Sir, Please Sign My Sphere?
Autographed baseballs are a piece of Americana. No other type of sports memorabilia has as much history behind it as the ball signed by a player or team.
From the famous to the infamous, vintage signed baseballs can be very valuable, especially when well preserved. New finds and long-forgotten treasures are coming into the sports memorabilia hobby every day. But is your autographed baseball authentic and how much is it worth?
We'll help answer those questions or give you the resources to do so.
Single Signed Baseballs
The single signed baseball is just that--a ball signed by one subject--preferably on the 'sweet spot', the narrow area between the seams on every baseball.Fans collect autographed baseballs in a variety of ways. Some prefer Hall of Famers, others go after themes or milestones like 300-game winners, 500-home run club members, MVPs, batting champions, pitchers who've thrown no-hitters, etc.
Vintage signed baseballs with Hall of Fame signatures are considered rare sports memorabilia, because not that many exist. A ball signed by pitcher Christy Mathewson, who played in the early 20th century, sold at auction in 2007 for over $161,000!. Another sold for $91,000 just a few months later.
Babe Ruth signed a ton of autographs in his day and a lot of Ruth balls exist, but the demand still outweighs the supply by a ton! When the rare Ruth ball that has little wear on it comes to market, a feeding frenzy ensues among well-heeled collectors. A single-signed Ruth ball in near perfect condition sold in 2005 for $150,000.
Thanks to the rise of baseball card shows with autograph guests, you can still find famous baseball players signing in public (as long as you're willing to pay the going price) on a fairly regular basis. If you can get past the 'pay for an autograph' stigma, it's a good way to get an authentic autograph. Expect to pay $50-200 for most living Hall of Famers who attend card shows.
Team Signed Baseballs
Baseballs do lend themselves to a very tidy display of members of a certain team and team signed balls are very popular, especially when they represent certain great teams of the past.Balls from the 1920s-1940s can sell for tens of thousands of dollars in nice shape if they include a vast majority of team members including authentic signatures of the stars or Hall of Famers on that team. A 1921 New York Giants team signed baseball sold for $15,535 in a recent auction by Heritage Galleries.
New York Yankees memorabilia is always popular and Yankee team signed balls from the club's many world championship teams can be exceptionally valuable. A 1932 Yankees team-signed ball brought $14,340 recently and included the autographs of Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
Beware, though! It was common practice for many years for clubhouse attendants to pass those balls around and forge the players names on them, especially the stars who didn't relish the hundreds of requests sent their way each week.
It's best to seek out a qualified, respected autograph authenticator before pulling the trigger on a buy or sale. Search Google, do research and read, read, read before spending a lot of money in an auction or even in a large store that might seem to carry unquestionably 'good' autographs.
Most old autographed baseballs have flaws thanks to the ravages of time and the fact that some of them were actually played with. Remember, sports memorabilia wasn't considered anything of real monetary value until the last 35 or 40 years. Of course, that affects the value as well.
Recent Auction Results
Some results from Mastro Auctions recent sports memorabilia sale
A single-signed Roberto Clemente baseball sold for $2,040 in Mastro Auctions Classic Collector sale in late October.A Babe Ruth signed ball that could be classified as lower grade sold for $3900, quite a bargain.
A 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers ball, featuring 16 signatures of the Bums, sold for $1080.
A lot of 28 single and multi-signed team baseballs from the 1970s and 80s including some deceased Hall of Famers, sold for $1140 (there are bargains to be had in post-1950s autographed baseballs).
Beware the Clubhouse Signature
Not all autographed baseballs are pure as snow
Unfortunately you have to be aware that many well-known players have used "ghost signers" over the years.
A clubhouse attendant, bat boy or another player would sign for the beseiged player, duplicating his signature as close to the real thing as possible so as not to arouse suspicion.
A number of players, including Babe Ruth, have used ghost signers. For many players who received autograph requests at home, a wife or other family member would sign, especially late in the player's life.
How can you tell if it's real? Do LOTS of homework online, or submit it to an authenticator for a 'quick opinion'. A good authenticator has seen enough clubhouse or ghost signatures that they will know quickly whether it's real or not. It'll cost you a few dollars, but it's vital if you ever decide to sell your vintage autographed baseball.
A clubhouse attendant, bat boy or another player would sign for the beseiged player, duplicating his signature as close to the real thing as possible so as not to arouse suspicion.
A number of players, including Babe Ruth, have used ghost signers. For many players who received autograph requests at home, a wife or other family member would sign, especially late in the player's life.
How can you tell if it's real? Do LOTS of homework online, or submit it to an authenticator for a 'quick opinion'. A good authenticator has seen enough clubhouse or ghost signatures that they will know quickly whether it's real or not. It'll cost you a few dollars, but it's vital if you ever decide to sell your vintage autographed baseball.
Autographed Baseballs for Sale
Shop for modern stars and vintage signed baseballs via Amazon.com. Click one of the links below and once into the site, you can search for anything!
