Ask Babe: More questions for the Babe

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Dear Babe: I have an autographed baseball from the Pittsburgh Pirates that was given to me by my father around 1963. He knew a lot of these guys through business relationships as a steel salesman in Pennsylvania. The signatures are deteriorating to some extent but most are still readable. Roberto Clemente, Elroy Face, Dick Groat, Dick Stuart, Bill Mazeroski are easy to read along with quite a few more. -- Patrick Mawhinney, Duluth, Ga.Based on all the names you supplied, the ball is probably from 1960 or '61. There's a big difference in value for these two years. A ball from the 1960 team that rode Bill Mazeroski's dramatic Game 7 ninth-inning walk-off homer to win the World Series over the Yankees is worth $2,000-$4,000, said Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for Heritage Auctions (www.ha.com) in Dallas. A ball from 1961 is worth just $750-$1,250. Danny Kravitz, Dick Barone, Harry Bright, R.C. Stevens, Diomedes Olivo were on that Series-winning 1960 team, but weren't on the roster in 1961.You need to look for those names to help date the ball. Naturally, if you have a baseball with deteriorating signatures, the value is going to drop toward the low end of the estimates at best.Dear Babe: In 1959, I was a senior at Washington Union High School in Fremont, Calif. I was the school photographer. Our head football coach was Bill Walsh. I took a photo of Walsh and the other varsity coaches with a 4-x-5 Crown Graphic camera. He signed my yearbook, "Coach Walsh'' next to my photo. -- Robert Kelly, Hemet, Calif.The picture has sentimental value for you, but the fact that the yearbook is signed "Coach Walsh'' next to the photo is the key. Even though there is no first name, the vintage signature is worth $100-$200, said Brian Marren, vice president of acquisitions for www.MastroAuctions.com auctions in Chicago. Dear Babe: I have a Mickey Mantle autographed baseball and an 8-x-10 autographed Mickey Mantle picture. I bought these from QVC when Mick would come on and talk baseball. Could you tell me what they might be worth? I will never part with these because Mick was my hero. -- David W., Lynn Haven, Fla.The simple answer is that Tuff Stuff lists a baseball signed by Mantle at $750 and an 8-x-10 signed by Mantle at $405. If Mantle was actually on the show, then the material should be authentic. In later years, some of the stuff produced by the forgers who were nabbed in the FBI's "Operation Bullpen'' investigation reportedly ended up on TV shopping channels.BABE NOTE: Variety is supposedly the spice of life. If that's the case, then the 2008 version of Allen & Ginter from Topps should definitely add zest. This year's retro set has plenty of baseball stars, but that's not what makes it unique. Right next to Derek Jeter and Josh Hamilton collectors can also find cards featuring world leaders, historical figures such as Albert Einstein, Olympic champions like Matt Biondi and even the monster truck Big Foot."The quirkiness of the product is what makes it so special,'' said Clay Luraschi, director of Topps product development. "The original Allen & Ginter sets featured so many different themes and subjects that it opens up a huge door to creativity for its modern day Topps counterpart. It's a very enjoyable to set to work on.''For more information on the product, visit www.topps.com.(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)