Interesting story. Should he Sell it? Is it OK to think about it? http://www.sportsbusinessnews.com/dailystories/mcgwire.htm The Tale of A T-shirt: The sports memorabilia game is one that at times mystifies and leaves one to wonder. This may be one of the all-time great memorabilia stories. The tale involves Mark McGwire and a T-shirt; a T-shirt McGwire wore for a series of baseball games. And not just any series of baseball games, but the games where McGwire hit home runs number 48 to 70 during the 1998 season. Pat Bechelli, a San Francisco restaurant owner, met McGwire in 1997, when Big Mac was playing for the Oakland A's. McGwire walked into Bechelli's restaurant, and asked Bechelli if he could make him a breakfast of egg whites. McGwire made it to Bechelli's restaurant everyday until he was traded too the St. Louis Cardinals at mid-season. McGwire kept in touch with Bechelli. After the 1998 season Bechelli received a package from St. Louis. McGwire had sent him some Cardinal T-shirts, except for this one very special T-shirt. It was a Bechelli restaurant T-shirt and on it was a message in black ink written by McGwire. The letters were all in upper case. "DEAR PAT, I HAD THIS SHIRT ON FROM HR'S 48-70. THANKS FOR THE HELP." McGwire then signed his name and added "STL25". Bechelli, according to as report in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, never thought about selling the shirt, until he began to ask what it may be worth. Once Bechelli, found out he could get as much as $600,000 for the shirt, he started to think about selling the shirt. McGwire, according to the paper wasn't happy about the plans his friend had for the T-shirt. "What sane person wouldn't think about that?" Bechelli asked. "I have three kids. That would take care of their college education. I also could do a lot of improvements to the restaurant." Bechelli does admit, however, he is not strapped for cash. "My wife said I shouldn't sell it," Bechelli said. "She said, 'You might lose a friendship over it.' I dunno what I should do. I mean, a friendship lasts a long time. I treasure Mark's friendship. I really do. Most likely I'll keep it for the rest of my life but I guess that would depend on the offers, I guess." ------------------ Stay Cool...
