Budget needed for Ruth auto baseball?

[Belfast1933]

I am a complete neophyte when it comes to autographs… but I am thinking I may explore adding one to complement my card PC.

I’m wondering what I would have to budget to pick up a (certified, of course) Babe Ruth auto ball? Is there a VCP type place that tracks sold prices of JSA verified autographs like this?

Is a single signed ball more expensive than if Ruth signed as part of a team ball?

Thanks for any advice - I am just starting my homework and always find Net54 to be the best first stop!

Jeff Gross

[bowmanred]

Regarding price, Heritage has an awesome database of past auction results which should pin the value down. Singles are almost always more expensive than team balls, which makes zero sense to me, but the market makes the rules. The autograph legibility and position on the ball makes a big difference, with the sweet spot being most desirable. If Ruth personalized the ball, that would usually drop the value a lot. Ruth was the single biggest sports star in America for a while and was a generous signer, meaning single signed balls exist in far greater quantities than with other signers of the period. That being said if you're new to autographs Ruth is a very ambitious target given that there are tremendous forgeries that are known to have gotten by TPA. I'd be suspicious of any balls that are "too good." I don't think forgers are bothering to do personalized side panel balls but be wary anyways. Provenance is also a tricky thing since it is easily faked and is usually just "I promise my pappy said he got it directly from Ruth himself." In fact, the best and most prolific Ruth forger would fake provenance, sort of like autograph "fencing."

[Belfast1933]

Originally Posted by bowmanred

Regarding price, Heritage has an awesome database of past auction results which should pin the value down. Singles are almost always more expensive than team balls, which makes zero sense to me, but the market makes the rules. The autograph legibility and position on the ball makes a big difference, with the sweet spot being most desirable. If Ruth personalized the ball, that would usually drop the value a lot. Ruth was the single biggest sports star in America for a while and was a generous signer, meaning single signed balls exist in far greater quantities than with other signers of the period. That being said if you're new to autographs Ruth is a very ambitious target given that there are tremendous forgeries that are known to have gotten by TPA. I'd be suspicious of any balls that are "too good." I don't think forgers are bothering to do personalized side panel balls but be wary anyways. Provenance is also a tricky thing since it is easily faked and is usually just "I promise my pappy said he got it directly from Ruth himself." In fact, the best and most prolific Ruth forger would fake provenance, sort of like autograph "fencing."

I appreciate the thoughtful reply. If I do this, I will be extra vigilant to be as sure of the authenticity as I possibly can. As you point out, this is a big chase auto for a newbie into auto’s but this may be a unique opportunity for me to be able to swing a one-time purchase like this. It would be a capstone, probably one and done auto in a sea of vintage cards.

But if I am only going to have 1 - this would be my choice.

Thanks again for the insights and advice - no rush on this one

Jeff

[ooo-ribay]

I don’t know a ton about this but I see my share of Ruth balls offered by the major auction houses. It seems the biggest driver of price is the quality of the signature. Perhaps I’m stating the obvious, but Ruth balls are offered in about every condition imaginable, from barely legible to “blazers.” I also think the ball itself is a big variable i.e. official AL ball vs. something else. I don’t pay much attention to final prices so, like you, I’d like to know what the budget range is…

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

There are simply so many Ruth balls out there with an almost equal number of variables to fit different budgets.

All signed Ruth items increase in value over the years, but the less desirable pieces escalate at far more sluggish rates and are always tougher sells. If this is something you want to buy more for the sake of keeping the budget as low as possible, look for a shellacked, personalized (first and last name) unoffical ball, signed on the side panel. A slightly faded "To Herschel Katzenberg, Jr." on a Tober ball would fit the bill. Some combination of first and last names so unique as to be unappealing to anyone out there ascribing a personal premium to the personalization. "To Joe", or even "To David Smith", will be of interest to similarly named fans of the present day.

Prices drop even more if there are other autographs on the ball. Try for a multi-signed mish-mash of unrelated autographs as opposed to anything team signed.

Whatever your budget or desire, the ground floor starts in the low thousands and ultimately enters the stratosphere.

[Bpm0014]

$2000 minimum for an almost completely faded signature.

$2000-$8000 for a legible signature

$8000+ for something decent

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by bowmanred

If Ruth personalized the ball, that would usually drop the value a lot.

There are, of course, exceptions, for example if the ball is personalized to someone whose name is the same as the potential buyer. If I were in the market for a single-signed Ruth ball - and I wish I were in a position where I could afford to be - I'd certainly be interested in a Ruth ball made out to Gary.

However, I think a Babe Ruth ball personalized to George might be of interest to anyone, because it's an extra half autograph.

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Bpm0014

$2000 minimum for an almost completely faded signature.

$2000-$8000 for a legible signature

$8000+ for something decent

Finally, something concrete! 👍

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Gary Dunaier

There are, of course, exceptions, for example if the ball is personalized to someone whose name is the same as the potential buyer. If I were in the market for a single-signed Ruth ball - and I wish I were in a position where I could afford to be - I'd certainly be interested in a Ruth ball made out to Gary.

However, I think a Babe Ruth ball personalized to George might be of interest to anyone, because it's an extra half autograph.

Would it fetch more than one personalized to "Ruth"?

[gunboat82]

What's the market for a Ruth postcard signed using a pseudonym?

[Bpm0014]

^^^^^ Really cool! What's the story behind it?

[gunboat82]

Originally Posted by Bpm0014

^^^^^ Really cool! What's the story behind it?

It was part of an estate auction with memorabilia from Jimmy Donohue, a restaurant owner who befriended Ruth in the 1920s. Apparently Mock Duck was a Chinatown mobster, and this was some kind of inside joke.

[Belfast1933]

Thx all...

As OP, my "maybe" budget is $10K... and I'd only pull the trigger if the signature is a single and quite nice/legible and authenticated with as much certainty as possible.

I'll keep you all posted on my quest!

Jeff