The 80's were a crazy time for many retired ballplayers; especially those with a collector following. After all, for many decades these old-timers received a pittance in salary for their work on the diamond, and many of them found income opportunity rather scant after playing the game. So, when the collector boom happened it proved to be a godsend. Baseball players could now earn a good amount of cash traveling across the country meeting with fans and signing autographs.
Unfortunately, a few of them failed to report that income on their tax returns, and soon found themselves in trouble with the law.