So A Babe Ruth Signed Baseball walks into a card shop........
 

Wow! What a day! A baseball that has resided in a Vermont farmhouse for many years (original owner) was sold to me today! I have collected since 1976 and have owned a few Ruth balls but they always had other sigs. I've always dreamed of a Single Ruth ball on an OAL but have never had the opportunity and trust me I look!

Today was the day! Breathe Mike breathe! I am sending to PSA/DNA because even though I'm not selling, I just want that paperwork at a whopping $511 total with all the bells and whistles.....(grading, expedite fee, return shipping, premium item fee etc...) ugh!

The man who sold me this ball today wrote up the provenance and that will reside with this item in my collection. He grew up on Long Island and was born in 1941. He later moved to Vermont where he lives now. He said his god father knew Babe Ruth, got it signed, and in the late 1940s when this kid was old enough, his god father presented it to his dad who then passed it to this man who was around 9 or ten at the time. My hunch based on this Harridge ball being produced in the early 1930s, my guess is that the ball was signed in the 1930s and was then passed to this man's dad in the 1940s after he was born. Its a cool memory from a really cool man who wanted this to pass on to another person who could appreciate the ball.

He did! I'm so happy but will be on edge while this beauty is in the mail to PSA/DNA!

Peace, Mike

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Super cool Mike!

Wow. Congrats Mike!

That's a real beauty....

The letter of provenance from the man who made it available to you is worth sooooooo much more than the PSA Letter.

But do what you've gotta do... and Congrats!

The ball looks to be in great condition. It's hard to tell from the pics, but is it really that clean looking?? Do you know if he displayed it? I can't really tell if the sig is a bit faded or just the way the light hits it? Awesome pickup!

Thanks!
 

Lou, Peter, Mark, and Tim,

Thanks for your kind words.

I agree Mark on the Provenance letter as it not only states how he obtained the ball back in the 1940s but how today he passed it to me so I am in his letter now to add to the chain of ownership. Pretty cool I agree and intrinsically worth more than any LOA.

Yes Tim, the ball is BEAUTIFUL! He stored it in his safe for the past 50 years or so! Before that he said he had it in his house away from sunlight. There is one area that has obvious stains but it is away from all stampings and markings.

The signature is actually a tad lighter in real life. My BEST guess never having gotten a baseball graded like this I'd guess a 3 on the Sig as it is flaking or fading and maybe a 4 or 5 on the baseball itself for an overall average grade of hopefully a 4? Who knows right?

Peace, Mike

What a day!!!
Congratulations!

Beautiful baseball! But why spend $cyyoungwins to get a letter from PSA if you're not going to sell it? Save your money man! But again, beautiful baseball.

This is awesome

I know......
 

Brendan,

This topic has been debated forever BUT someday if it stays in my family, My kids or their kids may need to sell it and I'd rather have it set up for success so they don't have to get the letter etc...., also, the ball was not found in the bargain bin so I do have real money into it so deep down, I'd like to have that peace of mind since I took the full risk that it might be a secretarial or worse a forged ball. I think it is 100% legit and signed by Babe Ruth but........you never know right? I would have passed or asked the seller to take the risk if I had real doubts.

Thanks for asking that question as its a legit point of view and will be debated as long as there are TPGs out there!

Peace, Mike

PS I've always respected your opinions and especially on Ruth baseballs so I assume you like the authenticity of this ball from what you said in your post?

100% good Mike

Wow, congrats!

Congratulations, Mike, nice to hear a great hobby story once in a while! This guy was a good judge of people. And that ball could be anybody's holy grail.

Thanks Hank!
 

Hank,

Always good to hear from you! Thank you! Can I call you "Little Train"? Or is it "Large Train" :) Just messing with the grandson of one of the greatest pitchers in the game's history! Hope you don't mind!! :)

Take care Hank!

Peace, Mike :)

Congrats on an amazing pickup!

Congrats!! Your enthusiasm comes through in your post and made me smile.

Beautiful signature on the sweet spot.

Enjoy it for years to come.

Ball
 

Nice baseball! Appears to be a 1932/33 baseball if indeed it has Harridge stamped on the ball.

Wow! Congrats Mike!!

That’s a great ball. Nice job.

Yes......
 

Yes it has a very clear Harridge stamp on the side, I would take pic but its on the way to PSA/DNA. Thanks for verification on year of ball. Of course that means Ruth could have signed it after those years up until his death but cool to know.

I appreciate all the kudos! Thank you all!

Peace, Mike

That's a dandy, bro! Congratulations.

Would you trade it for an autographed '61 Fleer Carl Braun?

Omg!
 

Jerry,

That was a great hypothetical question.......to those that do not know....probably everyone EXCEPT Jerry.......I only need a slabbed signed Carl Braun 1961 Fleer basketball card to complete my entire 1961 Fleer Basketball signed 66 card set.........a set by the way that Jerry sold me the first half of way back when!! Wow! What a question.....

Most likely not but........ugh........... I'll just buy the Braun.....if it ever materializes! :)

Peace, Mike :cool:

Nice ball, Mike. Congrats!

Looks like a guy by the name of Ruthe... :)

Nice ball man.

Wow that's a beauty! Congrats Mike!

Ricky Y

I've got 5 on it.

Loaded in system....
 

PSA got it yesterday around 130pm and it was loaded into my account as of today! Super Express 5 day service! Ill post the results right here next week! Thanks for all the great comments!

Peace, Mike

Sweet.......
 

Line # Cert # Item Primary Subject Result/Grade
Baseball Babe Ruth VG-EX+ 4.5


YAY!!!! IT IS BEING SHIPPED AS I TYPE!!! CAPS LOCK STUCK....:)

Thanks for all the kind words!

Peace, Mike

PS This photo is the one PSA/DNA took and it shows a lot better than my small photos, the ball was a 5 and the sig a 4 for a 4.5 average grade! I'm very happy!

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Congrats!

It's back!!!!
 

What an anxious mailday. I've always been jealous of the people that get their mail first......I've never been that person! This took all day!! Ugh!

I'm good now and have never been happier with a PSA/DNA 4.5 than today! :)

Peace, Mike

PS sorry for the sideways pic, could not fix that for some reason, please do not forward me any chiropractic bills! LOL

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What did you mean by "1 type?"

"it is being shipped as i type"






Beauty Mike, congrats!!! Keep it away from the dog.

Haha...gotcha!!!

Happy for you, Mike!

Nice! That would be the cornerstone of many collections.

Beautiful ball. Thanks for sharing and congratulations!

Congratulations, Mike! The ball is fantastic, as is the story that goes with it.

It's been an especially depressing few months reading about all the scandal in our hobby. This is a most welcome respite.

Fantastic! So nice to hear of someone getting what they want and being thrilled with it. Congratulations.