Need Help with this Ball

[kdixon]

Ball brought $1100. Feel like someone got a rare bargain. Really thought it would bring at least twice that much. I don't think it helped any that the catalog only had the ball pictured with out any description. Oh well.

[1880nonsports]

Just wondering why you thought it would go for twice that? It is an unusual style but 1300.+ with buyer's penalty is pretty strong. Actually very strong. In general even for something different from most - and getting the peeper's of them what's got money in a major auction like Edwards - exceeding 1000.00 is very significant. Seller should be very happy. All things being equal I figure it's a five or six hundred ball - a price point at which I am probably a buyer. Nice ball no matter what......

[khkco4bls]

I would have thought 700 ,750. It is unusual. I think the seller did just fine..

[kdixon]

Why did I think it would bring more? Had better offers two years ago at the national and was told by REA would do well, somewhere between 800 and several thousand . So they were right, but was hoping for a little more. I do think no description in the catalog didn't help any. Some weird balls in the past auctions did very well, but I am sure not a ball expert at all. Thanks to all for your posts on the ball.

[1880nonsports]

seeing a LP or belt style or even early figure 8 sell for over 2000. and while your ball was very nice I stand by my assessment. Several thousand dollars would be quite a stretch. The buyer paid over 1300. and it sold for 60% more than REA's low estimate to you - and that's not factoring in if there were any shipping or consignment penalties. Given the range REA suggested and sales history of similar items you did quite well. If you were offered more than the final sale price - been there and done that - when one rolls the dice there are many outcomes.....I absolutely agree that a description is a nessesary component of an auction listing (pretty obvious and someone dropped the ball if there wasn't one) but doubt it would have pushed what's basically an early "sandlot" ball any higher as generally those competing in the space don't come in blind. I'm happy for you even if you're not :-)

[khkco4bls]

Why no description...

[1880nonsports]

to them what's responsible. Weren't you able to view your consignment prior to the auction start or early on? I've honestly found Rob and Bryan to be quite responsive to their customer base and other than the prices they get when I'm bidding - feel their auction is second to none other. I wouldn't be happy if it happened to me but sometimes things happen (of note one of my 4 consignments was buried in a section away from similar lots - couldn't even find it when I first viewed the catalog - don't feel it got the $ it should have as a result). Take it as a lesson perhaps but I think you will be OK if you just let it go and move on - life's too short. Just think what would have happened if they forgot to put a picture in the listing or suggested that in their opinion the ball was trimmed :-)

[perezfan]

Well, I bought the Ball, and it went for about exactly what I anticipated. The reason I avidly pursued it, is that I felt it bridged an important gap in the "history" of these baseballs, so to speak.

I've never seen a ball that was such a perfect "hybrid" between a Lemon Peel and an early Figure 8. It has one piece construction (like a lemon peel) and also has the "derivative" Figure 8 stitching. I really like the fact that it features both components in its construction. To me, it completes the puzzle in the evolution from a traditional Lemon Peel to the Figure 8 design.

I thought REA gave it a nice write-up, but may have understated the ball's significance. Just my opinion as the admittedly biased new owner. Regardless I felt priviledged to get it, as it has a truly unique point of difference.