Customer has unique Mantle signed ball, what's it worth?
corvette1340
Posts: 3,384 ✭✭✭
A customer of mine was just in my office trying to get a car financed and he commented on all of the old cards I had on my desk. We started talking about cards, baseball, etc...
He said he had a baseball that he bought at a yardsale several years back in Columbus, OH. He said he went to it because it was advertised as having old clock parts and antiques. When he got there most of the clock parts were gone, but a few kids asked the old lady if she had any baseball cards. She said no, but her husband had passed away and she had a signed baseball of his.
She brought the baseball out tied up in an old sock and it was put inside of another old sock. The story was that her husband was at a game many years ago and caught a ball and had it signed by Mickey Mantle who had hit it/fouled it off. The ball is an old William Harridge ball (supposedly). The kids weren't interested as they didn't even know who Mantle was but my customer bought the ball for $50. He is gonna bring it in tomorrow or Monday. Assuming the ball is a real game used Harridge Commissioner ball signed by the Mick, what would it be worth if PSA/DNA authenticated? If it looks good I'm gonna buy it from him or let him use it as part of his down payment, lol.
He said he had a baseball that he bought at a yardsale several years back in Columbus, OH. He said he went to it because it was advertised as having old clock parts and antiques. When he got there most of the clock parts were gone, but a few kids asked the old lady if she had any baseball cards. She said no, but her husband had passed away and she had a signed baseball of his.
She brought the baseball out tied up in an old sock and it was put inside of another old sock. The story was that her husband was at a game many years ago and caught a ball and had it signed by Mickey Mantle who had hit it/fouled it off. The ball is an old William Harridge ball (supposedly). The kids weren't interested as they didn't even know who Mantle was but my customer bought the ball for $50. He is gonna bring it in tomorrow or Monday. Assuming the ball is a real game used Harridge Commissioner ball signed by the Mick, what would it be worth if PSA/DNA authenticated? If it looks good I'm gonna buy it from him or let him use it as part of his down payment, lol.
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Comments
Just my humble opinion...
A game ball might fetch $50-75 on it's own.
If the Mantle sig is good, and is an early "no-loop" signature, it would be worth a lot more than what his mass-marketed (and possible Operation Bullpen crap) balls go for these days.
<< <i>I looked on ebay and Mantle balls are fetching anywhere from the mid 300's up to 1000 w/PSA authentication and those are newer AL balls. If PSA were to authenticate a ball as a real game used '50's ball signed by Mickey. How in the world would it not be worth more than those newer ones?
I agree.
<< <i>Cash For Drunkers?
Very nice.
Mantle/Harridge Ball
I am guessing that the ball itself is in VG-EX condition.
Not sure about the signature...sometimes socks keep them well. Sometimes...not so much.
Without a scan, I was basing it on a decent signature on a scuffed, old official ball. I think a lot of people on this thread are assuming that this ball and signature will grade above 6. The reality is that Mantle signatures are not scarce, and unless the ball and signature are in pristine condition, I don't see there being a significant premium paid for it.
Just my opinion-
Would be very happy for you if you could prove me wrong-
m
<< <i>There is no way to prove that the ball was used in a game.
I am guessing that the ball itself is in VG-EX condition.
Not sure about the signature...sometimes socks keep them well. Sometimes...not so much.
Without a scan, I was basing it on a decent signature on a scuffed, old official ball. I think a lot of people on this thread are assuming that this ball and signature will grade above 6. The reality is that Mantle signatures are not scarce, and unless the ball and signature are in pristine condition, I don't see there being a significant premium paid for it.
Just my opinion-
Would be very happy for you if you could prove me wrong-
m >>
I agree that game use would/could likely not be proven.
I still think a mid-grade example on a vintage ball like that would go for a good sum.
Always looking for Vintage Yankees & NASCAR
Eric
<< <i>Wonder what the high bid was? >>
Mantle/Harridge Ball
Auction ended with no bids for the $5k minimum.
(the one Bill has shown)
As for Tommy's I agree with Marc, w/o seeing it how can anyone give a true value?
IMO and if it is a 50's signed ball and the sig is strong and the ball is clean I'd pay 500.00+ for it myself.
Especially if it could be somehow shown to be a game used ball.
If it turns out to be a 50's signed ball and the ball is scuffed and the sig is light then 2-300.00 sounds about right.
If it is a later sig on a 50's ball then 200.00 is what it could fetch depending on the sig and ball.
Threads like this are basically useless without a scan or a description.
