Rocker and sports-memorabilia collector Eddie Money has a collection of autographs that would make any sports buff hyperventilate: Terry Bradshaw (figure A), Brett Favre (figure B), Muhammed Ali (figure C) -- the list goes on and on. But losing one of his prizes -- a photo of himself with Mickey Mantle -- to the destructive effects of direct sunlight taught him a valuable lesson: "You've got to ... make sure that you keep these pictures, along with your baseballs and your jerseys, out of the sunlight, 'cause it'll ruin your entire collection." Money never forgets that his celebrity opens doors for him as a collector, and even though he himself is recognized around the world, inside he's still that kid whose dad got him into Ebbets Field to watch his heroes make sports history.
More on sports memorabilia with Eddie Money: Is the rock 'n' roll lifestyle like the pro-sports lifestyle?
When you think about it, I've had 28 songs in the top 100. That's like batting .280! Can't beat that! Do you have a favorite ballplayer?
I just love Pete Rose -- I thought he was the greatest baseball player in the world. I've got a couple signed balls from him. I think it's a shame that he's not in the hall of fame. He got a foul deal. Any tips for a beginning collector?
Try to always have autographs signed with a seafoam-green pen. It doesn't really fade away. It's a special ink. What has been your most memorable sports collecting experience?
I was in the dressing room with Tommy Lasorda for three hours after a win, just me and my wife, hanging out. That was a real thrill. How do you keep your kids from playing with your collection?
At my old house in Florida, we had a separate room for my stuff, but it was a little too much. Here, I just keep my stuff in cases and out of the way of the kids. What is your favorite autograph?
I couldn't believe it when I found out that Brett Favre was an Eddie Money fan. I've always felt that he was one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. That's a great autograph. How much is your stuff worth?
Quite a lot, I'm sure. I'm sure I could probably get a nice price for a couple of these items, but I'd probably end up selling my gold records before I'd sell my sports collection!
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