WANTED: Willie Mays to sign my 1960 NL Ball

[7nohitter]

Originally Posted by MGHPro

I got willie a few weeks back . I don't think he can see much at all .. He had someone hand him the ball, then he would kind of feel for the laces and sign. He signature was better than I expected it to be .. With that being said , I would not risk having him trying to sign that ball.
Matt

Hi Matt,

That Mays looks much better than I would have expected. Can I ask why it's signed in sharpie? Did you have a choice, or did his keepers just hand him the sharpie?

Thanks

[vthobby]

to be a naysayer as well but if you send that baseball to Mays, you will get it back and you will NOT be happy. As great a player as he was, he will destroy that baseball. For one, there is no room on the ball for him to sign so he will take it in hand and give a very nice Mays signature and in the process, it will be over about 6 or 7 of the other sigs. You will then wonder where your $350 went and you might wish to then use the ball as a batting practice ball.

Sorry, but I have seen too many items destroyed by players and musicians and celebrities that simply do not care. Willie is one that does not care and in his ill health, you are risking a lot. Sorry, just my 2 cents,

Peace, Mike

PS you would do much better just having him sign a clean baseball like the one shown a few posts ago and just display the 2 baseballs together.

[eastonfalcon19]

I got Willie back in 2009 in Cooperstown during HOF weekend. He was signing at Mickey's place for about $350. I got him on a 500HR poster. Although he signed mine nice, like other people are saying he did ruin some pieces. There was a guy in front of me who had a dozen balls for Mays to sign. Willie started to sign in black sharpie and the guy started arguing with him about using a ball point. Not sure why the guy wanted a dozen balls signed at that price when he looked like he couldn't even afford a pair of shoes is beyond me. Good luck though with your ball.

[ibuysportsephemera]

Add me to the list of bad experiences. I purchased 2 of the same display pieces (one for me and the other a birthday present for my brother) that had multiple players and signatures on it. Each player was pictured but the background area around the player was darker. My brother and I waited on line and I went first and showed Mays where I wanted it signed across his white uniform and he complied. My brother (who isn't a collector) set the exact same poster down in front of Mays and he signed in the darker area making the autograph difficult to see. A real SOB for sure.

Jeff

[Runscott]

Hopefully Shelly will see this thread and can tell the worst Mays 'mangling' story ever. I can promise you - this one will never be topped.

If Shelly doesn't comply, I will tell it

[MikeKam]

Why not just sell this ball, save the $350 and obtain one that isn't stamped? At least then you'd have a nice baseball with a period signature and not needing to worry about paying up.

[mdallen22]

I think we are all on same page about how to handle the Mays stamp. I'm not going to move forward with pursuing his signature.

UPDATE - I inquired with JSA & the auction house about providing me a new LOA because the current one does not have Ernie Banks listed as a HOF'er. The auction house spoke with JSA, and requested a new LOA be sent directly to me just to find out the Ernie Banks wasn't listed as a HOF'er because his signature is a clubhouse. JSA acknowledges they failed disclose that on the LOA. It sure does stink knowing another HOF'er is not a unique original signature. Recently deceased if I may add.

One could argue the key to this piece is the strong bold Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron signatures and I'd agree, but you hate to pay a premium for a ball just to find out another HOF'er on a team ball isn't genuine.

I think we are back to the square one though. What does it cost just for a Ernie Banks signed ball, not a lot, but the reason I went after this piece was because it was a strong collection of bold signatures on a team signed ball. The collection of these signatures makes it unique, if it didn't, I would just acquire individual signed balls.

I'll have to inquire but I wonder what other players might be clubhouse signatures.

[mdallen22]

JSA is looking into the matter to see where the ball may have been dropped on their end as far as disclosing the Banks clubhouse signature. It seems like the verdict is still out if its a clubhouse or not. I don't want to speak too soon but from the information that's been relayed to me so far, it appears there is paperwork with it labeled as a clubhouse. They might come back and say it is genuine or they might come back and say it is indeed a clubhouse. Hope to find out next week, stay tuned!

