#Collecting #Legends #Lost #WorthPoint
When O.J. Simpson passed away in April 2024, his controversial life once again drew public attention. He was celebrated for his achievements on the field with the Buffalo Bills and his acting roles in The Naked Gun and other films. However, his infamous double-murder trial and various legal issues have permanently marred his reputation.
Still, he maintained a legion of followers who chose to remember the good times on the field and on-screen rather than his checkered time.
The fascination with “The Juice” led to many auctions, including a Goldin listing for one of his credit cards. The lot sold for over $10,000, with partial proceeds going to the National Network to End Domestic Violence.
The OJ Simpson death is not an isolated case. The attachment between a celebrity’s passing and the uptick in their auction presence is pretty straightforward. “Because celebrities are usually protected, fans rely on celebrity-related products to connect to a beloved individual,” stated Scott K Radford and Peter H. Bloch in the summary of their report, Consumers’ online responses to the death of a celebrity. “As symbolic embodiments of celebrities, these related products often become cherished personal possessions. The death of a celebrity appears to strongly elevate a celebrity’s stature and increase the value of the celebrity’s products.”
The Research Shows…
Radford and Bloch researched six celebrities: Dale Earnhardt, Johnny Cash, John Ritter, Ronald Reagan, Johnny Carson, and Steve Irwin. The mix is interesting because some passings were expected given their ages (Reagan, Carson, and Cash), and others were more tragic and unexpected. Namely, this was Earnhardt, who died in a car crash during a NASCAR competition.
To execute their study, Radford and Bloch reviewed eBay sales for the two weeks before and after each celeb’s passing. They saw a significant surge in listings for each of their analyzed personalities and noted a “significant” increase in four of their analyzed celebrities.
“Across all six celebrities in the analysis, celebrity death triggered an immediate surge in number of items for sale and bid activity. This response occurred quite suddenly, in some cases minutes after the death of the celebrity was announced,” Radford and Bloch wrote.
The researchers found another wrinkle amid their findings—as quickly as that surge occurred, it disappeared soon after. “While the decline varied, it was evident that within the first two weeks, the initial surge in demand began to wane,” Radford and Bloch wrote.
This rule applies whether a collector pursues general memorabilia or a more finite collectible—autographs. “It is rare that autograph values of a celebrity or athlete hold the same levels as they would during those first couple of months following their death,” Fabio Del Rio, Professor and Course Designer of Business of Sports Collectibles college course, said in a WorthPoint interview. “However, when it comes to rarer items of top-tier celebrities or athletes, like a Mickey Mantle or Muhammad Ali, the value tends to hold, and usually a new floor value is established.”
Remembering Those We Lost
With the turn of the calendar, collectors will be reminded of those we lost in 2024, and there could be renewed interest in major names who passed away.
The list of celebrities we lost this year is particularly startling, with several all-time legends passing on. Some are sports heroes, some are major film franchise standards, and others are from the political realm.
Here are five significant names we lost in 2024 and links to their listings in our Price Guide.
Jimmy Carter
The 39th President of the United States of America was the oldest living head of State when he passed at age 100. A one-term president, the Georgia native oversaw a tumultuous four years in office, including boycotting the 1980 Summer Olympics. His humanitarian efforts post office were equally remarkable and led to his winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
Jimmy Carter in the WorthPoint Price Guide.
James Earl Jones
He was, arguably, the most recognizable voice of a generation. While his work in legendary films like Field of Dreams made him a legendary figure on screen, his booming vocals arguably drove his popularity to incredible heights. For Star Wars fans, Jones was the unforgettable voice of Darth Vader, while Disney’s devoted will know him as Mufasa from The Lion King animated film. Jones also contributed to The Simpsons in their early years as Bleeding Gums Murphy and was the voice behind the “This is CNN” bumper.
James Earl Jones in the WorthPoint Price Guide.
Pete Rose
Baseball’s all-time hit king spent most of his career with the Cincinnati Reds but also plied his trade for the Montreal Expos and the Philadelphia Phillies. As prolific as he was, however, Rose forever tarnished his name by gambling on baseball. He received a lifetime ban and is still not a member of the Hall of Fame. Rose became a fixture in Las Vegas, signing thousands of autographs while maintaining a friendly demeanor. Rose’s career also included setting records for most games played, singles and outs.
Pete Rose in the WorthPoint Price Guide.
OJ Simpson
One of the most controversial names in all sports and entertainment, Simpson was a success on the gridiron with the Buffalo Bills and was the first player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season. Off the turf, Simpson gained further acclaim for his acting chops, appearing in The Naked Gun series of films, among others. But the controversy around the murder of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ron Goldman spiraled his name into infamy. Other legal battles plagued his post-acquittal life, but Simpson has a loyal following.
OJ Simpson in the WorthPoint Price Guide.
Maggie Smith
Best known for her performances on Downton Abbey and the Harry Potter franchise, Smith’s accolades go back decades. In 1969, she won an Academy Award for Best Leading Actress in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, her first of two such honors. She also won Emmy and Tony awards and was inducted into the Actors Hall of Fame in 2014. However, her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series is arguably her greatest legacy, giving her the most dedicated following.
Maggie Smith in the WorthPoint Price Guide.
Jon Waldman is a Winnipeg-based writer. He has written for Beckett, Go GTS, Canadian Sports Collector, and several other hobby outlets over his two decades in the hobby. His experience also includes two books on sports cards and memorabilia. Connect with Jon on Twitter at @jonwaldman.
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