Ask Babe Waxpak

Dear Babe:

As a present, I recently received a Rawlings Official American League Baseball with several autographs on it. The autographs were signed at the Willie Stargell Celebrity Golf Tournament in Wilmington, N.C., in 2006. The autographs include Joe Morgan, Dave Parker, Kent Tekulve, Doc Ellis, Steve Blass, Manny Sanguillen, Jim Bibby, Jim Rooker, Bill Robinson, Grant Jackson and Rennie Stennett. Being a Pirate fan for 40 years, the ball means a lot to me. Since it came from my brother, who has no interest in sports at all, that makes it even more special. Morgan is a Hall of Famer and Dave Parker may make it there as well.

Fred Bartelt, Nesquehoning, Pa. 

You already answered your own question, since the ball is far more valuable to you than it would be to someone else. I think the Hall of Fame is going to be a stretch for Parker. He did manage to get 11.4 percent of the votes this time around and will be on the ballot again next year. Two things are working against the value. First, it’s an A.L. ball signed by National Leaguers. Also, the best signature belongs to HOFer Joe Morgan. Unfortunately, he never played for the Pirates, although he did spend one season in Pennsylvania playing for the Phillies in 1983. His signature actually hurts the value if you consider it a Bucs’ ball. I’d say $40-$65.

Dear Babe:

I just found two pictures of Babe Ruth in a Yankees uniform autographed and dated 1948. They are approximately 8x10 inches.

Karen Crowley, Needham, Mass. 

As is often the case, this is an item that definitely needs to be checked over by experts. Ruth did sign some items in the final year of his life, but many others were signed by others. “The small (postcard-sized photos) that are signed with the 1948 notation were what we call ‘ghost signed’ and not authentic,” said Mike Heffner, president of www.lelands.com auction house in New York. Still, those are worth around $100 each. You have 8x10s. If it’s an authentic Ruth signature, the photos would be worth $2,500-$10,000 each, said Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for www.HeritageAuctions.com in Dallas.

Dear Babe:

During WWII, my sister worked at a shipyard in Quincy, Mass. A number of ballplayers (Red Sox and Braves) worked there in the off season. My sister got Rabbit Maranville’s autograph for me. It is on a middle page of my old autograph book and says “Rabbit Maranville, Yours in Sports.”

B. J. Faircloth, Menifee 

Tuff Stuff lists a Maranville cut at $250. Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for www.HeritageAuctions.com in Dallas, said that was a good value, noting that Maranville isn’t one of the more popular, i.e., valuable Hall of Famers.

Dear Babe:

My mother-in-law gave me a 5x7 black and white Washington Senators team photo. The team, including Ted Williams, signed it on the back.

Jim Robinson, Norfolk, Va. 

The key name is that of Brant Alyea, whose last season with the Senators was 1969. That was also Williams’ first as the team’s manager. Several things work against you, not the least of which is the fact that the Senators weren’t very good back then. The photo seems to be in poor shape. Plus, the signatures are on the back. They do look good except for the paper discoloration. Nonetheless, it remains a valuable item. “I would place it at $200-275,” said Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for www.HeritageAuctions.com in Dallas. “There are very few signed team photos from this era, and with the addition of the Washington Nationals, it would stir Washington baseball collecting from the old era.”

Dear Babe:

When I was a kid in San Diego, my parents were die-hard Padres fans. I loved going to watch them. I was lucky enough to get a ball signed by Willie Mays. I know it’s authentic, because he signed it for me. Doug Poffenbarger, Phillips, Neb.You’ve got an older signature, which definitely helps, although it’s not from early in his career. Everything depends on the quality of the signature and the ball. Tuff Stuff lists a single-signed Mays baseball at $175. Of course, having it authenticated will also make a difference.

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.