O/T (sort of) - What's your greatest baseball memorabilia score?

[Rob L]

What is the greatest score you have made with baseball memorabilia (GU or not)?

Mine would have to be a 1933 Indians autograph book page, signed by a number of players as well as the manager: The Big Train. I bagged this off eBay less than an hour after it went up with a BIN of $75.00. I am very familiar with Walter Johnson's autograph so I couldn't believe the price. Turns out the guy who was selling it knew nothing about baseball.:D

[frikativ54]

Jeff Bagwell's 2,000th hit game lineup card on MLB.com Expos Blowout - signed by Frank Robinson. Now framed in my bedroom back home in the Seattle suburbs.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j16/frikativ54/LineUpCard.jpg

[dcrules01]

I have sold both items a 1995 John Franco Game Used Jersey $35 shipped and a Rey Ordonez tbtc 86 style from 2002 for $50 shipped..

[OaklandAsFan]

1948 Philadelphia Athletics team signed baseball

This was back in the late 80's when Devon White was fairly popular and I have that address book that used to be put out. I was looking for Devon's address to mail him cards to sign when I came across a Donald White who actually lived around the corner from my grandfather. I asked him to see if he could get an autograph. Late that week he ran into his wife to find out that he had just passed away very recently, she gave him the ball to give to me.

[BoneRubbedBat]

A generic late teens Hillerich and Bradsby bat off of e-bay. Paid about $100. After I received it, realized it was faintly sidewritten. J. Honus Wagner. Had to change my shorts.

[Vintagedeputy]

I always get a warm fuzzy when I look at my Mark Grace game used bat that I got on ebay for $50. To me that was a steal...

[mattsr]

i picked up a champagne bottle that came directly from the brewers locker room after the 1982 alcs. its still unopened and i got it signed by yount and molitor. some lady put it on ebay with a bin of 50.00 and i grabbed it. one of the best deals i ever got on ebay.

[godwulf]

I bought a blue, nylon field jacket that Aurelio Rodriguez wore while managing for Chihuahua in the Mexican League, from a Diamondbacks employee to whom Aurelio had given it, for $35. A couple of months later, Aurelio was killed by a car that jumped the curb, in Detroit where he'd gone for a signing, I believe. I hope to some day be able to donate the jacket to a Mexican or Hispanic Baseball museum.

A couple of close runners-up:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8dc06b3127ccec3223c1a2f5600000010O02EbsmzVu0ZA9 vPhw/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

A silver 1936 Victoria Base Ball Club trophy from Australia. I have a record somewhere of what I paid for this, to which I can't put my hand at the moment, but I don't think it was more than a couple of hundred.

Also:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8dc06b3127ccec322913e6fbc00000010O02EbsmzVu0ZA9 vPhw/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

A game-used and cracked 2001 World Series Danny Bautista Louisville Slugger, complete with Danny's distinctive tape job - placed by the eBay Seller in the wrong category (Autographs), presumably because she thought she'd have to "sweeten the pot" with the bonus of an autographed photo and a store-bought cap. I paid $46.01 for the lot.

[karamaxjoe]

About 15 years ago Triton College here in the Chicago area upgraded their seats in their college baseball park. Turns out the seats they were removing came from Tiger Stadium when the Tigers renovated the park in 1976. Triton College advertised the sale of the seats for about $50 each, but barely anyone came to buy them. I waited until they tossed all the seats in a giant dumpster and then I pulled out a bunch. I managed to get about 25 seats and a bunch of spare parts. I made two trips in my truck and would have taken more, but the dumpster was gone the next day. I restored some of the seats and had a nice two seater with the tiger figural on the end. I sometimes regret selling the two seater with the tiger figural, but after selling the whole lot I made 10K and bought a bunch of jerseys.

[ironmanfan]

During the pre-eBay days, I picked up this original line up card from the 1000th consecutive game of Cal Ripken Jr.'s consecutive game streak for $50 out of an ad in SCD. Fortunately, the key dates from his career are imbedded in my head and the seller was basically just selling it as a Frank Robinson (mgr.) signed item. This was actually on display at the Babe Ruth Museum (on loan) during their Ripken time-line exhibit approx. 10 years ago...

[geoff]

My Hanley Ramirez Game Used Seadogs Double A Helmet.This was the only Helmet he used all Year I was told.Bought it a few Years ago from a Member here.

