Dear Babe: I have a 1939 Heisman Trophy Award Banquet Program autographed to my uncle from Nile Kinnick. He signed his picture inside the program. I also have an 8-x-10 group photo of Kinnick and his fraternity brothers from 1939. Both items are in excellent condition. -- Scott Threlkeld, Rochester, Minn.
As is often the case, when one reader finds an item has value, others start searching for similar material. Because of his untimely death during World War II just a few years after winning the Heisman, Kinnick's is the hardest signature to track down for those who covet Heisman winners. A signed program from the award ceremony is definitely a cut above finding his signature on a program from another sports-related event.
"His autograph on his Heisman program should exceed $10,000 and would be regarded as one of the best pieces to have his autograph on,'' said Mike Breeden, an autograph expert and editor of Tuff Stuff's autograph guide.
Mike Heffner, president of www.lelands.com auction house in South Dennis, Mass., thought Kinnick's signature on a Heisman award program would be special, but he put it in the $3,500 to $4,000 range.
That gives us a range. Yes, it is a large one, but when you're talking about items of which only a few exist, you often don't know what the item will bring until the final hammer falls.
Heffner valued the fraternity photo at $200.
Dear Babe: I would like to thank you for your response on my 1950 Boston Braves team-signed baseball. However, I recently attended a card and memorabilia show and was told that this ball has stamped autographs, because the signatures didn't run into each other. There is supposedly an outfit that deals in this sort or deceit. -- Dick Mungovan, Westford ,Ma.
There isn't anything "deceitful'' about a ball with stamped signatures. Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for Heritage Auctions (www.ha.com) in Dallas, said they date back to the 1930s. Teams sold stamped balls at the ballpark. They were also used in promotions and contests. It's doubtful anyone would bother to produce a stamped ball of the 1950 Braves these days. You'll need to have an expert check out the ball to see if the signatures are authentic. A ball with stamped signatures has little value. A ball actually signed by the 1950 Braves is worth around $200-$350.
Dear Babe: My father and stepmom bought three bats from the "Young Bat Company'' n Brevard, N.C. in 1995. I believe the Young Bat Company made bats for several of the Atlanta Braves players. I own the Chipper Jones bat, my brother owns the Ryan Klesko bat and my step niece has a Greg Maddux bat. All three are brand new with letters of authenticity. -- Wellborn Price, Atlanta
Maddux is a lock for the Hall of Fame and Jones has a very good chance of joining him in Cooperstown. Right now those two bats are worth $100-$200 each. Klesko's is worth less, maybe $100 or so. The Jones and Maddux bats could increase some, because both should end up in the HOF.
BABE NOTE: Life is good for the Panini Group. The exclusive producer of NBA trading cards just released its first-ever product -- 2009 Prestige Basketball -- at the same time that it announced Kobe Bryant has signed on as its official spokesman. Autographed Bryant cards will be included in the Prestige packs. Prestige Basketball is a 250-card set with 150 base cards and 100 rookie cards. SRP is $4 per pack. For more information on Kobe's signing and the Prestige product, visit www.paniniamerica.net.
(Send card questions to Babe Waxpak, PO Box 492397, Redding, CA 96049-2397 or e-mail babewaxpak(at)charter.net. If possible, include card number, year and brand or a photocopy. Please do not send cards. For Babe Waxpak's blog, see www.scrippsnews.com/waxpak. Babe Waxpak is a feature of The Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
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