[Duluth Eskimo]

Please send the ball in for Mays to sign. I think it's a no brainer, literally. I am on pins and needles waiting for the after photos.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by Duluth Eskimo

Please send the ball in for Mays to sign. I think it's a no brainer, literally. I am on pins and needles waiting for the after photos.

Yeah, there's a sadistic side to me too, that wants you to spend a grand to have Mays do his thing to it.....



But please let common sense prevail, and don't. Mays or no, Banks or no, you still have a fine autographed ball. Enjoy it for what it is, and don't stress over what it isn't. The Clemente alone makes it a very special ball, IMO.

[MGHPro]

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

Hi Matt,

That Mays looks much better than I would have expected. Can I ask why it's signed in sharpie? Did you have a choice, or did his keepers just hand him the sharpie?

Thanks

No choice - I didn't see him put it down once .
Matt

[Hot Springs Bathers]

I saw him smear a bat signature on purpose and bounce a person a signed ball back in the mid-80's in Little Rock, Arkansas.

He was signing along with Musial in a terrible location at the State Fair Grounds with no air conditioning in the Summer. Musial was wearing his sports coat and tie, stood to shake hands with every person and had a smile on his face.

Willie, well let's just say he seemed unhappy. I did get a photo and a ball that day. If my memory serves me right they were $10.00 each.

[mdallen22]

I'm hoping if I'm able to have a conversation with the promoter and/or handler, supply the blue ball point pen and put a legal sticky tab that says "sign here" the handler will do their best to make sure the ball is handled and signed properly. I rather it not be signed and sent back to me then to have the piece ruined. I'm sure we've all seen the recent YouTube videos of Willie signing and as long as the person is persistent on where, how, and what pen to use Willie will eventually comply. But not being their in person will not help the situation. I'm always worried when you have to depend on someone else to go to bat for you -see what I did there

The "sign here" might be over kill. I'll just use a regular tab instead that doesn't say anything. There is real estate on the bottom part of the west panel below Tony Taylors signature for him to sign. It's not ideal to have him attempt to cram his signature in a tight space but we'll see.

[Mark17]

If the previous poster is correct about his failing eyesight, all that isn't going to matter anyway, even if he's in a good mood.

I'm afraid you're going to pay $350 to have Mays ruin your ball...

[earlywynnfan]

Originally Posted by mdallen22

I'm hoping if I'm able to have a conversation with the promoter and/or handler, supply the blue ball point pen and put a legal sticky tab that says "sign here" the handler will do their best to make sure the ball is handled and signed properly. I rather it not be signed and sent back to me then to have the piece ruined. I'm sure we've all seen the recent YouTube videos of Willie signing and as long as the person is persistent on where, how, and what pen to use Willie will eventually comply. But not being their in person will not help the situation. I'm always worried when you have to depend on someone else to go to bat for you -see what I did there

The "sign here" might be over kill. I'll just use a regular tab instead that doesn't say anything. There is real estate on the bottom part of the west panel below Tony Taylors signature for him to sign. It's not ideal to have him attempt to cram his signature in a tight space but we'll see.

I wish you the best, but I think you're crazy.
Ken

[Duluth Eskimo]

Originally Posted by mdallen22

I'm hoping if I'm able to have a conversation with the promoter and/or handler, supply the blue ball point pen and put a legal sticky tab that says "sign here" the handler will do their best to make sure the ball is handled and signed properly. I rather it not be signed and sent back to me then to have the piece ruined. I'm sure we've all seen the recent YouTube videos of Willie signing and as long as the person is persistent on where, how, and what pen to use Willie will eventually comply. But not being their in person will not help the situation. I'm always worried when you have to depend on someone else to go to bat for you -see what I did there

The "sign here" might be over kill. I'll just use a regular tab instead that doesn't say anything. There is real estate on the bottom part of the west panel below Tony Taylors signature for him to sign. It's not ideal to have him attempt to cram his signature in a tight space but we'll see.

I think that's a great idea. Please keep us posted on how it turns out. I would love to see the after pictures. I think $350 is very fair also given the situation.

[Runscott]

Yes, if you attempt to have this done, definitely post the 'after' pictures before giving the ball to Pickles.