So I'm cleaning out parts of the house in anticipation of our first child (due date June 6th) and I come across an autographed baseball that I received as a gift when I was a kid. Over the years it got stuck in a box, though fortunately it was protected by being in a plastic display holder. It appears to be signed by all or most of a Brewer's team from the 1980's, with autographs from Paul Molitor, Robin Yount, Cecil Cooper, etc. The odd thing is I can't tell whether the autographs are real signatures or stamped on.

My question then is how can I find out for sure? The ball doesn't have much sentimental value to me, because I've long forgotten who gave it to me as a gift, and I'm not really a baseball fan anymore. I do still have a fond appreciation for those Brewer's teams of the 1980's, but a person can only keep so much stuff, and quite frankly, the amount of Packers stuff I have is overflowing so I have to draw the line somewhere.

Anyone have suggestions on where I could take it to see if the autographs are real and whether the ball is worth anything? I'm located in Lake County, IL, so places in both the Milwaukee and Chicago areas would be alright.

If I had to take a guess, I'd say the signatures are stamped, but in looking at each one on the ball I can't seem to convince myself of that. So I'd rather not give it to the kid nextdoor for batting practice if there's a chance it might be worth something. Even it they're stamped, is it worth trying to sell it on ebay or something, or would that mean that the ball is essentially worthless?

Thanks for any insight.

Brian

I have something similar and on mine the autographs are stamped on. Look on yours and see if Dwight Bernard and Marshall Edwards signatures are right next to one another. Over the seam under Edwards signature the next two will be Rob Piccialo and Mike Caldwell. If your ball has those same four signatures in that order then it's the same issue as mine and you could confirm that the signatures were indeed stamped on.

Yep, that's it! Thanks PackerJoe.

Do you know if the ball is worth anything other than a game of catch in the backyard?

quote:

Originally posted by official#1fan:
Yep, that's it! Thanks PackerJoe.

Do you know if the ball is worth anything other than a game of catch in the backyard?

I have no idea if it's worth anything. My guess is that it is probably worthless.

I was really shocked when I read your post. I'm not big on sports memorabilia at all, but I got this ball as a kid and for some reason I still have it. Actually, I wasn't 100% sure that I even had it anymore. But I quicked looked in one box in a closet and there it was. I still have it in the same plastic shell that you still have as well. It orignially came with a cheap little blue plastic display holder with a label on it saying something like "1982 Milwaukee Brewers", the ball/plastic case would rest on top of this holder so you could display it on a shelf. It was originally sold in a die-cast cardboard box.

Yup, sounds like exactly the same thing I've got. Thanks for replying PackerJoe...maybe somebody else will post if they know if it has any value or not.

From a quick ebay search, it appears that stamped team-autographed baseballs like this run in the $10-$25 range. Maybe I'll post about it in the Brewer forum and see if anyone is interested.

The sentimental value is worth more than whatever money you could get for it.

quote:

Originally posted by Tooner:
The sentimental value is worth more than whatever money you could get for it.

Yeah, it's just that I don't have much attachment to it but yet don't want to throw it out.

quote:

Originally posted by Tooner:
The sentimental value is worth more than whatever money you could get for it.

I would think that for anybody who clips 25cent coupons $25.00 is a lot.

quote:

Originally posted by ammo:

quote:

Originally posted by Tooner:
The sentimental value is worth more than whatever money you could get for it.

I would that for anybody who clips 25cent coupons $25.00 is a lot.

Read this:

http://timesfour.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/938109321/m/568...581049682#1581049682

Understand now?

quote:

Originally posted by ammo:
Read this:

http://timesfour.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/938109321/m/568...581049682#1581049682

Understand now?

Ah, gotcha, I just missed the inside joke.

Would you want to attempt a sale or a trade towards some type of Packers collectibile at a flea market/sports memorabilia show? Maybe a card shop?

I got a Sally Palantonio autographed football. What's it worth?