Josh Gibson Signed Baseball for 1 Million Dollars?

[Seven]

I do random ebay searches from time to time to see what pops up in terms of Negro League Cards/Memorabilia and I stumbled across this today

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11506351239...8AAOSw8PRhdug0

Have a cool Million? Buy the "only Josh Gibson single signed baseball on earth!"

I'm not sure how true this claim is, certainly out of my price range though. Though If I had the money I think I'd rather spend it on this, than one of those NFT's that have gotten so popular.

Then again it's only One Million Dollars, gotta splurge sometimes, right?

via GIPHY

[upstateNYmilb]

The PSA auto page of Gibson doesn't even have a photo of a ball for reference

https://www.psacard.com/autographfac...josh-gibson/18

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

[Seven]

Originally Posted by upstateNYmilb

The PSA auto page of Gibson doesn't even have a photo of a ball for reference

https://www.psacard.com/autographfac...josh-gibson/18

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

Very interesting. I would presume it was only recently authenticated by them as well, especially considering the date on the letter in the auction (October 21st, 2021)

No mention of the provenance in the auction but does mention the controversial Joe Jackson signed photo!

[Rhotchkiss]

I am not sure if it’s worth $1mm, but I think it’s cool a sh#t

Thanks for sharing

[mrreality68]

A Josh Gibson ball sold in 2017 at REA auctions for 36k

Here is the LINK

https://robertedwardauctions.com/auc...all-one-known/

[Seven]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I am not sure if it’s worth $1mm, but I think it’s cool a sh#t

Thanks for sharing

Neither am I to be honest the number could just be there as a means to catch the eye, I think something like this, especially in the current market would be extremely hard to price.

However I wouldn't be surprised if some millionaire bought it for the hell of it.

I think given the choice between this single signed baseball, and some signed cards plus some signed memorabilia of some of the games greatest legends, I'd pick the latter.

I am very curious where they got this baseball from. And why out of all places, they'd elect to sell it on Ebay rather than through a prominent auction house.

[Shoeless Moe]

The one this Ebay seller has, he just won it at auction in August at REA for 198K:

https://bid.robertedwardauctions.com...e?itemid=88266

This seller buys most if not all of his balls from the major auction houses and then throws them up on Ebay. So if you are just seeing it on Ebay, means you missed it at auction. He does find some cool ones, but his markup is insane.

His claim of 1 million is off, because again it just sold at public auction and it did not reach 1 million, not close. Not sure it jumped that much in 2 months.

Also, while very rare, Gibson signed balls do seem to come up from time to time. This 198K was the most one has achieved, usually they had been in the 20K-60K range.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

A Josh Gibson ball sold in 2017 at REA auctions for 36k

Here is the LINK

https://robertedwardauctions.com/auc...all-one-known/

Nice find. Well, this tells me three things: (1) the one on eBay is hardly the only example (the REA listing says one of the finest known, meaning there are others, (2) not only is the one on eBay not unique, it is much worse condition than at least one other known example, and (3) the signed Gibson ball is NOT worth $1mm.

Pretty cool piece nonetheless, but it will sit on eBay indefinitely

[mrreality68]

Great research and info Paul.

In addition I found a signed contract that went for $100k

So it is a great piece but at a 5 times multiplier in less than 2 months just another example of an eBay over price.

Shame it is a great piece and belongs in a collection where it would be appreciated

[Shoeless Moe]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Great research and info Paul.

In addition I found a signed contract that went for $100k

So it is a great piece but at a 5 times multiplier in less than 2 months just another example of an eBay over price.

Shame it is a great piece and belongs in a collection where it would be appreciated

Sorry, I had it wrong, it was at REA, (I originally thought Goldin or Christies) I've updated my post above.