Going all the way back to 2008, I have tracked St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up autograph prices. The just-for-fun exercise looks at the comparative fan popularity of the various players, currently and in the past, as gauged by the organization.
Ideally, all signings will sell out at the highest prices the market will bear. After all, the annual event is a fund-raiser for Cardinals Care, which does so much to help the community, so the needy are the winners.
The three-day Winter Warm-Up fan event is held each January over Martin Luther King weekend. The 2025 dates are from Saturday, January 18 through Monday, January 20 with the event being held at Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village.
At the time of the initial announcement, on Monday, December 16, 36 individuals from the team’s past and present are scheduled to sign for a fee, plus three others will be available for photos. Autograph tickets are now on sale.
The groupings below are mine, but the prices come from the Cardinals. The “Change” column represents a general comparison to those individuals who had listed prices in 2024 as well.
The top dogs
| Top dogs | Autograph | Change |
| Brendan Donovan | $75 | up from $40 |
| Lars Nootbaar | $75 | up from $50 |
| Jordan Walker | $75 | |
| Masyn Winn | $75 | up from $40 |
The Cardinals refocus on youth is evident by the top four signatures in price at $75 each. These four players – Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn – are the team’s new core. Autograph prices rose accordingly.
2024 leaders Paul Goldschmidt, Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras will apparently not be present in 2025, though the latter three are still on the team.
Middle of the pack
| Middle of the pack | Autograph | Change |
| Ryan Helsley | $50 | up from $45 |
| Alec Burleson | $40 | up from $30 |
| Eric Fedde | $30 | new |
| Oliver Marmol | $30 | down from $40 |
| Miles Mikolas | $30 | down from $40 in 2023 |
The next group of autographs are in the $30 to $50 range, led by 2024 NL Reliever of the Year Ryan Helsley. Others include Eric Fedde, at his first WWU, manager Oliver Marmol, Alec Burleson and Miles Mikolas.
Prices for Marmol and Mikolas are down from 2024. Helsley and Burleson are up.
Mid-tier picks
| Mid-tier picks | Autograph | Change |
| Luken Baker | $25 | |
| Daniel Descalso | $25 | |
| Jon Jay | $25 | last in 2015 |
| Matthew Liberatore | $25 | |
| Pedro Pages | $25 | new |
| Steven Matz | $20 | down from $30 |
| Andre Pallante | $20 | |
| Thomas Saggese | $20 | up from $10 |
| Victor Scott | $20 | up from $10 |
| Michael Siani | $20 | up from $10 |
| Zack Thompson | $20 |
The common thread among almost all the players here is that they should make contributions to St. Louis in 2025, but their autograph prices are in the more reasonable $20-$25 range.
This group includes returnees such as Luken Baker, Matthew Liberatore, Andre Pallante and Zack Thompson. New is Pedro Pages at $25. Former players and current coaches Daniel Descalso and Jon Jay will also sign for $25 each.
Up and comers include Thomas Saggese, Victor Scott and Michael Siani. All look to be a good bargain at $20 each.
Value picks
| Value picks | Autograph | Change |
| Jose Fermin | $15 | |
| Ryan Fernandez | $15 | new |
| Ivan Herrera | $15 | |
| Matt Koperniak | $15 | new |
| Kyle Leahy | $15 | new |
| Ryan Loutos | $15 | new |
| Michael McGreevy | $15 | up from $10 in 2023 |
| Riley O’Brien | $15 | new |
| Drew Rom | $15 | up from $10 |
| Chris Roycroft | $15 | new |
| Tink Hence | $15 | up from $10 |
As members of the 40-man roster (except Drew Rom), these players all have some MLB experience and are looking for more. Of them, each of whom will sign for $15, catcher Ivan Herrera, starter Michael McGreevy and reliever Ryan Fernandez all had a notable 2024 season.
Top prospects
| Prospects | Autograph | Change |
| Jimmy Crooks | $10 | new |
| Sem Robberse | $10 | new |
| Quinn Mathews | $10 | new |
This group consists of two non-roster prospects and a 40-man pitcher hoping to make their St. Louis debuts soon. Organization Pitcher of the Year Quinn Mathews is joined by Player of the Year Jimmy Crooks and pitcher Sem Robberse.
