Babe Ruth ball - input needed

ldferg

I have a few in-person autographs from the late 80s, but I am not a collector of them. However, I know the buyer of this auction and he’s inquiring about legitimacy. A little too late, but thought I’d post here. Many red flags (past sales, coa, etc...) to me, but I’d like some input from the crew here that I could share with the buyer.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BABE-RUTH-AUTOGRAPHED-AMERICAN-LEAGUE-BALL-/263363007914?hash=item3d51a895aa:g:STkAAOSwyXNaJHFp&nma=true&si=xGz%2BaJ2Y%2Bw8N1WA8pPa2O%2FZNzIw%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

ZTarg

This line from the listing made me chuckle.

"I must sale many of my balls and I am very sad"

secretstash

I smell BS. Had 3 babe ruth signed balls from rummage sales... or two of them and another curiously graded by psa in way worse shape. He had a real one and made two others is my guess. He called them replicas so I guess he isn't trying to be nefarious, but it is likely they are fake IMO without even being familiar with authentic Babe sigs.

ldferg

Thk u. It’s almost too embarrassing to post, but I told the buyer I would get more input. He contacted the seller and is/was convinced it was legit. I’ve shared many red flags and hopefully he doesn’t get snookered.

Brick

Ball is extremely white and bright for 70+ years old. If he says selling as replica 99.99% chance it is. 99.5% chance he is replicator.

secretstash

Did he pay yet?

Have PSA do a quick opinion. It is $10. https://www.psacard.com/store/t-quickopinionebay.aspx

Or get ball in hand and take it to authenticate and if it fails just return. If it is a counterfeit that is definitely different than a replica. His words, not yours.

HighGradeLegends

@secretstash said:
Did he pay yet?

Have PSA do a quick opinion. It is $10. https://www.psacard.com/store/t-quickopinionebay.aspx

Or get ball in hand and take it to authenticate and if it fails just return. If it is a counterfeit that is definitely different than a replica. His words, not yours.

This

seebelow

hope it works out for him

Arsenal83

Did I miss something or is the COA conveniently obscured by the ball?

Stone193

I'm absolutely terrible ad this stuff but I remember this specific style of auto was reported as a "secretarial" - obviously someone was very good a faking the sig for the Babe when he didn't feel up to signing?

edit: I found this on the net - can't say for sure - but it's the kind that I show above?

The forged Ruth inscription to Gary Cooper sold at Mastro and REA (left and bottom in red) matches exactly the "Sincerely, Babe Ruth" identified by JSA as "secretarial in REA in 2008 (top in red) and the same salutation appearing on the Ruth photo used by PSA in its 2005 SCD ad (right).

swish54

Every completed auction he has is of a Babe Ruth signed ball. They were all tied to a rummage sale. What a lucky guy to have a rummage sale near him that grows these things on trees. Just by reading the description you should know it's fake. The misspellings, all the capitalized words in the middle of non-sentences, the dashes, etc.

ldferg

Update: his money was refunded this am. I appreciate everyone’s input.

ldferg

@secretstash said:
Did he pay yet?

Have PSA do a quick opinion. It is $10. https://www.psacard.com/store/t-quickopinionebay.aspx

Or get ball in hand and take it to authenticate and if it fails just return. If it is a counterfeit that is definitely different than a replica. His words, not yours.

Thank you for this link.

Brick

@ldferg said:
Update: his money was refunded this am. I appreciate everyone’s input.

Thank goodness. Now the perp needs to do jail time.

secretstash

@ldferg said:

@secretstash said:
Did he pay yet?

Have PSA do a quick opinion. It is $10. https://www.psacard.com/store/t-quickopinionebay.aspx

Or get ball in hand and take it to authenticate and if it fails just return. If it is a counterfeit that is definitely different than a replica. His words, not yours.

Thank you for this link.

Welcome glad you got his cash back!