Ron Lewis 500 HR litho
 

I've been interested in one of these pieces for years. The price tag is hefty for my budget and I want to make sure I obtain a solid lithograph. I'm curious the difference between the two examples below: Pete Rose Hit King vs the blank panel that's numbered. Which one would you guys trust?

http://huntauctions.com/phone/img144/81.jpg

http://www.bidami.com/pics/18748_01_lg.jpg

One is the litho and the hit king one is a poster

Is it fair to assume both are legit?

There is usually no shortage of these on the market. My personal taste are the examples where all of the signers signed uniformly, usually down their legs. The ones with that uniformity AND the HR total inscriptions are better still. I am not as thrilled with examples that are signed all at the bottom or all over the place as these are. Certainly still nice pieces. But whereas I might be willing to pay $900 for a more uniform example, if either of these fell well short of that I would certainly entertain venturing into the fray.

Tom C

When I broke into the autograph side of the hobby, that lithograph was really hot. I always wanted one, but I never thought I would be able to finish the piece due to the health and age of Williams and the possibility of never seeing Mantle at a show. I don't like the autographs on the white border. I echo the sentiment of the previous poster, I prefer the autos, vertically on the legs.

There was a guy at the National who had been adding new players to the lithograph. I don't know if I would do the same thing.

I prefer the border-signed versions. Much neater and easier to read/enjoy.

I would not add new signatures to the piece. That lithograph, depicts the 500 HR club (less the dead guys) when 500 home runs meant something. With PEDS, smaller parks, the home run became a joke.

I am trying to find the lithograph unsigned. Granted, I have not looked that hard.

Yeah, that is definitely a personal taste thing. I will say that I see far fewer ones signed in the border like you mention. So if that is the taste of the OP, he should go strong for this one as, again, I don't see nearly as many of them as I do the "down the leg" version.

"Down the leg". Sounds like something to worry about after too much Mexican food.

Tom C

unsigned litho's are a tough find while the poster can be had

I was not aware that there were two versions. Thanks for the heads-up!