ostego. In his illustrious 22-year major league career Gossage wore nine different uniforms, and he was with one team, the Yankees, twice. A year ago two superstars – Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr. – were inducted into the Hall of Fame and baseball immortality. Since 1936, when Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth, and Honus Wagner were first elected, only 228 players have been enshrined, with Gossage slotting number 229. But let's face it: The luster of the Hall is tarnished because an all-star cast of characters probably will never have a place and a plaque. We have Messrs. Bonds, Clemens, McGwire, Palmeiro, Sosa, and, of course, the all-time hit leader, Pete Rose. Rose does go to Cooperstown every summer anyway to sign items at a shop a Roberto Clemente throw from the Hall of Fame. In his last career at-bat, on August 17, 1986 Rose struck out with Goose Gossage firing the final pitch.  Sinking like a stone: Buyers are wary of all things Clemens these days. Being a notoriously curious individual, I compared recent auction prices of some of the aforementioned stars who may never have their likeness in the hallowed Hall, with auction prices of fairly recent inductees, namely Rollie Fingers, Gary Carter, and Paul Molitor. Those players are not yet in the same category as Ruth, Cobb, Mantle, and Musial, but they are still Hall of Famers. You be the judge of the direction of the auction prices. Barry Bonds
A 2001 Game Used Jersey, $459, and autographed balls for $150-250. Rafael Palmeiro
A 2003 Game Used Jersey, $578, a game used bat, $88, and an autographed ball, $47. Mark McGwire
A Big Mac jersey from 1992 for $786, one from 1994 for $717, and a 1999 jersey for $1,673. Rollie Fingers
Autographed baseballs ranged from $20-78, but a signed rookie jersey was auctioned for $6,653 by American Memorabilia a year ago. Gary Carter
A 1992 Game-used jersey was auctioned by Grey Flannel for $1,278, and signed balls average around $50-60. Paul Molitor
Recently, three jerseys have been auctioned for $1,199, $2,063, and $3,743. Even Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr. items have not fared much better, with their jerseys going for slightly over $1000, and signed baseballs around $125. Let's go one step further. A Bonds autographed pair of cleats, now selling for between $150-250, were selling for several hundred dollars before his perjury indictment a few months ago. In September 2007 his "record-setting" home run number 756 ball sold for $752,467. After his perjury indictment, the number 762 ball, his last home run, went for $376,612. In 1998, a Mark McGwire signed baseball sold for about $500. Now it is worth only about $100. Roger Clemens memorabilia are falling fast, as well, as his saga unfolds and unravels.
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