How Personalized Signed Pieces Work

If you're buying a signed piece from Mike Bass for the first time, the options can look like a lot of choices. They come down to a few. This is a plain guide to what each option means, what it costs, and how to match a piece to the person who'll be getting it.

Two ways to buy: Autograph Only or Personalized Msg

Every signed piece comes in one of two forms. Autograph Only is exactly what it sounds like: Mike's signature. Personalized Msg is a personal note to a named recipient. Personalized pieces include Mike's signature, your recipient name, and one approved message.

The approved messages are Best Wishes, Happy Birthday, To Your Success, and Best of Luck. You pick one. That's the whole menu, so there's nothing to draft and nothing to proofread. If you can't decide between them, ask who's receiving the piece and what the occasion is.

The personalized version costs $10 more than the autograph-only version on every signed photo, card and video. That's the entire difference in price. If you're buying for yourself and want the simplest look, Autograph Only is often the right call. If you're buying for someone else, the name is usually what turns it into a gift.

What each piece costs

These are the prices as Mike publishes them, autograph only first and personalized second.

• "Interception" 8x10 photo, $25 or $35
• "Mike & Garo" 8x10 photo, $25 or $35
• "vs Bob Hayes" 8x10 photo, $25 or $35
• "Vision" 8x10 photo, $25 or $35
• "Vision" 4x6 card, $15 or $25
• Mike Bass Career Video, $25 or $35
• Trading card you supply, $15 or $25
• Index card you supply (4x6 max), $15 or $25

Sending in a card of your own

Not everyone wants a photo. Some people already own a card they'd like Mike to sign, whether it's a trading card or an index card. He signs both, with one rule: the card must be supplied by the customer. Index cards go up to 4x6.

The prices match the other cards: $15 for an autograph only and $25 with a personalized message. This is a good fit for someone who already owns a Washington card and wants it signed, or for anyone who'd like a plain card with a short note for a young fan.

The limited autograph football

The largest piece is the personalized autograph football, and it's limited. Only 25 are available. You can choose an autograph-only football, or add a personalized message with a recipient name and one approved message, the same four options listed above.

Because only 25 exist, it's a different kind of purchase from a photo, and it's worth deciding early whether the piece is for a shelf or for a surprise. It's the piece people pick for a den, an office or a fan cave, and for a gift that deserves more than a generic inscription. The football isn't priced on the photo and card list. Its price is shown at checkout with Mike's partner, so look there for the number.

Picking a moment for a gift

The easiest way to choose is to start with what the person remembers. A fan who still talks about Super Bowl VII will want the "Mike & Garo" photo, which shows the play itself. Someone who loves defensive football may prefer "Interception", or "vs Bob Hayes", which pictures Mike in the air against Dallas.

The "Vision" pieces are the vintage studio portrait of #41 in his red jersey, and they come in two sizes, the 8x10 photo and a 4x6 card. The card is the smallest of the pictures, and an autograph-only one is $15. The career video suits a fan who wants more than a still image.

Then think about the occasion. Happy Birthday and Best of Luck are the obvious fits for a milestone or a send-off. To Your Success works for a graduation or a new job. Best Wishes is the warm, safe choice when you aren't sure. Whatever you pick, the recipient's name is what makes the piece theirs.

Where to start

If you want to see every piece side by side, the signed photos page lays out the photos, cards and prices in one place. Pick the moment, pick Autograph Only or Personalized Msg, choose one approved message if you're personalizing, and the rest is simple.