Ask Babe: More questions for the Babe

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Dear Babe: I just returned from New York and was able to see the Yankees play one last time in the old stadium. With so much being sold out there, what is something or things that would really be good to buy and collect representing the old stadium -- Something I can hand down to my son? -- Chris Quadagno, Newnan, Ga.Even if Da Babe did give advice on buying and selling, he wouldn't want to touch this one. It's all a matter of personal taste, what you can display and what you can afford. I just heard some TV baseball announcers talking about legendary Detroit Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell and what he wanted from the old Tigers Stadium -- the urinal from the runway to the visitors' clubhouse, because it has been used by so many great players. It supposedly ended up as a flowerbed in his wife's garden. The most obvious choice for many is one of the seats, but in this day and age of collecting, I am sure the Yankees will leave no stone unturned when it comes to finding things to peddle. Dear Babe: I have two Reggie Jackson cards from the "Find the Reggie'' autographs promotion. He is with the Angels on one card and the Oakland A's on the other. -- S. Wright, Riverside, Calif.The cards Jackson signed as part of this promotion in 1990 are considered the first autographed inserts for mainstream products. Jackson was the first player Upper Deck inserted as one if its "Heroes.'' The cards went into high-number packs."Baseball Heroes'' spanned several years and was duplicated in UD's football, basketball and hockey products. There were 10 cards to each insert set -- nine with numbers plus and an unnumbered header card. Since Jackson was first in line, his cards are numbered 1-9. You have Nos. 5 and 8. Beckett's Almanac of Baseball Cards lists numbered cards at $1.50 and the header at $3 with a set booking at $15. The Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards from the editors of Sports Collectors Digest lists all cards at 50 cents each with a set at $3. In this day and age of Internet sales, methinks the lower values are more in line with today's market place. The guides list the signed cards at $100-$150. Dear Babe: I have a Mickey Mantle Upper Deck Golden Years card and another Upper Deck Mantle card that is metal with a brass border. -- Erika Randolph, Grand Island, Neb.The Golden Years Mantle card in an insert from the 2000 Upper Deck Yankees Legends set. Beckett lists it at $10, while The Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards from the editors of Sports Collectors Digest has it at $7.50. The other card is a Metallic Impression card that was part of an eight-card set issued in a collector tin in 1995. The two guides have it at $3. Dear Babe: I was born and raised in Brooklyn. In my teen-age years I was fortunate to meet Gil Hodges. He autographed the back of my business identification card. It is still in perfect condition. -- Mary Ann Mitchell, Kennesaw, Ga.Hodges, one of the Dodgers' "Boys of Summer'' and the manager of the 1969 Miracle Mets died of a heart attack on April 2, 1972 just two days shy of his 48th birthday. That was long before the autograph craze hit, so Hodges signature is very much in demand. A "cut'' signature from, Hodges is worth $125-$150, said Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for Heritage Auctions (www.ha.com) in Dallas.Dear Babe: I was given two neon lights from a bar that closed down. One is a Budweiser 1998 Atlanta Olympics sign that is about 3 feet by 3 feet. The other is a Miller Lite sign for the 1994 Super Bowl XXVIII in Atlanta. It is also 3-x-3. Both are in working order. -- Ron Plumlee, Dahlonega, Ga.It looks like the signs, because of their size, are worth $100-$200 each, said Brian Marren, vice president of acquisitions for www.MastroAuctions.com auctions in Chicago. Methinks the Super Bowl sign is probably going to attract a lot more interest that the one for the Olympics.(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)