1948 Birmingham Black Barons Signed Ball - Willie Mays
 

I inherited a game ball signed by all of the 1948 Birmingham Black Barons. It’s been authenticated by PSA. It’s been in a sock drawer for 70 years so it’s in great condition. Wanted to reach out on this forum to see what you guys think the value is. Let me know your thoughts or if you have any questions.

Well……
 

It’s a great ball obviously! Hope no one shellacked it. Can you post photos? Some of those other signatures depending on who they are may be really rare….

Reply
 

Definitely not shellacked. I’ll try and post some photos tonight.

Photos
 

Try the links below. Can’t get the uploaded to work.

https://ibb.co/PjbBd6d
https://ibb.co/M6Tmst8
https://ibb.co/t89MT4s
https://ibb.co/HCjGV1t

Wow
 

That's got a 1948 Willie Mays pre-MLB rookie autograph .... not to mention the other Barons who signed. That's an incredible item. Good luck with a sale but I think it belongs in the NLBM personally (easy to say since its not mine!!!)....

Similar but not exact
 

https://robertedwardauctions.com/auc...h-willie-mays/

This is a link to a prior ball from 1950 sold for about $5000 in 2012. It was also including a team signed photograph..... the signatures on the ball and photo are far stronger than on yours but yours is older and a cool way that Mays signed. Its a guessing game on value.... its certainly worth (to me at least ) as much as the last one above sold for ( 1/3 to 1/2 the $5036) and maybe more.... who knows. Depends on how much you put on the photo vs the ball. Unless it goes to auction you cant be sure. One thing is certain.... its a heck of a great sock drawer find!!!! Keep it out of direct sunlight and even in a dark drawer or box..... maybe that sock drawer! Light can fade signatures really quickly as can heat.

Here are the photos :

Quite a piece of history!

Wow!

That's pretty wild. Great ball! :eek::cool:

Very nice item.

Auction is the only way to find out the value. Mays was only 17 years old in 1948 so this would be likely one of the earliest signatures on a baseball for him.

Could go really high if two collectors with deep pockets have to have it.

Unfortunately, if only one with deep pockets has to have it, it could go for less than the referenced 1950 one from 2012.

I'm thinking six figures on this one.

Amazing Great Piece

Congrats

Agree Auction is best way to determine value. But this is a much better ball than the 1950. First this is a Negro League team ball and they are scarce and have a deep collector base. Versus a minor leauge ball for the 1950 example. Second Willie Mays is the Greatest Living Baseball player not just My humble opinion. And as such many collectors have started putting away examples of Mays both cards and autographs. The market is a little soft now but items like this still sell very well. So I agree with Hank definitely a six figure ball. Good luck with sale.

J

Thanks
 

Very appreciative of all the input everyone!

I would also add that MLB is playing a game at the field soon, so it has added interest along with the Negro League provenance.Attachment 578668

Really amazing item.

Agree and great points.