Ask Babe: More questions for the Babe

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Dear Babe: I was at the car wash in Fullerton, maybe 20 or so years ago, and guess who was there? I actually got Sandy Koufax to sign a ball for me. It was a cheap Little League baseball that I had in the trunk. -- Tom Brandt, Hemet, Calif.Dear Babe: I have a single-signed Sandy Koufax Rawlings National League ball (Charles Feeney president) that has been authenticated by James Spence. He estimated that it was autographed between 1984 and 1986. There are many balls autographed by Koufax available, but they all appear to be "brand new'' and recently produced while mine is more than 20 years old and shows a little yellowing (because of age). Are those event-produced balls more or less valuable than mine? -- Paul Yetman, Smyrna, Ga."While Koufax's signature on an official National League ball would go for around $200, his signature on a Little League ball is worth around $50-$65,'' said Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for Heritage Auctions (www.ha.com) in Dallas. Since you got the signature in person, there's not much doubt about its authenticity. However, Gutierrez said the signature didn't look like any Koufax autograph he's seen. That might make it a little difficult to sell if you decide to go that route down the road.As for the other baseball, having Spence's authentication puts it above others. Collectors trust JSA, PSA, Upper Deck Authenticated, Steiner Sports and Tri-Star Productions. They're willing to pay a premium for items authenticated by those sellers. I'd say the Spence authentication could raise the value of your baseball by as much as double that $200 value.Dear Babe: My daughter has a 1982 UNC basketball signed by 14 players including Michael Jordan and James Worthy. It has not been authenticated but was bought at a fundraiser in 1982 by her father-in-law. -- Kay Ashton, Gastonia, NCOf course, 1982 was the year the basketball world saw the first glimpse of Michael Jordan's greatness. A freshman, Jordan hit a jumper with 15 seconds left to give North Carolina a 63-62 victory over Georgetown and the NCAA basketball title before 61,612 in the New Orleans Superdome. After Jordan's clutch shot, the Hoyas still had a chance, but guard Fred Brown mistakenly threw the ball to Worthy in the final seconds and Dean Smith finally had a title after 21 years. Smith's teams had reached the Final Four on six previous occasions, losing three times in the finals in the three of the six previous seasons, including a loss to Indiana in the 1981 title game. "The basketball is a good item,'' said Mike Heffner, president of www.lelands.com auction house in South Dennis, Mass. "Jordan gives it all the value. It is worth $3,000 to $4,000 if it's in nice condition."BABE NOTE: Fans in London and Toronto will have a chance to pick up special six-card promo sets from Donruss, featuring players from the teams involved in games in those cities. The New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers go at it Oct. 26 in Wembley Stadium, while the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins square off in Toronto on Dec. 7. The London set includes Reggie Bush, Drew Brees and Sedrick Ellis of the Saints and LaDainian Tomlinson, Shawne Merriman and Antoine Cason of the Chargers. The Toronto set features Buffalo's Marshawn Lynch, Lee Evans and James Hardy along with Miami's Ted Ginn Jr. Chad Henne and Ronnie Brown. (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)