I don't normally get involved in threads about the authenticity of autographs, because that is not my area of expertise. But, the response from Heritage so astounded me, that I had to reply.
True, the ball is not yet for sale, but that description makes it crystal clear to anyone of "reasonable intelligence" that Heritage believes this is an amazing ball. Anyone of "reasonable intelligence" would believe after reading the description that the LOA had already been issued, as it clearly states in the description. I can't imagine it's a sound business model for any company in America to put things on its website that at the time they are written may or may not be true, or in the case of the statement about the ball having an LOA, are patently false.
It's also rather scary that people at a major auction house couldn't tell with just a casual glance that this is not a 1959 Wilson baseball. And while the description references that the ball was likely signed during Cobb's return to Cooperstown for the 20th anniversary of the 1939 induction ceremony, it took me about 15 seconds on the internet to determine that the 1959 HOF induction ceremony was on July 20, not on July 14 as it says on the ball (highly unlikely that Cobb showed up six days early).
Greg
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