ShareThisDear Babe: My mother recently passed away and among her things I found an 8 x 10 picture that belonged to my father. It is a black and white of the 1952 Los Angeles Angels. Each player signed their name on the front of their shirts. The players include Chuck Connors, Bob Talbot, Dave Flores and Bob Usher among others. -- B. Hines, Calimesa, Calif.
Not many folks know or remember that before Connors gained fame as "The Rifleman" he was a hot prospect in the Dodgers minor league system. "I suppose Connors would drive the value of this photo given the other names on it, but it is still a nice, complete team piece from the 1950s," said Mike Breeden, an autograph expert and editor of Tuff Stuff's autograph guide. "I'd put the value at $250-$400 based on its age and the fact that it's complete." That said Breeden noted that are photos out there with facsimiles signatures or at least copies of a photo with original signatures. "If it turns out to be a copy, it's a $5 item."
Dear Babe: I have autographs from the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1975-76. It was the year Bob Moose was killed in a car wreck. It is a little notebook that I had each player sign when they came through the terminal before they boarded a TWA flight. Each player's name is on a separate piece of paper. There may be one problem. Bob Moose did sign the notebook, but I think my mom wrote on the page with his signature, adding the month, day, and year that he died. -- Vicki Mathews, Hapeville, Ga.
As you noted, Moose was killed in a car accident soon after the 1976 season, which saw the Pirates finish second to the Phillies in the N. L. East. The big name that should be the book is that of Hall of Famer Willie Stargell along with Bob Oliver, Dave Parker and Moose. I am sure because of his untimely death and the fact that he was part of some very good Pirates teams in the early 1970s, including the 1971 squad that won it all, Moose's signature has some value as well. The book with the signatures is worth $50-$75, said David Kohler, president of www.SCPauctions.com in Mission Viejo, Calif. As long as you can matte Moose's signature without seeing any of your mother's writing, it shouldn't matter. The use of the sig would be to mount it with a photo.
Dear Babe: I have a ticket stub from the 1951 middleweight title rematch between Randy Turpin and Sugar Ray Robinson at the Polo Grounds. It's about the size of a baseball card and in good shape. It is signed on the front by Walt Dropo. -- Mike Paine, Greenville, N.H.
"The stub is only worth around $100. If it were a full ticket it could bring five times as much," said Mike Heffner, president of www.lelands.com auction house in South Dennis, Mass. "Since it is not worth that much to begin with, the signature only takes it down to $50-75."
Dear Babe: I have an autographed hat from a Dan Marino golf tournament in the 1990. Among those who signed the hat are Earl Morrall, Jim Everett, Dan Marino, Bob Griese, Maury Povich, Sgt. Slaughter, Mike Powell, Paul Maguire, Joe Theismann, Walter Payton, Dennis Erickson, Sonny Jurgensen, Ray Floyd, Mike Greenwell, Phil Simms, Connie Chung, Gene Upshaw. -- Jim Coleman, West Palm Beach, Fla.
"This is one of those items that's great to have if you acquired the signatures yourself," said Mike Breeden, an autograph expert and editor of Tuff Stuff's autograph guide. "Its value lies in the reminder of a day once had. On the market, it has little value. It's a hat signed by a bunch of guys who have very little in common. There are far more desirable signed pieces available on each and every one of the names it contains. $100 would be a fair estimate on this piece, but it would be a tough sell."
BABE NOTE: Topps Co-signers Basketball is back with three autographs per hobby box including one Co-Signers autograph. There are also cards featuring the signatures of Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley and O.J. Mayo. One triple autographed card is in every 20-box case. Changing Faces customizable cards allow collectors to interchange players, making up their own combos. For details, 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)
