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Conference school::sports_memorabilia

Title:Sports Memorabilia
Notice:Wanted: 3.*; For_sale: 4.*; Traded: 5.*
Moderator:SCHOOL::KOPACKO
Created:Wed Aug 27 1986
Last Modified:Thu May 08 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:730
Total number of notes:8547

502.0. "'37 Boston Bees Autographed Ball" by NWD002::TUTAK_PE (Hall of Foam 1992 Inductee) Mon Nov 09 1992 14:54

    
    What would an autographed ball from the '37 Boston Bees be worth ?
    
    I saw one at an antique shop this past weekend, going for $65. I have
    no doubt that it's original. It's dated May something, 1937 and has the
    following signatures on it, among others:
    
    			Guy Bush
    			Al Lopez
    			Debs Garms
    			Vince DiMaggio
    			Tommy Thevenow
    
    The ball is very slightly yellowed, and some of the signatures are
    pretty faded (but still readable). It looks like it was fairly well
    cared for, considering.
    		
    Any ideas ?
    
    Thanks again...
    
    Peter	
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502.1FUTURE::JST_ONGEJohn St.Onge USDSL DTN 275-2715Mon Nov 09 1992 15:1815
    I believe there's a new book  out  by  the  SCD  people on autographs
    which might contain some info on this.  Also Tuff Stuff has a section
    on autographs, but I don't think they'd list the '37 Bees.
    
    As far as note 501 goes,  you  may  have  better  luck taking it to a
    reputable card shop and I don't mean one of these fly-by-night shops.
    Maybe "Hall's Nostalgia" who deal  in  older  stuff. There's a pretty
    big show this weekend (GBSCC)  and you may also find some dealers who
    deal in old pennants etc.
    
    You also could pick up SCD, Tuff Stuff etc.  and  browse  through the
    ads to see if there are similar  things  for sale and maybe contact a
    dealer that way.
    
    John
502.2Another possibilityCARTUN::PAVLOCKTue Nov 10 1992 01:0410
    Reply .-2
    
    I don't know where you live, but Great American Baseball, in West
    Concord claims to do apprasails as well.
    
    He several many older peieces in his shop.
    
    Regards,
    Denny
    
502.3West CoastPOLAR::FERGUSONRPROFESSORITue Nov 10 1992 15:145
    Peter is way the h*ll out in Washington state.
    
    Gidday Pete.
    
    R.M.F.
502.4Out here, it's Rainier...NWD002::TUTAK_PEHall of Foam 1992 InducteeTue Nov 10 1992 16:1122
    
    Yeah, as Bob said (so succinctly), I'm way the hell out here in the
    trees. (Hey, Bob, how are ya ? Bud would want me to say 'hello', I'm
    sure.)
    
    I figured I could get a value opinion that would be pretty relevant
    from the Boston area, since there would be some folks who'd be familiar 
    with older Boston memorabilia. 
    
    I don't subscribe to Tuff Stuff, so I can't get an idea from that. (If
    I did, I'd probably have my house decorated in early Ebbets Field, and
    my personal life would be a financial and emotional wreck.) I don't know 
    of any 'appraisers' out here, per se. So, I guess I'm at an impasse.
    
    I'll probably wind up buying it within the next couple of days. In the
    meantime, I'm still willing to listen to anyone who thinks it's not
    worth it.
    
    Peter
    
    PS...and there was also this -beautiful- Phil Cavaretta model
    three-fingered glove on sale....
502.5ZAYIUS::BROUILLETTEThe best of best help the rest...Tue Nov 10 1992 17:484
Offer them $50 and then ship it to me!  Sounds like a ball I wouldn't mind
getting for my collection.  What shop did you say it was in...

	Mb
502.6NWD002::TUTAK_PEHall of Foam 1992 InducteeWed Nov 11 1992 02:4716
    
    Sorry, Mark, I think I'm going to pick it up for myself.
    
    But let me ask you, if you're willing to pay $50 for it, is it worth
    the exra $15 just for posession ? The ball is in pretty good shape,
    considering it's almost 55 --make that 56-- years old. Guy Bush's
    signature is between the close seams, while the others are on other
    areas of the ball. In addition to the other signatures mentioned in .0,
    I believe Wally Berger's is on there, also. Gil english and Tony
    Cuccinello, too. (I've got a copy of the '37 roster in front of me and
    I'm going through it.) Lou Fette sounds familiar as well, but I don't
    remember McKechnie's name as being on it... 
    
    What do oyu think ?
    
    Peter it.. . 6
502.7ZAYIUS::BROUILLETTEThe best of best help the rest...Wed Nov 11 1992 16:096
I just always look for the better deal.  There is usually always room for
negotiation and that's why I'd wave $50 in their face.  If you want to find
a reasonable estimate on that ball, pickup a SCD magazine and call a couple
of the auction houses and ask.

  If the ball is in good condition, I'd guess that it's a deal at that price.
502.8NWD002::TUTAK_PEHall of Foam 1992 InducteeWed Nov 11 1992 16:515
    
    Thanks, Mark....I appreciate the input.
    
    Peter
    
502.9Ka-ching !NWD002::TUTAK_PEHall of Foam 1992 InducteeWed Nov 11 1992 21:0033
    
    OK, I bought it. Offered $55, and was politely told "The price is
    firm." The ball is a National League issue ball, with Frick's
    signature stamped in the lower half of the sweet spot. There is a small 
    dedication, reading:
    
    "From Tom Thevenow to Chas. Jarvis, Boston Bees, Aug. 18, 1937"
    
    The signatures are:
    
    Gil English    			"Bob" Smith
    Vince Dimaggio                      Wm. McKechnie
    Debs Garms                          Bill Wenz
    Al Lopez (signed twice by him)      Lou Fette
    Guy Bush                            Larry Gowdy
    Tommy Thevenow                      Jim Turner
    Ray Mueller                         "Chick" Cuccinello
    Frank Gabler                        Elbie Fletcher
    Ira (?) Hutchinson                  Gene Moore
    Ray (Roy ?) Johnson                 Tony ______________
    
    I thought Wally Berger was on it, but I was mistaken. I'd characterize
    the sigs as being from readable (Lopez, Lopez, Bush, Smith,
    Cuccinello, Fletcher, Moore) to faded/readable (Garms, DiMaggio,
    Mueller, Gabler, Hutchinson, Gowdy, Johnson, Wenz, Turner) to barely 
    readable (McKechnie, Fette, Thevenow, English, Tony _______).
    
    McKechnie's signature the one that I wanted to see on there. This guy
    was actually on the Newark Peps of the 1914 Federal League.     
    
    When I get home, I'll see if I can research who the Tony ___ person is.
    
    Peter