Home Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum

Amazing autograph find... need help with it please

Well, the day finally came... I work with all senior citizens and I make it a point to mention my sportscards and memorabilia collecting, and my client today showed me this.

image

Now, I can identify 4 of the players... Cy Young, Roger Bresnahan, Connie Mack & Topsy Hartsel
I don't know the other two and cannot find them in the player registry. My client said he believes the last one was the manager of the Toledo Mud Huns in 1943.

The guy told me how he got it also... May 14, 1943 at a father/son banquet at the Monroe Street Methodist Church in Toledo, OH. The event was sponsored by the Toledo Mud Hens. He was 14 years old at the time, he's 76 now.

He also has a miniature bat made by Krens, called a Krens Special with Toledo Muds Hens on the barrel, which he also had signed by Cy Young at the same event, but the auto's were all in pencil, and the Young signature on the bat is barely legible. Really only the Y from Cy and the NG are legible.

Anyways, I asked him what he planned to do with them down the road and he didn't think anyone in his family would even know who the players were or appreciate the auto's. I asked him if someone offered him some money for them, would he consider selling it, and he said he would certainly consider it. How much is something like this piece worth? I'd certainly make him a legitimate offer for it, it is a beautiful item with unquestionable authenticity. What about the mini bat with Young's auto in the state that it is in?

Any help greatly is appreciated.

Comments

  • stevekstevek Posts: 29,292 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My first reaction was WTF was Connie Mack doing in Toledo during the baseball season? Connie Mack of course was managing the Philadelphia A's in 1943. According to the below link, the Philadelphia A's played at Detroit on May 14, 1943 and at Cleveland on May 15, 1943. Toledo is right on the route to Cleveland from Detroit. The story checks out - the banquet had to have been held in the evening.

    http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHA/1943_sched.shtml
  • that's a pretty strong auto from cy young. You dont see too much of those around. That alone can fetch one a lot of dough.
  • Frank Gilhooley played from 1911 til 1919
  • If the other is Pete McShannic he played one year 1888 and died in 1946 in Toledo
  • Gilhooley also lived in Toledo and died in 1959
  • MooseDogMooseDog Posts: 1,946 ✭✭✭
    Heh...I knew all those years of autograph collecting would come in handy some day...the other two names on your sheet are:

    P.R McShannic - Peter Robert McShannic played 26 games in 1888 and died in 1946 in Toledo OH.

    Frank Gilhooley - played 1911-1919 died in 1959 in Toledo OH.

    Super item!

  • stevekstevek Posts: 29,292 ✭✭✭✭✭
    <<< Pete McShannic >>>

    Connie Mack also played in 1888 although for a different team. Must have been some friendship there.
  • envoy98envoy98 Posts: 4,000 ✭✭
    I am interested to know a value as well. I was talking to my wife's godparents last weekend and he told me about a ball signed by Cy Young and some other players that were all inducted into the Ohio baseball hall of fame. He said someone once offered him $6k for the ball, but I don't know what the ball or the autos looks like or who all is on it. I know SMR is around $7k for a single signed Cy Young ball.

    This looks like a neat piece, it checks out and the autos are all bold and it's dated. If he's willing to part with it, I'd take it off his hands and have it framed and hung on my wall! Very nice find indeed!

  • KnucklesKnuckles Posts: 2,512 ✭✭✭
    Nice! I'll take a stab at how much it's worth.. If sold on Heritage or maybe Mastro I think it would go for around $2,500

    Authenticated by PSA/DNA I've seen the following autographs fetch between...

    Cy Young $500 to $1,300.00

    Connie Mack alone - $200 to $500

    Roger Bresnahan - $800 to $1,200

    Topsy Hartsel, P.R McShannic, Frank Gilhooley? dunno.. not much I imagine.

    The low prices are generally what they'll go for on eBay.. The high prices.. Lelands.. Mastronet.. Heritage..


    -Garret
    image
  • KnucklesKnuckles Posts: 2,512 ✭✭✭
    envoy yeah balls are generally worth more than signed index cards and alike.. a Cy Young ball depending on how nice the autograph is can fetch between $6,000 to $10,000


    The bat is a shame.. but would guess that it would still go for around $50-150ish since it probably can't be authenticated by PSA/DNA only your story and reputation as a seller will determine how much the bat will go for I guess.
    image
Sign In or Register to comment.