LAGUNA NIGEL, Calif. — Alex Rodriguez use of banned substances while playing for the Texas Rangers could have a significant impact on the value of the New York Yankees slugger's memorabilia as he closes in on Barry Bonds' homer record.

"Here was a player that was thought of as a guy who was clean, kind of the anti-Bonds, someone you could root for as he approaches baseball's most hallowed record," said David Kohler, president and CEO of SCP Auctions. "Now, that's all changed. The demand for Rodriguez memorabilia will be significantly less, as well as the value.

"The bottom line is there's always going to be an asterisk to Rodriguez pieces. Even his 500th home run ball, which has never been put up for auction, would be a fraction of what it was worth prior to his admission."

Kohler's SCP Auctions' latest Internet auction in January, dealing in high-end sports memorabilia, netted $1.75 million. SCP Auctions also sold the famed T-206 Honus Wagner card for $2.8 million and the bat Babe Ruth used to his the first home run in old Yankee Stadium for $1.265 million.