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Baseball Condition

I ran across a nice baseball but the only thing about it is that there is a nail or screw hole on the label. You have the sig on the sweet spot and on the opposite side there is a hole. The seller states it was from mounting the ball?? whatever that means, it really doesnt matter why.

My question is even though the hole is in the ball, you cannot see it when the ball is displayed. How do imperfections such as this affect value and quality?

What have you all experienced over the years when things like this come up?

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Erich Jerozal on December 26, 2013 at 5:33pm

Just for example right now Mo Rivera is running from 150 to 350 for a baseball. I`ve been looking and waiting.. I found a mis described Steiner Rivera baseball for 75 bucks. I think that was a hell of a deal. Deals can be found....sometimes its just patience.

I guarantee you`ll be able to find a Joe D for a good price. Check out Mill Creeksports they may work with you a little and they have tons of Joe D sigs.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on December 26, 2013 at 6:42pm

Erich is right. Be patient.

I have purchased several Mantle sigs for under $200.00 and some awesome Jeter sigs (rookie autographs) for under $170.00.

Mr. Zipper will confirm that sometimes I have the luckiest timing.

Deals are out there at one time or another.

Sometimes it's just luck.

My luck ran out a bit recently. I spotted two signed baseballs (one auction). One of Joe D. and one of Ted W. Gorgeous autographs. The "Buy It Now" was $330.00. By the time I clicked it, someone else beat me to it.

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on December 26, 2013 at 7:11pm

Funny!!!

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Permalink Reply by Null on December 26, 2013 at 7:15pm

I have gotten several Mantle autos for less than $100. Gotta have the eye and snag them immediately! :)

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Permalink Reply by Rich on December 26, 2013 at 7:34pm

While I'm not a Mantle fan or collector at all, Chris and Ryan bring up a good point in that knowing a signature especially well can pay big dividends. You can get steals that others might back away from just by knowing your stuff better than the majority.

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Permalink Reply by Tyler Johnson on December 27, 2013 at 9:25am

What would a joe d HOf 55 inscription with cert high grade ball go for fuddalicious?

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Permalink Reply by Fuddjcal on December 27, 2013 at 11:06am

don't really know, I don't own one. I would pay $380-450. Maybe why I don't own one. I don't like many of the ones out there with the inscriptions. Especially on the Budig balls...

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on December 27, 2013 at 11:48am

I have seen these a few times before. It is from a prior shadowbox mounting where the ball was literally screwed onto the back of the shadowbox.

So, obviously value is going to take a hit, but how much?

In my view, the impact of defects is directly proportional to the supply. For someone like DiMaggio who participated in commercial signings and mass quantities of nearly pristine balls are available, a defect this severe is going to decimate value. I don't think I'd pay more than $100 for it. Most collectors would be of the mindset, unless I can get this REALLY cheap, I'd rather just pay a few bucks more for one without damage. And I can easily find another one within seconds on eBay.

If it was a rare or expensive item, the defect would have a lot less impact on value. For example, if it was a Ty Cobb signed ball with a strong signature and a defect on the back, it may reduce price very little if at all.

For my collection, I would avoid any "dented cans" on items that were commercially signed. There are just too many out there and condition impaired examples are always going to be tough to move unless heavily discounted.