Didn't know Amazon sold autographed balls, did you? Fact is, the top sellers know it's a way to reach thousands of customers and put their inventory online here.
Didn't know Amazon sold autographed balls, did you? Fact is, the top sellers know it's a way to reach thousands of customers and put their inventory online here.
Buy Authentic Autographs
Get a little piece of mind by purchasing professionally authenticated sports autographs
Shop for authentic sports autographs. Signed collectibles given a stamp of approval through the top authentication companies are your best bet!
- Bid on authentic sports autographs
- Certified authentic autographs available for sale on eBay.
- Diamond Autographs
- Autographs of current and retired players, including Hall of Famers, available in association with Amazon.com.
Babe Ruth Autographed Ball in a Desk Drawer
You never know where those baseballs will turn up either:
From Louisa Peartree in the Baltimore Messenger:
You know how somewhere in your home there is an old desk or dresser that isn't used much? Maybe it was the desk used by a child who has long since grown up. Maybe it is an inherited piece you can't part with (or if you do, your mother will kill you), but you keep it in an out-of-the-way place. Perhaps old pictures, sweaters or outdated documents fill its drawers.
Patricia Laidlow, a neighbor on Wingate Road in Keswick, MD, has just such a desk, one that's been in her family for years. In her case the desk was used by her daughter through high school. It was emptied out when her daughter left for college some 20 years ago.
Since then, it has been a resting place for an odd document or, as Pat admitted, pieces of broken china. One day recently, as she was looking through the desk, she discovered a baseball wrapped in tissue. Upon inspection, the ball had several signatures scribbled on it.
Shortly after Pat's discovery, she noticed that Seth Gray was playing catch outside. Seth is a knowledgeable young man who likes baseball. Pat shared the ball with Seth, who quickly advised her not to touch the leather, only the stitches.
After a quick inspection (and after picking his jaw off the ground) he told her one signature was that of none other than the Bambino, the Sultan of Swat, Babe Ruth.
Pat has since had the signatures authenticated by a baseball memorabilia dealer. There are six in all -- all players from the 1931 Yankees. Pat said, "I have no idea where the ball came from; neither I nor anyone in my family remembers ever seeing it before."
She thinks perhaps it came from her maternal grandfather, a barber in Schenectady, N.Y., and a big sports fan.
From Louisa Peartree in the Baltimore Messenger:
You know how somewhere in your home there is an old desk or dresser that isn't used much? Maybe it was the desk used by a child who has long since grown up. Maybe it is an inherited piece you can't part with (or if you do, your mother will kill you), but you keep it in an out-of-the-way place. Perhaps old pictures, sweaters or outdated documents fill its drawers.
Patricia Laidlow, a neighbor on Wingate Road in Keswick, MD, has just such a desk, one that's been in her family for years. In her case the desk was used by her daughter through high school. It was emptied out when her daughter left for college some 20 years ago.
Since then, it has been a resting place for an odd document or, as Pat admitted, pieces of broken china. One day recently, as she was looking through the desk, she discovered a baseball wrapped in tissue. Upon inspection, the ball had several signatures scribbled on it.
Shortly after Pat's discovery, she noticed that Seth Gray was playing catch outside. Seth is a knowledgeable young man who likes baseball. Pat shared the ball with Seth, who quickly advised her not to touch the leather, only the stitches.
After a quick inspection (and after picking his jaw off the ground) he told her one signature was that of none other than the Bambino, the Sultan of Swat, Babe Ruth.
Pat has since had the signatures authenticated by a baseball memorabilia dealer. There are six in all -- all players from the 1931 Yankees. Pat said, "I have no idea where the ball came from; neither I nor anyone in my family remembers ever seeing it before."
She thinks perhaps it came from her maternal grandfather, a barber in Schenectady, N.Y., and a big sports fan.
Autograph Authenticators
Whether you have a vintage signed baseball, an autographed photo or a signed bat sitting in your office, these grading and authentication companies have years of experience and piles of exemplars to help them determine the authenticity of an item or give it their stamp of approval so you'll have an easier time selling.
There are fees associated with the service, but if you have a potentially valuable piece, it's wise to have an opinion rendered before attempting to sell.
Bear in mind, there are other individuals who are well qualified to render opinions on whether a signature is genuine. The best piece of advice we can provide is to do your homework when it comes to the subject of authentication.
Fees generally range from $20 to $150, depending on the player, the era and what's being authenticated. A team signed baseball usually falls at the top end based on the number of signatures which must be authenticated. A simple authentication for a single-signed ball can generally be done for much less. The price also depends on whether you want a simple certificate or a full letter of opinion. A full letter is probably not warranted unless you have a very valuable piece or one with a signature that is commonly forged.
If you don't want to ship your items, the major authenticators usually set up booths at major sports card and collectible shows throughout the year. Contacting them for a schedule would be the way to go. Chances are they'll be within a couple hours drive of where you live at some point.
