The Final Score

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.

The most mind-boggling facet of Hall of Fame induction weekend is the ever-booming autograph industry. Walk down Main Street at any time Friday or Saturday and you're sure to see dozens of stores with former players signing on the inside.

All for a fee, of course.

Want Willie Mays to sign a jersey? It's 300. How about a Wade Boggs signed ball? That's 75. And if you want the player to inscript it, that's an extra fee - depending on the player, of course.

They're not all Hall of Famers, either. Mickey Rivers is signing at the CVS - yes, CVS. Dwight Gooden, who has been essentially in hiding since coming out of jail, is signing at a hotel in which fans line up on the outside and are called inside in groups. And, of course, Pete Rose is here, and he'll gladly sign "sorry I bet on baseball" on a ball.

For 250.