Ask Babe Waxpak: April 4, 2007

Dear Babe:

I have an 85-year-old friend who has a baseball autographed by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Joe McCarthy, Ben Chapman and Red Rolfe. He got it when he was 10 and the Yankees played an exhibition game in Birmingham, Ala. He has a certified document saying as much. I don’t think my friend fully realizes the value of this ball. It is in amazing condition. Ruth’s autograph is starting to fade a little but the others are crisp and clear. He has kept it in a drawer for most of the past 50 years or so, so it has seen little sunlight.

Brown Burnett, Memphis, Tenn. 

The math works out. He should have been 10 in 1932. All those players were on the Yanks then. I didn’t think they were certifying things like this back then. It is indeed a valuable baseball. However, while the other signatures may be crisp, the one that counts is Ruth’s and his autograph is fading. That and the fact that there are a few other signatures on the ball lowers the value even though one is Gehrig’s. It’s tough to put a value on an item such as this without seeing it. Brian Marren, vice president of acquisitions for www.MastroAuctions.com auctions in Chicago, said it might be worth $5,000-$8,000. Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for www.HeritageAuctions.com in Dallas, put it in the $3,000-$4,000 range. Everything depends on condition and how the ball displays Ruth’s signature.

Dear Babe:

About 15 to 20 years ago, I bought a Bobby Orr wall plaque for $20.

Charlie A. from Georgetown, Ma.

That’s just about the time everyone was getting interested in collecting. That equated to lots of “ready-to-wear” mass-produced collectibles. This type of plaque with a photo and nameplate falls into that category. This type of plaque really only has value if the athlete’s signature is included.

They are nice to display, especially for someone who likes the player featured. I’d say that $20 would be top value for it these days.

Dear Babe:

I have what appears to be a 1938 N.Y. Yankees team baseball with 24 signatures, including Hall of Famers Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Lefty Gomez, Bill Dickey and Joe McCarthy.

Jamie Lundy, Peachtree City, Ga.

I checked with a number of experts — Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for www.HeritageAuctions.com in Dallas; Mike Heffner, president of www.lelands.com auction house in New York; Robert Lifson, president of www.RobertEdwardsAuctions.com in New Jersey; and Brian Marren, vice president of acquisitions for www.MastroAuctions.com auctions in Chicago. We ended up with a wide range — $1,500 all the way up to $15,000. The keys to value are the condition of the ball and whether Gehrig signed it or had someone else sign it for him.

Obviously, top value goes to a really nice ball with a true Gehrig autograph. The lower end is for baseballs in poorer condition and those with a “clubhouse” Gehrig signature.

Dear Babe:

I have a set of Ping clubs with one of the clubs marked “Karston 1” with “17-4ph” below that. Are these clubs just outdated clubs?

Terry Campbell, Atlanta

You pretty much figured it out for yourself. “They are good used clubs (with) no real collector value to speak of, but still good to use,” said Jeff Ellis, of Oak Harbor, Wash., author of “The Clubmakers Art: Antique Golf Clubs and Their History.”

BABE NOTE: The Minnesota Twins are going to get the season off to a flying start for collectors with a four-game promotion April 12-15, featuring Upper Deck cards sponsored by FSN North. They’re calling it Twins’ Awards Weekend celebration, honoring Torii Hunter, Johan Santana, Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer. For complete details visit my blog at www.scrippsnews.com/waxpak.

If you have a question for Babe Waxpak, include your full name and hometown, the card number, year and manufacturer or send a photocopy. Please do not send cards. The address is: Babe Waxpak, Box 1148, Anderson CA 96007 or e-mail waxpak@andersonvalleypost.com.