denver autographs
Sports Collectibles
Got a question about an autographed baseball card or some other collectible sports memorabilia? Babe Waxpak answers it in this blog.
- Conley versatile, not valuable
Dear Babe: I met and talked with Gene Conley. I have a book, baseball and basketball signed by him. -- Joe Keesling, Clermont, Fla.
- Nicklaus putter has value -- and history
Dear Babe: I have a Jack Nicklaus MacGregor N275 White Fang putter that has never been used. It has a white ceramic putting head and is signed by Nicklaus in the ceramic. In addition, I asked Nicklaus to sign the putter while he was a contestant at the Sarazen World Open Championship in Atlanta in 1996 or 1997. -- Ken Leach, Atlanta
- Facsimile signatures basically worthless
Dear Babe: I know nothing about baseball, but I picked up a signed baseball at a yard sale for free! There is no team logo. The ball, with red stitching is merely stamped with the word "Korea." It has 26 signatures on it, including Joe Sambito, Bill Buckner, John McNamara, Wade Boggs and Dave Stapleton. The signatures are diverse, but they appear to be stamped on with the same black ink. Should I quit my job and make plans to bask in my newfound wealth? -- Christine Carrizales, Duluth, Ga.
- Personalized Traynor signature still valuable
Dear Babe: I own an 8x10 signed photograph of Pie Traynor. He is in uniform in a batting stance. I would have to guess on the date, but I think it was signed sometime in the late 1930s. It is personalized, "To my friend O'Bie From Pie Traynor." -- Ann
O'Brien, Lawrenceville. Ga. - Wood-signed book a nice prize
Dear Babe: We were recently given a Tiger Woods-autographed 1997 hardback Masters program, which will be raffled off at a charity golf tournament. We need to provide the donor with documentation as to the value of the book for tax purposes. -- Paul Wachter, Marietta, Ga.
- Southworth raises program's value
Dear Babe: A friend from church gave me a program from a spring training game between the Boston Braves and Philadelphia Athletics. There is no date on it, but some of the Braves players listed are Johnny Sain, Hugh Poland, Thomas Holmes and Max West. The manager is Billy Southworth, and it is signed by him. There is also the admission ticket to the bleachers that cost 65 cents. -- Mary Lou Brooks, Dunwoody, Ga.
- Early Pirates 'yearbook' worth $1,000
Dear Babe: I have a booklet Line Drives at the Pittsburgh Pirates, copyright 1910 by the Pittsburgh Press. It's about 8x10. It has pages with pictures and brief descriptions of players (usually four to a page) and pages with facts and figures on the team. Honus Wagner has his own page. -- Tom Barefoot, Redding, Calif.
- Fake signatures hurt real ones
Dear Babe: I have a baseball with 25 signatures from the 1956 Dodgers. PSA authenticated the ball and stated autographs from Walt Alston, Don Drysdale and Roy Campanella were authentic. All of the remaining signatures, i.e., Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, etc., were probably signed by "attendants or ball boys," according to PSA's letter of authenticity. -- Marshall Sanders, Atlanta
- Autographs can devalue cards
Dear Babe: My husband has a 1958 Topps Mickey Mantle card (No. 150), an Ed Mathews Topps (120) and a Whitey Ford Topps (160). All are in mint/near mint condition. All three have been autographed, and he has the letters of authenticity. These are cards he got as a kid. He got the cards signed in Atlanta in 1992. My husband was pleased when Mick commented "nice card" upon signing it. -- Marcia Viers,
Hapeville, Ga. - Petty race programs valuable
Dear Babe: I have a box of programs from the last race Richard Petty ran in at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. They have never been out of the box, and each program has a patch attached to the cover. I also have several that are autographed. -- Skipper Burns, Griffin, Ga.
- '82 cards are 6 1/2 times original value
When my son was a teenager, he earned spending money by setting up as a dealer at baseball card shows. He still has in his possession an unopened 1982 Topps vending case (12,000 cards). After 26 years, I assume it has significantly increased in value from the original purchase price of $186. -- Joe Dougherty, Murrieta, Calif.
- Neiman drawing worth $1,000
Dear Babe: As part of an elementary school writing project in the '70s, I wrote a letter to Art Rooney Sr. Mr. Rooney replied. Included in his reply was a 3x5 drawing of him done by LeRoy Neiman. The drawing is signed by each of them and is labeled "Football Dinner, New York, 1972." The signatures are each in ink. Neiman's signature looks like it was done with a ball point pen and Art Rooney's looks like it was done with a thicker, Sharpie-type pen. The paper is thick, almost a thin cardboard. -- Joe E., Merrimack, N.H.
- Baseballs might be best autographed item
Dear Babe: I recently began collecting autographs from baseball players. What would you suggest has the most value signed: a baseball, a bat or a flat item? If I am looking to add value to my collection, what should I be getting signed? -- Woody Van Treek, Alpharetta, Ga.
- Rating the graders
Dear Babe: I have some cards from the 1950s that I am looking to have graded. Which are the best companies that do that type of work? -- John Fontinha, Waldwick N.J.
- Porcelain cards: $5-$25 range
Dear Babe: I have some baseball cards of Mickey Mantle, Roberto Clemente, Babe Ruth and Nolan Ryan. -- James Lott, Stockbridge, Ga.