Former Cardinals
| Hall of Famers (1) | Autograph | |
| Tony La Russa | $50 | |
| Alumni (4) | Autograph | Last |
| Matt Adams | $20 | 2017 |
| Jason Isringhausen | $35 photo down from $75 signed | 2023 |
| Ray Lankford | $35 photo down from $75 signed | 2023 |
| Ozzie Smith | $35 photo down from $50 pre-sign | 2024 |
After the passing of Whitey Herzog during 2024, it is good to see that Tony La Russa will be back and in-person again in 2025.
New for 2025 are tickets for a Red Jacket Photo with a member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame, featuring Ozzie Smith, Ray Lankford and Jason Isringhausen at just $35 each.
Among the missing
| 40-man missing ( |
2024 | Notes |
| Nolan Arenado | $150 in 2023 | missed 2024 |
| $125 | see update below | |
| Nolan Gorman | $50 | |
| $50 | see update below | |
| JoJo Romero | $15 | |
| John King | $10 | |
| Gordon Graceffo | $10 | |
| Matt Svanson | new 40-man | |
| Tekoah Roby | new 40-man | |
| Roddery Munoz | new to org |
More names may be added to the 39 scheduled to participate, down from 50 one year ago. Notably missing are 10 of 38 players on the 40-man roster who are not among the initial list of signees. Seven of the 10 have been to prior Winter Warm-Ups.
Some or all could still join the 2025 WWU roster later. The most obvious players missing are Arenado, Contreras, Gray and Nolan Gorman.
Moved on
Nine members of the 40-man roster in January 2024 who signed autographs at WWU last year are no longer in the organization.
| Moved on (9) | 2024 |
| Tommy Edman | $75 |
| Paul Goldschmidt | $75 (pre-signed) |
| Tyler O’Neill | $40 |
| Dylan Carlson | $35 |
| Kyle Gibson | $30 |
| Lance Lynn | $30 |
| Richie Palacios | $25 |
| Buddy Kennedy | $10 |
| James Naile | $10 |
In addition, the quantity of Cardinals alumni signing for a fee has dropped significantly, with another ten names absent from 2024.
| StL HOFers (1) | 2024 |
| Ted Simmons | $50 (pre-signed) |
| Alumni not back (9) | 2024 |
| David Freese | $75 |
| Ray King | $40 |
| Steve Kline | $40 |
| Tony Womack | $40 |
| David Eckstein | $25 |
| Randy Flores | $20 |
| Bo Hart | $20 |
| Ryan Ludwick | $10 |
| Xavier Scruggs | $10 |
Freebies
Typically, up to two dozen former players and notables sign for free during WWU. When those names are announced, this article will be updated with that information. These tickets will be made available during the second week of January.
Update – January 9
Sonny Gray, at the same price as last year, $50, has been added to the WWU lineup.
| Team addition | Autograph | Chg |
| Sonny Gray | $50 |
Update – January 7
A limited number of free autograph tickets redeemable at Winter Warm-Up will be available with the following individuals starting Friday, January 10 at 10 a.m. CT at cardinals.com/WWU.
| Alan Benes | Andy Benes | Scott Cooper | Bill DeWitt Jr. |
| Bill DeWitt III | Mitch Harris | Rick Horton | Al Hrabosky |
| Bengie Molina | John Mozeliak | Kerry Robinson | Xavier Scruggs |
| Jason Simontacchi | Brad Thompson |
January 5 update
The Cardinals have added four more names to the paid signing list, increasing the total to 43. Three are alumni, two of whom will be in person. None have been present in recent years.
The other addition is Willson Contreras, who will be signing for $50 less than one year ago’s $125.
| Team addition | Autograph | Chg |
| Willson Contreras | $75 | down $50 |
| Alumni additions | Autograph | Last |
| Vince Coleman | $20 photo | 2011 |
| Trevor Rosenthal | $20 | 2017 |
| Todd Stottlemyre | $20 | pre-2008 |
In conclusion
The 28th annual Winter Warm-Up, a three-day event, will take place on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend; Saturday, Sunday and Monday, January 18-20, 2025. Three-day event passes are already on sale for $50.
Each individual typically signs for just one or two hours on one of the three days only, so check the detailed event schedule and any restrictions and limits carefully before buying your tickets.
For the first time in 2025, the included tour of the Cardinals Clubhouse has a new option – the opportunity to take photos of the club’s World Series trophies for a $20 advance fee. .
For full WWU information, including signing schedules and ticket ordering, follow this link.
Related event
Many of the event participants also appear at the St. Louis Baseball Writers’ Dinner, always held on WWU Sunday night, January 19 this year. Tickets are $300 and $200. Details here.
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