A step into an area out of my knowledge -- Mantle signed baseball found at yard sale... (CAUTION! MA

OffMetal · July 26, 2008 8:07AM

Sorry if this is the wrong forum for this, but I'm new to this area of the CU boards

I was at yard sales as usual this Saturday morning bargain hunting, when I ran into this yard sale by someone who seemed to collect sports stuff. He had around two bins full of sports stuff such as the Beckett magazines and boxes full of cards. I usually walk by these kinds of things (please don't flame me!!) because they are really out of my area of knowledge, but this ball caught my eye...

I saw it and questioned the gentleman who was selling ball about the authenticity of the autographs. He assured me that they were real and told me that he waited in line for hours in 1991 to have this signed by everyone himself. He went to his bins of sports stuff and pulled out a pamphlet/book thing and told me that all 7 of these guys signed the baseball. The names are: Moose Skowron, Mickey Mantle, Bobby Richardson, Whitey Ford, Don Larsen, Hank Bauer, and Ryne Duren. I was VERY hesitant to purchase this baseball due to my lack of knowledge about sports and autographs, but I figured that it would be a neat thing to have either way.

My question is... did I do badly on this ball for $35? What would a piece like this sell for if I decided to sell it?

Thanks for any help!
-Ben

tennesseebanker · July 26, 2008 8:15AM

I would say you did extremely well !
All autographs look to match up very well with other sigs I have or have compared them to, First Off, I would get the ball authenticated.
I would say it could possibly fetch 10x what you paid for it. Nice Find !!

zep33 · July 26, 2008 8:16AM

awesome looking ball!! all those sigs look good to me

great deal for $35

lawnmowerman · July 26, 2008 8:24AM

Wow, that's great congrats! I agree with Barry. Get that thing to psa/dna and you will surely make a ton more on resale.

PoppaJ · July 26, 2008 8:31AM

Great pick-up!

I compared each signature on the ball, to the PSA/DNA sigs I have, and every one of them is dead on!

Your pics show no stop/start lines which are usually easily detected and the first sign of counterfeit sigs.

Also the flow pattern of each signature is almost 100% consistent on each ball. (I have a degree in Handwriting Analysis)

The multi-colored sigs are also a plus, as counterfeiters rarely use different colors.

Anyway, congrats!

PoppaJ

fattymacs · July 26, 2008 8:37AM

Congrats on pulling the trigger, it's nice to hear bargains are out there.

SDSportsFan · July 26, 2008 9:04AM

The only drawback on the ball is that it's an NCAA ball, instead of an OAL (Official American League) ball. That'll decrease it's value somewhat. Still, it's an incredible pickup for $35

Steve

SoFLPhillyFan · July 26, 2008 9:22AM

For 35 bucks it was certainly worth the chance given the story and the accompanying pamphlet.

Good luck! It all looks OK so far.

BunchOBull · July 26, 2008 9:26AM

Wow, great eye. Congrats.

MooseDog · July 26, 2008 9:29AM

The autos are all good and even better, really clean. Nice find despite the NCAA ball.

freddyp23 · July 26, 2008 9:32AM

WOW! Great pickup, all the sigs look real good and clean

mickeymantle24 · July 26, 2008 9:34AM

Those autographs match dead on with the ones I have, what a bargain. Congrats

PS I may need to start searching some yard sales for this stuff.

WinPitcher · July 26, 2008 9:53AM

You suck.

Steve

leadoff4 · July 26, 2008 10:05AM

I agree, YOU SUCK!!! Honestly though, great find!

OffMetal · July 26, 2008 12:29PM

Thanks to all who responded! It is nice to know that the signatures are correct and that my judgments weren't too bad! It was certainly a great learning experience! Also, thanks for my 2nd "You Suck"

Several more questions...

What would it cost to have this single baseball authenticated by PSA/DNA? Do you have to have a membership to make a submission (like PCGS)? I looked on the PSA website, but it did not say anything about authentication services for baseballs or other equipment... Are there any other authentication companies that are just as well-known/accepted?

Thanks again!!
-Ben

WinPitcher · July 26, 2008 12:38PM

PSA DNA will authenticate it and you do not need to be a member.

