Signed Baseball - removing words/grading
 

I recently received two baseballs signed by Mickey Mantle from my MIL. Each is inscribed:

To Bill(other one is "To Will")
Best Wishes
Mickey Mantle

The balls are brand new and the ink has not faded at all, as they have been stored away in a box in a cabinet for 40 years. I had a couple of thoughts, and wanted to check with memorabilia experts to see what the best course would be if I am ultimately interested in selling one (or both). First, what do most memorabilia collectors think about services that clean words from a signed ball (ie "To Bill")? Is this usually frowned upon by memorabilia collectors (like altering cards), or is it preferred? As a non-memorabilia collector, I would prefer the ball without the "To Bill," but I am not sure the collector community's preference.

Second, assuming there is value added by removing the inscribed words, how do authenticators like PSA deal with a card that has had inscriptions removed? Will they still authenticate the autograph, or will they consider the ball altered and either refuse to grade or make an altered designation?

Finally, overall, if it costs about $150 to remove the "To Bill" and about $50 to get the signature authenticated, does the cost outweigh the value added if the ultimate goal is to sell the ball?

Thanks for any insights.

Do not remove the inscriptions. The third party companies will authenticate the autograph but will state inscriptions or signatures have been removed. The baseballs have strong signatures but are not on official major league baseballs. Value as is likely $200 per ball. No way to put another $200 per ball and do better on the net side than that in my opinion.

Just leave them as they are. You are just better off all the way around. Way too nice in the condition they are currently in to mess with them.

JMHO

Regards,

Butch

Really appreciate the opinions. Very glad I asked, as it seems my instincts were completely wrong on this one. Thanks!

Likely some guy named Bill will buy the ball.

It is possible to grind them off but not without leaving traces that it was done. People generally prefer the inscription not be tampered with.

I personally wouldn't buy a ball where an inscription was intentionally removed. Maybe that's just me.

Who was Bill / Will?

Bill and Will are my Father-in-Law and Brother-in-Law, respectively.

Can you post the image of the balls again? Can't find them on the board atm, and I recall they were stunning signatures/condition. I have mixed opinions on removing the inscription, but am not completely against...

Sounds like an episode of Beavis & Butthead...