Aaron - Ruth - Mays - Oh : possible signed ball question

[doug.goodman]

Is there such a thing as a ball signed by Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Sadaharu Oh?

Doug

[Big Dave]

I've seen Ruth & Aaron duel signed balls. Adding the other two would have been very possible.

[djson1]

I would just question somebody who wanted to add those signatures later to a single Ruth ball though. But then again, collectors will do all kinds of things to items that could stand as gems alone. I can understand adding a missing player to a team ball decades later. But adding to a single Ruth ball...that opens up a lot of questions to collectors who may have wanted to buy it.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by djson1

I would just question somebody who wanted to add those signatures later to a single Ruth ball though. But then again, collectors will do all kinds of things to items that could stand as gems alone. I can understand adding a missing player to a team ball decades later. But adding to a single Ruth ball...that opens up a lot of questions to collectors who may have wanted to buy it.

I meant my question to include any signed ball, that may have included other players, also.

But your comment brings up an interesting point regarding the "value" of stuff.

I'm not really an autograph guy, although as a kid I used to get autographs at games, back in those days (1970s / early 1980s) I don't remember anybody getting single signed baseballs, at least not at the side of the field. If we got rookie sensation Freddie Lynn to sign a baseball, we were happy to then hand the same baseball to Rick Burleson, or even to Campy Campaneris or Joe Rudi.

I would much prefer to have a ball signed by Babe, Hank and Willie, than single signed balls from each of them. And if Bill Dickey or Carl Reynolds or some schmuck also signed it, that doesn't change the fact that Babe, Hank & Willie all held that ball in their hands, which to me is a very cool thing.

That probably puts me in the minority, at least with collectors who are concerned with the resale value, I know.

[djson1]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

..I would much prefer to have a ball signed by Babe, Hank and Willie, than single signed balls from each of them. And if Bill Dickey or Carl Reynolds or some schmuck also signed it, that doesn't change the fact that Babe, Hank & Willie all held that ball in their hands, which to me is a very cool thing.

That probably puts me in the minority, at least with collectors who are concerned with the resale value, I know.

Actually, I'm with you here. Personally, I prefer multi-signed balls with several of my favorite players, especially if they are similar types of players or have some type of connection (ie- Koufax/Drysdale, all star team balls, Branca/Thompson, etc). I always felt like many single signed balls are like a waste of real estate on a ball...but I know I'm in the minority here as well. Although I will admit, some single signed balls along the sweet spot can look great too. Koufax and DiMaggio's look great across the sweet spot, for example.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by djson1

Actually, I'm with you here. Personally, I prefer multi-signed balls with several of my favorite players, especially if they are similar types of players or have some type of connection (ie- Koufax/Drysdale, all star team balls, Branca/Thompson, etc). I always felt like many single signed balls are like a waste of real estate on a ball...but I know I'm in the minority here as well. Although I will admit, some single signed balls along the sweet spot can look great too. Koufax and DiMaggio's look great across the sweet spot, for example.

I agree 100%. I also love multi-signed balls. I've got a handful of HOF, HOF pitcher balls which were signed in person at the SF All-Star fan fest a few years ago.. Also have an old Dodger ball (Koufax, Drysdale, Snider, etc) and an old 1935 Tigers ball (Cochrane, Gehringer, Goslin, Greenberg, etc). My most prized ball however is a multi signed ball my dad got as a kid, which has an 18 year old Mickey Mantle on the sweet spot, surrounded by both Enid (OK) Giants and Joplin Miners. I've had several people say, "it's a shame the mantle isn't a single signed ball", but I prefer it as is. It gives a built in context and timeframe.. And I also think they look cooler than a ball that's 95% blank. I have dozens of single signed balls, but my multis are by far my favorites. I hope I/we remain a minority and can continue to pick up these balls at relatively low cost.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I've seen Ruth & Aaron duel signed balls. Adding the other two would have been very possible.

Do you have a picture?

[Big Dave]

A few examples will show if you google:

babe ruth and hank aaron signed baseball

[MikeKam]

Originally Posted by I Only Smoke 4 the Cards

Do you have a picture?

http://www.iconicmemorabilia.com/Lot...ver-Offered!-(

[todeen]

I even told my mother! hahaha

Sent from my SM-G9900 using Tapatalk

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by todeen

I even told my mother! hahaha

Amazing!

Thank you guys for all the kind words.

Does anybody have any "that doesn't look good" opinions on the Ruth or the Gehrig (he's below Frank Robinson)?

I don't really care, but I am curious.

[Rad_Hazard]

Wow, just wow!

I'm so happy for you that you finally found it after all these years! What an absolute treasure!

[Scott Garner]

Hey Doug, congrats on finding your ball. That's awesome!
I loved your initial post & I'm glad that it finally led to you being reunited to this unique ball.

[SyrNy1960]

Great story! I was happy for you, then sad for you, then happy for you again! Love stories like this!