[b52-wulfhound]

Some Months ago, I purchased a Reds GU baseball from a Reds blowout of the Dodgers in 1975 I have since had it signed by Johnny Bench

[xpress34]

Kind of hard to say as I have had stuff come and go over the years... the divorce from my 1st wife wiped out a very nice collection of bats and gloves going back to the turn of the century...

That said, here are some of the better baseballs I have picked up over the last three years...

An EXTREMELY Scarce and Rare 1890's Spalding SEAMLESS (or 'inside out') stitch ball - it looks like a tennis ball because the stitches were all tucked under the leather when the figure eights were put together:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/1890sSpaldingSeamlessBall1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/1890sSpaldingSeamlessBall2.jpg

1927 Official merican League Ban Johnson ball (lots of partial Autos, but I can't make any out):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/1927OALBall1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/1927OALBall2.jpg

1920's / 30's Reach 'Scout' Ball (a little smaller than a regulation ball):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/ReachScoutBall2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/ReachScoutBall1.jpg

I'm guessing here - 1940's OAL Ball - AU by Charlie Gheringer:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/GehringerAU-ONLBall1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/GehringerAU-ONLBall2.jpg

1940's / 50's Ford Frick ball AU by Stan Musial:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/MusialAU-FrickONLBall1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/MusialAU-FrickONLBall2.jpg

1960's Warren Giles Ball AU by Joe Garrigiola (faint on side panel):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/GarrigiolaAUGilesOALBall1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/GarrigiolaAUGilesOALBall2.jpg


1960's Rawlings ALL STAR Ball - Auto'd by Steve Carlton (faint):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/RawlingsAllStarCarltonAU.jpg

1940's /early 50's (?) Williams w/ Tom Yawkey on side panel... still researching for auto verification before I send it in... I do know that Williams DID sign early in his career with Ted and Williams NOT connected and with the 's' ending heading upwards... Yawkey's autos are tougher to find examplars on... but who would put Yawkey on a Williams ball to fake it? Why not Mantle? DiMaggio? Someone of that caliber?:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/WilliamsYawkeyAUBall1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/WilliamsYawkeyAUBall2.jpg

1993 Nolan Ryan AU/GU Ball Authenticated by Ryan Foundation AND Texas Rangers (gift from my best bud last Spring Training...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/RyanGU93Ball.jpg


And finally, one of my favorite - ONE OF A KIND Dual Auto balls... Goose and Ryan - the '308' Ball... In June, 1991 Ryan and Gossage made HISTORY - the 1st 300+ wins and 300+ saves to appear in the same MLB game for the same team... in the game, Nolan notched Career Victory 308 and Goose picked up Save 308... Goose signed lower SS for me here at Coors Field then ball went to Ryan Foundation where Nolan signed just above Goose on the SS...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/RyanGossage308Ball2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/RyanGossage308Ball1.jpg

Hope you guys liked my most recent Ball pick ups...

- Chris

[xpress34]

Two other balls (couldn't fit pics into last post):

1960's LL Ball AUTO'd by Mantle, DiMaggio and Sutton... DiMaggio inscribed 'To Henrietta - Best Wishes' and dated below his sig April 22, 1967... unfortunately, Sutton signed in 'magic marker' of some type...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/MantleDiMaggioSuttonLLBall1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/MantleDiMaggioSuttonLLBall2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/MantleDiMaggioSuttonLLBall3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/MantleDiMaggioSuttonLLBall4.jpg

1984 US Olympic Ball signed by McGwire, Clark and Larkin:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/84OLYMcGwireClarkLarkinAUBall4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/84OLYMcGwireClarkLarkinAUBall1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/84OLYMcGwireClarkLarkinAUBall2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Memorabilia/Balls/84OLYMcGwireClarkLarkinAUBall3.jpg

Hope you all enjoyed these and my other recent ball acquisitions...

- Chris

[xpress34]

My Garrigiola Ball (2 posts back) is a Joe Cronin Ball, NOT Giles...

