ShareThisDear Babe: Last summer I bought a paperbound baseball rule book titled "1877 Constitution And Playing Rules of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs,'' published in Chicago by A.G. Spalding. -- Tom Pohrt, Ann Arbor, Mich.
"This looks real,'' said Robert Lifson, president of www.RobertEdwardsAuctions.com in New Jersey, after looking at images you sent. "There are a few reproductions of 1870s Playing Rules constitutions but these are pretty easy to tell from originals. They were published to serve as reference works for historians and not to fool collectors. The historical value of this rulebook may be a lot greater than its monetary value. In the eyes of most collectors, this is an item worth $500 plus or minus a couple of hundred dollars based on condition.
"It is because these books have such great value to scholars that anyone has gone to the trouble of reproducing them at all. There aren't enough real ones to satisfy demand and researchers are not necessarily interested in owning them, only having access to the information and reading them, so reprints are a great solution. Excessive handling of originals can also cause damage, so even collectors with originals sometimes like a reprint for viewing. The image you have sent looks real and would be highly prized by nineteenth-century baseball collectors."
Dear Babe: I have a picture of the 1960 World Series between the N.Y. Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates from Game 7. It's of the Series-winning home run by Bill Mazeroski off Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry. The picture shows the ball in flight and is autographed by Mazeroski, Gil McDougald (playing third base) and Yogi Berra (playing left field). Art Ditmar is included in the picture warming up in the bullpen and Johnny Blanchard is shown catching but neither autographed the picture. -- Bob Cline, Lawrenceville, Ga.
While it has two Yankees signatures, this is something only a Pirates fan could enjoy. "The signed photo of the 1960 World Series is not a big deal,'' said Mike Heffner, president of www.lelands.com auction house in South Dennis, Mass. "Those guys are fairly easy signatures to obtain. The value is around $100."
Dear Babe: I have a NFL Chicago Bears football with stamped signatures that is most likely from the late 1960s -- 1967 or 1969. It is in excellent condition. Some of players whose names are on the ball include Gale Sayers, Brian Piccolo, Bobby Douglass and Dick Butkus. Scott Minard, Sugar Hill, Ga.
It looks like it is a ball from the 1969 team. That was Piccolo's last season and Douglass' first. Unfortunately, a ball with preprinted signatures has virtually no value, said Bobby Mintz, vice president of operations for Houston-based www.TristarProductions.com. Piccolo's losing battle with cancer and his friendship with Sayers might add up to making the ball a conversation piece. A ball with authentic signatures for that team would be worth around $500, Mintz said.
Dear Babe: While doing some intense cleaning recently, I came across an old photograph of Bernie Kosar when he was with the Cleveland Browns. Of course, this photo would mean much more if I could get him to sign it for me. How do I go about finding an address to send it to him (including self addressed stamped envelope for return) to get him to sign it for me? -- V. Bell, McDonough, Ga.
If you're looking for athletes' addresses, Tom Talbot is a good person to check with. Talbot, who writes for Tuff Stuff's Sports Collectors Monthly has contact info at www.autographchaser.com. Sending the self-addressed stamped envelope along with a nice note is a good strategy.
BABE NOTE: Cards for Evan Longoria, the unanimous choice as the A.L. Rookie of the Year for 2008, abound. Topps Heritage Updates and Highlights, Bowman Rookies and Prospects, Upper Deck's SP Authentic Baseball and Upper Deck Ultimate Collection all include Longoria rookie cards. For more information visit www.topps.com and www.upperdeck.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)
