Expert help needed

brewcitymatt

If this is in the wrong place I apologize. Thank you for added me to this page. So I have this cigar sealed in a glass tube. On the tube the glass is etched and says “Ken griffey Jr 500 home run club”. My friend who gave it to me told me his friend knows Jr personally and was at the party where these were handed out. My question is does anyone know anything about this, is it worth anything, was there even a party? Lol. Thank you in advance

JoeBanzai

Welcome to the boards!

I am not an expert, but I am sure there are Griffey collectors out there who would love to own it!

remedylane

I'm not an expert. But I'm an antiques/collectibles dealer on the side. Your friends story seems like it could be legit. But we have also all heard stories like that before. So in cases like this I use context clues when trying to investigate an unknown or questionable item.

1. Being in an etched glass tube certainly makes it seem more high end.
2. I'd research the brand/type of cigar it is. I'd expect Jr. Would have had high end cigars at his personal party. If its a fancy cigar, that certainly gives the story legs.
3. If it were mass produced I'm sure a Google search would produce results.

If #2 turns out true, then you will have to try and dig deeper to find more provenance for the cigar. Sorry I wasn't more help, but this is what I would do in your place.

Matt

brewcitymatt

Thank you guys and that’s a good idea about the brand of the cigar. I’ll let you know if I come up with anything

magicpapa

hmmmm

KingBen

Amazing!!!!

What brand?

DrBuster

That looks to be a Macanudo label, which is a good cigar - I have some in my humidor. The cigar is not the value, the tube/etching is would be my guess.

At the time that was probably made that cigar was $10 maybe tops.

To add: should be one of these Macanudo Crystals - https://www.gothamcigars.com/macanudo-crystals/

remedylane

I think the value is in the piece as a whole. A $10 cigar at a homerun party for Jr gives some more credibility to the story. If 50 people were there that's $500 on cigars alone.

DrBuster

@remedylane said:
I think the value is in the piece as a whole. A $10 cigar at a homerun party for Jr gives some more credibility to the story. If 50 people were there that's $500 on cigars alone.

100% agree on the value of the item as a whole, not the stick.

remedylane

And also, I'm sure the glass tubes were a few bucks each as well.. plus the price of having them etched. I believe the story is true, the OP is just going to have to dig to get more provenance for the item to gauge full value. I wouldn't imagine there are very many of them.

DrBuster

They come in the tubes, the etching is the only extra actual cost on the cigars, and it's not all that expensive...especially for KGJ. An old colleague had some special label cigars done for their first born, was like $1 extra, the etching I'd think are probably the same, maybe $2.

I tried to find some info on those in particular for Jr but my google-fu patience ran out. Cigar Afficianado usually has little stories about stuff like this but I couldn't find anything there either...Sheffield 500s all over the place, but he got into cigars with Rocky Patel as as promotion thing.

rmilin

Sounds like a scam anyone could have something made up like that.

remedylane

@DrBuster said:
They come in the tubes, the etching is the only extra actual cost on the cigars, and it's not all that expensive...especially for KGJ. An old colleague had some special label cigars done for their first born, was like $1 extra, the etching I'd think are probably the same, maybe $2.

I tried to find some info on those in particular for Jr but my google-fu patience ran out. Cigar Afficianado usually has little stories about stuff like this but I couldn't find anything there either...Sheffield 500s all over the place, but he got into cigars with Rocky Patel as as promotion thing.

Ahhh. You learn something new everyday. But you know, now that I think about it, I've seen cheaper cigars in plastic tubes. Makes sense a nicer one would be in glass. So assuming the story is true, what do you think it would be worth? I'm trying to gauge my "appraisle" skills. I'd think to the right person, $125-$200. I may be WAYYYY off.

DrBuster

No clue on value. I think Jr is on instagram, somebody could post that pic and tag him and see if he says anything.

Instagram: @therealkengriffeyjr

brewcitymatt

Thank you for all the insight. It was given to me as a gift so whether the story is true or not makes no difference, I’m not out any money lol. I’ve been trying to figure it out for years but I go in spurts. I’ll probably end up forgetting about it for 2 years until I remember I have it and get curious again lol.