Need help with this Yankees autographed Baseball

Kiko · February 2, 2008 4:55AM

I have a Yankees autographed baseball that I'd like to sell. What do you think I can get for it? What's the best way to sell it? It has the signatures of Mantle, Berra, Ford, Bauer, Gene Woodling, Joe Collins, and one more that I can't make out. The unique thing about this ball is that it's a Brooklyn Dodgers baseball. My dad received it as a gift when he was a kid. I'd like to sell it and buy baseball cards with the proceeds. Would be interested in hearing the group's thoughts on the value. Also, can anyone make out the other signature (it's the one below Ford and above Joe Collins). See the images below. Many thanks for your advice.

TheMcgwireMuseum · February 2, 2008 5:18AM

Thats Mickey Mouse, not Mickey Mantle

Kiko · February 2, 2008 5:22AM

?

SportsItUpCards · February 2, 2008 5:23AM

<< Thats Mickey Mouse, not Mickey Mantle >>

Did you have this signed by him yourself, or you bought it that way? If you did have it signed yourself, then what year?

Giovanni

Kiko · February 2, 2008 5:27AM

As I indicated in the post, my Dad got it when he was a kid.One of his little league coaches went up to New York and brought a few of these back..he gave one to my Dad..It's got to be mid 50's considering the players on it (Collins, Woodling). It's legit.

oaktown · February 2, 2008 5:27AM

That Mantle isn't even close. Even for an early career signature it looks we way off IMO.

SportsItUpCards · February 2, 2008 5:29AM

I would think its good for his early ones, don't anybody think? I mean, i'm not positive what his old sig looks like, but I would think its close? Anybody have some photos of his old auto?

Giovanni

Kiko · February 2, 2008 5:31AM

Thanks for your opinions, but it's authentic.

storm888 · February 2, 2008 5:31AM

I fear it has no value, unless the autos are authenticated.

You could send it to PSA/DNA, but I would not be optimistic.

SportsItUpCards · February 2, 2008 5:34AM

I would definetly get it authenticated, because if you do, you got yourself a great piece of Baseball History! I'm sure it is real, but its still always good to have it looked at and authenticated!

Giovanni

Kiko · February 2, 2008 5:37AM

Yes i'm gonna send it in to PSA..It's as legit as these, also from my Dad's collection...

SportsItUpCards · February 2, 2008 5:39AM

Love that Yogi, I love when their that nicely centered!

Great looking cards, lucky you

Giovanni

MooseDog · February 2, 2008 5:54AM

The other signatures (McDougald, Ford, Collins, etc.) are good but I'm afraid the Mantle is a no-go...but don't take my word for it send it in to PSA/DNA and spend the $150 to have them tell you the same thing, and they won't give the money back like they do with cards (vouchers).

Value is about $100 even with a bad Mantle.

earlycalguy · February 2, 2008 5:57AM

that Mickey does look odd. maybe it was a clubhouse signature. before you spend the $100 plus on psa/dna I'd spend $8 on a psa/dna quick opinion. it could save you some money.

Kiko · February 2, 2008 6:03AM

Thanks for your comments. How you can be so sure? My dad's had the ball since the mid-50's. If it was signed by someone else, it was done back then. I just can't believe it considering back then, cards/memorabilia wasn't a hight dollar industry. There woud have been no reason to forge. How could some of the sigs be real, and ony the Mantle false. I know I'm new on the boards, and there are lots of frauds out there, but I'm not one of them..A long time member of the board julen23 can vouch for that...As to the ball, I'm just gonna send it in to PSA..I did a google search and found a few sigs that look close.

yankeeno7 · February 2, 2008 6:05AM

That isnt even close to his old signature. My guess is that if the ball went around the clubhouse, Mantle tossed it to a batboy and had him sign it for him. Sorry, the Mantle isnt even in the same universe.

SportsItUpCards · February 2, 2008 6:07AM

<< Thanks for your comments. How you can be so sure? My dad's had the ball since the mid-50's. If it was signed by someone else, it was done back then. I just can't believe it considering back then, cards/memorabilia wasn't a hight dollar industry. There woud have been no reason to forge. How could some of the sigs be real, and ony the Mantle false. I know I'm new on the boards, and there are lots of frauds out there, but I'm not one of them..A long time member of the board julen23 can vouch for that...As to the ball, I'm just gonna send it in to PSA..I did a google search and found a few sigs that look close. >>

Do you have those pictures from your Google search? I would love to compare them

Giovanni

Ironmanfan · February 2, 2008 6:11AM

Mantle is definitely a clubhouse signature. It was done innocently back then often by teams for the star players who were just too busy/un-interested to sign...It's very common to see Yankees items with Mantle signed by a clubhouse attendant, batboy, etc.

