ShareThisBy BABE WAXPAK
Scripps Howard News Service
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Dear Babe: I purchased the hockey stick Mark Messier used to score his 600th goal. It's a Louisville stick signed on the blade. It came with a Certificate of Authenticity from Steiner. From your experience, when is the best time to sell something associated with a significant event of a sports celebrity? When that person goes into the Hall of Fame or when they pass away? I know in both instances there is a significant boost in interest surrounding the celebrity. _ Wilford Wrightson III, Atlanta
"That's a good one if he can prove it,'' said Mike Heffner, president of www.lelands.com auction house in New York. Of course that Steiner COA goes a long way toward that end. "He might want to find a photo or video from the game and compare his stick to the one that was used,'' Heffner added. The stick could be worth as much as $5,000.
Messier turned on the goal light for No. 600 on Oct. 23, 1999, as a Vancouver Canuck in a 5-0 win over the Florida Panthers. Da Babe doesn't give advice on buying and selling. I can say that in this day and age with a sure-fire Hall of Famer, values for Messier items won't change much when he gets the call. He's only 46, so one has to assume he'll be around for many years. That means the amount of signed items is going to continue to increase. Today when a former athlete dies, there's usually a small spike in values (unless the death comes unrepentantly at a younger age) and then values settle back down. Of course, you never know what the marketplace will look like 10, 20 or 40 years from now.
Dear Babe: My wife's mother moved in with us several years ago. During the move, I noticed her husband's book from middle school (PS161 in Brooklyn). While flipping through the pages I found a signature of Babe Ruth (photocopies attached). _ Wiley Betts, Chapel Hill, N.C.
A quick look at the photocopy you sent resulted in the same answer from three experts: Ruth didn't sign the book. That doesn't mean the result might not change if an authenticator took a look at it in person. If it were authentic, the signature would be worth $3,000-$5,000
Dear Babe: While outfitting my golf bag with clubs my father once used, I was getting the clubs re-gripped when one of the gentlemen present asked if I was using these particular wood drivers, because they might be valuable. There is a Johnny Miller 2100 Wilson 5 wood, a Johnny Miller 2100 3 wood and a Cleveland classic 10th anniversary #1 wood. Please let me know if I should shelve the drivers or hit away. _ Steve Ariano, Hemet, Calif.
As is usually the case with clubs produced after the 1920s, these have little value. "The Millers will never be valuable, the Cleveland 10th could be worth $50-75 if it's in mint condition, said Bill Nelson, a long-time collector and golf shop owner in the Chicago area.
Dear Babe: I have 27 autographed baseballs. The prize is one signed by Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams. _ Todd Brooks, Savannah, Ga.
That's a nice ball, featuring three of baseball's all-time greats. Assuming the signatures are authentic, it should be worth $700-$1,000, said Brian Marren, vice president of acquisitions for www.MastroAuctions.com auctions in Chicago and David Kohler, president of www.SCPauctions.com in Mission Viejo, Calif.
Dear Babe: I have an autograph of Jesse Owens (actually two) on a photo print when he was a spokesman for Lincoln-Mercury and was on their sports panel. There is one signature on the front of this promotional photo and one on the back. I've had this item in my possession for about 40 years. I actually found it in the street when I was living in Brooklyn. As you can see from the attached scans, the photo is somewhat tattered but the signature is almost entirely intact. The back of the photo has a much better signature than the front. _ Sol Neuman, Cumming, Ga.
Recently a couple of other readers wrote in with questions about Owens' signature. We ended up with a range of $100-$200 for a cut signature and an autograph on an item similar to yours. However, as you noted, your picture is in pretty poor shape. I doubt the signature on the photo is worth much. Assuming the autograph on the back is real, it probably will be worth $100 at best if it could be framed and matted with a nice photo of the 1936 Olympic champion. It's hard to pin down a value because it is impossible to determine condition from a photo or image.
(Send card questions to Babe Waxpak in care of this newspaper, PO Box 492397, Redding, CA 96049-2397 or e-mail babewaxpak(at)redding.com. If possible, include card number, year and brand or a photocopy. Please do not send cards. Babe Waxpak is a feature of The Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif.)
