1927 signed ball by Babe

[1927 Babe ball holder]

Wondering if I should put this item up on e-bay? It's a 'home run' baseball, hit by Babe Ruth and signed by him. Also, written on it is "world series 1927 home run by Babe Ruth right field bleachers",
Also, a letter dated from 1960 from the Sports Editor of a Newpaper who knew my Dad, comfirming that it was a genuine ball signed by Babe Ruth.

Thanks, for any suggestions.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Wondering if I should put this item up on e-bay? It's a 'home run' baseball, hit by Babe Ruth and signed by him. Also, written on it is "world series 1927 home run by Babe Ruth right field bleachers",
Also, a letter dated from 1960 from the Sports Editor of a Newpaper who knew my Dad, comfirming that it was a genuine ball signed by Babe Ruth.

Thanks, for any suggestions.

If you're going to put it up for auction anywhere, you should have it appraised first.

[duckydps]

If I was the owner of the ball, there is no way I would ever sell a real one...

Do you have a picture or two you could post?

[1927 Babe ball holder]

I am trying to attach a picture of the ball, but not sure if I am doing it right. I will have to get someone to help me add the picture.

[1927 Babe ball holder]

I am trying to attach a picture of the ball, but not sure if I am doing it right.

[dmbfan]

If you are truly thinking about putting the ball up for auction, you may want to explore going through one of the more reputable auction houses to do so. You will get more exposure and more value than going through ebay. If you take a look at the website for Tuff Stuff or another hobby publication, you should be able to find links for reputable auction houses. Nice item by the way.

[runningshoes]

Don't you dare sell that beautiful ball on ebay.

That would be a disgrace.

[1927 Babe ball holder]

Trying to figure out how to send a reply...
I have tried to read up about the grading etc. of these old baseballs and the signatures but really don't know where to go from here. I took it to an 'Antiques Road Show' last year and a sports appraiser phoned someone and then told me this person would give me $15,000. for it. My husband and I decided to try and do more research and believe that only 2 home runs were hit in the 1927 world series and only 1 was hit into the 'right field bleachers', which is written on the ball.
Question: What are the names of reputable auction houses? We live in Ontario, Canada not the U.S.
Thanks for any suggestions.

[runningshoes]

Trying to figure out how to send a reply...
I have tried to read up about the grading etc. of these old baseballs and the signatures but really don't know where to go from here. I took it to an 'Antiques Road Show' last year and a sports appraiser phoned someone and then told me this person would give me $15,000. for it. My husband and I decided to try and do more research and believe that only 2 home runs were hit in the 1927 world series and only 1 was hit into the 'right field bleachers', which is written on the ball.
Question: What are the names of reputable auction houses? We live in Ontario, Canada not the U.S.
Thanks for any suggestions.

Howdy fellow Canadian

I live in St. Catharines and unless you live up by Hudson's bay, we're probably pretty close to each other. :waving

All the good auction houses are in Europe.

Why don't you shoot Christie's an email asking them the best route to take with it?

You may as well start right at the top.

[dmbfan]

Trying to figure out how to send a reply...
I have tried to read up about the grading etc. of these old baseballs and the signatures but really don't know where to go from here. I took it to an 'Antiques Road Show' last year and a sports appraiser phoned someone and then told me this person would give me $15,000. for it. My husband and I decided to try and do more research and believe that only 2 home runs were hit in the 1927 world series and only 1 was hit into the 'right field bleachers', which is written on the ball.
Question: What are the names of reputable auction houses? We live in Ontario, Canada not the U.S.
Thanks for any suggestions.

Here are two of the more better known and reputable auction houses that deal with sports memorabilia:

Robert Edwards Auctions: http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/

Mastro Auctions: http://www.mastronet.com/index.cfm?Action=DisplayContent&ContentName=Home%20Page

I am not trying to push any auction house over any others just trying to help. Both of these have handled very nice and unique items in the past. If you are looking for an auction house in Ontario, just search the web for "auction house Ontario Canada" and that should pull up some near you. However, I think that you will have better luck selling through a known sports auction house, since they have such a large following. Good luck.

[KCGHOST]

You absolutely must get the ball and it provenance authenticated by a reputable firm that deals in U.S. sports, specifically, baseball memorabilia. And, of course the sale must targeted at a U.S. audience.

[hellborn]

Barry Halper had Sotheby's handle the auction of his massive baseball collection, believe it had over 10,000 lots. The auction catalog comes in a slipcase with two large books of lots and a small summary and introduction book. From that auction alone, Sotheby's has a huge amount of baseball expertise built up. For an item as important as yours, a big auction house might be willing to send somebody up to look at it...? Or, maybe they'll have a local expert visit you on their behalf....?
Ruth hit the only two HRs in the '27 Series, both in Yankee Stadium. Don't know where in the stands he hit them, though.
You definitely need to have it authenticated, and I think that eBay would be a huge mistake with an item like this. I think that the hassle and possible initial expense of a large auction house will result in a much larger payoff for you in the end.

[1927 Babe ball holder]

Thanks for all the information on what to do with this ball. I will start the process of getting it properly authenticated.

Also, I have an original letter dated 1960 from Ace Foley, the sports editor of the Halifax, N.S. newspaper which in part states "any who doubt it was a genuine ball signed by the late Babe Ruth may be referred to me."

In my research, I found that the first home run hit by Ruth in the 1927 world series, was in the third game 'high into the right field bleachers' and the second home run was into the center field. If this is true, then my ball is the one hit in the third game.
Thanks again for all the help, and I will keep updating this site when I have news.

[medium al]

If you're going to put it up for auction anywhere, you should have it appraised first.

and make sure it was signed with a fountain pen. someone paid 10K for a ball but it was a forgery in ballpoint.

[medium al]

Barry Halper had Sotheby's handle the auction of his massive baseball collection, believe it had over 10,000 lots. The auction catalog comes in a slipcase with two large books of lots and a small summary and introduction book. From that auction alone, Sotheby's has a huge amount of baseball expertise built up. For an item as important as yours, a big auction house might be willing to send somebody up to look at it...? Or, maybe they'll have a local expert visit you on their behalf....?
Ruth hit the only two HRs in the '27 Series, both in Yankee Stadium. Don't know where in the stands he hit them, though.
You definitely need to have it authenticated, and I think that eBay would be a huge mistake with an item like this. I think that the hassle and possible initial expense of a large auction house will result in a much larger payoff for you in the end.
I have the Halper catalogue along with the replica cards that came with it. I've been wanting to get rid of it for years

[Captain Cold Nose]

and make sure it was signed with a fountain pen. someone paid 10K for a ball but it was a forgery in ballpoint.

Is it easy to tell the difference?

[medium al]

Is it easy to tell the difference?
yes. under a magnifier, fountain pen ink appears a bit jagged and rough, while ball point ink is shiny and smooth and leaves more of an indentaion on whatever surface it was written on

[davewashere]

Is it easy to tell the difference?

It's basically the same as the difference between a water color painting and an oil painting. Fountain pen ink will soak into the surface of the baseball. The roughness under a magnifying glass can be attributed to the ink dispersing in the leather before it has a chance to dry. Sign your name with a marker on a paper towel and you'll see what I mean. The ballpoint signature essentially rests on top of the surface but also creates an indentation on most items like baseballs. These signatures will sometimes crack apart and with the right tools you can usually remove ballpoint pen markings because they aren't actually absorbed into the leather.

[dabigyankeeman]

What a great item to have. A shame to auction it off, wish I could afford to buy it!

Will contact you as soon as I win the lottery.

In all seriousness though, assuming thats the real thing, it would be the key item in most Yankee collections, just fantastic.