There are fees associated with the service, but if you have a potentially valuable piece, it's wise to have an opinion rendered before attempting to sell.
Bear in mind, there are other individuals who are well qualified to render opinions on whether a signature is genuine. The best piece of advice we can provide is to do your homework when it comes to the subject of authentication.
Fees generally range from $20 to $150, depending on the player, the era and what's being authenticated. A team signed baseball usually falls at the top end based on the number of signatures which must be authenticated. A simple authentication for a single-signed ball can generally be done for much less. The price also depends on whether you want a simple certificate or a full letter of opinion. A full letter is probably not warranted unless you have a very valuable piece or one with a signature that is commonly forged.
If you don't want to ship your items, the major authenticators usually set up booths at major sports card and collectible shows throughout the year. Contacting them for a schedule would be the way to go. Chances are they'll be within a couple hours drive of where you live at some point.
- James Spence Authentication
- Based in the east, James Spence and his team have extensive experience with a wide variety of autographs.
- PSA/DNA
- Based on the west coast, PSA/DNA is a division of Collector's Universe. They are a publicly traded company with a large file of exemplars and various service levels.
- Richard Simon
- Long-time dealer/collector is passionate about autograph authenticity with a wealth of knowledge in the field.
So What's My Autographed Baseball Really Worth?
You'll be at least a little less than clueless after reading this
You dug it out of storage. Took it off the mantle. And you want to know. What's this signed ball worth anyway?Like anything else, it's not cut and dried. Not most of the time anyway.
The value of an autographed baseball depends on a few factors.
1) Who signed it
2) Is it a team-signed ball, a multi-signed ball or a single-signed ball?
3) Are the autographs REALLY genuine?
4) What condition is it in?
5) If it's a team ball, is it from a club that won a pennant or World Series?
Ideally, your ball contains genuine signatures of Hall of Famers or a complete team and has been well preserved.
The first step is knowing what you have. Is it a 1955 Milwaukee Braves ball? Make a note of the signatures and match them to a team roster at sites like baseball-reference.com. You can narrow down your ball to a couple of specific years by doing this.
Single-signed balls autographed on the 'sweet spot' are best. The sweet spot is the narrow area between the stitches.
If your ball is smudged, that's a bad sign. If your ball is REALLY old, wear is normal and expected, but the autographs should still be somewhat readable.
Fake signatures on baseballs are somewhat common, unfortunately. Sending it to an authenticator is really the only way to get any peace of mind on the authenticity of the ball. Just because your uncle knew someone on the '61 Yankees or had a friend in the front office isn't enough (see our headline about 'clubhouse signatures').
Sports Collecting News
From Sports Collectors Daily
Get news about sports memorabilia, culled from sources around North America each and every day by visiting Sports Collectors Daily.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byNew YouTube vids
Sports Collectors Daily News Widget
Sports collecting news headlines for your site
Grab the headlines from Sports Collectors Daily with this cool widget. Sports Collectors Daily updates with fresh stories from in and around the sports memorabilia industry/hobby Monday through Friday, gleaned from sources coast to coast. Perk up your site or blog with the sports collecting widget.
- SpringWidgets : Widget Gallery - Sports Collecting News Widget - Widgets
- Get the lates sports card and memorabilia news. Powered by Sports Collectors Daily!. SpringWidgets: A Widget Engine for the desktop & the web.
Have an autograph story to tell?
Let us know about that ball you found in grandpa's attic
Have a story about an autographed baseball? An opinion on the topic or this lens? Let it out!
Lensmaster
mojomagic2008 wrote
As I photographed spring training for the Yankees in Florida, I ran into George Steinbrenner whose picture I photographed. I brought a baseball with me in my camera bag. He signed the ball when I told him I was from New York City. Before leaving, after the eigth inning, I ran into Dave Winfield, just coming out of the locker room and waiting for his limo. I asked him to sign the ball saying that I was only interested in two signitures, and his would have to be one of them. He signed the ball and as he went to return the signed ball, he asked me who the other signature belonged to out of curiosity. When I told him it was George Stienbrenner, he slammed it into my hand as he returned it. This was the spring before Stienbrenner was kicked out of baseball for two years and the event which will probably keep him out of the Hall of Fame. At the time, I had no idea why this made him angry. I can remember his olive green silk shirt ,open to show all the gold chains hanging from his neck. GEO
Posted November 24, 2008
CollectorsCottage wrote...
Excellent information - another great 5-star lens! I'm happy to add it to the Collector Clubs group!
Posted March 24, 2008
New Table of Contents
- Single Signed Baseballs
- Team Signed Baseballs
- Recent Auction Results
- Beware the Clubhouse Signature
- Autographed Baseballs for Sale
- Buy Authentic Autographs
- Babe Ruth Autographed Ball in a Desk Drawer
- Autograph Authenticators
- So What's My Autographed Baseball Really Worth?
- Sports Collecting News
- New YouTube vids
- New Twitter Follow
- Sports Collectors Daily News Widget
- Have an autograph story to tell?
