What would be the best way to sell some of my auttographed baseballs.

milbroco

I have several single signed baseballs by Joe DiMaggio, Mantle, Mays and Aaron along with a Hall Of Fame baseball signed by these and several other HOFers. I obtained ALL of these in person in the early to late 1980's when they appeared at card shows.

My question is how is the best way to sell without getting cheated. I have a flawless ebay record with almost 450 pos with no negs and no neuts so that route is a possibility.

If I sell them on ebay, what are the chances that someone will pay for a Dimaggio ball and try to return a different one that was forged? I really cannot afford to lose the kind of money these balls should bring in.

I could try an auction house but I would have to wait a while for my money. I am not in need for cash but I just don't like the thought that someone else has it and I may have to wait a while.

Also, if I do consign to an auction house, do they take responsibility if someone tries to return a forged item?

What are your thoughts.

Thank you,

Bob

ROCKDJRW

I think you should get them authenticated by PSA/DNA and sell them on Ebay. I don't feel a major auction house would put them in their auction unless it was as a group. You would probably make more money selling them individually. If you are worried about someone returning a fake item PSA/DNA marks all the balls (invisible) and you can get a COA with a photo on it. If you are still worried you can always say no returns on 3rd party authenticated items.

wlf3

I agree with Rock.... none are realatively worth much of anything. You could have PSADNA, or another authenticator verify them - it'll cost you more $ but will get more $ when sold so at least balances out there. OR list them priced to sell, anyone that KNOWS the signatures to be good will bid if low enough even if others are unsure... esp if your rating is that good.

if you don't "need" the $, you could donate them to Goodwill or BoysClub or the YMCA or something and get "book value" in a tax write-off.... and they could give them away or auction them or anything like that w/o you having to worry about it all.

Stone193

Bob
I agree with all. It will probably cost you about 75$, I believe, per item for the superstar HOF'ers but well worth it. Not sure on the balls but on the flats, that would be the price for Mantle e.g. People seem to have no trouble bidding on psa/dna stuff.
Also, there is no way for anyone to do a switch since the ball has a numbered label which I believe getz destroyed if you try to remove it.



I would give them a call and do the numbers - a psa/dna Mantle or DiMaggio should fetch good money due to the authentication IMO.

Mike

milbroco

Thanks for the advice everyone. I forgot PSA authenticated these. I think I will send the Mantle, DiMaggio and Ted Williams (fogot to mention him in original post) to PSA/DNA. After authenticated, are the balls encased like cards are. I see the Kaline with the serial number but no case.

Thanks again,

Bob

Stone193

<< <i>After authenticated, are the balls encased like cards are >>


Bob
The onez I have are not encased. You throw those puppies in a new ball cube with the COA and they will do real nice, IMO, on ebay. But, you can always hit a bad night. Let us know when you put them up, I will ge happy to bid!
your friend
Mike

wlf3

bob-

like the picture above, they get a tamperprrof sticker on it OR you can get it on the COA and not the ball.... no cases, but maybe buy some nice ball cubes to put with them for display... or if you really want to spruce them up do a shadowbox matted w/ a photo or something.

jrdolan

Speaking as an eBay buyer, I would not pay much (and perhaps not bid at all) for an auto that was not authenticated, regardless of the seller's feedback. I would regard it as a gamble. Is it worth paying ANYTHING and then paying large bucks to have PSA/DNA call it fake? Probbaly not, unless the seller showed me evidence (like his ticket to a show where Mantle was signing, or a picture of him at Mantle's table) to back up his sincere story. Just too many fake autos out there. I think someone wrote that the fakes outnumber the real ones by a considerable margin.

This is unfair to people like you who actually went to shows or the ballpark and met the athlete, but didn't have an authentication witness sitting by. Sadly it is the state of the hobby -- You can't trust an autograph unless you got it signed yourself. And if you wanted to sell it someday, you'd have to get it authenticated.