By BABE WAXPAK, Scripps Howard News Service

Dear Babe: About three years ago, my son gave me a Rawlings baseball signed David "Big Papi'' Ortiz, of the Red Sox. -- Jim Carboni, Nashua, N.H.

Dear Babe: I have a Wilson tennis racket that my mom used about 70 years ago. It still has the original strings (cat gut?) and wooden brace. The original canvas cover rotted but the rest of the racket is in OK condition.

Dear Babe: I have my father's collection of baseball cards from the mid-1930's. They are primarily National Chicle cards. Unfortunately almost all of the cards are pasted in scrapbooks. Any suggestions for how best to salvage them? I assume that pasting in a book has a significant impact on value. -- Kip Fraasa, Marietta, Ga.

Dear Babe: I met and talked with Gene Conley. I have a book, baseball and basketball signed by him. -- Joe Keesling, Clermont, Fla.

Dear Babe: I have two older Mecca Cigarettes cards. Someone told me they were the 1912 Olympics. -- Rich Gladue, Conyers, Ga.

Dear Babe: I have a Jack Nicklaus MacGregor N275 "White Fang'' Putter that has never been used. It has a white ceramic putting head and is signed by Nicklaus in the ceramic. In addition, I asked Nicklaus to sign the putter, while he was a contestant at the Sarazen World Open Championship at Chateau Elon in Atlanta in 1996 or 1997.

Dear Babe: My siblings and I recently inherited a baseball that was my dad's. He told us it was signed by Babe Ruth. William Summers was an American League umpire in the 1930s and was a family friend. He gave it to my dad in the '30s. Of course, we thought it was pretty valuable and wanted it appraised.

Dear Babe: I have several Red Sox mid-1930s baseball cards. They are not in good condition, since the person who gave them to me pinned them up for display with thumbtacks. Among them are Rick Ferrell (National Chicle, Goudey Gum), Lefty Grove (Goudey), and Billy Werber (Chicle) among others. -- Harry Devitt, Redlands, Calif.

Dear Babe: I have a 2006 Topps Sterling Spider Jorgensen card with a "cut'' signature on it. Frederick Minor, Brookline, N.H.