Kiko · February 2, 2008 6:12AM

here's one that looks pretty close (1951):

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://centerfieldsports.com/images/baseballs/51yanks.JPG&imgrefurl=http://centerfieldsports.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=75&h=1040&w=1044&sz=252&hl=en&start=23&tbnid=5bXFpnpJIrV57M:&tbnh=149&tbnw=150&prev=/images?q=mickey+mantle+autograph&start=20&gbv=2&ndsp=20&hl=en&sa=N

yankeeno7 · February 2, 2008 6:15AM

Yes, that auto in the link you provided IS Mantles old sig. No, yours isnt at all close to that.

yankeeno7 · February 2, 2008 6:15AM

BTW...nice 56's

thenavarro · February 2, 2008 6:17AM

<< Thanks for your comments. How you can be so sure? My dad's had the ball since the mid-50's. If it was signed by someone else, it was done back then. I just can't believe it considering back then, cards/memorabilia wasn't a hight dollar industry. There woud have been no reason to forge. How could some of the sigs be real, and ony the Mantle false. I know I'm new on the boards, and there are lots of frauds out there, but I'm not one of them..A long time member of the board julen23 can vouch for that...As to the ball, I'm just gonna send it in to PSA..I did a google search and found a few sigs that look close. >>

Here's a direct cut and paste from the PSA/DNA website that explains that it was quite a common practice for there to be clubhouse signatures and real signatures mixed on a ball.

"Keep in mind that clubhouse autographs are approached in a different manner when evaluating team signed baseballs. For clarification, clubhouse autographs are those that were made by a bat boy, ball boy or other clubhouse attendant for a particular team. It was very common for team employees to forge player autographs on team signed baseballs. In many cases, while many of the autographs on a baseball may indeed be authentic, some player autographs may be of the clubhouse variety due to player unavailability, etc.

While clubhouse signatures will be identified on the PSA/DNA letters of authenticity, they may not hinder the overall grade of a baseball since their existence is fairly common and the autographs were not forged in a malicious manner. Severity and eye-appeal may be factors but, generally speaking, the grader approaches clubhouse autographs as if they did not exist on the baseball."

Mike

storm888 · February 2, 2008 6:18AM

"No, yours isnt at all close to that. "

////////////////////////////////////////////

I agree.

BUT, I would still send it to PSA/DNA, if it was mine.

.........................................

EBAY......NEG Victoriously !

NickM · February 2, 2008 6:20AM

The Mantle looks like a clubhouse sig to me too. I have seen several Yankee team balls with similar signatures in catalog auctions that have been authenticated by a respected expert that have had the Mantle identified as a clubhouse signature.

I can't tell well enough from the picture who was below the Ford, but I do see Ed Lopat just below Bauer, which wasn't identified in your original post.

Mantle and Stengel were the 2 most common signatures to be done by the clubhouse attendant for the '50s Yankees.

Nick

yankeeno7 · February 2, 2008 6:21AM

I agree Storm, send it in to PSA. If any of those other HOFers are real then it still has good value. It's a real nice ball. Just too bad the Mantle is a clubhouse sig.

Kiko · February 2, 2008 6:23AM

Thanks for everyone's comments. You guys sound like you know what you're talking about, and that's why I posted the question. Don't necessarily like the answer I got, but as they say - It is what it is! I know cards pretty well, but I know nothing about autographs, and I wasn't aware of the "clubhouse" autograph. I'll go ahead and send it in at some point see if PSA/DNA confirms what you are telling me.

FYI, the 56 cards are duplicates and I'm looking to trade or sell them.

Thanks,

Kiko

julen23 · February 2, 2008 6:23AM

nice cardboard sir.

perhaps need flash on when taking picture of your ball, it's blurry as hell.

i am no prognosticator for mantle anything, but i would definitely get it authenticated.

whatever happened to your psa 10 "all ball mccall" collection?

J

SportsItUpCards · February 2, 2008 6:28AM

How much are you looking for the Yogi PSA8?

Giovanni

Kiko · February 2, 2008 6:31AM

For a sale, I'd let the Berra go for $330 delivered...For trade I'd ask full SMR....Thanks again everyone for your insight.

Kiko · February 2, 2008 6:46AM

<< Thanks for everyone's comments. You guys sound like you know what you're talking about, and that's why I posted the question. Don't necessarily like the answer I got, but as they say - It is what it is! I know cards pretty well, but I know nothing about autographs, and I wasn't aware of the "clubhouse" autograph. I'll go ahead and send it in at some point see if PSA/DNA confirms what you are telling me.

FYI, the 56 cards are duplicates and I'm looking to trade or sell them.

Thanks,

Kiko >>

So assuming you guys are right and the Mantle is a "Clubhouse sig", but the Ford, Berra, et al are authenticated by PSA/DNA, what do you think I could get for the ball (this was the original purpose of my post - to find out the true value of the ball)

THANKS

Kiko · February 2, 2008 6:48AM

<< Thanks for everyone's comments. You guys sound like you know what you're talking about, and that's why I posted the question. Don't necessarily like the answer I got, but as they say - It is what it is! I know cards pretty well, but I know nothing about autographs, and I wasn't aware of the "clubhouse" autograph. I'll go ahead and send it in at some point see if PSA/DNA confirms what you are telling me.

