1950s Stamped Autograph Baseballs

[John V]

An attic find! Seriously, these have been stashed in my attic for the last 12 years. I had forgotten all about them. They belonged to a relative who lived their entire life in Manhattan.
What are these referred to as in the collector world? Does anyone know the approximate value?
Thanks, John

[RichardSimon]

They are referred to as souvenir balls, stadium balls or most commonly stamped baseballs.
There are a few people who collect them but value is not particularly high on these types of balls.

[John V]

After comparing the names to the rosters on baseball-reference.com, they both appear to be from 1952.

[murphusa]

on a good day you could sell them between $50 and $85.00

[Rob D.]

on a good day you could sell them between $50 and $85.00

I agree. I pick up Indians souvenir balls when I see them and usually pay less than $20 for ones from the '70s, slightly more for '60s versions and around $50 for ones from the 1950s. Surprisingly, there's not much demand for stamped-autograph balls of extremely mediocre teams like the Tribe.

[Scott Garner]

I agree. I pick up Indians souvenir balls when I see them and usually pay less than $20 for ones from the '70s, slightly more for '60s versions and around $50 for ones from the 1950s. Surprisingly, there's not much demand for stamped-autograph balls of extremely mediocre teams like the Tribe.

LOL ;) :p

[RichardSimon]

If I had a buck for everyone of these baseballs that has been offered to me as a real signed baseball ,,,,,,,,,,and half the time the seller gets insulted and does not believe what I have told them about the baseball.

[toyman55]

Last Xmas while dinning at a friends house my friend pulled me away to show me his 1955 signed Dodgers ball. Knowing it was a souvenir ball I debated as to how to tell him. After a moment I offered to show him my ball and went home to get it. When I came back and put it in his hand you could see the confusion as he asked why are they exactly the same.
He went from a high of thinking he had a valuable ball to a low on the depression scale. I have decided after that instance these words; "ignorance is bliss"!

[murphusa]

it is also funny the prices they bring. They were sold at the stadium just like programs, pennants, pins etc but they are not looked at as fondly as those items

[thecatspajamas]

it is also funny the prices they bring. They were sold at the stadium just like programs, pennants, pins etc but they are not looked at as fondly as those items

Perhaps because many collectors have felt that let-down at some point, either as a child or later on in life, when they learned that their prized team-signed ball was actually stamped. And now that they are buying back items that remind them of their early days of budding fandom, that is one memory they don't care to relive...?

[RichardSimon]

it is also funny the prices they bring. They were sold at the stadium just like programs, pennants, pins etc but they are not looked at as fondly as those items

Programs, pennants, pins, etc are original pieces of authentic memorabilia.
Stamped baseballs are facsimiles of real autographs and I don't blame collectors for not making them popular.

[John V]

Thanks for your feedback. I have them for sale in BST.
John

[perezfan]

Well, here's one that looks somewhat comparable, and sold for nearly $30...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-1960s-New-York-YANKEES-Team-Signed-AUTO-Facsimile-Baseball-MICKEY-MANTLE-/121028972036?pt=Vintage_Sports_Memorabilia&hash=item1c2de38e04&nma=true&si=lqsGKbKExrcqi2wbVTlfcfSUG0U%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557


On the other hand, you could take the "low road" and do this with it...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Early-1960s-SF-Giants-Team-Signed-Baseball-/181074307696?pt=US_Autographs&hash=item2a28deaa70

I don't know which is more far-fetched... the seller claiming it's really signed, or thinking someone would honestly pay $475 for it :confused:

[RichardSimon]

Well, here's one that looks somewhat comparable, and sold for nearly $30...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-1960s-New-York-YANKEES-Team-Signed-AUTO-Facsimile-Baseball-MICKEY-MANTLE-/121028972036?pt=Vintage_Sports_Memorabilia&hash=item1c2de38e04&nma=true&si=lqsGKbKExrcqi2wbVTlfcfSUG0U%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557


On the other hand, you could take the "low road" and do this with it...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Early-1960s-SF-Giants-Team-Signed-Baseball-/181074307696?pt=US_Autographs&hash=item2a28deaa70

I don't know which is more far-fetched... the seller claiming it's really signed, or thinking someone would honestly pay $475 for it :confused:

The guy selling the stamped ball for $475, claiming it is really signed, is also selling watches, clothing and other non autograph items. Why do people think they can just put anything up on the bay, do zero investigating, and just automatically assume it is authentic.

[John V]

Ridiculous. It's pretty obvious these things do not have actual signatures. Before listing something I'm unfamiliar with, I at least ask a few questions and review completed Ebay listings.