12 Autographed Baseballs

Appraised on: July 26, 2003

Appraised in: Chicago, Illinois

Appraised by: Simeon Lipman

Category: Sports Memorabilia

Episode Info: Chicago, Hour 3 (#802)

Originally Aired: January 12, 2004

IMAGE: 1 of 3  

Appraisal Video: (2:49)

GUEST: My father used to work at what was called Comiskey Park in the late '40s all the way to the early '60s. And as a child, I used to be able to have the run of the place and I used to go out walking around the park. I used to go in the clubhouse, go in the dugout. I was up in the press box. And it was a great time. It was a great time to be out there.

APPRAISER: Oh, it's like a kid's dream.

GUEST: Aw, it was.

APPRAISER: What did you bring today, here?

GUEST: Well, my father, through the years, has accumulated these baseballs and they've been in a box in his closet for years. I bring them out just to look at them and we put them right back in there. Some people said to put them out in display, and I said, "No, they're doing quite fine where they're at." And I thought I'd bring them out today just to have them checked and looked to see.

APPRAISER: Yeah, well, basically they range from the 1940s to the 1960s And some of them are pretty special. This one right here, for instance, is a 1957 Cleveland Indians ball. And Roger Maris, his rookie year. And here, he signed the ball right there. That's pretty neat. We have one from 1955, the Boston Red Sox, and there's Ted Williams. Signed the name right on the sweet spot, right over here. Here we have a 1952 New York Yankees ball and very, very early Mickey Mantle signature right there. The cherry of the bunch-- and my favorite-- a 1961 New York Yankees ball. Now, let me tell you
how I know this is a '61 Yankees ball. I mean, it's got everybody on it: it's got Mantle, it's got Yogi Berra. But the most important signature on this ball isn't Roger Maris, it isn't Elston Howard, it's this gentleman, Bob Hale. Bob Hale played 11 games for the '61 Yankees and that's it. He didn't play for any other team that year, and 1961 was the year. So here we have a group of baseballs, you have a dozen in here. Do you have any idea what they're worth?

GUEST: I have no clue. Never thought of... till today, it even come out.

APPRAISER: Well, what if I told you, that the '61 ball itself because it's so immaculate-- you've kept them beautiful and so did your dad-- what if I told you this was worth at least $3,000 to $5,000?

GUEST: Pfft. Naw, I would have never dreamt that ever.

APPRAISER: What if I told you the whole box: $12,000 to $15,000.

GUEST: You're kidding me.

APPRAISER: Amazing.

GUEST: Unbelievable.

APPRAISER: It's incredible stuff! Now, you were a lucky boy. You've got four lucky little boys yourself.

GUEST: Yes, I do. My sons will be very happy about this. My six-year-old's trying to get at the box, and I let him look at them and we put them back in the box.