FYI, the 56 cards are duplicates and I'm looking to trade or sell them.

Thanks,

Kiko >>

So assuming you guys are right and the Mantle is a "Clubhouse sig", but the Ford, Berra, et al are authenticated by PSA/DNA, what do you think I could get for the ball (this was the original purpose of my post - to find out the true value of the ball)

THANKS

oaktown · February 2, 2008 8:18AM

I'll throw out a couple numbers: 150-250.

jimq112 · February 2, 2008 8:38AM

The whitey ford looks like a clubhouse also.

You might try using a scanner with the lid open to get better pics. My camera has a button that lets me get good closeups, that and good lighting makes a big difference.

Also if you list it on ebay you can pay psa a few bucks for "quick opinion" but if you're going to do that then get some better pics so they can see what they're looking at. Otherwise you're wasting your money.

The name below whitey ford's name is gil mcdougald as far as I can tell.

stown · February 2, 2008 9:04AM

The ball looks really white, especially considering it's from the 50's.

How did you dad store it?

Kiko · February 2, 2008 9:27AM

It's actually not as white as it may look in the pics..there's definitely a little cream color in it..not sure how he stored it originally, but in the early 80s we stuck it in that ball holder...too bad the Mantle is likely a clubhouse sig..Dad passed away a few years ago -- at least he went out thinking it was real.

MooseDog · February 2, 2008 11:53AM

<< So assuming you guys are right and the Mantle is a "Clubhouse sig", but the Ford, Berra, et al are authenticated by PSA/DNA, what do you think I could get for the ball (this was the original purpose of my post - to find out the true value of the ball) >>

It's not likely you'll cover the PSA/DNA auth fee...unless the Mantle gets the OK. As far as Yankees go, Berra and Ford are relatively easy to get and the fact you you have a non-official league ball, possible one, maybe two bad clubhouse sigs...it really devalues the ball. It sucks, but that's the way the market is now. If you do believe the Mantle is good it will cost you $150-175 to play the lottery. If you lose, you're out the fees and maybe you break even selling the ball but at any rate you are out the value of the ball as it is.

Take Jimq112's advice and get some better photos/scans, post it on eBay for $5000 and then request a quick opinion from PSA/DNA. Your total outlay is less than $20 and you at least have an idea of where they stand.

Tell you how tough the autograph market is...I have a signature cut of a 19th century Baseball Hall of Famers. There are probably less than two dozen known signatures of this guy around. I think there is a good chance it is good but I can't sell it as is, no one will touch it without PSA or JSA provenance. PSA/DNA wants $250 to authenticate it. If it comes back good I probably have a signature that is worth as much as $15000. If not, I'm out $250 and I still can't sell the thing. All based on someone's opinion of a signature that there aren't many exemplars around.

Kiko · February 2, 2008 12:43PM

Yeah that's good advice..I may do the quick opinion thing just to satisfy my curiousity..Will post the results if/when I do it..Even if the other sigs (non Mantle) are authentic, I'll probably just keep the ball. If I could only get $100-$200 at best I'd rather just hang on to it since it does have sentimental value to me. I think the only way I'd sell it is if PSA authenticated the Mantle (which seems like a pipe dream based on everyone's comments)...Oh well, I'm gonna have to finance my low grade 54 Bowman Ted Williams purchase by some other means..

oaktown · February 2, 2008 12:46PM

<< 

<< So assuming you guys are right and the Mantle is a "Clubhouse sig", but the Ford, Berra, et al are authenticated by PSA/DNA, what do you think I could get for the ball (this was the original purpose of my post - to find out the true value of the ball) >>

It's not likely you'll cover the PSA/DNA auth fee...unless the Mantle gets the OK. As far as Yankees go, Berra and Ford are relatively easy to get and the fact you you have a non-official league ball, possible one, maybe two bad clubhouse sigs...it really devalues the ball. It sucks, but that's the way the market is now. If you do believe the Mantle is good it will cost you $150-175 to play the lottery. If you lose, you're out the fees and maybe you break even selling the ball but at any rate you are out the value of the ball as it is.

Take Jimq112's advice and get some better photos/scans, post it on eBay for $5000 and then request a quick opinion from PSA/DNA. Your total outlay is less than $20 and you at least have an idea of where they stand.

Tell you how tough the autograph market is...I have a signature cut of a 19th century Baseball Hall of Famers. There are probably less than two dozen known signatures of this guy around. I think there is a good chance it is good but I can't sell it as is, no one will touch it without PSA or JSA provenance. PSA/DNA wants $250 to authenticate it. If it comes back good I probably have a signature that is worth as much as $15000. If not, I'm out $250 and I still can't sell the thing. All based on someone's opinion of a signature that there aren't many exemplars around. >>

Come on, you can't tease like that...who's the HOFer??

Need help with this Yankees autographed Baseball

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