Raw Babe Ruth Baseball Autograph - Opinions Requested Please
 

Babe Ruth Auto Ball

First, I am a long time lurker, I don't post very often because I am in the military and travel. I used to collect a lot of sports cards and autos...and then sold everything before recently deploying...now I am back and looking to begin all over again for both love and investment.

Second, I have some experience with autographs, but not a ton pre-war. I collect a lot of post-war sports autos. As a Marine, I am partial to Ted Williams, but also collect football stars from the 1960s Green Bay Packers. Anyway, I recently came across a Babe Ruth autographed baseball for sale (see the high res pics in the photo album link from imgur.com). The ball is raw and does not have any type of third party authentication (i.e. JSA, PSA/DNA, junk authentication, etc.). I am interested in making an investment here, but I am concerned about the authenticity of this auto. Any Babe Ruth auto collectors/experts out there on these forums that can weigh in? Is this worth tossing money at or should I simply stay away?

I look forward to soaking up your valuable advice and opinions. Meatloaf

By no means am I an expert, but that looks good to me. Thanks for your service.

Thank you for your kind comments and opinions. Meatloaf

Hey Meatloaf, I recognized your username from Collector Universe forum. If I am psa I would not say its good or not, but I am not psa. I think it has a chance of being good. Is that yours?

No, it is for sale, I want to buy it, but I am concerned about the risk for the type of investment. It looks better than most I have seen that are already PSA or JSA or whatever. So I am trying to figure it out on my own, but I don't know his auto well enough to make an educated decision. Meatloaf

Here are example of psa passed Ruths and it does look pretty close. How much is the seller looking to get?


https://www.google.com/search?q=babe...J6q9iwLdh4HYAQ

[QUOTE=dapro;1161692]Here are example of psa passed Ruths and it does look pretty close. How much is the seller looking to get?

Safety deposit box auction done by a company that does not know anything about sports cards or autos. Starting bid is $1750.

Ruth Ball
 

Hey Alex,

I echo the above members and appreciate your service to our country...

The signature looks ok to me, but the thing that spooks my most are the stampings on the ball... The ball has a wonderful even white hue about it... the signature is bold, yet the stampings (that I assumed would have been produced in the 1930's have faded pretty significantly)

When I look at baseball's like this my thoughts are as follows:

1-Newly introduced hobby gem that has been tucked away in a sock in someones hope chest under perfect conditions

2-wonderfully produced replica ball using a period stamp pad with ink & the the application of a highly skilled Ruth forgery...

If Anything I would recommend you solicit the opinions of Richard Simon and or Jim Stinson... They are the best of the best when it comes to the baseball autograph collecting hobby...

Best,
Dave

I share your concerns. Thank you for the names. Working it now to contact them. Thank you again.

I think the stampings on the ball dates it to 1946-48 so if authentic it's from Ruth's last years. There seems to be a third star underneath the William Harridge signature which makes it post 1944 and there seems to be single line of type (the patent info) between "the cushioned cork center" and the circular Reach logo. I think in 1945 there was still a second line (marca registrata) underneath the patent line.

Everyone needs to keep in mind that both Jim and Richard chime in with their opinions by virtue of their fairly generous natures. They also do provide opinions/authentication at a (reasonable) fee. Not having the item in hand, they may not be able to render an opinion on everything, but if I was contemplating a purchase under these circumstances I would certainly be willing to pay for a learned opinion.

On this particular item I'm particularly worried about the fact that the auction house and/or the consignor seem to be too cheap to pay for a service that might allow the item to sell for perhaps thousands more than it might without. With PSA/DNA high graded Ruth balls selling for five figures or more, it would be foolish not to play that lottery with this ball.

I agree with David. Something doesn't sit well at first glance. In addition to the "faded" stampings and the otherwise super-clean look, to my eye it seems suspiciously toned in the area of the signature in relation to the rest of the panels. FWIW

I also agree that even if I had a picture of my father and the Pope with Ruth signing it, I would send it to JSA prior sale. To not do so on a ball of that caliber is silly and raises suspicion on my part.

I'm picturing something slightly more upscale than an episode of Storage Wars. The company conducting the auction certainly would like to get as much money as possible, but the fact that they didn't lay out several hundred dollars and wait a couple months to get the item back from authentication doesn't seem at all surprising to me.

It doesn't make the auto any more or less real, but the fact that the selling agent didn't seek third party authentication prior to the auction just seems to reinforce the op's suggestion that the seller does not know anything about autos. (Otherwise, if they really wanted to maximize their return and knew what they were doing, why would they be selling it in a "safety deposit box auction" rather than a more traditional auction setting?)

I would guess there are also rules and/or laws in place governing the disposal of the contents of abandoned safety deposit boxes, though I have no specific knowledge of such.

JimStinson
 

I would tend to agree with Lance's observations, despite what you might think most people outside the hobby (and even some inside) have never HEARD of XYZ autograph authentication and could care less.

Have attached an image of a painting , I know nothing about art. If I found it in a storage locker it would go straight to the trash.

Actually its called "No. 5 1948" painted by Jackson Pollock and sold for 140 MILLION DOLLARS !!! in 2006
_______________________
jim@stinsonsports.com

BUYING BASEBALL AUTOGRAPHS
stinsonsports.com

Jim, please email me the address where you dump your trash. :D

[QUOTE=JimStinson;1162242]I would tend to agree with Lance's observations, despite what you might think most people outside the hobby (and even some inside) have never HEARD of XYZ autograph authentication and could care less.

Have attached an image of a painting , I know nothing about art. If I found it in a storage locker it would go straight to the trash.

Actually its called "No. 5 1948" painted by Jackson Pollock and sold for 140 MILLION DOLLARS !!! in 2006
_______________________


No, seriously, show the painting.

Assuming it is a legit auto, what would be the fair market value (at this time)? What would be the max you would pay? Once again, assume a legit auto and that I would eventually send off for authentication and possibly grading. $3k? $5k? $10k? >$10k? Meatloaf

There does appear to be some writing on the side of the ball. See pic. Not sure if that gibberish reduces the potential payoff value.

Meatloaf

http://i.imgur.com/IVMjfrR.jpg

Meatloaf -

You are asking the wrong question. Classic case of "Flipper's Dilemma". You see something that you don't have any expertise on, but you see a chance to make some money.

The question you need to ask is, "How much do you want to risk given the possible payoff?"

If the ball is passed by a TPA such as PSA or JSA it will cost you $250 or so. PSA will also grade the signature, and given the fading, doubtful it will grade really high. Let's say you got the ball for $2750 including buyer's premium plus the authentication fee, so now you are out $3000. Most auctions are "where is, as-is" so no recourse if the TPA says no good, and you don't get your money back for that either.

Without doing a lot of research, I see a ball recently sold on eBay that looks of similar quality for around $6000.

Do you are basically looking at a less than even money proposition after fees. Think of it like a horse race bet. You are betting $3000 to win. If the ball doesn't pass TPA then you basically have lost that money, unless of course you are willing to try and pass the ball off to someone else...maybe the auction house you bought it from would sell it again.

Personally I think it's a bad bet but if I were an expert on Ruth autographs (I'm not) and I felt good about this one that kind of tips things in my favor. You are doing right by asking for opinions here but unless you are willing to absorb a loss don't make the bet based on that. Back to the racetrack analogy, it would be the same as asking people who they like without doing your own handicapping.

Great way to put it. Never looked at this situation from that perspective.

Ball sold for $8k today. Was not me who won. Was too rich for a novice like me.