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I thought some of you might find this interesting. After my Mother-In-Law passed a bit over two years ago, my wife and her sisters began going through the mountains of stuff in the house. Stuffed in the back of a drawer in an antique dresser in a bedroom used for storage was a couple of old baseballs. A discussion between a couple of the sisters resulted in the ball not leaving the house immediately and it's being set down close to where I was sitting.
Of course, I picked it up and could not believe what I was seeing. I immdiately recognized the signatures of more than a couple of Hall of Fame players and all were VERY old. Turns out the original signature was supposedly put there almost 100 years before (now over 100 years) and that particular signature was a very valuable one. So valuable, that if left on the ball by itself, the ball would likely be worth north of $150,000. today.
But 25 years later several more signatures were added, lowering the value, but still making it a very unique baseball. Two of the charter members of the Baseball HOF have signed this ball; Babe Ruth & Christy Mathewson. This is thought to be the only baseball in existence with these two signatures. Mathewson's signature is among the most valuable ever, worth many times more than Ruth's on a single signature ball. I did a huge amount of research in the last couple years and have spoken with several memorabelia experts and auction houses. The baseball has now been put to auction (which will start soon) and we will know the ultimate sales price in mid May. Have a look at the ball (there are several pictures of the signatures) and the ad from the auction house and be sure to read the newspaper clipping (one of the pictures) from 1934 which talks about the ball and it's story. If you are a baseball fan, I think you will enjoy it!
http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/auction/2011_preview/12.html
Of course, I picked it up and could not believe what I was seeing. I immdiately recognized the signatures of more than a couple of Hall of Fame players and all were VERY old. Turns out the original signature was supposedly put there almost 100 years before (now over 100 years) and that particular signature was a very valuable one. So valuable, that if left on the ball by itself, the ball would likely be worth north of $150,000. today.
But 25 years later several more signatures were added, lowering the value, but still making it a very unique baseball. Two of the charter members of the Baseball HOF have signed this ball; Babe Ruth & Christy Mathewson. This is thought to be the only baseball in existence with these two signatures. Mathewson's signature is among the most valuable ever, worth many times more than Ruth's on a single signature ball. I did a huge amount of research in the last couple years and have spoken with several memorabelia experts and auction houses. The baseball has now been put to auction (which will start soon) and we will know the ultimate sales price in mid May. Have a look at the ball (there are several pictures of the signatures) and the ad from the auction house and be sure to read the newspaper clipping (one of the pictures) from 1934 which talks about the ball and it's story. If you are a baseball fan, I think you will enjoy it!
http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/auction/2011_preview/12.html