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

[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.

[MacDice]

If I remember correctly someone did a signing with Oh in the early 90s in the states which is where most of the Aaron / Oh dual signed stuff comes from. Could someone have had a Ruth ball done? Sure. You never know what people want to add a signature on. Personally I stay away from that Oh's i have seen as I believe most are fake.

Side note I have a single signed Oh ball that a former teammate had him sign to my son while he was playing in Japan for him? Apparently personalization is not big in Japan. The interpreter tried several to explain what they wanted Oh to sign on the ball, finally frustrated the interrupter did the personalization for Oh who then signed the ball

[doug.goodman]

Still curious if anybody has ever seen one...

[packs]

Steiner is selling this gem in the same vein:

https://www.steinersports.com/baseba...:i-r16c1:po-49

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

Still curious if anybody has ever seen one...

Doug,
I have not seen a ball signed by all of these gents, FWIW.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by MacDice

If I remember correctly someone did a signing with Oh in the early 90s in the states which is where most of the Aaron / Oh dual signed stuff comes from. Could someone have had a Ruth ball done? Sure. You never know what people want to add a signature on. Personally I stay away from that Oh's i have seen as I believe most are fake.

Side note I have a single signed Oh ball that a former teammate had him sign to my son while he was playing in Japan for him? Apparently personalization is not big in Japan. The interpreter tried several to explain what they wanted Oh to sign on the ball, finally frustrated the interrupter did the personalization for Oh who then signed the ball

Jack Petrozelli & 59 innings did a show called "The International" at the Anaheim Convention Center in the 1990's that did in fact feature HR sluggers Hank Aaron and Sadaharu Oh.
I personally went to this show and opted to get a IP single signed beauty of Sadaharu Oh instead a getting one dual signed since I already owned a really nice single signed Aaron. I recall some people getting both to sign a single ball. Additionally, Oh reluctantly signed a few balls in Japanese and in English. If I recall correctly, Oh charged either $50 or $75 for his SS autograph. which I felt was a true bargain for "Mr. 868"