- Chris

[mariner_gamers]

In 1998 I traded 8 McGwire Olympic cards for an early game used Griffey Jr. Cooper bat. Having been a McGwire fan and collector I had about 35 Oly cards and I was in them about $10 apiece. Next would be the 8 McGwire Olympic cards I traded for a game used and signed Arod bat from circa 1996. Lastly I purchased a 1969 Mantle white letter variation for $50 at a card show in 1991. I traded it for a pair of game used and auto'd Griffey Jr. high top cleats from '91. While the McGwire's made the first two possible I did not "score" them instead I collected them over time and got extremely lucky.

[richpick]

I found a game worn 1982 St. Louis Cardinals Keith Hernandez jersey at a flea market for $10 and then auctioned it off through Mastro and it sold for $1,987

Found a 1977-1979 H&B Game Used team Index Bat that I bought at an auction for $200 that sold for $1,531

These were both semi-recent finds

Back in about 1990 I bought a game worn 1985 Boston Red Sox game worn home Roger Clemens jersey for $750 and sold it in August 2006 for $4,376

Richpick

[Lokee]

My ex aunt (uncle and her are divorced) her father was the head score keeper for the Vancouver Canucks and in 1989 my uncle and I went to see Montreal play in Vancouver and we got too meet all the Canadiens and had access to there dressing room after the game. I had my program signed by everyone on the team at the time.

Patrick Roy did not play in that game and I was all bummed because he was my favorite (and probably still is). I did not see him in the dressing room and started to walk out and my uncle said "Patrick" I turned around and he had just emerged from whatever he was doing. Anyways I told him that I really enjoyed watching him play and he inspired me to be a goaltender. He was very cool (i was 12 at the time) It just came out and I asked for his jersey. At the age of 12 it's like you say anything you want LOL. He told us to hold on a sec he started speaking french to the equipment manager and he came back with a ROAD RED gamer. That is how I obtained my Patrick Roy jersey. My center piece of my collection. I also managed to pick up a signed goalie stick from Brian Hayward.

[frikativ54]

My ex aunt (uncle and her are divorced) her father was the head score keeper for the Vancouver Canucks and in 1989 my uncle and I went to see Montreal play in Vancouver and we got too meet all the Canadiens and had access to there dressing room after the game. I had my program signed by everyone on the team at the time.

Patrick Roy did not play in that game and I was all bummed because he was my favorite (and probably still is). I did not see him in the dressing room and started to walk out and my uncle said "Patrick" I turned around and he had just emerged from whatever he was doing. Anyways I told him that I really enjoyed watching him play and he inspired me to be a goaltender. He was very cool (i was 12 at the time) It just came out and I asked for his jersey. At the age of 12 it's like you say anything you want LOL. He told us to hold on a sec he started speaking french to the equipment manager and he came back with a ROAD RED gamer. That is how I obtained my Patrick Roy jersey. My center piece of my collection. I also managed to pick up a signed goalie stick from Brian Hayward.

That's really, really awesome. I love a good story about an athlete making a kid's day. Those guys may not realize it, but they can have such an influence on a young person's life, just through a small deed of kindness.

[cjw]

From am amazing find standpoint...it would have to be the roughly 400 complete sets of 1992 and 1993 ALCS and World Series, home game (Toronto) Blue Jays tickets I got for free.

I managed Windows restaurant in the SkyDome in 1994 and found a case of these tix that were printed for the restaurant members but not handled out in 1992 or 1993. The diners had ticket master style tix too.

My boss said "chuck' em...but I asked if I could keep them. I gave all my buddies a set, sold quite a few, traded more and still have 2 full, mint sets (sorry neither are for sale).

[jcking2722]

I bought a 1931 Notre Dame signed football from a guy off of Craigslist in Chicago for $340 shipped and sold it for $4,031 on eBay 38 days later.

I also bought a 1990 UNLV Championship Team signed Official NCAA Basketball for $45 and sold it on eBay for $1200 a few months later.

Those two have to be the best flips I have made. Very cool hearing everyone's stories, thanks for sharing.

Josh

[OaklandAsFan]

Way back in the day I had the baseball address list book and I was looking up Devon Whites address to send him some card TTM to get signed and one of the addresses around his name looked familiar, it looked like an address in the senior community that my grandfather lived in so I asked him about it and he stopped by the address on one of his afternoon walks.

Turns out this was Donald White who played for the Philadelphia Athletics back in the late 40's. He had just recently passed away and his widow gave my grandfather a baseball to give to me. a 1948 Philadelphia Athletics team ball signed by the likes of Connie Mack and Al Simmons etc.

