vintage umpire ball/strike scorer

[bigtrain]

I have been offered a vintage Spalding ball/strike indicator. It has the Spalding logo on the back. Patent dates 1878 and Oct. 12, 1886. It is a 5 ball 4 strike model. Unfortunately, a previous owner converted it to the newfangled 4 ball and 3 strike rule by scraping the ink out of the 4 on the strike side and gouging out the 5 on the ball side leaving a divot where the number used to be. I'd like to have this but have no clue as to what it is worth in this condition. Any opinions? I'll try to post a picture later.

[khkco4bls]

that sucks. it would have been a nice piece. i would wait until another comes along. could it be fixed.

[bigtrain]

It is the 1887 model (only year that 5 balls and 4 strikes was in effect) similar to one that sold at REA for $696.00 in 2007. The 4 th strike could be restored as just the ink is scraped out but the 5 for the 5th ball is gone.

[olsport]

Some people do the weirdest things. Reminds me of people who put price stickers or write with sharpie $2.00 on the front cover of anything paper that is old and valuable (before they wrote on it). Virtually turning it into a 2 dollar item. Kinda like those 52 mantles that kids would draw a moustache and gotee on, to see what he would look like as a beatnik.

[bigtrain]

Having trouble with my digital camera so no picture yet. Though damaged, it is still a neat item and the price was right. I picked the scorer up for $50.00.