[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

There are simply so many Ruth balls out there with an almost equal number of variables to fit different budgets.

All signed Ruth items increase in value over the years, but the less desirable pieces escalate at far more sluggish rates and are always tougher sells. If this is something you want to buy more for the sake of keeping the budget as low as possible, look for a shellacked, personalized (first and last name) unoffical ball, signed on the side panel. A slightly faded "To Herschel Katzenberg, Jr." on a Tober ball would fit the bill. Some combination of first and last names so unique as to be unappealing to anyone out there ascribing a personal premium to the personalization. "To Joe", or even "To David Smith", will be of interest to similarly named fans of the present day.

Prices drop even more if there are other autographs on the ball. Try for a multi-signed mish-mash of unrelated autographs as opposed to anything team signed.

Whatever your budget or desire, the ground floor starts in the low thousands and ultimately enters the stratosphere.