By Ryan Finley,
Staff Writer

Nearly two weeks after a fiery plane crash over South Dakota took the life of Payne Stewart and five others, online auctioneers are looking to make a quick buck off of the tragedy.

Ebay.com, an online company specializing in memorabilia auctions, has begun selling everything from autographed scorecards to lithographs at high prices.

So much for respecting the dead.

A Ryder Cup replica money clip, made by Jostens, is similar to the ones given to the members of the Ryder Cup team following their harrowing victory.

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A 1999 U.S. Open scorecard, signed by Stewart, has a $70 starting bid. A fan, probably realizing that his signature is worth more since the accident, is selling this “piece of history” to the highest bidder. I call it blood money.

A 14x9 mounted photo of Stewart even commemorates his death, listing both the dates of his birth and death. Despite the fact that the photo/plaque combination probably costs no more than 20 dollars, the bidding starts at $102.50.

There is a Payne Stewart memorial beanie baby: a white teddy bear wears a Ryder Cup patch on his back with Stewart's name stitched on both sides. Claiming that there are “Only 1,999 made,” the auctioneer hopes to get the bidding started at $25.

The most inflated price comes from an auctioneer trying to sell a Stewart autographed golf ball for $800.

A $10 golfing glove warn by Stewart in a tournament is selling for $237.55.

And it goes on and on. Autographed tickets, scorecards, and magazines are selling for many times above the original listed price. This is due almost directly to the accident that took the life of one of America's most colorful athletes.

Of all the golf memorabilia sold on Ebay.com, the majority of it bears Stewart’s name. Independent owners of such things are selling off things signed, touched, and used by the dead, hoping to make money off of the Stewart family’s tragedy. Payne’s children are without a father and yet his autographs are fetching as much as 800 dollars.

And therein lies a bigger tragedy.

Stewart’s body was barely cold when prices on the memorabilia started skyrocketing. Collectors, sure that he would never sign again, upped the price on all autographed materials.

A bloodthirsty society has taken it upon themselves to capitalize on one man’s death, a family’s tragedy, and the golf world’s loss.

But Stewart's so-called fans better hurry, there’s only 1,999 Payne Stewart beanie babies left.