Steve

Tvac897 · July 26, 2008 12:44PM

Nice pick up.

swartz1 · July 26, 2008 12:44PM

IMO looks like an old timer ball - I sold one (authenticated) about a half a year ago for approx $300 - mine had 14 sigs on it ...nice find...

hofautos · July 26, 2008 2:55PM

STEAL!

i would probably just have the mantle psa/dna don't go with any other grading...you may consider jsa, but i would stick with psa/dna.
I am surprised you hesitated at $35 (LOL)

Guru · July 26, 2008 3:34PM

Wow, that was a heck of a steal! Consider yourself very fortunate.

Stone193 · July 26, 2008 4:30PM

Very nice pickup for that kind of money!

If ya get it authenticated, I would imagine you wouldn't have any problem selling it.

I agree, the fact that it's not on an OAL ball and it has multi-sigs can work against ya compared to a SS Mantle ball - tho they're all Yankees and the pamplet is a great companion to the ball.

Not sure what it would sell for - in the hundreds anyway.

Please let us know how the authentication goes and if ya plan to put it up on ebay.

Good luck!
mike

TNTonPMS · July 27, 2008 5:23AM

Beautiful pickup you got there .

I wouldn't have hesitated for a split second .

All clear legible sigs , they all appear to be legit .

What the heck was the seller thinking ?

He could have easily moved the baseball for 10 times what you paid for it anywhere .

The only thing I don't like about it is the baseball itself but that's not such a big deal with those sigs on it .

Congratulations on the excellent deal , I am glad to see there are still deals out there , I happen across some deals at these garage sales from time to time , I swear by em .

TNTonPMS · July 27, 2008 5:31AM

I just called my wife in to take a look at your baseball , she is the resident baseball addict , when it comes to picking up autographed baseballs , she's a lunatic .

She about fell over when I told her what you paid .

Absolutely incredible !

She also wants to know if you are willing to sell it right now with no LOA , if so shoot me a number , thanks .

BobaFett72 · July 27, 2008 6:36AM

You deserve this:

YOU SUCK!

wow.
$35 steal of the year.

metrotheme · July 27, 2008 1:49PM

Excellent pickup, they all look legit from my eyes. You have two deceased autos on there in Bauer and Mantle.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · July 27, 2008 4:34PM

Congrats on getting a very cool ball for a very cool price. Enjoy.

^^ To the guy above me. Nice avatar.

Morgoth · July 27, 2008 10:40PM

Looks almost identical to the ball I bought from David Mantle for $50 in 1992 that was signed at Mantles fantasy baseball camp. Mine doesnt have Whitey Ford but has about 5 more players including Enos Slaughter.

Morgoth · July 27, 2008 10:42PM

Authenticated I would say $300 to $500 only due to the ball used and being multi signed will hurt some but not as much as the ball will. Mantle is still on the ss and it displays great so I don't think Yankee fans would let it slide for under 300 on the bay.

jlzinck · July 27, 2008 10:56PM

You got hosed. You paid $35 USD for a bunch of YANKEES for cripes sake. Now if those were Red Sox it would have been worth it.

Very nice pickup!!

JeremyDie1 · July 27, 2008 11:05PM

Nice pickup Ben! Did he have any coins?

OffMetal · July 28, 2008 1:46PM

Thanks for all the kind comments and replies

I think I will keep the ball and perhaps have it sent in to PSA/DNA for a LoA later on ($100 + S/H both ways

-- Maybe I can't complain about slabbing fees for coins after all!).

And no Jeremy, no coins

Thanks again to everyone!!
-Ben

hofautos · July 28, 2008 2:13PM

<< <i>Thanks for all the kind comments and replies

I think I will keep the ball and perhaps have it sent in to PSA/DNA for a LoA later on ($100 + S/H both ways

-- Maybe I can't complain about slabbing fees for coins after all!).

Thanks again to everyone!!
-Ben >>

WOW - it costs that much for an LOA?
In that case I would just get a PSA/DNA quick opinion for $8.

TNTonPMS · July 29, 2008 12:37AM

What a sweet find , but they do come along once in a while.

I'm forever searching, one day I know I'm gonna hit the big one .

Actually, I did hit the big one , But I swear I was drunk that night .

A step into an area out of my knowledge -- Mantle signed baseball found at yard sale... (CAUTION! MA

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