ShareThisDear Babe: I met and talked with Gene Conley. I have a book, baseball and basketball signed by him. -- Joe Keesling, Clermont, Fla.
Conley was one of the few true two-sport professional stars. He's the only athlete to play on a World Series champion (1957 Braves) and an NBA title team (the Celtics for three-straight seasons from 1958 through 1961). He also managed to pick up the win in the 1954 All-Star game. He pitched for 11 years in the Majors and six in the NBA.
However, he's not a high-profile star who collectors covet. The signed balls are probably worth "$35 for the baseball and $75 for the basketball,'' said Mike Heffner, president of www.lelands.com auction house in South Dennis, Mass. The book, "One of a Kind'' is in that range, probably more toward the lower end.
Dear Babe: I have a friend who has a Yankee Stadium park souvenir baseball with preprinted stamped signatures. It is probably from the early 1960s. It has Ralph Houck and Mantle on the sweet spot with 20 or so other facsimile team autographs on the panels including Yogi Berra, Roger Maris, Bobby Richardson and Frankie Crosetti. -- Jack P., Laconia, N.H.
Generally these souvenir baseballs have little, if any, value. However, if Mantle and Houk are on the sweet spot, I would guess that Houk was the manager. If Berra was on the squad as a player, then it's from 1961 through 1963. Of course, 1961 was a magical year with Maris hitting 61 homers. Someone might pay $5-$15 for a ball from that year.
Dear Babe: I have a 1980 #1 Georgia Bulldogs knife with a picture of the mascot on it. It's a Ranger three-blade black ultra-honed pocket knife. -- Alona Shepperd, Buchanan, Ga.
"1980 was a big year for the Dawgs and a big year for Georgia Bulldog collectibles,'' said Dean Zindler of Zindler's Sports Collectibles in Norcross, Ga. "Coins, cups, shirts, mugs, beverages, photos, posters, food products and yes even commemorative knives were issued after they won the football national championship. Your item is worth $20."
Dear Babe: I have a 1995 World Series program signed by WS MVP, Tom Glavine. It's in superb condition. What would this be worth, especially after he goes to the Hall of Fame? -- Skot Darnell, Marietta, Ga.
With so much focus on cards, memorabilia and signatures, I don't think you'll see much of an increase in value for Glavine items when he marches into the Hall of Fame. Everyone knows that's where he's going to end up. His items, along with those of most other HOF locks, will have reached their high peaks long before the big day in Cooperstown. There might be a little bump when he's voted in until right after his enshrinement, but that will be driven by mainstream folks jumping on the bandwagon. That said, the signed program is probably worth around $100, said David Kohler, president of www.SCPauctions.com in Mission Viejo, Calif.
BABE NOTE: Topps Stadium Club baseball 2008 features an autographed card in every hobby pack and comes with a $25 SRP. Twelve-pack hobby boxes should have six rookie autographed cards. There are also relic cards featuring 15 Yankees and visiting players along with Yankee Stadium wall or dugout bench relics numbered to 299. There are also 10 Ceremonial Cuts cards that include pieces of bunting that has decorated the stadium over the years. For more information 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)
