Fans Speak / A. C. Haeffner

Cards and Collectibles - Autogrpahed baseballs, baseball cards, memorabilia, appraisals, sales and auctions.

I've got an autographed ball with signatures: Jackie Robison, Roy Campanella, Don Thompson, Pee Wee Reese, Gil Hodges, Cal Abrams, Carl Erskine, Duke Snider and more. Can you give me any information about this ball? Thanks.

Susan wrote:

Don't know whether you can help me or not......many years ago, my Dad went to a baseball game. I've got an autographed ball with signatures: Jackie Robison, Roy Campanella, Don Thompson, Pee Wee Reese, Gil Hodges, Cal Abrams, Carl Erskine, Duke Snider and more. Can you give me any information about this ball? Thanks.

Charlie Haeffner's Reply:

That ball would be from the 1951 season, since that is the only one in which both Don Thompson and Cal Abrams were on the Dodgers roster together.

As with any autographed item, the condition of the ball and the legitimacy and verifiability of the signatures is important in determining value. If the ball is in excellent condition -- with clear and legible signatures -- and the signatures are deemed to have been signed by those players instead of, say, ghosted by a clubhouse man or stamped on, then the generally accepted retail value would probably be in the $750-$900 range.

However, a 1948 Dodgers ball in nice shape with Jackie Robinson and Leo Durocher sigs on the sweet spot recently went for $500 in auction, somewhat below a market value similar to that of a 1951 ball. With the economy behaving sluggishly, the values are a bit depressed.

I hope this helps.

Charlie Haeffner

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