eBay

linus.hux72fe · ‎01-29-2020

I'd like to ask for some advice/opinions from experts here. In the early 1970s I used to take the kids to Spring Training and Football Games. To give them something to do while I worked I'd pay them .50 each for autographs on balls from players.

In cleaning out things I came across some of the hand signed balls. In your opinion, would it be better to have the balls authenticated? Who would a person use? Is it worth spending the money? Saleable? Or just throw them back in the boxes and stuff them back in the closet?

If anyone can help, I'd sure appreciate it. Thank you for your time.

fashunu4eeuh · ‎01-29-2020

Hi, this isn't my area of expertise, but i can point you in the right direction. Below is the link to the eBay policy concerning autographs. This should help you get started. Note that eBay provides a list of approved authenticators in the policy, and a list of questionable authenticators they do not accept. Good luck, others will be by to answer your post in greater detail.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/autographed-items-policy?id=4283

nkpina2014 · ‎01-30-2020

@linus.hux72fe wrote:
I'd like to ask for some advice/opinions from experts here. In the early 1970s I used to take the kids to Spring Training and Football Games. To give them something to do while I worked I'd pay them .50 each for autographs on balls from players.

In cleaning out things I came across some of the hand signed balls. In your opinion, would it be better to have the balls authenticated? Who would a person use? Is it worth spending the money? Saleable? Or just throw them back in the boxes and stuff them back in the closet?

If anyone can help, I'd sure appreciate it. Thank you for your time.

I deal with sports and memorabilia such as that.

For autographs, it HEAVILY depends on who the player is that signed it as well as (sometimes) WHEN it was signed. Are the balls game-used, or just ordinary baseballs you picked up from the sports store? For instance, a game-used 7th No Hitter Ball autographed by Nolan Ryan in '91 would be worth far more than a generic baseball purchased and autographed by Ryan in that same year.

If you have famous baseball names, I'd recommend PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) to authenticate. Not only are they reputable, but they have buyer name recognition and can grade the items (mostly cards, but other media depending on the item) as well. They aren't exactly cheap, and you pay shipping both ways, but they certainly get the job done! They also have an online tracking system on their certifications, so anyone can punch in a certification number and see the item as well as the authentication/grade.

coolections · ‎01-30-2020

It's expensive so unless you have some superstars it won't be worth getting them authenticated. Check sold listings here on Ebay for each player you have. You will see the difference in prices for items authenticated compared to non authenticated items. I would guess most are not worth much as they are fairly common unless you have 70's or earlier stuff like Hall of Famers.

linus.hux72fe · ‎01-30-2020

To fashunu4eeuh, nkpina2014, coolections:

Thank you all so much for your help.

This seems all very complicated, perhaps too much for me to tackle right now.

I have footballs in their cardboard frame boxes with signatures like gale sayers and lyle alzado and Walter Payton's and others from some bronco players. These were signed in the early part of the 70s I think based on my memory of where I was working and pics of my kids getting the signatures/ages.

I have found 2 1950s baseball's. Game balls. I'll have to look at the balls and see where those are from. I remember I'd just started working that job then so those were signed with about 30+ signatures each. I remember I thought at the time I might have a future husband that would take a shine to me if I showed him my sports collection. Incidentally that failed, twice.

Then I have about 19 baseballs from 1969-1974 with 5 or so signatures each. Game balls. But I'll have to look and see where those are from. Then some balls from farm teams in another box.

I think I'll have to make room in a closet and deal with these in the future though as I dont have time or big money to pay for authenticating with my h still sickly. I'm sorry I wasted your alls time.

But thank you much for the help!

coolections · ‎01-30-2020

You didn't waste anyones time. From what you describe you have the good stuff and they will easily sell here. It would definitely be best to have them authenticated as many will go for up to 5x more doing so. Good Luck !!!!