ShareThisDear Babe: My husband has a book, "The Rhubarb Patch'' that Jackie Robinson signed. There is no dust cover on the book but it is in perfect condition. -- Marcia Howland, Anderson, Calif.
While the 1954 Red Barber book has some value on its own, the prize is the vintage Jackie Robinson signature. Robinson's place in history ensures that just his signature has value. Dust cover or not, it should be worth $600-$800, said Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for Heritage Auctions (www.ha.com) in Dallas.
Dear Babe: About 30 years ago, my wife's grandfather gave my son a circa 1933 signed baseball from the St. Louis Cardinals. The names may be most of the "Gashouse Gang.'' The signatures include Leo Durocher, Dizzy Dean, Daffy Dean, Mike Gonzales, Ray Pormiler, Frankie Frisch, Stu Martin, Joe Medwick, John Mize and a number of other players. Some of the signatures have faded, but can still be read. We have kept the ball in the dark so the signatures won't fade further. -- Denny Shorett, San Bernardino, Calif.
The first order of business is to determine the year of your Cardinals baseball. It looks like "Ray Promiler'' is the key except that I think it's really Roy Parmelee. The pitcher came over from the Giants and was with the Cardinals for just one season -- 1936. That squad finished second in the National league. The ball is probably worth $400-$600, said Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for Heritage Auctions (www.ha.com) in Dallas. Of course, that assumes that Dizzy Dean and Pepper Martin also signed it.
Dear Babe: I have a New York Yankees signed baseball that I believe is from the 1950s. Among the signatures are Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Luis Arroyo, Mel Stottlemyre, Tom Tresh, Whitey Ford, Frank Crosetti, Rollie Sheldon and Steve Whitaker. -- Charlie Sullivan, Danvers, Mass.
This is a tough one because many of the names you supplied don't show up on Yankee rosters. Those that did never played together in the Majors. Stottlemyre didn't arrive until 1964. Steve Whitaker's first year in New York was 1966. Sheldon was there from 1961 through the first part of 1965. Arroyo was with the club from 1960 through 1963. With all the unrecognizable names, I think it might be a spring training ball. 1964 was the last Yankee pennant for 12 years and I was told a ball from that year was worth $1,000. A 1965 ball would be worth less, but with DiMaggio it probably ends up in the same range. I suppose if Whitaker came to spring training in 1963 along with Stottlemyre, it could be from that year as well.
Dear Babe: I have two Masters Golf passes from 1966 -- unbelievable cost was $15 each. -- Pat Dell, Hartwell, Ga.
"I want to say that the 1966 Masters badges are worth around $200 each,'' said Mike Heffner, president of www.lelands.com auction house in South Dennis, Mass. It certainly helps that Jack Nicklaus won that year to become the first player to win back-to-back titles. He finished in a three-way tie with Tommy Jacobs and Hay Brewer at even par 288. The following day Nicklaus carded a two under par 70 to win. Jacobs came in at 72 and Brewer ballooned to 78.
Dear Babe: I have a baseball issued to guests and signed by Hank Aaron at a Feb. 5, 1999, black tie dinner gala, celebrating his 65th birthday and launching the 25th anniversary of No. 715. The ball was made by "Fotoball'' and imported from China. Is it any more valuable than a signed game ball? -- Carl DeMarco, Atlanta
Henry Aaron signed items, especially those having to do with home run number 715 have special significance for collectors, especially in the Atlanta area. A Fotoball signed by Aaron is worth around $125, said Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for Heritage Auctions (www.ha.com) in Dallas. An official baseball signed by Aaron goes for around $200, Gutierrez said.
(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)
