Knot Hole Ball with Lou's signature

[steve B]

I'm far from an expert, but I'll take a shot at a straight answer as to what would make me nervous about it.

Overall it looks like a ball that's old and had been played with. wear and fading. Ok so far.
I'm not familiar with the knothole balls, but the 1927 Yankees stamp seems odd for a ball given to kids as a premium in 1934. Kids would be much more interested in current players, or simply having a good ball to play with.
One red flag.

The ball looks like it's been shellacked, a common practice to supposedly preserve autographs back then.
But....The Shellack hasn't darkened evenly as it should have. Darker in the middle of the panels, almost too dark. But very light around the seams. To me that means the darkening is probably artificial. Unless the ball has been damp, which lightens shellack. The "water rings" you'd get on old furniture if you didn't use a coaster.
2 red flags

despite the wear and fading the signature is very dark and legible, still black with no sign at all of fading, which is unusual for ANY written object that age. Especially one that's been subject to bad enough storage that the shellack darkened that much.
3 red flags.

So overall there's 3 things that each might make me uncomfortable spending a lot of money on it. I could be wrong of course, but having those 3 things in combination really makes me doubt that that item is genuine.

Now if it was cheap enough I might take a chance. But the ball would have to be very cheap for me to do that.

Steve B

[debbiewiggins@gt.rr.com]

ok

[David Atkatz]

The ball is worthless.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

The ball is worthless.

Is that your final offer, and if so, who pays shipping?

[GrayGhost]

I like the ball, isn't it a knothole gang ball? Good conversation piece, but it probably isn't worth much. 10.00 I'll offer.

[Woundedduck]

I'm certainly no expert on vinate baseballs or autos. It appears the concensus is that this is not authentic. That being said, I'd be interested in it as I'm sure others would as well. It still looks cool so I wouldn't put the value at worthless, but it's nowhere near what the OP is hoping.

I've been putting together a few things to decorate a study that will have a vintage baseball theme. I've got some nice framed Harper's Weekly Woodcuts and some vintage baseball gloves that my wife picked up at a yard sale. I'd love to get a vintage bat and ball to go in the room as well, but I know I can't afford an authentic Gehrig auto'd ball. This would be good for decoration w/o costing an arm and a leg. If the OP wants to sell it for a reasonable price as an unathentic auto'd ball, I might be interested.

[debbiewiggins@gt.rr.com]

Yes I believe it is a knothole gang ball. What is the distinction.

[GrayGhost]

Well, the Knothole gang issued several items, amongst them a membership card, brochure and the like. Likely, some of these premiums were baseballs. King of Clout would likely know more bout this, if he posts on here.

you should try to auction it on here if you just want to move it out. Good luck w whatever you do, despite the likely fact that the signature is secretarial or a forgery.