Steve
I must have missed that part.
Steve
<< <i>Also, how is this ball 'unique'?
I must have missed that part.
Steve >>
The owner only has 1!
<< <i>Also, how is this ball 'unique'?
I must have missed that part.
Steve >>
you usually do.
I was referring to the story behind the ball and the fact it was kept in a sock by an elderly woman whose husband got the ball at a game and had it signed by Mickey. If that isn't somewhat unique then I'm not sure what is.
This is what I was alluding to.
"Customer has unique Mantle signed ball, what's it worth"?
Now when I went to school 'unique' meant it was the only one.
Even if I accept your later testimony surely someone else has a Mantle signed ball that was kept in a sock.
Nice try though.
Steve
if they all lived in the same town for example and only that town.
It would then be an item housed in a way unique to that town.
The reason I asked was I thought you possibly had a legit reason for calling it unique.
You asked "what is it worth"? Well if someone took your title to heart then IMO a unique Mantle signed ball could be worth
whatever the person who owns it wanted for it.
I should have realized that you meant the story behind it. (eyeroll)
Steve
I was a little disappointed with the uniqueness. I hope you get the ball and I look forward to scans.
If you know of another lady that has/had a signed, game used Mantle ball from her dead husband stashed away in a couple of socks that she sold at a yard sale (that she didn't even have for sale but brought out of her house when asked about baseball cards) then I will concede that this ball/story isn't unique.
Until then, this is my thread, my potential ball. I'm taking it and going home.
I of course get a pissy stupid FOS reply that is unique to your character.
If you noticed I gave a decent well thought out reply and then simply asked why you thought it was unique.
I bet if you asked 10 people here they would not have thought it was unique because of it belonging to a widow
who's husband died leaving it to her is a sock within a sock.
That does not make it unique regardless of the spin you want to put on it.
Yes please take your ball and go.
Steve
<< <i>I'd be interested in the sock. Paypal ready. LMK. >>
The inside sock or the outer sock?
Too bad you did not say the story was unique you said the ball was.
Steve
<< <i>When I read the title I was pretty sure it was going to be one of the infamous Mantle balls that he signed at closing time with a four letter word inscription.
>>
Me too.
Myabe he meant to say the sock was unique. I mean there are tons of Mantle balls out there, but how many socks that have been storing Mantle balls are there? That's one hell of a sock he's got there. Paypal ready. LMK.
No I'm the resident authority on people who are FOS and you head that list.
That is what I think.
Steve
In no way were you trying to be constructive or contribute in any way to information regarding the thread topic. You simply wanted to belittle me or try to make the thread seem unworthy or like I was wrong for starting it in some way.
That's ok though, that character trait or flaw is very "unique" to you and you do it well. Maybe someone should keep you in a sock on the inside of another sock.
Game Used signed Steve. $50 OBO.
I suggest you go back and re read the post above the one where I asked "how is this ball unique'
No, no jab, the jabs started only after YOU opened that trap of yours w/o thinking.
Bottom line is you got pissy and I'm not about to let a clown like you get over on me.
Steve
<< <i>Really?
I suggest you go back and re read the post above the one where I asked "how is this ball unique'
No, no jab, the jabs started only after YOU opened that trap of yours w/o thinking.
Bottom line is you got pissy and I'm not about to let a clown like you get over on me.
Steve >>
lol, did YOU really just call me a clown? That would be like Obama calling Romney a socialist.
do in fact think you are FOS.
All the sock posts are sardonic ones directed at you, fool.
Steve
<< <i>Tommy you are so stupid you don't even realize that all the posts on this very page are proof that people
do in fact think you are FOS.
All the sock posts are sardonic ones directed at you, fool.
Steve >>
lol, you must be 95 years old.
<< <i>Tommy you are so stupid you don't even realize that all the posts on this very page are proof that people
do in fact think you are FOS.
All the sock posts are sardonic ones directed at you, fool.
Steve >>
Main Entry: sar·don·ic
Pronunciation: sär-ˈdä-nik
Function: adjective
Etymology: French sardonique, from Greek sardonios
Date: 1638
: disdainfully or skeptically humorous : derisively mocking
That is the vocabulary word of the day.
Mantle sock-babies are in high demand right now. I'd get the sock off to a lab asap.
Steve
<< <i>Ut oh, I think corvette is gonna take out his W2 again. >>
lmao, same guy jumps in for no reason as usual.
<< <i>please scan your ball
I'm going to when he brings it in. It will either be today or Monday.