ShareThisDear Babe: About three years ago, my son gave me a Rawlings baseball signed David "Big Papi'' Ortiz, of the Red Sox. -- Jim Carboni, Nashua, N.H.
Big Papi spent a lot of the 2008 season on the bench because of injuries and that will hurt the value of his items if he doesn't make a big comeback in 2009. It's doubtful we're looking at a future Hall of Famer here, but values are still high. That's just the way things are with modern-day sluggers. Beckett's Sports Card Monthly lists Ortiz baseballs in the $75-$100 range, while Tuff Stuff says they are worth $135. For the record I should note that Upper Deck Authenticated has an Ortiz ball inscribed "Yankee Killer'' for sale at $499. That's because UDA, along with Steiner and Tri-Star Productions have solid reputations for selling authentic items. Many are willing to pay extra for that peace of mind that comes with knowing the signature will stand up to scrutiny.
Dear Babe: I have three photos taken around 1926-27 at spring training camp in or around St. Petersburg, Fla. The first one shows Babe Ruth holding my infant father. The second one is Wait Hoyt holding my father and the third shows Lou Gehrig holding my father. They are all in uniform. The photos are 2-3/4-x-4-1/2. -- Linda Mars, Pittsburgh, Pa.
"They are not worth a ton unless they are signed,'' said Mike Heffner, president of www.lelands.com auction house in South Dennis, Mass. Also, the size of the photographs lessens their value. The fact that the players are in uniform is a plus. The Ruth and Gehrig could be $200 each while the Hoyt would not even get to $100, said Heffner.
Dear Babe: I have a framed 1958 Sport magazine with pictures of Ted Williams and Stan Musial and their autographs on the cover. -- Jim Biles, Fayetteville, Georgia
A nice item signed by a couple of Hall of Famers with Williams the big attraction. The signed magazine is worth around $150, said Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for Heritage Auctions (www.ha.com) in Dallas.
Dear Babe: I have an 8-x-10 photo of Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, President Gerald Ford and Bowie Kuhn in the background. Each has player is in uniform. It is signed by Aaron. I assume it was taken at an All Star game. -- Marv Vaughn, Marietta, Ga.
The fact that there are others in the photo diminishes the value of this Aaron item. "I would say only $50 or so,'' said David Kohler, president of www.SCPauctions.com in Mission Viejo, Calif. Tuff Stuff lists a signed photo of just Aaron at $125. That might be a little on low side these days.
Dear Babe: I have a program from the eighth annual Social Super Bowl at the Imperial Ballroom in the Americana Hotel in New York signed by George Halas, Pete Rozelle, Charlie Conerly, Lenny Moore, Don Shula, Andy Robustelli, Rocky Bleier, Terry Metcalf, Leroy Neiman and a few others. -- Nick Nappi, Newnan, Ga.
"The Social Super Bowl signed program is worth $200 to $250,'' said Mike Heffner, president of www.lelands.com auction house in South Dennis, Mass.
BABE NOTE: Jeff Ellis, who has been a source for Da Babe in the past, has just released "The Clubmaker's Art: Antique Golf Clubs And Their History; Second Edition Revised And Expanded.'' The massive two-volume set examines more than 850 of the most valuable, historic, and creative antique clubs ever crafted. There are more than 1250 full-color pictures. The two-volume set is $275 (plus $20 shipping) with slipcase and money back guarantee. The set only can be ordered directly from the publisher online at www.clubmakersart.com or by calling 1·360-675-4353.
(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)
