Personalized Mantle autographed Ball
 

I met a gentleman that has an autographed ball by Mickey Mantle. He got
it in person. I know it would need to be authenticated but it was
personalized with his name. How much does that deminish the value
of the autographed ball?

It will significantly reduce the market value. But if it is a first name only personalization, e.g., "To Joe," the value would be better than one that also had a last name.

Maybe $200 give or take personalized.

While anything is possible, it's unlikely a forger would do a personalized Mantle.

That's right. It's unlikely that a forger would personalize.

Which is why the fact that a personalization reduces value is so absurd.

Unfortunately, it does reduce value. But if you want a collection that is more likely than not to be genuine, buy personalized.

Although I am a defender of PSA on Net54, you don't have to get anything authenticated. There has always been spirited debate here on Net54 about authentication. I own a ton of Tom Tresh autographs and most of them are not authenticated.

The monetary value of a personalized autograph item is also debatable. The value of such an item has more emotional value to the owner. Over the years I've purchased two Tom Tresh autographed photos that read "To Chris, Best Wishes." Owning two items that are personalized "To Chris" is very cool and has nothing to do with the monetary value of such an item, but I certainly have a cool emotional attachment to the photos.

If your Mantle autograph is authentic, I have no doubt, that a collector with the same name on the ball will sell. Monetarily, it probably will not sell for the same price of a Mantle signed baseball that isn't personalized. Just my two cents.

The same rules apply to every auction: you need at least 2 people to really want the item to maximize profit. I know I would be placing a higher ceiling bid on a Mantle signed To Frank than I ever would on a regular old every day Mantle. If there was another bidder named Frank the seller would be a happy guy.

JimStinson
 

If the guy got the signature in person and you believe him, why would you NEED to have it authenticated ? Unless you don"t believe him and If you don;t believe him don;t buy it. If its inscribed to a common name (first name only) and in great shape it could be worth considerably more than a ball that is not inscribed. If its inscribed to Ivan, or Igor, yes it hurts it, If its John or Joe or Bob or Jim or Bill or Rich, It helps it.
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JimStinson
 

Reminds me of one time I bought a simple Mickey Mantle signature on a piece of hotel stationary. It was inscribed. The woman brought it to me with her husband and before she showed it to me told me that she was at a bar in Florida and her husband prodded her to go get Mantle's autograph, She said Mantle smiled and asked her what her name was and then signed it to her. When she returned to her husband he asked to see it and it said "Hi Marilyn, GO F*** Yourself, Sincerely MICKEY MANTLE" she said her husband had to be restrained...lol, I sold that item several years ago for about 5 times what a plain Mantle autograph would sell for so much for inscriptions :) that hurt the value

personalized autographs
 

That one is funny. I have no doubt the signature is real. The owner thinks
it doesn't have much worth since its inscribed to him. I will pass the word
along. He is up in years and said he might sell it if it had any value. His
name is "Glenn" if you know any, lol's. He got the autograph in person in
Chicago many, many years ago.

Just a little info. If you go to completed items on ebay it has two personalized balls that sold for $225 each. There are about six on the open board at an average of $500 each.

Personalized inscriptions
 

What makes this funnier. I went to a sports card shop in Florida the other
day and the guy had a George Brett, which is what I collect, photo inscribed
to Elliott. I told the guy I would have been interested if it hadn't had the name on it. He came back to me before I left and said if you want the photo
I will let you have it for $5.00. OH YES. I said o.k. It is an original Nick Vedros copyrighted in 83 and used for the cover of a book about Brett.
Now I want to find out who Elliott was.

Would you be able to post a photo of it?

you don't need to have it authenticated. real is real.

I have not seen it and don't have it but will try and get a picture
from the owner.

I wish I had a more common name. I've seen one Mantle photo inscribed "To Jared" (not how I spell my name) and I would've gotten it if I coul find it again.

Jarrod,

I've always wondered when I see your interests, do you have any bow ties worn by players or signed by players or is it strictly photo's?

James- I do not, but wouldn't that be something? I think a Ty Cobb or Branch Rickey bow tie would be my crown jewel. Now aren't those some opposites?? :D

Nowadays, you never see players in ANY tie, much less a bow tie.

True for baseball, but for a Michigan man like myself, I appreciate how well Dhani Jones wears the bow ties. :D