ShareThisDear Babe: In the late 1990s, the NHL All-Star game was held in Boston. I have a puck signed by Gordie Howe and Bobby Orr. -- David Merrill, Hudson, N.H.
Who'd have thunk it? Mr. Hockey himself, Gordie Howe detracting from the value.
"In my view, the Howe signature does devalue the Orr puck, but it's still a piece signed by two of the best ever,'' said Mike Breeden, an autograph expert and editor of Tuff Stuff's autograph guide. "It's also a classic example of the maxim 'the total is not equal to the sum of its parts.' I'd put this piece in the $150-$200 range with the stipulation that many collectors would pass on it simply because Howe has no connection to the Bruins."
Mike Heffner, president of www.lelands.com auction house in South Dennis, Mass., agreed.
"Sad to say, but some would rather have a single-signed puck from just Bobby Orr. He signs less than Howe and is worth more as a signature,'' Heffner said. "The puck signed by both is worth around $200, just about the same value as a puck signed by Orr alone."
Dear Babe: I have a print of Gale Sayers. It is 8-x-10 and in a plastic cover. The cover is signed by Sayers. -- Tom Jarrett, Redding, Calif.
Without seeing an image of the print and signature, it's really hard to get a feel for what you have. However, if the signature is on a plastic sleeve and not the print itself, then it is really just a "cut.'' However, even a signed print or photo of Sayers is not extremely valuable. He has been alive and signing all through the autograph boom of the past two decades. Tuff Stuff's Sports Collectors Monthly lists a Sayers cut at $7 and a signed photo at $25. With those values, it doesn't pay to have the signature authenticated. Your best bet is to compare your signature with some authenticated ones.
Dear Babe: I have a set of 10 Madden 7-11 NFL 2008 trading cards. The cards are in near mint condition. -- Gary Moore, Westover, Ala.
Donruss took a couple of stabs at creating cards with "screen grabs'' of NFL stars from Madden NFL 09. The first set of Rookie Draft cards features players in their pro uniforms for the first time. The cards were a bonus for folks who ordered the game early. That set includes Jake Long, Chris Long, Matt Ryan, Darren McFadden, Glenn Dorsey, Jonathan Stewart, Felix Jones, Rashard Mendenhall, Chris Johnson and Lawrence Jackson. That was followed by your 10-card set that was available when fans purchased a Slurpee or Big Gulp at Seven-11 stores. Customers were supposed to receive a card with each purchase. It includes Tony Romo, Peyton Manning, Vince Young, LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson, Ben Roethlisberger, Darren McFadden, Matt Ryan, Maurice Jones-Drew and Matt Hasselbeck. These cards are readily available and have been selling on eBay for 99 cents plus S&H since they came out months ago. That puts a set in the $3-$5 range. While they are cards of NFL stars, they don't have photos on them. In the long run, the cards will probably appeal most to collectors who focus on a player or team.
Dear Babe: I have an 8-x-10 black and white team picture of the 1960 New York Yankees that says "A.L. Champs.'' The players' names are in type at the bottom. It has no signatures. -- Ron Hermann, Riverside, Calif.
"If the Yankee photo was printed in 1960 (not some later copy), it is worth around $75,'' said Mike Heffner, president of www.lelands.com auction house in South Dennis, Mass.
Dear Babe: I have a felt pennant from the Bell South Classic Duluth, Ga. We managed only one autograph. Payne Stewart signed it with a black Sharpie. He died later that year. It is 20 inches in length and has both the Bell South and TPC logos on it. Do you know a good way to clean felt? It shows some stains. -- Brian Donaldson, Duluth, GA.
The consensus is that you should not try to clean the pennant. "Cleaning fabric when there is a signature on it is a no-no. Even if you clean a section that is away from the signature, there is a chance that the cleaning solution will be absorbed into the fabric and adversely affect the signature,'' said Heffner. "Cleaning it would run the risk of ruining the signature.''
''If the signature is in the affected area, I think I'd leave well enough alone,'' said Breeden. David Kohler, president of www.SCPauctions.com in Laguna Niguel, Calif., agreed. The trio put the signed pennant in the $100-$200 range.
(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)
