When David Meyer found out that Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler had passed away last Monday, he was shocked. It was only a week before that Meyer was introduced to Bechler through an autographed baseball card of the 23-year-old that had been sitting on Meyer's scanner -- the next card of his ready to command a measly sum on eBay.

Although Bechler's major-league career consists of only 4 2/3 innings in three relief appearances, he autographed more than 2,500 cards between Upper Deck and Donruss last year.

	“	When a player dies, there's certainly more interest from collectors in the short term. Ten days ago, most people had no idea who Steve Bechler was, and now they might be buying his card. ”
		— Rich Klein, sports collectibles price guide analyst

With supply high and in little demand, these cards averaged about $3 per auction before Bechler died of complications from heatstroke on Feb. 17. Since news of his death has circulated, eBay has been flooded with more Bechler items. His autographed cards are now averaging $20 apiece -- with some selling for as much as $38.

"When a player dies, there's certainly more interest from collectors in the short term," said Rich Klein, price guide analyst for Beckett, a sports collectibles publishing company. "Ten days ago, most people had no idea who Steve Bechler was, and now they might be buying his card."

While he didn't want to cash in on the hype, Meyer said he felt a certain sense of responsibility to put the card up for auction.

"This is for someone that might have met him, known him or a Baltimore-area fan," Meyer said. "I just feel this card needs to get in the proper hands, and I might be able to help someone out."

The highest price realized for a Bechler item might be a signed ball, which the seller, Mary-Ann Schaufenbil, claims was autographed by Bechler when the Orioles visited Fenway Park last September. Eighteen bidders pushed bids from $5 to $100, which is the price it sold for on Tuesday afternoon.

One of the bidders was Melina Quiroz, who says Bechler was a close friend of hers. "The value of something like this to me is more important than money," Quiroz said. "Steve was an awesome guy and will be greatly missed."

Robert Harrison, an Ohio man who is selling two Bechler autographed cards, says that while some might call selling Bechler cards exploitation, people that have his cards realize that "one month from now his cards and memorabilia will be worthless."

Klein said he expects prices to return to normal in the near future.

"When people are in the news, they're a hot commodity," Klein said. "But when the coverage dies down, the same demand just isn't there."

Klein said that prices for O.J. Simpson memorabilia skyrocketed throughout his double murder trial in the mid-1990s, but when Simpson was acquitted and out of the spotlight, prices fell to pre-trial levels.

Darren Rovell, who covers sports business for ESPN.com, can be reached at darren.rovell@espn3.com.