Billy Martin Signed Baseball - Question

envoy98

I picked up this ball in the lot I purchased the other day. I went looking at SMR to get a value for the ball, more out of curiosity than anything and I was very surprised to see it listed at $400. So I checked ebay and the PSA/DNA authenticated ones sell in the $400-500 range, while non-authenticated ones sell for $300+ still. My question is, why is the ball valued so high? I mean a DiMaggio ball is SMR'd at $375 and Martin isn't even in the HOF.

Just curious, I realize the value behind the whole Yankees mystique but $400 seems like a lot, am I missing something? Did he just not sign anything? Should I hang on to the ball for an investment or should I get it authenticated and dump it at current values?

Any help would be appreciated.

-Josh

pandrews

he's a deceased yankee.. and in my opinion, one of the greatest baseball managers of all time..

envoy98

pandrews- I don't disagree, he was certainly a character... but SMR $400 - DiMaggio $375? Granted a PSA/DNA DiMaggio ball will sell for much more than that... I was just curious why it was so high. I thought maybe he was a very stingy signer or something. I expected to see $75-100 when I looked. I was very pleased that it was high, I just wasn't expecting it. Do you think that's a high price for it or do you (or anyone else) think it's worth hanging on to. I personally have no real attachment to him other than he coached my Twins for a while
(and had a .599 WP% besides)

pandrews

if *I* had it, i would hang on to it (because Billy is one of the players/managers i collect).. i dont know why he would book more than Dimaggio, though.. i know Joe D signed alot of stuff and lived to be quite a bit older than Billy martin..

mikeschmidt

It's primarily a supply issue question. Martin signed a lot of things in his day - but DiMaggio signed hundreds of thousands. As single-signed balls are always the 'end all' for most autograph collectors - there are probably relatively fewer of them signed by Martin, especially once you take into account fading, etc.

Stone193

<< <i>It's primarily a supply issue question. Martin signed a lot of things in his day - but DiMaggio signed hundreds of thousands. As single-signed balls are always the 'end all' for most autograph collectors - there are probably relatively fewer of them signed by Martin, especially once you take into account fading, etc. >>


I couldn't put it any better MS! Billy SS balls are a rarity compared to Mantle, DiMaggio and Williams.

your friend
Mike

envoy98

Thanks guys. I figured it had to be a supply issue. I just used DiMaggio as an example... It's got a little staining from the oils in his hands from holding it (or whoever held prior to his signing it) but it doesn't detract from the auto. Maybe I'll get it authenticated and then sell it. I'm sure it would mean a lot more to someone else than it does me. I picked it up in a lot the other day. It's signed on the sweet spot too which is nice and it's the only auto on the ball.

Thanks for the info/opinions.

Stone193

Josh
Can you stick it on your scanner? Would like to see it if you have the time. If you have a ball cube to put it in, scanning is real ez.

That's a great item! If authenticated, a Yankee keeper for sure!

And talk about over-rated - the price of the stars today like Jeter and Arod!

your friend
Mike

envoy98

I have a pic of it at home, just haven't uploaded it to photobucket yet. I'll take a better pic of it tonight and throw it up for you guys to look at. Maybe I'll stop at the money pit and pick up a few ball cubes, I need several of them anyway...the question is, can I get out of there just buying some ball cubes.

envoy98

bump to show scan of ball

RedHeart54

Interesting. I have two I got when he came to a show in '88 or so. Looks like the authenticated baseballs bring the most. (I think he had a lot of ghost signers in his day,)

RedHeart54

Interesting again. I haven't noticed a single autographed Martin ball on ebay since it sold for over $2500 in July on Mastronet. Okay, Brigandi has one for $1600 (though it doesn't appear to be encapsulated despite the description saying it's a "9"). Are people waiting to see what the market price "truly" is? This ball was pretty easy to get before July.

mikeschmidt

For autographs and memorabilia - ebay is not a great place to sell. It is often better to consign to an auction house - or to an ebay seller with enough of a customer base that you can get adequate demand.

For example - I once owned fifty Al Barlick cancelled checks. I ran it on Ebay myself, with adequate scans, and couldn't get a $150 reserve met. I consigned the checks to Scott Gaynor - and, with his customer base [no PSA/DNA or anything], he got nearly $400 for the lot. Reputation means a lot in autographs - and there are too many fakes on Ebay to be pacifies - and PSA/DNA is not 100% reliable. Just my thoughts.

RedHeart54

Well, anything that increases the price of something I own is fine with me!

RedHeart54

No I don't know what to think. This oneonly sold for $266 (I don't think with buyer's premium not included). I know it's a sharpie sig (looks good for a ball at least 16 years old) and I know it's not a PSA/DNA ball but someone appears to have received a heck of a deal.

mikeschmidt

<< <i>No I don't know what to think. This oneonly sold for $266 (I don't think with buyer's premium not included). I know it's a sharpie sig (looks good for a ball at least 16 years old) and I know it's not a PSA/DNA ball but someone appears to have received a heck of a deal. >>



Since Mike Guiterrez is now the head of PSA/DNA - the fact that that ball is not should be a relatively moot point.