ShareThisDear Babe: I just came across a 1946-47 NY Giants autographed baseball (I've verified 12 of the 14 signatures), and the only anomaly was Cid Gordon, spelled with a "C.'' I know zero about sports, but I've had the ball for about 38 years. My mother was a waitress in an upscale restaurant in Boston during the 1940s and 1950s that the Red Sox liked to frequent. The signatures include Johnny Mize, Travis Jackson, Dave Koslo, Clint Hartung, Walker Cooper, Buddy Kerr, Cid Gordon, Willard Marshall, Bob Thomson, Whitey Lockman, Red Kress, Jack Lohrke and two others I can't make out. When I started using Google to check names, I discovered it was a N.Y Giants autographed baseball. My wife was quick to get involved, so, as we looked up each player, we made note of how many years they were in New York We think it is from either 1946 or 47, because Kress played in 1946 only and Hartung started in 1947. -- Paul Borsari, Brewster, Mass.
For not knowing anything, you did a pretty good job of tracking the down the year. It's always nice when readers to all that hard work. The zinger is that while Kress played just one year in the Major Leagues -- 1946 -- after missing several years because of World War II, he stayed on to coach for the Giants from 1947-49. Jackson, a Hall-of-Famer in his Giants playing days, also came back to coach in 1947-48. Every name you listed was on the team in 1947 and '48, both years. Those were not great seasons for the Giants. Even though the ball has two HOFers -- Jackson and Mize -- it only has 14 signatures. Normally, it might be worth just $75-$100, said Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for Heritage Auctions (www.ha.com) in Dallas.
However, I noticed in the images you sent, that Jackson's signature is alone on a side panel. Since the ball can almost be displayed as a single-signed Jackson ball, it might be worth as much as $200 to the right buyer. Interestingly while you don't have a full team and it is from 1947 or '48, you've got all the Giants involved when Thomson hit the "Shot Heard Round the World'' to beat the Dodgers in the 1951 playoffs. Lockman and Hartung were on base.
As for Gordon, his signature is a mystery. It appears that it only show up as "Cid'' in those later years with the Giants. There's a1947 Bond Bread card with a facsimile signature signed the same way. A number of baseballs offered for sale from that period also sport "Cid'' Gordon signatures. A quick check with a number of my autograph sources failed to come up with an answer. "His first name was Sidney. I don't know anything about him spelling his name 'Cid,''' said Robert Lifson, president of www.RobertEdwardsAuctions.com in New Jersey. "Maybe someone secretarially signed his name and misspelled it, but I can't imagine that he ever signed it anything but 'Sid' or 'Sidney.'"
Dear Babe: I have a 1983 Braves team baseball signed by Joe Torre, Dale Murphy, Bob Watson, Chris Chambliss, Claudell Washington and Len Barker to name a few. Randy Johnson has also appeared to sign it also. Was he a Brave in '83? -- Craig Williamson, Braselton, Ga.
That's Randy Johnson, but not THE Randy Johnson. That Johnson was a second baseman who was in the majors from 1981-84. This is definitely is an item of regional interest. "Key signatures to look for on the baseball are Dale Murphy (an MVP year), Brett Butler and Phil Niekro. If your baseball is in excellent condition and contains at least 20 signatures it is worth $150,'' said Dean Zindler of Zindler's Sports Collectibles in Norcross, Ga. On other side of the coin, Mike Gutierrez, consignment director for Heritage Auctions (www.ha.com) in Dallas, looking at the ball from a national standpoint said it might be worth $75-$100 and would be a tough sell at that.
BABE NOTE: "Collecting Sports Legends -- The Ultimate Hobby Guide'' by Joe Orlando, president of PSA and PSA/DNA who also serves as the editor-in-chief of the "Sports Market Report,'' is an impressive mix that focuses on the top memorabilia tied to top stars in a multitude of sports. The glossy, 376-page coffee table-size book features more than 500 vivid photographs of athletes including Babe Ruth, Maurice Richard, Wilt Chamberlain, Tiger Woods and Jim Thorpe. It covers vintage to modern hobby collectibles. There's a section with autograph exemplars of some of the greatest athletes of all time. The book also offers tips on starting or building collections of trading cards, autographs, game-used baseball bats, historic game tickets and unopened packs. The suggested retail price is $34.95 but shipping and handling on this heavy tome could be a killer. Amazon.com had it for $25.51 with free shipping.
(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)
