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??? on Ruth signed baseball

DevlinDevlin Posts: 79
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
The autograph section is pretty slow, thought i'd try you guys. Have Ruth signed ball, relative won in contest sponsored by the museum in Balt and Baseball Weekly in 1995. natl ball, ball is stamped " Sinclair Babe ruth Baseball Contest" Have been advised that Sinclair put out a number of stamped facsimile of Ruth. This sig is hardly mint, whereas the stamp is very clear. Sig is " Sincerly Babe Ruth" Sig is faded and even the ball is not great (stains). PSA declined to grade it, but made no definitve statement on the authenticity. Sorry i have no scans. Can anyone expand on the Sinclair issue. I thank you Dave.

Comments

  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
    Current eBay auction

    This beautiful Official National League, Ford Frick, President Spalding baseball is from a contest run by Sinclair Oil with the prize being a single-signed "Babe Ruth Baseball." Unfortunately for collectors, all of the baseballs from this contest are now thought to be secretarial signatures, and were not signed by the Babe.

    Still these single-signed baseballs have gone for over $500 in auction, because the Frick Baseball is beautiful and the signature (while not signed by the Babe) looks as close as can be.

    The baseball is in very good condition, but as you can see from the photo, age has taken it's toll on the signature and it is no longer a "10".

    I am not a Sports Memorabilia Dealer. This is from my private collection.

    Please e-mail me with any questions.

    image

    image
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • jimq112jimq112 Posts: 3,511 ✭✭✭
    Here's a little story about babe ruth's radio show sponsored by sinclair oil

    Also if you want to know if it's real or not, email richard simon sports in NYC. He's really sharp on babe ruth baseballs and easy to deal with also. He's given me free advice before, maybe he would help you.
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  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
    Here's another auction for the advertising box and banner:

    Link

    Description: . Sinclair Oil Contest Babe Ruth auto. baseball with orig. box and advertising poster. Contest run by the oil company with prizes incl. Ruth auto. balls all of which have been signed by a "ghost" signer. Ball itself is fairly clean Frick NL ball with Sinclair stampings, signature rates 6/7 out of ten: EX-EX/MT. Box is missing top otherwise intact: VG. Poster lists prize winners incl. 500 recipients of the "auto." balls, 24"x30" w/mailing fold lines: EX
    Sold For: $575.00

    Estimated Price: $650.00-$850.00

    image
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • DevlinDevlin Posts: 79
    The sig on my ball looks much like yours.
  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
    If that's the case and based upon what I've read, I'm sorry to say it's probably a secretarial signature.
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    That's too bad that the Sinclair balls are tainted. I always wondered if some were legit?

    I think the contest was going on when the Babe was really sick.


    Sinclair Oil Contest Balls "signed" by Babe Ruth, I have never seen a good one, in my opinion, they were all signed by secretaries. Many of these balls are constantly offered for sale.


    The above comment is from Mr. Simon

    Steve
    Good for you.
  • TNTonPMSTNTonPMS Posts: 2,279 ✭✭
    Personally I don't think that signature even comes close to looking authentic .

    Especially the R in Ruth and the way Ruth made his H's .
    I think that really stinks that people were led to believe that this was his hand .
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