Unfortunately the ball was stolen by someone who I thought was a friend many years ago but it was pretty awesome to own that in my early teen years!

[jake33]

Doesn't get much better than "Free 99"

Won an auction from the Rays back in 2009. Was supposed to have Game worn catcher's gear from Michel Hernandez, mask, 2 shins guards and chest protector. All were MLB authenticated for $120 total. Thought that was a good deal for game sued photomatched and mlb authenticated cather's gear (each piece), but the icing was the item below...

THe Rays forgot to mention in the auction title AND description his cather's helmet was included AND MLB authenticated. Had the helmet autographed by Michel this year in superb silver sharpie. Had help running down Michel from a friend of his, very nice guy indeed.

[sox83cubs84]

I made a trade with a game-used dealer not known for being a very good researcher (no, it wasn't Wayne Otto) and picked up a 1973 Red Sox road knit of who he perceived to be Rick Burleson, despite the fact that Orlando Cepeda had signed it. I saw the difference in sizing between Burleson (a diminutive guy), and the jersey (a 44) and pulled the trigger. In short, I spent about $125 in merchandise on a genuine '73 Cepeda jersey (which I've seen in a couple of major auction since).

Dave Miedema

[sammy]

Purchased a Mickey Mantle autographed jersey on eBay for the BIN price of 750.00.

Sold it a few months later for 3400.00.


http://www.amazon.com/b?%5Fencoding=UTF8&site-redirect=&node=256994011&tag=colmor-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325

[MikeSharon]

I have 4 really good scores-these were all several years ago
a pair of 85 Ryan Game used cleats from his son Reese $75

an 80's Reggie Jackson Angels road that the guy thought was a replica, he didnt believe me when i told him it was real so i paid $115

a mid 70's Ryan Angels that was a size 46(later confirmed that he wore that size because he would gain weight for the number of innings he pitched) for $600

A a game used Biggio autographed and uncracked from a dealer for new york who did know how tough his stuff was at the national of $75

[frikativ54]

A a game used Biggio autographed and uncracked from a dealer for new york who did know how tough his stuff was at the national of $75

Who did know? And he still sold it to you for $75?!?! Wow.

[MikeSharon]

should be didnt sorry for the type o

[panthrotc]

The always talked about but rarely ever seen Game Used & inscribed
Home Run Bat. McGwire was known to give away HR notated bats to friends, family, and teammates. They never pop up for sale. In all my years of tracking his memorabilia since I first joined the Internet back in 99, I have seen only 3 that I can recall and 2 of them are in the HOF and the other belongs to Jeff Scott of bird bats.

I got my greastest score by Trading 2500$ and a signed game issued 98 McGwire bat in return for such a bat

Used to Hit Career HR 576 on August 21,2001 in Cinncinatti off of
Juan Acevedo. It was then signed and inscribed by Mac and given to fellow Teammate Relief Pitcher Steve Klein. Klein gave the bat to a dealer friend who also resided in the small farm town out in the boondocks of Prnnsylvania.*
I made the 3 Hr trip by car to make the deal in person.*

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/longball98/BASEBALL%20-%20Mark%20McGwire/Autographed%20Memorabilia/GAME%20USED/bats005.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/longball98/BASEBALL%20-%20Mark%20McGwire/Autographed%20Memorabilia/GAME%20USED/GU%20Close%20Up%20Pictures/01/mac2001005.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/longball98/BASEBALL%20-%20Mark%20McGwire/Autographed%20Memorabilia/GAME%20USED/GU%20Close%20Up%20Pictures/01/b46c0d33.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/longball98/BASEBALL%20-%20Mark%20McGwire/Autographed%20Memorabilia/GAME%20USED/GU%20Close%20Up%20Pictures/01/9b70234a.jpg
Here is a link to the video highlight of the HR
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t25/longball98/GIFS/Live%20Action%20Gifs/McGwire8-21-01-1.mp4

[sox83cubs84]

A weird set of transactions regarding a mid-1990s Sammy Sosa GU HR baseball:

I bought the ball from the guy who chased it down on the street for $20.

I sold it to a collector for $300.

8 years later, I bought it back from the SAME collector for $76 (via eBay).

Shortly after that, I sold it again to a different collector, again for $300.

I wonder how soon I'll see it on eBay a second time?:p

Dave Miedema