So A Babe Ruth Signed Baseball walks into a card shop........

[vthobby]

Wow! What a day! A baseball that has resided in a Vermont farmhouse for many years (original owner) was sold to me today! I have collected since 1976 and have owned a few Ruth balls but they always had other sigs. I've always dreamed of a Single Ruth ball on an OAL but have never had the opportunity and trust me I look!

Today was the day! Breathe Mike breathe! I am sending to PSA/DNA because even though I'm not selling, I just want that paperwork at a whopping $511 total with all the bells and whistles.....(grading, expedite fee, return shipping, premium item fee etc...) ugh!

The man who sold me this ball today wrote up the provenance and that will reside with this item in my collection. He grew up on Long Island and was born in 1941. He later moved to Vermont where he lives now. He said his god father knew Babe Ruth, got it signed, and in the late 1940s when this kid was old enough, his god father presented it to his dad who then passed it to this man who was around 9 or ten at the time. My hunch based on this Harridge ball being produced in the early 1930s, my guess is that the ball was signed in the 1930s and was then passed to this man's dad in the 1940s after he was born. Its a cool memory from a really cool man who wanted this to pass on to another person who could appreciate the ball.

He did! I'm so happy but will be on edge while this beauty is in the mail to PSA/DNA!

Peace, Mike

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[KCRfan1]

Super cool Mike!

[WillowGrove]

Wow. Congrats Mike!

[perezfan]

That's a real beauty....

The letter of provenance from the man who made it available to you is worth sooooooo much more than the PSA Letter.

But do what you've gotta do... and Congrats!

[Promethius88]

The ball looks to be in great condition. It's hard to tell from the pics, but is it really that clean looking?? Do you know if he displayed it? I can't really tell if the sig is a bit faded or just the way the light hits it? Awesome pickup!

[vthobby]

Lou, Peter, Mark, and Tim,

Thanks for your kind words.

I agree Mark on the Provenance letter as it not only states how he obtained the ball back in the 1940s but how today he passed it to me so I am in his letter now to add to the chain of ownership. Pretty cool I agree and intrinsically worth more than any LOA.

Yes Tim, the ball is BEAUTIFUL! He stored it in his safe for the past 50 years or so! Before that he said he had it in his house away from sunlight. There is one area that has obvious stains but it is away from all stampings and markings.

The signature is actually a tad lighter in real life. My BEST guess never having gotten a baseball graded like this I'd guess a 3 on the Sig as it is flaking or fading and maybe a 4 or 5 on the baseball itself for an overall average grade of hopefully a 4? Who knows right?

Peace, Mike

[cubsguy1969]

Beautiful ball. Thanks for sharing and congratulations!

[the 'stache]

Congratulations, Mike! The ball is fantastic, as is the story that goes with it.

It's been an especially depressing few months reading about all the scandal in our hobby. This is a most welcome respite.

[Exhibitman]

Fantastic! So nice to hear of someone getting what they want and being thrilled with it. Congratulations.